Melon Optics Diablo Goggles Review
-
Total rating
Summary
The Melon Optics Diablo are high-end mountain bike goggles that look great and perform well.
They are incredibly comfortable and provide excellent contrast and clarity when riding. Additionally, riders with a sense of style can customise each element to find the perfect look. Just make sure you look after the lens.
Pros
- Incredibly comfortable
- Look great
- Customisable
- A range of lenses to suit different lighting conditions
Cons
- The film on the lens is easily scratched, so you have to be careful when clearing mud
- The lens is tricky to change
User Review
( votes)Sometimes, mountain bikers neglect their eyewear without realising how important it is. Good eyewear can make a massive difference to your day on the trails. Some people wear sunglasses, others wear cycling glasses, and others like goggles.
For me, it depends on the type of riding I’m doing. I wear glasses when going for a pedal, but I prefer wearing a good pair of mountain bike goggles for more gravity-based riding. So, I thought I would try out the Melon Optics Diablo goggles.
Here is my review so you can see how I got on with wearing them on the trails.
What Are The Melon Optics Diablo Goggles?
The Melon Optics Diablo goggles are an upgraded version of the Melon Parker goggles. The idea was to create high-performing and comfortable goggles for serious mountain bikers who wear full-face helmets.
Like most of Melon’s products, the Diablo’s are highly customisable. They offer different colours and styles for the frame, lens, strap, and outrigger. Some designs are more vibrant than others, and some fantastic collaborations have spawned limited-edition products.
For example, I chose the “Run To The Hills” Iron Maiden limited edition style with a red frame and blue lens.
Key Features of the Diablo Goggles
One Piece Outrigger
The Diablo features an outrigger design. The outrigger extends from each side of the frame, so the strap distributes pressure evenly across your face.
This design improves comfort and gives you a more secure fit, which is crucial when riding techy trails.
Deflector
The outrigger also has a deflector that channels air into the goggle’s vents. This airflow prevents the lens from fogging while keeping your face cool.
Triple-layer Face Foam
Melon has opted for super-soft triple-layer foam inside the Diablo’s frame. This stuff makes the goggles incredibly comfortable and absorbs sweat, which you’ll be thankful for on hot days and punchy uphill pedals.
360° Venting
The 360° venting maximises airflow from all angles, significantly contributing to the anti-fog properties.
Rip N’ Roll Compatible
If you race or ride in muddy conditions, you may need to clear your lens quickly. Therefore, Melon has made the Diablo goggles compatible with Rip n’ Roll lens covers.
When your lens gets covered in mud or water, you can rip off a layer to see the next berm or drop without getting a nasty surprise.
Switchfast Strap System
As I mentioned earlier, Melon has a variety of straps with varying designs and colours. But you can replace them incredibly quickly, thanks to the Switchfast Strap System.
This means you can customise your Diablo goggles in an instant when you fancy a change. Therefore, you don’t have to choose an Iron Maiden-branded pair if you don’t want to!
UV Lexan Lenses
The Melon Optics Diablo goggles have 100% UV protection and are replaceable.
Before you buy your goggles, check out Melon’s guide to their wide range of lenses. They offer varying degrees of tint and colour to suit your typical riding conditions and style.
Super Wide View
The Diablo’s lens measures 17.5 cm, giving you a wide field of view. The great thing about this is that you feel safer where you ride, and you can look over your shoulder much more easily.
If anything, this is beneficial when riding on the road between trails.
How Do the Melon Optics Diablo Goggles Feel and Perform?
Fit and Comfort
I ride with a Fox Racing Proframe full-face helmet, and the Melon Optics Diablo goggles fit them perfectly.
The triple-layer foam is nice and soft, making the goggles incredibly comfortable. The foam also does a great job absorbing sweat on hot days, so it doesn’t run into your eyes.
Performance On The Trail
These goggles feel secure even on trails with the most vicious braking bumps. They don’t interfere with the helmet or put pressure on the bridge of your nose, so you can focus on the ride rather than looking forward to finishing your run to adjust your gear.
Lens Performance
I chose the blue lens for my Diablo goggles. This lens has 36% VLT (Visible Light Transmission), which is excellent in varying light conditions.
It works well when the skies are overcast and on sunny days, so you shouldn’t need to change the lens too often. The lens enhances contrast and detail, allowing you to tackle tricky sections with ease.
It’s important to know that the lens should be treated somewhat like a ski or snowboard goggle. By this, I mean you really need to look after it.
Unfortunately, I scratched the lens slightly while wiping mud off it with the goggle bag. It still works very well, but I was pretty annoyed with myself, as I should’ve just left it until I could wash the mud off with water. Therefore, I also bought a clear lens for bad weather days when a face-full of mud is likely.
The clear lens is simple but also gives you 100% UV protection. But swapping the lens is tricky.
If you don’t get it to fit right before riding on a wet day, your lens will fog to the point of being useless, which can ruin your day. But maybe I’m just fitting the lens incorrectly.
Final Thoughts on the Melon Optics Diablo Mountain Bike Goggles
Overall, I am very impressed with the Melon Optics Diablo mountain bike goggles. I love the fit, comfort, and quality of vision they provide. I just wish I hadn’t scratched them by making a silly mistake.
However, I’m looking forward to trying a different coloured lens when I need to replace it; apparently, the red lens is even better than the blue.
The customer service from Melon was also excellent. When my goggles arrived, they didn’t come with the extra lens I ordered; however, after a short email, the customer service representative dealt with it within hours, and it arrived way before I needed to use it.
If you are looking for a great pair of mountain bike goggles that perform well, are incredibly comfortable, and are secure, check out the Melon Optics Diablo.
Tom Fortune has been reviewing cycling products for several years from his home in the French Alps. As the owner of mtb-threads.com, he mainly reviews mountain bike products but also reviews road cycling products independently.
