Choosing The Best Swimming Goggles

Choosing swimming goggles can be a minefield with lots of different shapes, sizes and lens colours! This guide will help you to filter your search, to find a goggle that suits the style of swimming you do and the environment you swim in. When it comes to fit, you will need to try the swim goggle on to see how it feels and whether it gives a good seal.

 

TYPES OF GOGGLE

Racing

These goggles are designed to be streamlined with smaller eye gaskets to minimise water drag when competing and to give a secure fit for dives and turns. With the emphasis being on a low profile to minimise water drag, these goggles may not be as comfortable as fitness and leisure goggles but will help to give you a streamlined shape in the water.

Click here to see our range of racing goggles.

Swim Training/Fitness and Leisure

If you are swimming for reasonably long periods of time, comfort will be your main priority.  Swim training and fitness swimming will involve swimming many lengths in one session and you should therefore choose a goggle that feels comfortable around the eyes. If you are just having fun at the pool, you will also want a goggle that feels comfortable so that you can concentrate on having a good time in the water! Our range of fitness and leisure goggles include styles that are designed in Liquid Silicone and that use Speedo’s Biofuse technology, to give a flexible and comfortable fit.

Click here to see our range of fitness and leisure goggles.

 

Masks

Mask style goggles are based loosely on scuba diving masks and usually give an excellent seal to minimise leaks, as they have a bigger profile that gives good suction on your face. They are very comfortable and ideal for open water swimming and watersports.

Click here to see our range of mask style goggles.

Prescription

These goggles have prescription lenses for people who wear glasses and can be ordered with their specific dioptre lens. Some of these goggles are bought as a kit; the optical lenses are separate and then the strap, nose bridge etc. are part of a kit that you then fit together.

Click here to see our range of prescription goggles.

Children’s Goggles

Swimming goggles are essential for children as they will protect their eyes from the stinging effects of chlorinated water and will encourage them to put their head under the water; building up their confidence and swimming ability.

 

Infant (2 to 6 years)

Comfort and a good seal is the main priority for very young children when choosing goggles, as they will be miserable in the water if their swimming goggles are uncomfortable or let water in. Our infant range of children’s swimming goggles come in bright, fun colours and are soft and comfortable for children.

Click here to see our range of infant goggles.

Junior (6 to 14 years)

The junior range of children’s goggles include different styles such as racing goggles, masks and character goggles and are designed in a small fit that may even fit some adults with smaller faces. Mask style goggles are a great choice for children as they give a really good seal to prevent water leaking in and give a large field of vision enabling kids to see everything clearly.

Click here to see our range of junior goggles.

WHICH LENS COLOUR?

Choosing a lens colour should depend on what environment you are swimming in, as the lens will help to improve your vision depending on whether you are swimming indoors or outdoors, in bright light or low light. The different types of lenses are listed below:

Clear: Ideal for indoor swimming or low light/cloudy conditions where you want maximum visibility.

Mirrored: Ideal for outdoor swimming in sunny conditions as reduces glare and reflection of the sun. They also look cool!

Tinted: Smoke or coloured lenses give medium protection against the sun and bright light making them suitable for indoor and outdoor swimming.

Polarized: Ideal for high level light and direct sunshine; polarized lenses block out glare without dimming your entire field of vision – they increase the contrast that you can lose with tinted lenses. Ideal for outdoor swimming.

Photochromatic: These excellent lenses actually react to the light and automatically adjust to changing light conditions. They darken in bright light and becoming lighter again in low light. This makes them ideal for outdoor swimming pools and open water swimming or triathlons, when the sun can go in and out. Photochromatic goggles help to reduce eye fatigue with their reactive lenses.

FITTING A SWIM GOGGLE

Seal: To test the seal of a swim goggle, put the goggle over your eyes without putting the strap behind your head. Press the goggle gently onto your eyes and if there is suction for a few seconds, this tells you that it fits and gives a good seal. It will pop off after a few seconds because you have not used the strap.

Straps: The strap is used to keep the goggle in place NOT to provide the seal. The strap should not be tightened so much that it makes the goggle uncomfortable and creates marks around your eyes, because it is too tight. When wearing a goggle with a split strap, put the lower strap at eye level at the back of your head and position the other strap a little higher. This gives a secure fit and will help to prevent the goggle leaking or falling off if you dive into the water.

Nose bridge: Some swim goggles have adjustable nose bridges, while others are fixed, but more flexible to mould to your face. You may have a goggle with a nose bridge that can be tightened or loosened, or different size nose bridges may be included for you to custom fit them.

HOW LONG DOES A SWIM GOGGLE LAST?

If you are a regular swimmer, you may need to replace your swimming goggles approximately every 4 – 6 months. Chlorine will break down the material causing the goggle to lose its seal and unfortunately the only thing to do is treat yourself to a new pair of goggles.

Most goggles will have an anti-fog coating on the inside of the lens to prevent them steaming up when you are swimming. This will come off over time. Some goggles have anti-fog impregnated into the lens which cannot be wiped or rubbed off and will help your goggles to last longer.

CARING FOR YOUR GOGGLES

To preserve the life of your goggles for as long as possible, follow these rules:

Always rinse your swim goggles in cold water after use, to remove any chlorine, salt or sand.

Do not leave in a swim bag, but leave out to dry naturally.

Keep out of direct sunlight when not in use, as this can degrade the silicone material.

Do not rub the inside of the lenses as this can scratch them and rub off the anti-fog coating.

Consider buying a goggle pouch to store and protect your goggles.

Click here to shop the Simply Swim Goggle Pouch