open water swim

Try it.

I won't.

Unless one of the above happens and it does get kicked off my head, etc. Then I just fight through it and that's that.

well i've been a competative swimmer since i was 6 so i've always worn goggles and could never go back to not wearing them.  I also have contacts so i have to wear goggles. 

I think that if you didn't have goggles, every time you tried to sight you would have water in your eyes and you couldn't really see.  I mean if you try it and it works out for you go for it.  I just couldn't see myself ever swimming without goggles.

And as for the getting the goggles knocked off... you can put your cap on over your goggles, so if they get knocked off, they'll still be on your head so you can stop fix them, rather than have them sink to the bottom.

hope that helps!

I always wear them whether it was competing in a lake when I was younger, camp doing a relay or mile swim, or now training in the lake. Most people are not comfortable swimming with their eyes open and no goggles which means everytime you have to site you have to wait for your eyes to adjust and the water to clear out.

I suggest the goggles.

I would never swim without goggles.  (I have an AquaSphere mask that I actually really like ... ) 

It's not always true that you can't see - the water was clear when I did Steelhead and I could see people ahead of me.  Plus as others have said - you'd have water in your eyes when you went to sight anyway.  I've never had mine kicked off - but I tend to start off to the side a little...

Another vote for goggles from this newb.  Prescription goggles from Swim Outlet let me see well enough to sight in OWS.  I'd be nearly blind as a bat without 'em (since I can't wear contacts).

I have yet to see someone swim without goggles in a race!  So does the AG'r you talked to race wo goggles?

There are remidies for fogging such as mentioned above, I use toothpaste.  When I look up out of the water I'm looking for sighting references and the sooner I see them the better.  When the water is churned up that means I must be behind someone, which is good because I'm drafting them (or trying to).  I too have had my goggles knocked off, but this was by someone that was swimming so far off course not much could be done about it.  Flip on your back reset and go.

I vote for using them.

So this guy that told you, is he in your age group?
Joe

I know a couple good open water swimmers that don't use them every time.  But the reasons your friend gave are pretty silly.

Now that I swmi a little faster I find myself wanting to pass people.  I could see legs and torsos today underwater, so the goggles came in handy.

Not looking at anything? I actually get a kick out of the tiny bits of pollen and whatever floating in the water.........as it rushes past I FEEL as if I am swimming fast.Nver really am, but oh well. It cool! But then....I am a geek, pathetically amused by small things.
Cannot imagine swimming without goggles .

lol that is awesome