How to Choose the Perfect Swimming Goggles
The perfect pair of glasses is like superpower: you can see clearly underwater and the glasses appear as natural as a part of your own body. Finding that perfect match can take some trial and error, however. Here’s what you’ll want to know when you start your search.
Explore your options
Swimming goggles come in a wide variety of shapes and styles to suit the needs of different swimmers. Prices vary, but you should be able to find something that fits and works well for less than $ 25 and often a lot less. Here are some of the things you can consider:
- Visibility: Most glasses have a kind of oval window through which you look. It’s okay if you only need to look straight ahead, but if you’re swimming in open water, you’ll probably need something that doesn’t block your peripheral vision. The gray glasses in the picture above are the Aquasphere Kayenne , which have better side visibility than the pair with blue lenses.
- Color: Both tinted and mirrored glasses help darken your eyes if you are swimming in bright sunlight. However, if you prefer indoor pools, the color doesn’t matter.
- Adjustability: Some goggles have interchangeable nose pieces, allowing you to adjust the distance between the eyecups to fit your preferred fit. Minimalist Swedish style goggles are included, so you can create your own nose piece with rope or any other material of your choice.
- Straps: Single strap glasses can slip to your neck. Double straps solve this problem: you put the lower strap in its usual place, and the upper strap as high as possible so that the glasses do not slide down.
- Size: Some glasses have tiny eyecups that must fit into the eye socket, right around the eyeball. At the other extreme are glasses that fit like a mask, fitting snugly over your forehead and cheekbones. The glasses on the far left in the photo above are made in the style of a mask. Smaller types are more likely to stay in place, but larger types are usually more convenient.
- Prescription: If you wear glasses, you can order them with a prescription for glasses. This limits your model choices, but you still have a few options from brands like Speedo , Sporti, and TYR .
These considerations should give you an idea of which eyewear brands and models are right for you. The real test, however, is whether the glasses you choose fit.
Checking the tightness of the fit
Glasses do not let water into the eyes, only if they fit snugly to the face. Everyone’s faces are slightly different in shape, so glasses that fit your friend may not fit you.
You can check the fit of the glasses without dipping your face in the water. Stick the glasses to your face without putting the strap on your head and apply firm pressure. The GIF above shows you how to do this, orwatch the full video tofind out more. If the glasses stay on your face for a few seconds, you know they are good for you.
Next, you need to decide how they feel. If the nose sticks into the bridge of your nose, or if the glasses fit too tightly against your eyes, this solves the problem. Anything uncomfortable in the store will get worse by the end of a long workout. Swimmers who prefer tiny, skinny goggles for racing often use a more comfortable pair for everyday swimming.
While you’re experimenting with the fit, don’t be afraid to go beyond the label. If you shop in the ladies’ category, try opting for men’s glasses if you need a larger size, and vice versa. Children’s glasses offer another option: my glasses always leaked until one day I borrowed a pair from my son. It turned out I just needed a smaller size.
With so many items in mind, it’s a good idea to go to a store where you can try on as many glasses as possible. If ordering online, please consider the store return policy. Through trial and error, you can find the perfect match.
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