Choosing the right goggles to suit your swimming lifestyle is essential. If you haven’t got goggles that enable you to see clearly or your goggles don’t fit perfectly, this could hold you back and enable your fellow competitors to gain that all-important competitive edge. If you’re looking for swimming goggles, here is some information you may find useful.
Types Of Goggles
Racing Goggles
You may think that your speed, agility, and power will see you hit the line first, but when you’re trying to outperform other contenders, it’s important to get everything right. You should choose racing goggles that are designed to enhance and improve your performance. Look out for FINA-approved styles that offer a secure fit, a low profile for improved water speed and anti-fog lenses, which give you the best view while you’re in the water. Leading contenders in this field include the Speedo FastSkin range, Arena Cobra glasses, and the Nike Remora collection. Shop our range of racing goggles here!
Training Goggles
With training goggles, comfort is the main priority. You may be swimming for hours a day, so it’s essential to find goggles that fit well and enable you to focus on training, rather than worrying about your goggles for any reason. Training goggles tend to be a bit more flexible than racing goggles, which are secure, to ensure they remain in place when you’re swimming at speed, diving or turning. Popular training goggles include the Nike Remora range and Speedo’s V-Class goggles.Shop our entire range of training goggles here!
Open Water Goggles
When you’re swimming in open water, you need to ensure that you can see clearly whatever the weather conditions. Comfort is also a consideration, but you also need a mask or goggles that will stay put as you tackle potentially difficult conditions. Masks are sometimes preferable for long swims and outdoor conditions, as they can be more comfortable. It’s often best to try a couple of different styles, and see which you prefer. Examples of best-selling open water goggles include Swans Open Water Seven Polarised goggles which have proven popular due to their great look, brilliant durability and the range of colours and lens types you have to choose from. Keeping a good selection of lens types is a great idea for open water swimming, having both clear and tinted lens will keep you covered for all types of conditions. The last thing you want in low light conditions is a dark lens, especially when there are no lane ropes to keep you on the straight and narrow! If it's open water goggles you're after, head over to ProWetsuit and check out the range of open water goggles we have!
Swedish Goggles
Swedish goggles are increasingly popular thanks to their low profile design. These goggles don’t have a gasket, which makes them sleeker and more streamlined. perhaps not the most comfortable goggles on the market, but you will certainly see the benefits when it comes to performance! Having removed the gasket completely, Swedish style goggles result in much better speed and drastically reduce the drag commonly caused by bigger goggles and their gaskets. If it's gasket-free goggles you need, then take a look at our range of Swedish goggles here.
Prescription Goggles
If you wear glasses, it’s best to opt for prescription goggles. You can order the relevant dioptre lenses to suit your prescription. We have a great selection of prescription goggles available at ProSwimwear, some of which even offer the option to vary the dioptre between eyes. Please ensure you read product descriptions carefully in order to purchase a full set of goggles as parts are sold separately. Take a look at our prescription goggles!
Finding The Perfect Fit
Lenses
Before putting on your new pair of goggles, we suggest doing "The suction test". Simply push the goggles into place without the head strap around your head. If the goggles stay in place for around 2 - 3 seconds, then we would consider this a good fit, using the head strap will then maintain this leak free seal in the water.
Straps
There are a whole variety of different straps out there, and everyone has their own preference, but the key bit to look out for is if it is adjustable, having an adjustable strap will ensure you can achieve the perfect fit without the expense of any discomfort.
Nose Bridges
Depending on what goggles you buy, some come with a selection of nose pieces which will allow you to tailor your goggles to fit you perfectly, reducing the chances of the moving, and more importantly, leaking, during tough training sessions or competitions. Selecting the correct nose bridge is essential for getting the most comfortable fit possible. Remember, the goggles should have a water tight seal all the way around the eye and the nose bridge should not touch your nose, if it does, this is likely to cause irritation during your swimming session.
Types Of Lenses
Polarised
Polarised lenses are treated with a chemical coating that reduces glare coming from reflective surfaces. Polarised goggles are typically used by open water swimmers due to the sun reflecting off the surface of the water which has the potential to distort a swimmer or even cause damage to the eyes.
Mirrored
Mirrored lenses reduce glare and incoming light but not as much as polarised would, It is often you see swimmers wearing mirrored lens for the psychological advantage that they may provide. being unable to see someone's eyes can often feel fellow swimmers feeling intimidated.
Smoked
Smoked lenses are very common among all swimmers due to the versatility, they are just clear enough to be used indoors, and offer just enough protection to be used outdoors.
Tinted
Tinted goggles offer a similar level of protection to smoked but with a coloured tint to them, this is often preferred by swimmers as it can be nicer and level stressful to the eyes. Another reason people chose tinted over smoked is simply due to the aesthetic look they provide, swimwear is becoming more and more fashionable and swimmers are getting fashion conscious. Have a matching cap and swimsuit is one thing, but if you can get your goggles to match too you're certainly going to be feeling better know you look good!
Clear
Clear lenses are most suited to indoor swimming or open water swimming in overcast conditions. Clear lenses offer the best possible visibility but without the benefits of protection from bright lights.
Consider the type of lens based on where you are. Mirrored, polarised and tinted lenses are best for use in the sun while clear lenses are ideal for indoor use. We would suggest keeping a couple pairs of goggles in your kit bag so you're ready for all scenarios.
Goggle Maintenance
Considering that you use your goggles every time you swim, it's important to look after them, we've spoken before about anti-fog products and what to do when that all important anti-fog coating starts to fade. But we shouldn't forget all of the hours our goggles aren't in use, we see it almost every day, that one swimmer at the pool who has to either borrow a friends or power on through without a pair, it can easily spoil your swim and take your focus away from training. Be sure you keep your goggles safe in a goggle case and always remember where you put them! Top tip, hooking a vented goggle case on your bag allows them to dry on the journey home, and then when your home, just put them in your kit bag ready for the next session. For more information on how to stop your goggles from steaming up, check out our recent blog.
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