Which first ? Goggles or swim cap ?

In races, which is about the only time I wear a swimcap (ok, OWSs too), I put the goggles on first and then the cap so when I come out of the water, I pull off the goggles and the swim cap comes with it.  I'm not working it twice.

Peace. 

Personal preference but I feel pretty strongly about having my goggles on first, then cap. If you're in the ocean (or even a large lake) diving under even a moderate wave can sweep the goggles off your head. Not so if they're under your cap. Second, in the flailing arms and legs of a tri start (and around the buoy, or even en route if it's an out-and-back and there's no rope separating the outbound and inbound swimmers), similarly, your goggles can get knocked clear off your head. Good luck trying to find them and put them back on in the mass of flailing bodies and churning water. But if they're under your cap ... it's very difficult for them to move much more than a few inches up or down beyond your eyes.

Whatever the question is for--happy paddling!  

As opposed to the other way, where pulling off the swim cap causes the goggles come off with it.

Personal preference, IMHO. I've never been able to get comfortable with the goggles underneath the swim cap.

I had heard from someone to do goggles under the cap for my race so I tried that.  (I don't wear a swim cap for training so the race was my only experience with one).  I had some major fog issues and I had to stop and fix them, but I was able to do it w/out a problem and w/out having to take off the cap. 

Yeah, but I have such an oversized melon, that I can barely grab any bit of my swimcap... I need the goggles to do the work for me.

Peace,
Brian

I've got big, curly hair that pushes any and all swim caps off, including the pretty ones with flowers that I borrow from my mum. Putting the goggles on after cap helps keep the cap on my head.

Hell no I'm not cutting my hair. I'm committed to the sport, I don't want to be committed. 

Goggles over.  In all my swims, and I get into the scrum, including last Sunday's 900 person mass starts, never lost a set of goggles, anywhere, not going out, through surf, bodysurfing, etc.

My secret: I have "pool" adjustments for goggles - nice and loose.  And "OWS" adjustments for goggles, a bit (not a lot tighter).  If you tighten them enough, I think I'd be knocked out before they came off, even diving through surf.

Answer is:  whatever works.