swim goggles

my theory is simple: use whatever goggles feel best on your face, can be worn for a while, and keep out the water.

Edited by novas 2009-08-17 1:50 PM

Nope, whichever goggles work, use them for pool and OW

Not a bit. The best goggles to wear are the ones that are so comfortable that you forget about them. I wear swedish goggles. Simple, cheap and very comfortable on my face.

kind of like the bike question we see on here all the time, which one to get? the answer is always the one that fits best (within your budget but that is less of a concern for goggles). Personally I use a pair of nike goggles. Tried speedo's and Tyr and another brand that just did not do it, put on the Nikes and it was like magic in that they stayed on, did not leak, and felt comfortable.

This user's post has been ignored.

x2.

I train and race in the same pair.  I will do so untill they break or I lose them

x2 about no need for special goggles.

Ditto re: having 2 pairs of identical goggles except 1 clear & 1 tinted.  I always carry both in my bag, and will use either one depending on lighting conditions.  Believe me, because races normally start early in the morning, it can come in handy to have the option of tinted goggles when the sun is low on the horizon.

No difference.  My only recommendation is to try out any tinted ones in open water before the race.  I tried to use blue tinted ones and couldn't see the buoys because they were the same color as the water with the tint.

I agree with most previous posts - do what works for you.

But what works for me goes against many of the posts above. I do use a special pair of goggles for long OWS, but it has more to do with the fact that traditional goggles don't fit my face well.

I use various speedo goggles for all my pool workouts, but they fit poorly and I have to tighten them really tight to get any seal on them. This is fine for pool workouts, but in long continuous OWS situations they start to ache after 30 minutes and after 60 it's unbearable.

So for long OWS I use the aquasphere mask (http://www.swimoutlet.com/product_p/1427.htm), which gives a great seal and has the added benefits of a wide field of vision (= better/easier sighting) and strong tinting for bright light/outdoor situations. As full masks go they have a small enough profile that there isn't a concern with drag.

But, the moral of the story is that you have to figure out what works best for you. If your regular swim goggles work fine for you in open water, then use them. It's that simple.

Thank You all for your comments... It is much appreciated !!!!!

Any goggle you wear for an extended period of time with cause some discomfort at some point.  It is just a matter of finding a pair that fit comfortably on your face.  It doesn't matter how much they cost, as long as they keep the water out and keep you focused on swimming, then they are the kind you should be using.

I had a lot of problems finding a good goggle.
based on recomendations from BT'ers I have tried and like the Tyr Nest Pro and the Aquaspehre Kaimen.
The Kaimen is bigger and fits way better for me.
The Nest Pro's fit well, but the strap is tight, even fully extended (I have a HUGE noggin).
Get something that is comfortable and doesn't leak.
Also, clean them well, which helps with fogging. I actually use one of those microfiber sunglass cleaning cloths and it works great.

If they feel good on your face and don't leak you'll be fine.

so is finding the "right" pair of goggles a trial and error method or is there anything specific to be looking for to help ensure that they don't leak?  newb here, so i have no idea what I'm looking at in the stores.

Personally, I find the Speedo Speedsocket (tinted) excellent. They fit really well and are good for OWS as the tint is just dark enough to kill any glare but light enough to see if it's cloudy etc.

 

 

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The first thing you look for is suction. Hold them up to your eyes without the strap and see if you get any suction. Do this with a few styles and you will see that some will suck your face and others will just fall off. Good suction is a sign of good fit. You want to make sure that the nose bridge holds the two lenses in place comfortably without pinching, pressing, or pulling. The goggles should fit in such a way that you do not have to overtighten the straps. If you are having to pull the straps so tight that the goggles dig into your face than they do not fit properly.

I have tried Speedo Vanquishers, Tyr Socket Rocket, another Speedo, and now the Aquasphere.  It is a new mask from Aquasphere that you can adjust while pushing a button on the sides.  They all leak, and they all make bruises on my face around the eyes.  I have yet to find a goggle that keeps the water out, and doesn't make me look like a battered wife.  So if you find one that works for you, don't worry if it is OWS specific.

jami  

I need to disagree with you.  If a pair of goggles fits properly, they will be comfortable for hours.  The opposite it true too - If your goggles don't fit well, then then will leak and be uncomfortable.  I discovered the correct brand/model/nose piece combination for myself years ago, and I stick with it, because they rarely leak, and the strap doesn't need to be very tight, so they don't get uncomfortable.

I do agree that it doesn't matter how much they cost.  Some people will find a $5 pair that fits them perfectly, while someone else can only wear the pair that costs $30.  Cost is completely irrelevant when it comes to buying goggles.

So many people are saying that they use goggles that leak, hurt, and even leave bruises.  If that's the case, then you're settling for the wrong goggles.  Even if you're saying you've tried several brands and models, you should keep looking, and not accept ill-fitting goggles.

A couple common fitting mistakes people make:
- When looking at goggles, don't forget to try different adjustments to the nose piece.  You could find the right goggles for you, but they leak because they're not adjusted properly for the distance between your eyes.
- If your goggles have a single strap, it should be high on the back of your head, not down where you would wear a pair of glasses.

If they all leak and all make bruises on your face, you might just be wearing them too tight.  Just because they leak doesn't mean you should tighten up the strap.  That might just be stretching the nose piece a bit and allowing some water in around the bridge of your nose.  Try loosening them up a bit and seeing if that helps.  As someone else mentioned, the most important thing is suction.  I can put my goggles on with the straps hanging off the sides (not around my head) and they will stay in place  if I am walking around - no need for them to be tight.

Thanks.  I'll try that.  They only leak on the right side.  Every pair I own leaks on the right side.  They probably are on too tight, because I get headaches pretty quickly.

jami

Exactly; if the goggle suck, they won't suck.

Seriously, though, I've gone through this with all 4 kids at Dick's sporting goods, opening goggles, pressing them to their face to see which ones fit and will give a good seal. If the goggles stick to your eyes for a second or two before they drop, they will likely fit well. So you can short circuit the trial and error simply by trying them on in the store. Of course, some of the store employees might resent you for opening a dozen pairs of goggles....

Thanks for the advice.  I wasn't sure of the etiquette for opening goggles at the store (basically try to keep it to a minimum) and I now have an idea of what I'm looking for.