A decent set ol goggles can make a huge difierence to your indoor swims. Ilere, we dive in and try out 10 new pairs
WORDS HELEN WEBSTER IMAGES KADEN GARDENER
BUYER’S GUIDE
For many swimmers, their goggles can be an afterthought. Often seen as a budget purchase that’s more of an annoyance than a help (fogging, leaking, marks on your face all day... We’ve all been there), they can be a constant source of frustration.
Goggle technology has come on leaps and bounds in recent years, though, so whatever your preference, face shape or needs there will be a pair out there to suit you. For triathletes there’s an additional consideration too: will you buy one pair for pool and open water, or one for each?
Our advice is to have a separate set and keep your OW goggles for specific use (and therefore they’ll last longer). Pool goggles often don’t need the polarisation and lens tech of outdoor goggles, plus, as you’re only looking at the black line, can be smaller. Other elements such as shape and strap configuration can be personal preference, but have a think about whether you need to do dive starts (in which case you really need them to stay on!). On with the test! ←
LENS
Personal preference comes into play here. Clear lenses will do fine if you want colours to stay true, but some swimmers prefer a mild blue or smoke tint to reduce the harsh glare of pool lights. Plus, choose mirrored if you want to get your race face on!
STRAP
Your strap will play a big part in comfort and how well your goggles stay on. Think about if you prefer a single or split strap (handy if you have long hair tucked in a bun) and also whether you like to be able to adjust the strap quickly for comfort on the fly.
FIT
Some goggles come in different sizes now (regular and small) and some brands, such as Zoggs, have a handy app which will scan your face and tell you the best option. Think about whether you prefer them to fit in or around your eye socket, too.
TRI-FIT RAPID-X £30
New goggles from a new brand is always something we like to see and such is the case with the Rapid-X. First thing you’ll notice is the slightly unusual shape here – which gives these a sylish and suitably race-ready look, helped by the tinted and mirrored lenses. It matters, right?! Like the Speedos this is a darker tint so whether you choose them for pool use comes down to personal preference, but they would be great for open water and so long as you don’t mind, indoors too. Fit was good her
