Choosing the Right Swim Goggles

If you have ever tried swimming with a pair of swim goggles that does not fit you, you know what an annoying and uncomfortable situation it can be. You come out of the pool with a headache, and suction rings around your eyes.  Here are some tips to think about when determining which goggles are right for you.

To begin, it is important to determine what you want to use your goggles for as there are many different types that each has specific uses. Competition goggles are designed to create less drag for racing but can be uncomfortable for everyday use. Recreation goggles are less expensive but tend to fog up for long swims. Practice goggles are high-quality and well-made but less technical than competition goggles making them more comfortable. Whichever type of goggle you are looking for, here are some more tips on the different choices.

Frame Type

Like with eye glasses you want to make sure you are selecting a frame that is comfortable for you as the user. With goggles there are two types:

• One Piece Soft Frame Swim Goggles

Although not adjustable the soft frame swim goggles have larger seals and a flexible frame which when combined creates a comfortable fit for many different faces. These swim goggles are considered great for triathletes, lap swimmers, and leisure swimming.

• Adjustable Frame Swim Goggles

These goggles are adjustable at the nose bridge to make them narrower or wider allowing for the perfect fit. A smaller seal design allows them to seal in the eye socket making them very low profile. These swim goggles are great for swim racers, lap swimmers, triathletes, or anyone who prefers low profile goggles.

Choose the Correct Frame Size

Swim goggles normally come in three different sizes; children’s, small/medium, and large/extra-large. Children’s are made for kids between 3-8 years old. Small/Medium is for those with narrower to average width faces, and large/extra-large for those with average to wider faces, with all widths measured at the eyes. Small/Medium can be adjusted to Large/Extra Large with the adjustable frame goggles.

Types of Lenses

Along with picking the right type of goggles and the proper frame type, choosing the correct lenses is also important for the best user experience. The type of lenses you want will depend mostly on what kid of light you will be swimming in.

• Clear Lenses

Clear swim goggle lenses are best for indoor use as they will let the maximum amount of light through. They are also good if you are swimming outdoors in overcast conditions, anytime you need the most amount of light.

• Color Tinted Lenses

Light colored tints like pink, green, purple, and especially orange can help brighten things up around you, enhancing your visibility in the water but they do not work well in bright places as the added brightness will cause a lot of squinting.

A medium colored tint like blue or gray offers more of a balanced color which makes it great for indoor or outdoor swimming and is especially a great choice where conditions are changeable.

• Mirrored/ Metallic/ Smoke Lenses

Basically sunglasses for the pool! These type of lenses are great for outdoor use or competition, especially if you swim in the middle of the day or do the backstroke where you will be looking directly toward the light.

However as they darken everything, they can make it difficult to see if it is dark outside or in poorly lit indoor pools.

• Polarized Lenses

Giving a visor style relief from the sun by blocking vertical light, polarized lenses are great for open water swimming and triathletes.

Now that you know what to consider when shopping for swim goggles it is time to go shopping! Just remember the most important thing is to makes sure you find the right fit and style so you are comfortable in your goggles. Make sure they have a good seal so they are not leaking or falling off but not too tight so you get a headache and have huge suction rings around your eyes. Hopefully these helpful tips will help you find your perfect pair of swim goggles!