Whether in a pool or open water: swimming goggles must sit well and securely on the head, protect the eyes and offer the best possible view in the water. We will show you which criteria you should definitely pay attention to and which different options there are in the wide selection.
It should be a good fit and tight
There are numerous different swimming goggle shapes and constructions. Not everyone is equally suitable for everyone and, above all, comfortable to wear. The perfect swimming goggles should therefore fit well and not pinch. If this is the case, the goggles usually stay tight in the water and don't let water in. Trying on swimming goggles can be just as useful as buying shoes or asking questions about a bicycle. Tip: If you hold the swimming goggles on your face without fixing them with the headband, they are usually permanently sealed.
These types of swimming goggles exist
The Swedish glasses / luxury Swedish glasses
It's just two hard plastic shells connected with a rubber band. The Swedish goggles have a hard rim and not a wide gasket, so they sit very deep in the eye sockets and are not comfortable for everyone.
The luxury version has a slightly rubberized edge to fit a little tighter or is also mirrored, specially tinted and offers an anti-fog coating. Either you love them or you hate them. However, one thing is certain: Swedish glasses are the cheapest option.
The narrow suction cup glasses
The narrow suction cup glasses are built almost as narrow as Swedish glasses, but already have a soft silicone seal to offer. It also sits more in the eye sockets and, due to its design, has a rather limited, forward-oriented field of vision.
The suction cup glasses
The suction cup glasses are the typical triathlon glasses that are attached to the cheekbones and are very comfortable to wear thanks to the soft silicone seal. It offers a large field of vision and is probably the most common in triathlon competitions.
These models are available in numerous variants from clear to mirrored to self-tinting.
The mask swimming goggles
The mask swimming goggles are very voluminous. Basically similar to a diving mask, except that this version of swimming goggles leaves the nose exposed.
They are very comfortable and probably offer the largest field of vision among swimming goggles, but such goggles can certainly create a noticeable water resistance. But: In the event of a kick in the face, she would probably best protect her eyes.
Adjustable nose bridge: Useful in certain cases
The distance between the eyes in humans is an average of 62 millimeters and varies only very slightly between very different constitutional types and body sizes.
If, despite everything , you do not have the typical standard face and therefore have eyes that are narrower or wider apart, you should make sure that the swimming goggles have an adjustable nose bridge. Either the flexible bridge can be made shorter or longer, or there are already two or three different sized nose bridges included with the glasses. In addition, some manufacturers also offer swimming goggles for narrow faces or even special women's swimming goggles are available. Women tend to have higher cheekbones and a higher eyebrow line, and their eye sockets are slightly narrower than men's.
Headband adjustment more or less important
The adjustment mechanisms of the headbands are solved very differently depending on the model. With some models, the size is easily adjusted using side fasteners, some can be adjusted relatively easily with loops while they are still on the head, tighter or looser, and others have to be laboriously adjusted before they are used for the first time.
But: This process will probably only be carried out at the beginning, so you can turn a blind eye to this criterion when making a purchase decision if the remaining impression is correct.
As wide a field of view as possible
Another criterion that probably distinguishes the triathlete from the pure swimmer is the field of vision that the goggles should have. Some manufacturers have installed slightly curved lenses that promise a field of vision of 180 degrees. Disadvantage: The view through the curved lenses is usually blurred or very slightly blurred. In contrast, pure swimming goggles usually have a more forward-facing field of vision or focus.
Dizziness while swimming? The swimming goggles could be to blame
So if you get dizzy while swimming, it could be because your goggles are slightly distorted. Unfortunately, this blurriness can only be consciously perceived in the water. The blurriness can only be seen “on land” with some glasses models.
However, the only swimmer also has his “own” lane and does not have to defend himself against competitors who, like in triathlon, like to make physical contact or cross paths. The triathlete prefers to have everything in view and to be able to at least partially observe the situation in the corner of his eye to the right and left. Especially when swimming in open water and in competitions, there is also the orientation aspect. With a large field of view, the turning buoy or the target can be sighted better than with the narrow field of view of, for example, Swedish goggles or comparable narrow swimming goggles. And finding good legs to hang in the shadows of the water is also a little easier with better visibility.
The tint: clear, blue, yellow or dark?
The tint of the swimming goggles should correspond to the intended use. For the indoor pool, it can be the bright clear glasses. In the outdoor pool or for outdoor use in the morning or evening, when the sun is still low in the sky, it can prove to be a good idea to use more or less tinted glasses. Since competitions start in the morning and the training sessions tend to start in the morning or evening, it makes sense to use tinted glasses for this event. By the way: Blue-tinted glasses offer more of a neutral light and only slight glare protection, a yellow tint is supposed to brighten more and enhance the contrast, red or pink tinted glasses are simply supposed to put you in a good mood.
Anti-fog and UVA/UVB protection
Finally, the anti-fog protection in the glasses and the UV filter, which we also expect, are still missing. Almost all swimming goggles now have an inner coating that is supposed to prevent the swimming goggles from fogging up. In order to maintain this effect for as long as possible, you should follow our care tips or refresh it with Antifog if the effect is diminishing. Last but not least, the UV filter, which is only important for swimming in the open air or for use in open water, protects the eyes from the sun's rays.
Current studies show that the eyes, like the skin, are damaged if they are exposed unprotected to UVA or UVB radiation over a longer period of time. This radiation is always present, in cloudy weather as well as in sunshine. The surface of the eye, the lens and the retina are particularly at risk.
Conclusion
Of course, the perfect swimming goggles for us triathletes should first of all fit well. You should feel comfortable and, above all, they should remain tight, after all you have them on your eyes for a good hour during training and competition. Nevertheless, the field of vision should be as large as possible for orientation in the lake and for mass starts in competitions. We require a functioning anti-fog coating and UV protection. The headband does not have to be easy to adjust, but above all it should hold the glasses securely on the head.
Here you will find the right swimming goggles for you
