Hey there! Looking for high-performance sunglasses?
And you are in a dilemma between Maui Jim and Oakley too, am I right?
Just lay back, and relax. I have the solution to this problem of yours, right here in this article. Do not worry anymore, enjoy this dissection of Maui Jim vs Oakley!
Summary: Oakley vs Maui Jim
Oakley is more popular than Maui Jim. They have a larger following on social media, and more people buy Oakley sunglasses as compared to Maui Jim. If we compare the collection, then Oakley also has the advantage. Whether you need sunglasses for playing baseball, running, fishing, or just for fashion, you can find Oakley sunglasses for almost any requirement. Maui Jim also has a lot of good sunglasses, but they do not have that much bigger collection.
But, when it comes to quality & detailing, Maui Jim is better. Every pair of Maui Jim sunglasses is a masterpiece, which may not be the case with Oakley. Therefore, Maui Jim sunglasses are also a little expensive compared to Oakleys.
To get an idea, take a look at Oakley Feedback Aviators and Maui Jim Mavericks Aviators, it’s a little difficult to describe, but I feel Maui Jim Mavericks is slightly better than the Oakley Feedback Aviators.
Maui Jim sunglasses are definitely more classic than Oakleys, but to be honest, I feel Oakley sunglasses are more practical for most of us, and that’s why, Oakley is more popular and people love it. I mean, look at Oakley Holbrook, Oakley Frogskin, or Oakley Flak 2.0, you can wear them almost everywhere.
However, both Maui Jim and Oakley are awesome brands, and you can go with any brand based on your liking.
Maui Jim
The story behind one of the eyewear giants, Maui Jim, is in the background of the famous tourist attraction of US-the Hawaii. It was founded in 1980 by fisherman Jim Richards. It was just a small shop initially where Richards sold his sunglasses to the locales and fellow fishermen. It soon gained recognition for the exceptional quality of its glasses and they became a choice for many outdoor enthusiasts and fashion-loving individuals alike.
One of the notable features of their glasses is accommodating advanced polarized lens technology that reduces glare and enhances color resulting in a vibrant experience.
The brand is also popular among fashion enthusiasts because of its wonderful collection of glasses. Their collection is not just big, but also innovative. The vast collection boasts various colors with vibrant designs that are perfect for your summer!
In 2022, the Maui Jim became a part of Kering Eyewear but is still based in Maui.
Oakley
Founded by James Jannard in 1975, Oakley has established itself as a prominent brand catering primarily to athletes while also offering a stylish and sophisticated collection for the general public. What initially began with the production of motorbike grips soon transformed Oakley into one of the biggest names in the eyewear industry. Today, the brand has expanded its closet to include apparel, footwear, and various accessories.
Oakley has gained widespread popularity and recognition due to its unwavering focus on developing new techniques to enhance the performance of its products. With a commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation, Oakley continually strives to create eyewear that not only looks stylish but also offers superior functionality and efficiency. This dedication has propelled them to gain the top spot in the industry.
Their collection of eyewear is not just perfect for athletes but also attracts huge amounts of the public, and that becomes very evident when you take a look at their popularity on social media.
Comparing Oakley vs Maui Jim Sunglasses
Oakley and Maui Jim, two exceptional brands in the eyewear industry, have each carved out their distinctive areas and gained a devoted following.
Oakley, with its strong sports inspiration, has successfully captured the hearts of athletes, building a loyal fanbase that appreciates its high-performance offerings. On the other hand, Maui Jim has focused on delivering performance-driven sunglasses, excelling in its own realm.
Both brands possess a unique identity and have introduced iconic designs and styles that have left a lasting impact.
While it is acknowledged that comparing two genius entities is a challenging task, let us try to compare Maui Jim and Oakley to determine which of the two would serve as a more suitable option for you.
Oakley Wins The Popularity Index
We know that Oakley has an amazing fan base among the general public, but there is always someone who has more. That’d be Oakley.
Oakley, the king of sports eyewear, has a colossal following of 3M + on Instagram, 5M + followers on Facebook, and 350k + followers on Twitter. Maui Jim also has 5M + followers on Facebook, but 26k + followers on Twitter, and 180k + followers on Instagram.
Oakley has a Stronger Market Presence
Being found almost 50 years ago, Oakley and Maui Jim have quite an extravagant mark in the market. But, when we talk about the physical market, Maui Jim is yet to make a presence here. Based in Lahaina, Maui Jim has a store there but after being included in Kering Eyewear its headquarter is in Illinois.
On the other hand, Oakley stands tall yet again with 170-180 stores all across the US. It has succeeded in making a presence both online and offline.
You can also find the products of Maui Jim and Oakley in retail stores near you that sell sunglasses, and also on Amazon.
Maui Jim Comes with a Higher Price Tag
Both Oakley and Maui Jim are luxury brands, and considering that it is not needed to tell you that they are definitely going to be a lot high in the price quotient.
Maui Jim products start from around $150 + and its most expensive product will cost you $400 + for the normal products. But it also has a line of luxury sunglasses that shouts affluence and costs $500 +. Oakley products range from $100-$300 +. Price-wise, both the products are quite expensive but Maui Jim hails its name in this one.
Even though Oakley and Maui Jim are very costly, note that both of them are one of the top eyewear brands in the world and have an immaculate reputation in the market. Their products are costly because they provide you with the worth of what they charge.
Style Quotient
Oakley and Maui Jim have many different styles in their hoard. Some styles are very famous and are known to all while some are their signature models.
Maui Jim has Aviator, Cat-Eye, Classic, Rectangular, Shield, Wrap, etc…. All these styles have a taste of Maui Jim’s sophisticated nature and classiness. Maui Jim also houses a series of luxury sunglasses that are no doubt very expensive. Nonetheless to say it caters to an amazing design.
One of my favorite design out of the whole Maui Jim collection was the cat-eye framed Wood Rose and the Aviator-styled Noni. These might have been the best pair of Aviators I have ever seen!
Coming to Oakley it is needless to say that its collection, though largely sport influenced, is innovative. Its collection is mainly its own and exclusive to Oakley. It has the widely acclaimed Oakley Holbrook, the Frogskin, the Re: Subzero, the Oakley Kato, the Encoder, the Flak, the Sutro, the Deadbolt, the Gascan, etc…. Out of all these models, many designs are trademark Oakley styles, like the Deadbolt, the Holbrook, the Frogskin, etc….
Even though I am not a sporty or an outdoor person, I absolutely loved this Oakley design and would recommend it to everyone, the Deadbolt. It doesn’t at all look sporty even though it is typically for athletes. The thin metal frames and those round lenses are a hundred percent show stealer! Here, check out Deadbolt.
Materials Used
Maui Jim and Oakley are made of high-quality materials to provide the utmost comfort to the user.
Oakley sunglasses’ frames are made out of O-Matter and sometimes metals like Titanium and Stainless Steel. The lenses are made of Plutonite or are glass-based, and the nose pads and ear socks are made of Unobtanium which is a patented material of Oakley.
Maui Jim is known for making super-thin lenses which are made out of extremely thin glass indeed. The lenses are made out of Maui Jim’s own materials like the MauiPure and the MauiBrilliant. The frames of Maui Jim sunglasses are made out of Grilamid TR-90 or Acetate.
Who Has More Iconic Styles?
Being elderly in the industry both the brands have many classic styles under their names.
Oakley has the ever-iconic Holbrook, that never goes out of style. It also has the Oakley Frogskin which is many people’s favorite choice. Apart from these, there’s the Oakley Gascan and the Jawbreaker.
Maui Jim is no less when it comes to bragging about its iconism. It has the Maui Jim Peahi, Maui Jim World Cup, and the aviator-styled Maui Jim Lighthouse.
Yes, we can say that these Maui Jim classics aren’t very popular in comparison to the Oakley classics that are known by everyone. But these are also some signatures of Maui Jim that have set a mark in the industry.
Both Oakley and Maui Jim have some really awesome styles, so I would like to share my personal favorites so you can check them out and see if you want to buy them. From Oakley, I love their Crankshaft and Gascan series, they’re simply awesome. From Maui Jim, I love their Lighthouse and Kaiwi Channel sunglasses.
Warranty and Customer Services
Maui Jim provides a warranty of two years from the date of purchase and repairs or replaces the product at its own expense if it is found to be a defective piece.
Oakley also provides a two years warranty on its products against breakage due to workmanship defects. The warranty does not cover any expenses for scratched lenses.
Which Brand Is Better?
This is a very difficult choice, to be honest. Both Oakley and Maui Jim are respected brands in the sunglasses industry.
As old and legendary brands, they have established themselves as leaders by consistently delivering high-quality products that excel in both aesthetics and performance. Both brands focus on producing top-class sunglasses that cater to various needs and preferences, ensuring that customers receive exceptional products that are visually appealing and deliver excellent performance.
I’d say this again, Maui Jim has some of the best aviator models in its collection. I’ve mentioned a few of them in the article, but feel free to check more out from their website.
Whether it’s the stylish designs of Oakley or the exceptional lens technology of Maui Jim, the choice between them often comes down to personal preference and specific requirements, as both brands have a solid reputation for offering best-in-class sunglasses.
I hope you sorted it out for yourself, Happy Shopping!
