Review: Melon Kingpin Eyewear
Big, bold and badass styling.
The Melon Kingpin offer good eye protection and excellent optics on the trails.
Details
The Kingpin comes in a variety of lens and frame combinations – 42 in total – with one frame size, which is large (on trend) but not massive. The model we tested is the Matte Grey frame with Red Chrome lens – according to the locals at my coffee stop, it’s a ‘spicy’ combination. The frame is slightly flexible, has a 3cm rubber sleeve on each arm and a rubberized nose piece. The Red Chrome lens is rated as an S2, suited to riding in variable and softer light conditions.
Melon Kingpin
- Optics by Zeiss
- 100% UV protection (UV400)
- Frame made in Italy
- Rubberized nose piece and arms
- Fully customizable
- Interchangeable lens system
- Strong and flexible frame
- Weight: 28g
- Price: R2550
- Shop: melonoptics.com
Big shades definitely are all-the-rage for trail riding (and cycling in general) at the moment and for good reason. They offer a broader field of vision, more protection from trail debris and reduce swirling air that gets the eyes all watery when fully pinned on the descents. The Melon Kingpin are big, but just a little smaller than goggle-size shades.
The nose piece and tips of the arms are rubberized to provide a more secure fit which is crucial for trail riding (or even road riding) shades. Quite surprisingly, some brands don’t have rubber sections on the arms. There’s no adjustment in the frame but the slight flex and rubber nose piece should stretch and contour to fit most head sizes and shapes.
Ride Impressions
Clarity of vision is a must if you want to confidently charge in and out of the shadows. In soft light conditions, these Red Chrome lenses offer sharp detail and weirdly almost amplify the elements of the trail. In full summer light, things are a little bright for my eyes so I’d suggest adding a second lens to suit the kind of riding conditions you mostly experience. There is good coverage and protection from this size frame and it’s likely airflow would become an issue if they were any larger.
Helmet integration can be tricky with bigger framed glasses so I tested the Melon Kingpin with half-shell and drop-frame design helmets from Leatt, Fox, POC and Bontrager. I didn’t pick up any issues with fit, comfort or integration. Overall the fit is very secure and comfortable. Melon say their frame is made to be ‘super tough, flexible and light.’ I’m not going to disagree and would add they are more robust than many other eyewear brands. With about three months of riding and general abuse like cleaning them with a T-shirt and dropping them a couple times on the trail, I’ve had no durability issues.
VERDICT | Similar in design to the Oakley Sutro, if you are serious about eye-protection and clarity of vision on the trail then the Melon Kingpin is the business. Overall the performance is excellent and they are up to the task – even for the best riders in the world.
| WORDS: Myles Kelsey | IMAGES: Troy Davies |