How to choose the best swimming goggles?

Maintain clear vision while swimming with the right goggles

When you go swimming, you can't do without a good swimming goggles. Goggles are often seen as a minor detail in your gear, but this small accessory can make a big difference during your swimming sessions. A good pair of goggles ensures sharp vision and protects your eyes while swimming.

They come in many types, sizes, and colors, but how do you know which goggles are suitable for your goals? Before you dive in, we are happy to help you in your search for the ideal swimming goggles.

In this blog about choosing the right swimming goggles:

1. The benefits of good swimming goggles
2. Your swimming goal
3. The fit
4. The lenses of your swimming goggles
5. The frame
6. The adjustment system
7. Conclusion

The benefits of good swimming goggles

Do you enjoy swimming competitions? Then it is important to choose goggles that fit well. The fit and the intended use play a major role. Common problems are that the wrong goggles can cause leaking, fogged lenses, and poor visibility. Swimming goggles that fit properly offer several advantages:

• Swimming goggles with dark, mirrored, or polarized lenses protect your eyes against UV rays and bright light
  Are you competing in a triathlon, a swim race, or swimming in open water? On a sunny day, the sun can reflect off the water, which may dazzle you. Special lenses can help you maintain clear vision and reduce glare.
• No more leaking goggles with the right fit
  Properly fitting swimming goggles create a vacuum seal, preventing water from seeping in. A snug fit also ensures that the goggles won’t slip off during swimming or at the start of a triathlon race.
• They protect your eyes against chlorine, salt, and (dirty) water
  Chlorine, salt, and dirty water can irritate your eyes. Wearing swimming goggles keeps your eyes well protected from these elements.
• Goggles tailored to your goal provide comfort or speed
  Looking for maximum comfort? Then a larger pair of goggles with a soft, comfortable seal is the best choice. Going for maximum speed? Choose smaller, more compact goggles that fit closely around the eye sockets.

Your swimming goal and usage

Whether you want to compete in a triathlon, swim indoors, or swim recreationally, it is essential to have the right swimming goggles. Which pair offers the most comfort and benefits depends on whether you swim indoors or outdoors, and whether you are a professional or recreational swimmer. Swimming indoors and outdoors means dealing with different conditions. Want to swim comfortably and perform at your best? Then the right swimming goggles are indispensable. Below, we explain the differences for different goals.

The lenses

Swimming goggles come in many different types and colors. The colors are not just for looks but also serve important functions. For swimming goggles, you can distinguish between goggles for indoor and outdoor use.

• Clear lens: This lens is transparent and colorless. They provide clear vision without altering color perception. They are ideal for use in indoor pools or low-light conditions.
• Dark lens: This tinted lens reduces bright light. They are suitable for outdoor swimming in sunny conditions and help to reduce glare.
• Mirrored lens: A mirrored lens has an outer coating that reduces glare and provides extra protection against bright light. They are perfect for outdoor swimming in very sunny conditions.
• Polarized lens: Polarized lenses reduce glare and reflections from water surfaces, making them ideal for open water swimming such as in lakes or the sea. They improve visibility and reduce eye fatigue.
• Orange lens: Orange lenses help to improve contrast and are useful when swimming in low-light conditions, such as cloudy weather or in the evening.
• Blue lens: Blue lenses reduce glare and increase contrast, making them suitable for swimming in bright conditions, both indoors and outdoors.
• Photochromic lens: These lenses automatically adapt to changing light conditions. They darken when exposed to bright light and lighten when ambient light decreases.
• Prescription lens: These lenses can be customized to individual vision correction needs, allowing people who wear glasses to see clearly while swimming.

Depending on your swimming environment and personal preferences, you can choose the lens type that best suits your needs.

The right swimming goggles for indoor swimming

Do you swim indoors (often)? Then you may be familiar with the unpleasant feeling of sore and irritated red eyes after swimming. This can be caused by the chlorine in the pool water. For indoor swimming, goggles with a clear or light blue lens are ideal. Indoors, you are hardly bothered by the sun or glare on the water, and by wearing goggles your eyes are well protected against the chlorine water so you can maintain clear vision and avoid eye irritation.

The right goggles for open water swimming (outdoor)

Do you enjoy swimming outdoors or participating in triathlons or competitions? Then you’ll often be swimming in open water. In open water you face different water and weather conditions. To maintain excellent visibility in open water, it’s important that your goggles are suited for these conditions.

For open water swimming, different lenses are often used compared to indoor pools. For example, there are goggles with mirrored lenses that reflect sunlight, block harmful UV rays, and protect your eyes.

The fit

The fit is the most important factor when choosing your new swim goggles. The last thing you want is water leaking into your goggles during swimming, obstructing your vision.

The goggles should fit snugly around your eye sockets so that no water can get in. A handy trick to check if the goggles fit is to place them on your eye sockets and gently press them. Do not put the strap around your head yet. If the goggles then create a vacuum or stay in place for 2-3 seconds, there is sufficient suction and no water can enter.

If there is enough suction, you can then put the strap around your head and see if the goggles feel comfortable. Important areas to check are the nose bridge and the area around the eyes.

Do you have a narrower face? Then it’s especially important to pay attention to the fit. If the goggles are too wide, gaps can form at the sides of your face, allowing water to enter.

The Fit and Speed

Do you want to swim as fast as possible? Then you can choose a hydrodynamic goggle. Are you more of a recreational swimmer? Then you can choose goggles that provide the most comfort.

Anti-fog protection

Nothing is more annoying than foggy lenses while swimming. This forces you to clean your goggles during swimming, and if you are participating in a triathlon, it costs you valuable time. Some swim goggles come factory-equipped with a special anti-fog coating. It’s important not to touch or wipe this layer, as it can affect its effectiveness.

Prescription swim goggles

You can choose to swim with your regular glasses or contact lenses. However, the salt or chlorine in the water can damage your glasses frame or accidentally wash out your contact lenses. Do you wear soft contact lenses? Then there’s a higher risk of contamination with viruses, bacteria, or amoebas.

With contact lenses, it is still possible to wear swim goggles. However, if you don’t wear contacts but need glasses for distance vision, for example, you can choose to get prescription swim goggles.

What types of frames do swim goggles have?

Depending on your goals and whether you swim indoors or outdoors, you can tailor your swim goggles accordingly. The right lens color, a good fit, as well as the frame and nose bridge, play an important role.

Swim goggles can be divided into goggles with a fixed frame and goggles with an adjustable nose bridge. Additionally, there are goggles with larger lenses that cover the eye sockets and goggles with smaller lenses that sit directly on the eye sockets.

Goggles with a fixed frame are generally larger and cover the eye socket. This reduces pressure on the eyes. These larger goggles prevent the well-known marks/circles and are more comfortable. They are usually equipped with a ratchet adjustment mechanism. These goggles are ideal for recreational swimmers, training, and swimmers who prioritize comfort and accept a smaller advantage in hydrodynamics.

If you are a competitive swimmer aiming for your best time, you can also choose goggles with a fixed frame designed for better hydrodynamics. The frame is smaller and more streamlined, and these goggles often feature a loop-through mechanism. The frame and lenses fit perfectly into the eye sockets.

Adjustable Nose Bridge

There are also swim goggles with an adjustable nose bridge. These are goggles where you can remove the nose bridge and replace it with a larger or smaller one. They provide the most precise and secure fit in the eye socket. You will often find this option in racing goggles.

Additionally, there are goggles with a flexible fixed nose bridge that fits almost everyone. You can find these in training goggles. The frame of these goggles is made as a single piece.

The Adjustment Mechanism

Swim goggles have two main types of adjustment mechanisms: the loop-through mechanism and the ratchet mechanism.

With goggles using the loop-through technique, the adjustment mechanism is located on the strap. As the name suggests, you “loop” the strap through a clip to secure the goggles tightly on your head.

The advantage of the loop-through mechanism is that it is more streamlined (hydrodynamic) compared to goggles with a ratchet mechanism.

Then there is the ratchet mechanism, which is located on the side of the goggles. The ratchet mechanism provides slightly more comfort because it is easier to adjust. However, this type is slightly less hydrodynamic.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a good pair of swim goggles is an essential item for an optimal swimming experience, whether you swim recreationally, train for a race, or participate in a triathlon. With the right goggles, you not only maintain clear vision but also protect your eyes from harmful influences such as UV radiation, chlorine, and dirty water. By taking into account your specific needs such as your swimming goal, fit, lens type, and frame, you can choose the perfect goggles that suit your requirements and conditions. So before you dive in, make sure you are equipped with the perfect pair of goggles to always have clear vision, enjoy your swim, and achieve top times.

Need help choosing your new swim goggles?

Do you want to buy new swim goggles but are not completely sure which pair best fits your needs and preferences? We are happy to help answer all your questions so you can make the perfect choice. You can reach our swim specialists via +31(0)413-256800 or send an email. You can also visit our store in Volkel, Netherlands.