Swimming Goggles Buying Guide

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In order to protect the eyes while swimming, swimmers are often encouraged to use swimming goggles. These goggles designed for swimming are built in a way that they will enhance underwater vision and protect the wearer’s eyes from chlorinated water.

These swimming goggles are available in different types for recreational, competition swimming up to swim masks and prescription swimming goggles.

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How to Choose the Best Swimming Goggles

If you are on the hunt for a pair that works, there are considerations that you have to think through first prior to a purchase. We have listed the different kinds of swimmers’ specs available and you might have an idea of what might work for you now.

But still, do consider the following since it’s crucial that you buy a pair that suits you well.

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  Fit

A pair that fits your sufficiently will fit you securely on your head. To offer a tight seal surrounding the eyes, the pair’s eyepiece features a silicon or rubber rim in order to protect them. To guarantee a great fit in the nose area, the nosepiece is often designed to be adjustable.

When shopping for a model, make sure to try a few pairs. A model’s nosepiece and headband might be modifiable but the form of the eyepieces are not so you should watch for the latter. Each model is built differently and some might feel uncomfortable or snug. Try the new swimming goggle out with your swim cap and make sure it all fits perfectly well. Although very obvious, for children and youngsters there are special models which should fit better for them.

• Quality

Top-rate models will significantly give way to more enjoyable activities in the water. Kids who are learning how to swim benefit greatly from goggles while taking their lessons since it eases the discomfort of wading through a pool filled with chlorinated water. This is true for most professional swimmers too.

A lot of models also come with anti-fog coating. There is a certain chemical that is spread over the inside part of the lenses and this was done to minimize condensation build-up that can happen during swimming. The condensation is usually brought on by the disparity between the water temperature and the heat within the eyepiece.

• Lens color and material

The lens of a pair and the material it is made of are important factors to consider too. The variety of colors help swimmers to perceive more accurately under different lighting.

Athletes who use indoor pools must mull over the lighting used at these venues so they can choose the proper pair lenses while those who practice outdoors must consider the general lighting present at the water in which they would practice.

Clear lenses help swimmers see more clearly in low light blue moderately filters out light in low lights with a bit of glare, amber minimizes glare and offers a contrast in flat light, gray sharply filters light to help swimmers avoid squinting under vivid lights while mirror lenses can significantly filter more light than gray lenses.

Lenses from these specs are made from crack-resistant polycarbonate, a kind of plastic. Optimal swimming goggles are crafted from a higher quality of plastic that minimizes distortion so swimmers who want maximum clarity should look for this type of lens.

Other elements that can help out swimmers include enhancements such as UV protection filters to improve vision under harsh lighting conditions.

• Budget

Models come in a variety of prices, from reasonable to high-end. If you plan on doing plenty of swimming, then you must invest on mid-range models to guarantee prolonged use. Goggles from this price range are usually comfortable, seals your eyes perfectly from water seepage and it also keeps you driven to go swim a few more laps.

Types of Swimming Goggles

Here are additional information about this particular swimming accessory to give you more idea about what pair you need to employ in your routine.

• Practice goggles

This pair is meant for training/every day practice. Measured against the kind used for competitions, practice goggles typically do not look as technical as the former but they are generally made from quality materials. Because swimmers are going to wear them for an extended period of time, they’re usually comfortable.

In addition, this model presents more gasket rubber in their structure to minimize pressure against the wearer’s eyes and at the same time, provide a better seal.

• Competition goggles

Competition swimming goggles are designed to fit closer to the swimmer’s eye sockets to provide lesser drag. They are built to be more hydrodynamic in the water and are normally used for competitions since they can be quite uncomfortable for longer wear. Popular brands are Speedo, Barracuda, TYR and Arena.

• Swedish type goggles

Swedish pairs or Swedes are also classified as competition-type models but unlike those from the competition category, this particular pair does not have a soft sealing gasket included in its structure. Its entire frame and lens are crafted into a single, tough plastic section and are fairly small once put on.

The sturdy plastic lens covers straight against the skin and its entire form is considered as the smallest in terms of swimming goggles sizes, which makes the model the most efficient among the lot.

• Recreational goggles

More reasonably-priced as compared with the practice/competition kinds, specs used for recreational activities are not intended for prolonged use. If you just want a quick dip in the ocean or pool for sporadic swimming sessions, then this pair will prove to be enough but they are not recommended for training and competition.

• Swim masks

Swim masks are supple and comfortable to wear but this pair is made for snorkeling and scuba diving pursuits and are typically bigger and clunkier than your average swimming giggles. Swim masks tend to withstand water well that’s why most recreational swimmers use this pair.

• Prescription goggles

These are specs used by swimmers with eye problems. They are typically designed with prescription lenses that facilitates a good vision for shortsighted or longsighted individuals. There are also available models that are constructed with replacement lenses to help wearers select distinctive diopters for each eye.