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The Flare is a solid 8.5. Reasonable price, good waterproofing, durability and good style are the major bonuses of this coat. The drawbacks are simply that the cuff gets dirty easily and the fit might be a little shorter than you expect, so order accordingly.
Performance
The Flare measures in at 15/15K waterproofing and breathability, which is less than Oakley's Goretex offerings and other higher ratings; however, I've noticed impressive beading in wet weather and have yet to end the day sweaty. Layering is important, as the jacket is more of a shell than an insulated, so keep in mind when setting out for the day that while it's windproof, it won't keep you toasty by itself in -30.
Design
With sweet old-school basketball styling and a newschool skiing flavour, the Flare is an interesting combo of styles. It works. The other Flare style is a plaid look, so if blue isn't your thing look to that one. The stretchy elastic cuff on the torso keeps the jacket cinched around your pants so there's no flapping material.
Value
It retails at $330, so the Flare is fairly average in the price category. It is durable and quite waterproof, and has that added incentive of being "one of the pro's" jackets. Looking like Tanner or Schlopy at this price is a bit of a bonus!
Fit
The Oakley jacket fits shorter than Saga or First Drop, but is still taller than most brands. You can tell Oakley took into account the advice of riders like Jacob Wester and Tanner Hall who like a taller fit. I'm 6'1 and have a large which fits very comfortably, but isn't a "tall jacket". The XL and XXL step up the sizing considerably, so if tall is your thing either of those will be plenty.
Durability
It has very durable coat material, no scratches or tears have happened. Over the season's use the waterproofing has yet to fade, which is a bonus. As the years go on it will probably need another waterproof coating, but it's been good thus far. One complaint is that the cuff, as it is white and made of a polyester/elastic material, picks up dirt and tends not to be totally white.
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