Eye protection. Have you ever thought about the risks our eyes take at an offroad race? Knobby tire propelled rocks, mud splatter, tree limbs, and roost spray that makes tough men cry like little girls. That’s why we put so much thought into the goggles we wear. The fact is, if they don’t fit good and work right, they aren’t going to stay on your helmet and then our eyes become perfect targets for a laser eye surgery commercial. But then comes the style side of the equation. Will people think I’m factory sponsored because of my goggles? Do the colors match? Do they NOT match? Do these goggles make my butt look big?
Ah, decisions, decisions. Let’s face it people: We are nothing but a bunch of winey, picky, Diva like weirdo’s that must have the perfect fit, the perfect look, and of course the perfect price. What if one goggle could do it all? Well, that’s what the guys at Dragon Alliance are trying to do with their new line of MX goggles, and looks like they may be on to something. Dragon is no new player in the goggle market. They’ve had years and years of experience making some of the best goggles for not only us dirt bike guys but have taken the snow market by storm! Not to mention some of the most fashionable sunglasses around…
Dragon has two adult model goggles: the MDX and the Vendetta. The MDX goggle ranges from $34.95-59.95 and the Vendetta starts at $69.95. Both goggles feature 4 layer face foam that functions similar to memory foam. The first few times you sweat in them they start to take shape and remember the contour of your face. All of this leads to a better fit and a better seal, leaving no room for unwanted dirt and flying roost to creep it’s way in. The quad layer face foam in the Dragon goggles allows you to leave the strap looser compared to its competitors.
Since the goggle doesn’t need to be very tight to function properly, the dreaded nose pinch is reduced significantly! However there is still quite a bit of foam there which leaves the riders blessed with a big ole honker the potential for a little pressure from the goggle. The MDX goggle has a medium fit and the Vendetta has larger fit. Both goggles worked well with my helmet. The MDX was right on the line of being too small to fit my face while the Vendetta was a perfect match. The other differences between the two goggles are that the Vendetta uses a removable outrigger system for the strap and also features 2” silicone strap versus the 1-1/2” on the MDX. Dragon plans on offering the Vendetta in two separate parts to allow the rider style options without having to buy an entire new goggle.
It doesn’t take long to see that Dragon put a lot of thought into the materials they use on the MDX and Vendetta goggles. Both feature an anti-fog, anti-scratch, and 100% UV protective lens. All Dragon lens are highly flexible as well as the MDX frame. So far, the Dragons are rock solid and are holding up great! Dragon offers a full range of tear off options for both goggles, including laminated ones that comes in stacks of 7 (so looking through 7 laminated tear offs is like looking through a single standard one). You can also get a complete roll off system for the MDX goggle. Although some of the Dragon goggles are on the high end of the price range, they have several that are priced right for the value minded racer too (although the lack of graphics on the lower priced ones might not grant you a kiss from the trophy girl).
There wasn’t much to gripe about when it came down to the fit, style, and function of the goggles. We felt like there could have been a little less foam in the nose area on the Vendetta, but it was still better than most of the other goggles out there we have tried. Also, a rider may need to stock up on lens and tear offs if their local race shop isn’t stocking the line. You are not going to find it in every local dealer right around the corner like you will the Scott brand. As of right now, there aren’t any of the top off road guys sponsored by Dragon. We’d love to see some of that money going to Josh Hill spread out over some top off road racers too.
If you’re looking for a great combination of style, comfort, performance, and different price ranges: then look no further! Dragon’s got you covered! (at least your eyes anyway…)
Function: 19/20
Durability: 20/20
Price: 17/20
Style: 20/20
Materials: 19/20
Total Score: 95.00
See the full Dragon MX goggle line at: www.dragonalliance.com
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austin bankert, dragon goggles
