Best Goggles: Swimming World Recommends Four Great Options
Aside from the swimsuit, a swimmer’s most important piece of equipment is their set of goggles, a trusty colleague during long hours of practice and during their most important competitions. Goggle preferences vary wildly, with swimmers seeking different sizes and fits and even different features that might enhance their swimming in some shape or form. Swimming largely outdoors might behoove a swimmer to invest in tinted goggles while younger swimmers will opt for a comfortable, cushioned pair instead of the most hydrodynamic.
Here are Swimming World’s pick for our favorite goggles that might interest you, with some distinction given to your swimming habits and preferences. Perhaps it will take some experimentation to find your first choice, but most importantly, make sure to find something that keeps your eyes dry at all times!
Best All-Around/Most Comfortable: THEMAGIC5
Imagine owning a pair of goggles that are specifically designed for your face, and as comfortable as you can believe. Well, that is what THEMAGIC5 has developed. By using a facial-scan app, consumers can have a high-performance pair of goggles personally designed. Thanks to this personalization, swimmers can enter training without distraction and worries about leakage or discomfort. THEMAGIC5 offers goggles for $60 and $70 and are perfect for casual swimming or competition.
Pros:
- Custom-Design
- Comfort
- Versatility
- Visibility
- Durable
- Multiple Colors
- Comes with Case
Information about THEMAGIC5 Goggles:
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When you have bought a pair of goggles on themagic5.com, you will be directed to submit a scan of your face through THEMAGIC5 App.
- The scan will be used to custom-produce your set of goggles in either the United States or Denmark, and they will arrive in 1-2 weeks.
- THEMAGIC5 goggles guaranteed not to leak or leave marks on your face.
- The goggles come in eight colorways: Blue Magic Mirror Gold, Blue Magic, Clear Magic, Smoke Magic, Black Magic Mirror Silver, Pink Magic Mirror Gold, Limited Edition Green Silver, Limited Edition White Purple Gold.
Great Value/No Marks: Snake & Pig
Comfort is the name of the game when it comes to Snake & Pig goggles. The Basilisk model is available for $35 and comes in several color choices. The Snake & Pig brand is known for the cushioned tubing that surrounds the eye and allows swimmers to exit the water without those annoying goggle marks. These goggles can also be worn with less tension in the straps, but ensure water remains locked out.
Pros:
- Cushioned
- No Goggle Marks
- Multiple Sizes
- Easy to Adjust
- Anti-fog included
- Free shipping
Information about Snake & Pig Goggles:
- These goggles used double-walled air-cushion gaskets to ensure comfort for users, and they do not have to squeeze the head to maintain a seal, so they do not leave goggle marks.
- This product comes in Basilisk and Junior Basilisk models so that everyone can figure out their optimal fit. The Basilisk model includes three sizes of nose bridge.
- The goggles come with an anti-fog product designed to keep the lenses clear, and they can be ordered in black, pink, clear or blue lenses.
- Snake & Pig is an eight-year-old company founded by a couple, Melissa and Michael. Based on Chinese zodiac signs, Melissa became known as the snake because of her passion for understanding human nature, and Michael is the aforementioned pig because of his passion for design and creation.
Best for Pacing: FINIS Smart Goggle
FINIS has long been at the forefront of innovation, and its Smart Goggles provide cutting-edge data that allows swimmers to analyze their progress. The Smart Goggles track elapsed time, laps, stroke count, split times, stroke rate and calories burned, with all of that information visible in a digital display in the lens. The data provided by the Smart Goggles is also transferred to an app, which enables easier tracking of development. This FINIS product can be purchased for $199.
Pros:
- Instant Feedback
- Non-distracting Display
- Counts Laps
- Keeps Time
- Connects to App
- Easy Charging
- Comes with Case
Information about the Smart Goggle:
- The product shows a running clock for swimming and rest periods, and at the conclusion of a swim, a swimmer’s overall time pops up. After each turn split, they can see their time for that length.
- The goggles count laps and help swimmers maintain pace, so they are perfect for long distance sets.
- The data is instantly available to a swimmer in the corner of their left eye. Don’t want to look at the times? Look straight ahead, and you will only see the pool.
- The accompanying Ciye app records a swimmer’s workout and allows them to review it later. Swimmers also can view an animation of their head position and make corrections to their technique.
Best for Open Water: FORM Smart Swim 2
FORM has developed the latest goggles that provide real-time data to its users, including stroke count, split times, stroke rate and stroke detection. This information is connected to an app, which provides swimmers with the chance to review their training performances. Additionally, the app connected to the Smart Swim 2 Goggles offers users more than 1,500 workouts to utilize. More, a heart-rate monitor provides immediate feedback that can benefit swimmers and coaches. The Smart Swim 2 Goggles can be purchased for $249.
Pros:
- Instant Feedback
- Heads-up Display
- Three rows of Data
- Multiple Modes
- Open Water Features
- Comes with Case
Information about the Smart Swim 2:
- This goggle shows three rows of data to a swimmer, and they can set their preferences based on the type of swim and what data they prefer. The heads-up display in a swimmer’s right eye uses augmented reality to deliver metrics.
- Swimmers can see their instantaneous heart rate as well as overall time, intermediate time, stroke rate and more.
- The goggle allows for workout tracking, with a swimmer able to input a workout into an app beforehand, and the goggle can provide prompts about what comes next.
- The “SwimStraight” feature is perfect for open water swimming by helping swimmers move in a straight line and get to their destination as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Thanks for this! As I was watching the Olympics, I was wondering what kinds of goggles the elite swimmers choose for their very important competitions.