Choosing The Best Swimming Goggles

If you are a novice, choosing the best swimming goggles for your needs can be a frustrating experience if you don't know what to look for at the sports store. This page gives you some tips so that you can make an informed decision the next time you are out to buy new swimming goggles.

3 Quick Tests To Assess The Goggles' Quality

It is advisable that you try on the swim goggles you are interested in, ideally the exact pair that you'll be buying. Nothing is more frustrating than having bought a new pair of goggles that is uncomfortable or useless because it leaks.

So here are three tests to quickly asses the quality of swim goggles:

1. Are the lenses comfortable? Leave the straps off, and push the lenses against your eye sockets. This will give you a quick idea on if the lenses will be comfortable enough for you to be worn for an hour or two at the pool. The lenses will be more comfortable if they are padded with gaskets made of foam, rubber or silicone. Also check that the nose bridge doesn't hurt.
2. Now push the lenses some more against the eye sockets, then release them. The goggles should stick for a few seconds thanks to the suction, even without straps. If this isn't the case and the swim goggles fall off, they will leak water and be useless.
3. If the goggles pass the first two tests, put the straps on and see if the goggles are still comfortable. Check if the lenses don't suck too much on the eyes or that the straps must not be tightened too fast.

Choosing The Best Swimming Goggles Can Be Difficult

Some Additional Tips

• Check if the straps can be easily adjusted and don't detach themselves too easily. Otherwise, you'll quickly become frustrated when you try to adjust them at the pool.
• Are the lenses dark or light? Personally I prefer light lenses. But if you swim outside or in bright environments dark lenses can be preferable.
• Check that the lenses have anti-fog coating. Coated lenses are better as you won't need to defog them as often (I have yet to find a pair of swim goggles that never becomes fogged).
• Swim goggles come in a lot of sizes and shapes. Choosing the right ones is mostly a matter of personal preferences. However if you need to dive from starting blocks or do quick flip turns, be aware that larger goggles will slide more easily than smaller ones. Also avoid the bulk diving goggles.
• Finally, make sure you feel good wearing those goggles. If you don't feel comfortable while wearing them, it won't be long before you'll want to buy another pair. So don't neglect this important aspect!

Conclusion

I hope now that the next time you'll be at the sports store, you'll know how to choose the best swimming goggles! Personally, I'm partial to the Futura Ice Plus Speedo swim goggles.

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