At work, I have to wear impact resistant safety glasses. While I love the protection my Milwaukee lenses offer, I prefer something quite different from my other adventures in life. I'm used to wearing Costas and Oakleys, and I've been hiding my eyes behind Longmen sunglasses for the past few weeks to see how they compare.
Longmeng sunglasses target users
Dragon Alliance is specifically designed for sports sunglasses. They have ranges for fishing and boating, biking, snowboarding/skiing and more. They even carry frames that you can put your prescriptions in, and upcycle frames to keep plastic out of landfills.
Considering two of my favorite all-weather activities are road biking and offshore fishing, this seems like a match made in heaven…if they live up to the quality I expect from eyewear. After carefully researching my options, I chose the Dragon Alliance Tidal X LL Polar for fishing and the Ridge X LL for riding.
Dragon Alliance Tidal X LL Polar Sunglasses
I'm looking for some key elements of good fishing glasses. First, it has to be polarizing. Protecting your eyes from the sun is one thing, but I needed to see what was going on underwater, and polarized light cuts through the glare.
Second, I need clarity and contrast. I wonder if I'm looking at a log or a trophy redfish.
For this review, I chose the LumaLens Red Ion Polar over the Tidal X LL, and the clarity is excellent. It's as good or better than my Costas with plastic lenses. I also really like the added contrast of the base color. It does a good job of helping distinguish shapes in water without ruining my color recognition. Thanks to the polarization, I get the glare reduction I'm looking for.
Finally, when I'm not wearing them over my eyes, I need them to stay connected, and if they happen to fall in water, there has to be something that floats them so I can get them back.
One thing I'm impressed with is how well the frames keep from slipping without adding pressure behind the ears or on the nose thanks to the temples and nose tips. I can flip them up on the edge of the visor when the sun goes down, and they won't try to flip if I look up too high.
I also really like these with a set of collars. It's not the type that wraps around the frame – they snap into the holes in the back and there's no danger of it coming loose.
Wrap it all up and they float.
advantage
- excellent clarity
- Excellent contrast and color
- excellent eye coverage
- Comfortable non-slip fit
- Includes snap necklace
- floating design
- Frames fold securely (great if you want to clip glasses to your shirt)
shortcoming
- i want to add some color to the frame
Dragon Alliance Ridge X LL Sunglasses
My first priority on the bike is eye protection, and the Ridge X LL's Flak Jacket-style rectangular lens shape does a good job of protecting my eyes from dirt and dust. The lenses are slightly taller, and they provide better coverage than similar designs I've worn in the past.
I'm also looking for non-slip comfort. I don't want to have to think about pressure points or keep pushing my glasses back while riding. Similar to the Tidal X LL, they fit comfortably without creating too much pressure. The noses are a bit out of the box fit but the design allows you to bend them into the shape you want and I found the perfect fit in a very short time.
When I'm exercising, it's nice to be able to see my surroundings on a scenic bike ride, and the Orange Ion Lumalens have excellent clarity. These aren't polarized, but it's nice to find two extra sets of lenses in the housing – clear and grey. While I prefer the color and look of the orange lenses, I really like a clear lens set when riding after dark.
For the past few years, I've stayed away from interchangeable lenses. I've had a few bad experiences with fittings loosening over time, allowing the lenses to come off too easily. The Dragon made me rethink multi-lens versatility thanks to a release tab that keeps the lens securely in place when you need it.
Finally, the frame folds away securely so I can clip them to the back of my jersey when I don't want to attach them to my helmet.
advantage
- excellent eye coverage
- Adjustable nose pads
- comfortable fit
- excellent clarity
- Excellent Color and Contrast
- safe fold
shortcoming
- no obvious disadvantages
price
Dragon Alliance sunglasses compete in the high-end arena, with prices commensurate with their quality. The Tidal X LL Polar and Ridge X LL in this review are both $239.
Across the line, some options start at $99 and go as high as $239.
the bottom line
I'm a little skeptical about buying premium sunglasses outside of the Luxottica group (Costa, Oakley, Ray-Ban, etc.). However, I was impressed with the comfort, quality and clarity of the Dragon Alliance. I have other options, but I always wear my Dragon Alliance sunglasses for my outdoor activities and even my daily drive.