To celebrate 25 years of partnership, Dragon and Mick Fanning unveiled a brand new eyewear model: Baile. The word means ‘home’ in Gaelic – a tribute to both Dragon and Mick’s heritage.
These are a serious piece of kit available in a range of colors to suit every taste. The shape is unique with a fashionably lowered bridge, distinctly curved lines and bold edges on the arms.
Apparently these are Mick’s go-to sunglasses so you might even find yourself channeling a bit of his stealth mojo as you search for a peak or two on a balmy summer’s day. So what did we discover?
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The Dragon Baile floats
Embracing the recent trend of floating sunglasses, this model is fitted with Dragon H20 floating technology. While you probably won’t rush into the surf wearing these – certainly not at Snapper Rocks (Mick Fanning’s local) on a big day – you could wear them for a cruisy longboard session or an afternoon on a kayak, SUP or boat. Lose your sunnies in the water and they’ll pop up instantly nearby.
This bouyancy is achieved through a specialised process whereby the frames are injection molded with low density thermoplastic that allows them to float. They are actually designed for heavy use in the sun, water, and sand by using waterproof hardware, being more scratch resistant and water repellent (hydrophobic).
They’re ultra-light and flexible
We’re always amazed at how light sunglasses are getting but these really shine. You can go for a long run and pretty much forget that you’re wearing them. The frames are pretty flexible, which means that inadvertently sitting on them is probably going to be ok.
We liked the matte frame on our model, along with the curvature of the arms, which hold the sides of the head firmly, yet without digging or pinching into the skull. There are no sharp edges on the Baile. I tried some handstands, skipping and running off road and the sunglasses never came close to falling off.
Excellent color technology
Dragon Alliance have created LUMALENS®, which is a colour optimised lens technology offering ultra-high definition optics across the entire spectrum of light conditions. Whether you’re out in bright morning light or the middle of the day, contrast is excellent and glare is eliminated. These polarised lenses are perfect for watersports enthusiasts. I found that the world looks vivid, with a slight yellow tint that is both pleasing and natural.
Lumalens also provides a new level of depth perception. What you see through the lens is the most important part of a good piece of eyewear and Dragon has worked to really dial it in and create an optimal line of sight. They have also narrowed down the specific lens tints to match the setting they will be used in to give the best results. We really like the crystal blue tint on our model.
Who are they for?
If you kayak, kitesurf, ride a SUP or jetski these are ideal action eyewear. As a surfer, you’ll appreciate the hydrophobic and floating capabilities if you’re riding a boat to an offshore reef or catching some small waves on your log. The sunnies are protective and they’ll float if you lose them in action. However, if you just want to wear a pair of stylish shades, designed for one of the best competitive surfers of all time then you can’t go wrong with Mick Fanning’s signature model.
From Dragon Alliance
“The dawning of Micks 25th anniversary with Dragon saw the introduction of a new, unique limited-edition Baile. Featuring LUMALENS Silver Ion Lenses to celebrate the milestone, custom internal arm printing, and Mick’s signature etched into the lens – this is one not to be missed. The Baile is a testament to Dragon and Mick’s heritage, diving deep into the storied roots of traditional surf folklore through timeless design and an everlasting friendship spanning the better half of a lifetime—25 years. Three World Titles, 436 heat wins, iconic video parts, and more time spent on rail than almost any surfer alive and by his side through all of it—Dragon. An alliance bound by Mick’s signature sunglass, the Baile.”
Product Features
- THEY FLOAT – H2O Floatable Technology
- Mick Fanning Inspired Design
- Performance Polarised Lenses
- Cam Hinges
- LUMALENS® Colour Optimised Lenses
- 100% UV Protection
- Medium Fit
Summary
Quality eyewear is a combination of lenses that improve your vision and protect your eyes surrounded by a well-built frame. But, the addition of this new innovative H2O Floatable technology differentiate them from the rest when you can grab them off the surface of the water rather than watch them sink.
A stylish frame, great lens options and the big “MF” (Micjk Fanning) signature on the inside arm make these one of our favourites for 2021 and 2022.
We highly recommend the Dragon Baile as one of the best options for eyewear available for surfers today. Congratulations to Mick and Dragon for a legendary partnership and for bringing yet another fantastic product to market.
An ancient Irish poem says, “Rop tú mo Baile”, which means, “Be Thou My Vision.” These shades will certainly enhance yours.
