Busting The Myth That "These Are The Best Goggles Ever - You Should Get Them"

Every few days someone somewhere on social media, is asking for recommendations on goggles that literally do not suck.  The responses are inevitably “These are the best because they work for me.”   What works for one person might not work for another so my response is the same:  recommendations from anyone who’s not your identical twin are just as likely to be useless as throwing darts blindfolded:  you might hit on something or you might not.  The only way to tell if goggles are the right fit for you is to try them on.

I sell goggles every day.  Most times, I can find the right goggle for you by just looking at you. I joke that it’s a gift but one that will never make me rich.   But, as long as I can help you find goggles that fit, I’m happy to help.   Since I can’t get to everyone, I’m going to try to walk you through your own perfect goggle fit.   Let’s get started!

 Go Strapless

When you are swimming, the straps only need to be tight enough to gently hold the goggles in place while you are moving through the water.  Test the size and shape of the goggle by trying them strapless, first.  Without using the straps, place the goggles in what feels like a comfortable spot over your eye sockets and apply gentle pressure. If they stick for just a second or longer, that’s a good first sign that they’re a match for the size and shape of your eyes. 

Keep Pushing On

Next, hold the goggles in place a little longer.  Now, you are testing to see if they are a comfortable fit for your eye sockets.  Try to sense any obvious pressure points or uneven pressure.  Anything you sense now will only be magnified the longer you wear them.   Simple enough, right?

Open Water Goggles

Triathletes sometimes say they are looking for open water goggles because, of course, they’ll be swimming in the wild.  Don’t worry about that. Go for best fit over any specific goggle category.  What is an “Open Water Goggle” anyway?  If there really were such a thing, how do we explain decades of open water swimming before this category existed?  Yes, there definitely are some features that could be useful in an open water goggle:

1.       Polarized lenses.  Polarization will help reduce glare off the surface of the water, making sighting a whole lot easier.  If anyone out there remembers the old days of one of the original Penticton Ironman Canada swims which had athletes swimming straight into the sunrise for one leg of that swim would definitely appreciate a polarized lens.

2.       Transition lenses that adjust tint as need with brightness.   There are a few races that start in the dark and finish in the light.   A lens that adapts to light conditions would be really helpful in races like Ironman Arizona, 70.3 Los Cabos and many more.

3.       Wide field of vision.  Goggles with a wide field of vision both top to bottom and around the edges can make sighting for position and direction a lot easier.

4.       Soft gaskets.  Comfort on longer swims would be really nice.

The bottom line on this one is that you really don't need specific 'open water' goggles. Even though there are some features that might be more desirable in open water conditions, you can swim indoors or outdoors in any goggle you like. If it fits, go ahead and use it wherever and whenever you like.

Oval vs Round?

Your eye sockets are either more oval or more rounded. Goggles are likewise varied in shape. Know yourself and select goggles that are a match for your eyes.  If you look at a wall full of goggles, you’ll easily be able to rule out a bunch of them.

The green goggles at the top of the photo are more oval or almond-shaped than the white and blue ones below.

The difference in shape is even more obvious when you look at the goggles from this side.

Size Matters

Goggles, like faces, come in more than one size and, one size most certainly doesn’t fit everyone.  You know whether you have a relatively small or relatively larger face. Other things to consider in terms of sizing when fitting goggles is the distance between your eyes.  Some goggles can accommodate different widths by offering multiple sizes in nose bridge pieces. However, if you are looking at a goggle with a fixed nose bridge, make sure it fits.  There are lots of styles in this group that come in 2 sizes: usual regular and junior or women's.  Don’t pay attention to the description; choose the one that’s the right size for your face.

This is "The One" goggle from Arena.  It comes in two sizes:  regular and 'junior'.  The top, blue one is the junior version and the lower green one is 'The One', the original or regular size.

The junior size measures 4 7/8" across, measuring from the outside edges of the lens.

The regular size measures 5 3/8" across, a full half inch wider.

Anti-fog:  Does It Really Exist or Work?

Anti-fog coating on goggles is delicate and temporary; it might only last for a few weeks.  After that you will have to replenish it using spray, drops or wipes.   Some people spit in their goggles and claim that method works just as well.  It doesn’t but it will get you through the current workout. In fact, spit will just allow excess organic matter to build up on your lenses, eventually making them cloudy or dirty.  Anti-fog wipes are the best way to restore them after that. 

Another home remedy is to use a small amount of dish soap. That will work well enough, just make sure you rinse them really, really well as any leftover soap residue left on the goggle can get in your eyes and it will hurt like a bi#ch.

There are some new goggles coming out that apparently have anti-fog treatment embedded into the lens material.  We’ve sold a few pairs of these but I haven’t had a whole lot of feedback on them but we’re hopeful – this could change everything!

Here are a few anti-fog treatment options for your goggles.