Oakley Holbrook Polarized Review
Compare prices at 3 resellers Pros: Face-hugging fit, lightweight, durable lenses, color-popping view
Cons: Textured frames are abrasive, only floppy case included, boring style
Manufacturer: Oakley
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
![]() This Product
Oakley Holbrook Polarized | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Awards | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
Price | Check Price at REI Compare at 3 sellers | $209 List $175.00 at Amazon | $187.00 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $78.95 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $40.78 at Amazon Compare at 3 sellers |
Overall Score ![]() |
|||||
Star Rating | |||||
Pros | Face-hugging fit, lightweight, durable lenses, color-popping view | Great clarity, excellent contrast, minimal color distortion, very comfortable, look good on pretty much everyone | Great color retention, superb coverage, quality construction, fits many face sizes, great case and cleaning cloth | Lightweight, comfortable, stable, good on many faces, nice case | Lightweight, comfortable, secure, good balance, versatile, look good |
Cons | Textured frames are abrasive, only floppy case included, boring style | Peripheral coverage not ideal, can still bounce a little | Heavy, large lens "look", weird inside reflective patch | Not overly stylish, run small, temple grips could be cleaner cut | Hinges loosen, brown lenses are yellowy |
Bottom Line | Lightweight and sporty with overly-textured frames and almost psychedelic levels of color enhancement | Exceptional lenses in impressively comfortable frames that manage to be extremely functional while still looking casual | Top-notch coverage and superb color retention make these large-fit shades well-equipped to protect your eyes from water-reflected light | These sunnies are light and comfortable for your face and eyes and a bit easier on your wallet | A solidly versatile pair of comfortable shades that are easy to wear and a great price |
Rating Categories | Oakley Holbrook Pol... | Kaenon Clarke | Costa Del Mar Rincon | Native Eyewear Wells | Suncloud Rambler |
Lens Quality (30%) | |||||
Comfort (25%) | |||||
Frame Quality (20%) | |||||
Style and Versatility (15%) | |||||
Coverage (10%) | |||||
Specs | Oakley Holbrook Pol... | Kaenon Clarke | Costa Del Mar Rincon | Native Eyewear Wells | Suncloud Rambler |
Lens Tested | PrizmTungsten | Ultra Brown 12 | Grey 580P | Crystal Grey | Brown |
Ideal Lens Light Conditions | Bright light | Bright light | Bright Light | Medium to bright light | Medium to bright light |
Polarized | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Fit | Medium-XL | Medium-Full | XL/Wide | Large | Medium |
Weight (grams) | 29g | 29g | 33g | 26g | 25g |
UV Protection | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Visible Light Transmission (VLT) | 14% | 12% | 12% | 12% | 15% |
VLT Protection Index | Cat 3 | Cat 3 | Cat 3 | Cat 3 | Cat 3 |
HEV/Blue Light Protection (claim) | None | None | 100% HEV blockage | 90% | None |
Infrared Protection (claim) | None | None | None | 40% | None |
Neutral/Contrast | Increased contrast | Increased contrast | Neutral | Neutral | Increased contrast |
Lens Material | Plastic - "Plutonite" polycarbonate | Plastic - "SR-91" polycarbonate | Polycarbonate | Plastic polycarbonate | Plastic polycarbonate |
Impact Resistance | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Protective Coatings | None | Anti-reflective back, hydroleophobic, anti-scratch | C-WALL (anti-scratch, hydroleophobic) | Anti-scratch, hydroleophobic | Anti-reflective |
Can take prescription lens? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Hinge type | Standard/barrel | Standard/barrel | Spring | Standard/barrel | Standard/barrel |
Case Included | Microfiber bag | Semi-rigid zippered case, microfiber bag | Semi-rigid zippered case, microfiber bag, microfiber cleaning cloth | Semi-rigid zippered case, microfiber bag | Microfiber bag |
Our Analysis and Test Results
We've tested the Holbrook twice, first with Black Iridium lenses, and most recently with Prizm Tungsten Polarized lenses. We purchased size Medium-XL and they come with just a simple microfiber drawstring case that doubles as a cleaning cloth. They are also available with prescription lenses — for three times the cost.
Performance Comparison
Lens Quality
We've tested two different versions of the Oakley Holbrook — first with Black Iridium lenses, and most recently with Prizm Tungsten lenses. While the grey lenses were fairly true to color, the Prizm Tungsten lenses are made to enhance specific shades, most notably greens. Wearing these sunglasses turns the light greens in the trees to a shade that's almost neon. Some of our testers love this High-Def version of the world, and others find it a bit too weird to enjoy.
- 99% polarization
- 100% UV protection
- 14% Visible Light Transmission (category 3)
- "Some" HEV/Blue light blockage, 0% Infrared Blockage
- Color: Brown, Material: Polycarbonate
- Impact Resistant
These polycarbonate lenses are lighter weight than glass while still offering exceptional clarity. They will reflect parts of your face back at you in certain lighting, but are above average in this respect, meaning it's not too distracting. They offer solid protection during most times of day and angles of the sun.
Comfort
The Holbrook weigh 29 grams, making them just barely on the high end of average weight among sport sunglasses we tested. They're very well-balanced from front to back, which helps prevent them from sliding down your nose easily. We've tested both the regular and XL versions of these shades. The regular version proved a tad tight, creating pressure points behind our ears after several hours of wear, while the XL version did not have this effect. They lack any rubber nose pads or temple grips, but the faux Woodgrain pattern we tested is very textured, helping to hold them in place. However, this pattern is so textured, we almost hate to wear it, as it's rather abrasive above the ears.
Frame Quality
The plastic frames of the Holbrook don't seem like anything fancy. They're lightweight, which we love, and flex a little, but they don't feel like they're meant to flex too much. Their hinges are auto-locking barrel hinges formed in the plastic frame, snapping open into place. Their thickness gives us confidence in their longevity, but they are a little too creaky for our taste.
Style/Versatility
The Holbrook got an "okay" style rating across the board. While none of our testers despised them, no one was over the moon for them either. They were frequently described as fine, sporty, and alright by both men and women with all manner of face shapes and sizes. Even the woodgrain pattern proved to be "not as cool" as other woodgrain sunglasses.
Coverage
One of the best features of the Holbrook is their impressive coverage. The frame has a slight curve that hugs the face, and the lenses are large and rectangular to help fill the gaps often left between the face and the frame. There are gaps left, but they are far smaller than any other pair of everyday sunglasses we tested. Additionally, the inward angled arms help hold these sunglasses close to your face, and their low weight stops them from bouncing around. All of this helps provide consistent coverage. The Holbrook frames also have little lips or ledges around each lens. These extend toward your face, increasing coverage. All told, these provide more coverage than a lot of the other glasses in this review.
Case Quality
We are disappointed by the simple cloth bag/cleaner provided as the case. While this limp bag won't stop your glasses from getting crushed, it does offer scratch protection and a way to keep your lenses clean. So at least there's that.
Value
The Oakley Holbrook falls about in the middle of the pack price-wise for sunglasses we reviewed. If you opt for the non-polarized lenses, they're even cheaper. However, they about triple in price with the addition of prescription lenses. We think you'd be better off spending a little more on a comfortable, higher-quality, or even more stylish pair of sunglasses. But if the Holbrook is your jam, they're a decent pair of sporty shades with great coverage.
Conclusion
The Oakley Holbrook are an alright pair of sunglasses with the potential for a decent price tag (depending on what options you select). The Prizm Tungsten lenses we tested provide above-average protection, and the frame's curvature and shape provide excellent coverage.
— Maggie Brandenburg
Ad-free. Influence-free. Powered by Testing.
GearLab is founded on the principle of honest, objective, reviews. Our experts test thousands of products each year using thoughtful test plans that bring out key performance differences between competing products. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. No cherry-picked units sent by manufacturers. No sponsored content. No ads. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing and comparison.
Learn More