Melon Optics Kingpin review

Background

For quite some years now, riding glasses have been a staple item of my riding attire. I choose to ride in glasses for a couple of reasons; my eyes water whilst riding without them (especially in the winter), and to protect my eyes from mud flicking up. Glasses however, are not without their drawbacks. First, sweat drips onto the lens’ whilst descending, obstructing my field of view. Second, it adds an element of faff to the ride, having to keep the lens clear from mud/sweat for clear viewing whilst descending.

The Melon Kingpin’s come in a nice box and I was provided with three Zeiss lenses, a clear lens, a red chrome lens and a low light lens.

The Pro’s

The overall package is very high quality. The box, frames, lenses and glasses bag all have an air of quality about them. The Zeiss lens’ provided are fantastic. I used the low light lens and clear lens during rides where light was low (go figure), such as cloudy wintery days. I often use the microfibre bag supplied, to clear the lens’ before I drop into a descent, which works great for clearing mud/sweat off the lens (you need to be careful when doing this so as to not scratch the lens - I’ve been using these for a few months now, and I have not scratched a lens yet). On the sunny days the red chrome lens was superb in reducing glare and making vision, more consistent, keeping my eyes on the trail. Changing lens’ is easy. There is no catch or anything to release to change the lens as in other glasses (e.g., Oakley Jawbreaker riding glasses I have also tested), instead the frames bend and flex to aid a lens swap. This is a great feature, and doubles up as a brilliant safety feature for the frames, making them robust and comfortable.

Another pro is that these glasses are competitively priced in the market, especially considering how great the frames and lens’ are.

Finally, the overall fit and shape of the Kingpin’s is comfy and suits various helmet shapes, as well as having great field of vision with wrap around lens’. I have used these with helmets from POC, Fox, and TLD, all of which work well. I have also previously tested the Melon Alleycat’s, which work with most helmets, but larger enduro type helmets (e.g., from POC) make contact with the helmet, resulting in them sitting wonky on my face.

The Con’s

This is a picky one, because the Kingpin is a great and well thought out product. The arms of the frames could pinch in slightly more at the ends. The result of them not, is that they feel slightly loose whilst wearing. They have never fallen off or moved, but they do feel like they could do at any moment. In comparison, the Oakley Jawbreakers pinch in slightly more at the end, as well as being adjustable. Although the adjustment is a nice touch, I do not think the Kingpin’s are lacking without it. I have heard of others who own the Kingpin glasses heat treating the frame tips slightly, using it to bend the frames in ever-so-slightly. My experience is therefore, not unique, and so, if you have a thinner face, you may want to try before you buy.

Pro’s

• Superb Zeiss lens’

• Comfortable fit that work with a wide variety of helmets

• Strong and flexible frames

• Reasonably priced

• Ease to change between lens’

Con’s

• Frame arms could pinch in slightly more for an increased secure fit

Conclusion

The Melon Kingpins are my go to riding glasses. They are comfortable, work ergonomically with a wide range of helmet and the lens selection is ace. If you are in the market for a set of riding glasses, these should definitely be on your list. If, however, you have a particularly thin face, perhaps try before you buy, or look for a set of glasses that have adjustable frames.