As with all things Oakley, the Hand Ratchet reaks of quality and functionality with excellent padding and protection including the Kevlar reinforced knuckles. Two velco straps, across the back of the hand and at the wrist keep the Hand Ratchet secure onto your hand.

Bar grip is provided with sticky dots on the finger tips and the moisture absorbing Clarino palm material. A terry nose wipe is provided on the thumb for additional comfort. The mesh material on the back of the hand and lightweight fabric along the fingers enables adequate air flow even on the warmest of days.

Available in a range of colours and sizes, I was able to get my hands into the Blue Line colour that provide a somewhat retro Oakley look that makes them very individual.

I wore these on the mountain bike on a stinking hot mid-35 degree (celcius) day. The Hand Ratchet proved to be comfortable and provided me a secure grip onto the bars without any numb spots. After the hot and sweaty ride, the gloves washed well in a gentle machine wash and air dried to come up as new.

With a RRP of AU$79.95 the Oakley Hand Ratchet are not the cheapest glove available but sure are the most comfortable and coolest looking out there.

The Oakley Kitchen Sink offers every conceivable innovation, from a mobile phone pocket to a padded sleeve that holds a laptop up to 17″. The laptop sleeve can be access through the main compartment or from a convenient side access zip. The top storage compartment is compression molded to protect valuables like sunglasses and small electronics or can be used for a media player with it’s headphone port.

The top of the bag actually lifts up like a hatch by unclipping two beefy D-rings that latch onto a metal cable running around the circumference of the hatch which reveal a separate lockable cable zipper to seal the main compartment. A flap in the middle of the bag opens up to reveal a built-in organiser, and storage compartments tucked in to either side of the bag provide more space for smaller items. A unique compartment at the bottom is separated from the main storage area and has drainage ports for wet or soiled items. You also get plenty of pockets, attachment points and tie downs.

Besides all the storage spaces inside, the bag also has an array of straps and hooks for handling the beast once it’s all filled up. Three compression straps on either side of the bag make it possible to reign in your gear when it gets a little too bulky; while a strip of metal anchors in the middle provide a convenient place to tie down the bag with straps or Bungee cords. A heavy duty handle at the top of the pack allows for one-handed carrying.

The Kitchen Sink is a large backpack and when fully packed can be quite heavy. I have taken the pack interstate as carry on luggage but wouldn’t be suprised if one day was pulled up for it being too big and needing to be checked-in. The shoulder straps are padded and comfortable and are designed to support the pack with fully laid up.

The Kitchen Sink’s design and quality is impeccable and faultless. Being a top of the range backpack and from Oakley, it is not the cheapest pack at AU$319.95. This is one ultra cool backpack that will have you stand out of the crowd.

The supplied vented iridium black lens’ are great for everyday riding in all sunlight conditions. The vented lens’ ensure that they don’t fog up when exerting yourself on the road or track. The hydrophobic lens coating repels dust and liquids such as rain, sweat and sunscreens to prevent obstructing your vision allowing you to concentrate on the road or path ahead.

The revolutionary lens’ sit within the frames and are released by easily unlocking and opening the ‘jawbone’ of the frame without any force required to remove them. Oakley claims that clarity of vision is enhanced by the fact that the lens is not under tension and therefore not distorted. The feather light frames feature shorter ear stems that easily fit around your temples without being obstructed by a helmet.

The Jawbone come complete as a kit with an extra pair of lens’ and a hard case that neatly accommodates everything together with a special cleaning cloth which doubles as a soft carry case. The lens’ supplied with the matt black Jawbones reviewed are vented yellow and nicely compliment the iridium black lens for low light conditions.

Priced at A$329.95 the Oakley Jawbones are a premium purchase available in a number of colours and lens combinations. The higher price can be more justified as they are supplied as a complete kit without the need to purchase additional accessories.

For more information check out the Oakley website.

Reviewed by Lakers