Oakley X-Metal Collection: Madman

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Every once in a while, we come across something on eBay that is: pretty unique, a decent value, and that we like enough to buy with our own money.

The Oakley X-Metal Madman is one such item…maybe its because the styling reminds us of one of our favorite tech gadgets, the TruFocal adjustable focus eyeglasses.

Most people know the name Oakley, but many may not know about their X-Metal line. We got introduced to X-Metal sunglasses when we got our first pair of Oakley Juliets back in 2009.

After wearing them for almost a decade, we have come to understand why there is an avid fan base for the X-Metal line. We also came to be impressed not just by the X-Metal line but by the high-quality, after-market ecosystem (ExoVista, Caulfield, VisionaryLenses) which developed to support the fans of the line. The reasons are many, but the primary one was Oakley’s famed obsession with pushing the envelop of form and function. Here is a bit about how Oakley once thought about that obession:

“When a pair of sunglasses takes three weeks to build and endures 27 different machining processes along the way, you know it’s unlike anything else. That’s why Oakley X Metal goes way Beyond Reason.”

Madman

• Three-Point Fit
• Unobtainium® components
• Custom-engineered spring hinges
• Sandblasted O Matter nose bridge

Here is the “unpacking” of the Madman as we received it from the seller. The item was listed as “used,” but appears to be brand new as it had an unbroken seal. Regardless, the glasses were absolutely blemish-free.

• Box opened
• Madman Case
• Case interior
• Madman sunglasses and bag

The frame of these sunglasses is made with X-Metal titanium alloy, the rubber pieces out of sandblasted O Matter™, and lenses using Oakley’s High Definition Optics® (HDO®). There were a few models of the Madman made (Standard, Ferrari, XRaw), but the differences are in the finish only and not in the materials used.

The specific model of the Madman we got is the Standard with a “dark carbon” frame and Polarized Fire Iridium® lenses.

The tolerances and fit of all the components are first-rate. The movement of the arms are smooth and without any kind of play. The finish, even at close inspection, is completely blemish-free. This is one nice piece of gear.

We’re eager to wear them and see how they perform. If they are anything like the Juliet, we will be enjoying them for a good long time!

Links to items mentioned:

• Oakley Madman