Lip Tide Sunglasses

The LiP Tide is a watersports sunglasses model from LiP, a brand founded in 2012 on the beaches of Boracay Island in the Philippines. The Tide is purpose-built for small-to-medium head sizes, developed after feedback from waterwomen, youth riders, and surf-focused athletes who found LiP's existing models too large. It shares the same performance DNA as the brand's flagship Typhoon but in a more compact frame geometry, making it a dedicated option for riders who need a secure, comfortable fit during kiteboarding, wing foiling, surfing, and other on-water activities.

The frame is constructed from Grilamid TR90, a thermoplastic nylon with shape-memory properties that allow it to flex under impact and return to its original form. Overmolded rubber sits on the inside of the frame and along the underside of the temples, providing grip against wet skin and reducing pressure points under helmets or surf caps. The sleek temple profile is specifically shaped to integrate with foiling and surf helmets without creating hot spots.

• Frame material: Grilamid TR90 thermoplastic nylon
• Lens geometry: 8-base wrap
• Lens coatings: Hydrophobic and oleophobic on both sides
• Lens options: Zeiss PA Polarized, Levanté Series (PC Polarized), VIVIDE
• Retention system: FAILSAFE II leash with silicone neck ring
• Anti-fog: Ventilation channels cut into the lens area
• Fit: Small to medium
• Available frame colors: Gloss Black, Matt Black, Stone White

The Tide is aimed at intermediate to advanced water sports riders with smaller faces who struggle to find performance eyewear that stays put during active sessions. Its compact fit geometry targets waterwomen, younger riders, and anyone whose head size falls below the range of standard wraparound sport frames. The polarized lens options and hydrophobic coatings make it well suited for glare-heavy conditions on flat water and open ocean alike, while the ventilation channels help manage fogging during lower-wind or humid sessions.

Riders who wear helmets while foiling or surfing will appreciate the low-profile temples, which sit flush under helmet straps and padding. The two-stage FAILSAFE II retention system — a non-stretch nylon leash paired with a silicone neck ring — keeps the sunglasses secured through wipeouts and heavy spray, making them practical for high-energy disciplines like kiteboarding and wing foiling.

Within LiP's watershades range, the Tide sits alongside the Typhoon and Surge. The Typhoon is the brand's flagship full-size model with full interior frame cushioning and Zeiss lens options across the board, while the Surge offers a slightly more ventilated full-size frame with partial cushioning. The Tide fills the gap LiP previously had for smaller faces — it carries the same lens technology and retention system as its larger siblings but in a frame scaled down for a different head profile. Pricing ranges from $188 to $250 depending on lens selection, with Zeiss PA Polarized configurations sitting at the top of the range and Levanté Series or VIVIDE options at lower price points. Riders choosing between the Tide and the Typhoon should base the decision primarily on head size and fit rather than feature set, as the optical and retention technology is shared across the lineup.