What type of swim goggles do you use and why?

lpauljr

 

It’s January 1, 2010, and I start my OS on Monday. I will not be getting in the pool until March for New Orleans 70.3, but I want to get a head start. I have used TRY X-Sight for the past several years. The last several pairs have leaked and I am looking for new ones.

 

mattsull

I've been using Speedo Speed Socket's since last year and really like them. Comfortable and no leaking problems at all. I also like Swedish Cup goggles. Cheap, comfortable and they never wear out or leak. I haven't wanted to wear them in a race since they are hard edged.

I used to wear Aqua Sphere Kaman's but they always started to leak after a couple months.

mancona

I second exactly what Matt said. I train in swedish googles, it took me a few swims to get used to them, but no I swear by them. At around $5 or less I can just replace them when they start to fog really bad. For races I usually use Aqua Sphere googles as I like the better vision.

CNIDog

Echo Matt's comments. I wore Swedish goggles for years and really liked them. Yup, cheap and comfortable. I even tried Speedo's version which had a little softer material around the edge. For the added cost there was an incrmenental improvement in comfort. I would buy the bungee cord strap and replace the elastic band with it as the elastic seemed to get chewed up by the chlorine at the pool I go to. The bungee cord strap also allowed for very quick adjustments. I switched to Aqua Sphere Kaman's for racing as a friend of mine told me of how she was cut under the eye by the Swedish goggle when she was kicked in the face during a swim. Have had intermittent issues with leaking usually after they've seen a few months of use in the chlorine.

Nemo Brauch

 Aqua Sphere Kamen Junior size.  They are the only goggles that fit my freakishly narrow face.

Mike Hedman

Aqua Sphere Kaiman - they're the only ones that fit my freakishly wide face.

Big tip - go to a swim store, a place that has a wide assortment of goggles, and try them all on using this method:

pull out a pair, flip the band out of the way (typically in front of the goggle), press the goggles against your eyes and let go.  One of the goggles in the store will stay there on your face, while all the rest will just fall off.  You've just met your new friends.

Everyone's face is a different shape, eye sockets are different, head sizes are different. 

Mike

Norton

 I used to swim in the Aqua Sphere Kaimen but this year switched to the Kayenne. Wierd looking but comfy and leak-free. 

ht001

I've worn the same pair of Speedo GCG's (I think...they have the slightly squishy neoprene stuff over the silicone) for literally every triathlon race and all of my training swims since I started this game in 2003 (long distance races included). They are the smoke colored ones, so they work great for those races on sunny mornings and for the freakishly bright lights at the pool. No inherent leaks, even on my small, narrow face. One of these days they're going to give out....the lenses are finally getting a little less clear to see through.

absmom

Also use Aqua Sphere Kaiman's...same as Aaron...usually have to replace them after a few months in the pool. Usually get new ones once I switch to open water.

Kitboo

TYR Racetech---because the plastic thingy between the eye cups are adjustable and they are the only brand that fit my slanty eyes. Ha!

Deller

 Double on the Tyr Racetech.  Also I add on a bungy cord with the lace lock thingy (can't remember the brand name).  All the racing kids at the swim club wear them.  I started using them because I was afraid of the thin rubber straps of my Tyrs breaking in a race.  

I had some Aquaspheres that were very comfortable but was very disappointed with the fact that the rubber nose bridge broke easily so that the life was much shorter than the Tyrs.

 

Eric

David R

I have a really bad problem with my goggles leaking.  I have tried about 10 different pair.  The Aqua Sphere Kaimens worked for a while but like everyone else started leaking after a month or two.  In July I started using the Aqua Sphere Kayenne and haven't had any problems.

Bob Irwin

I use speedo superseal goggles. They are the most comfortable goggle I've ever had. Unfortuneately, they don't make them any more. Don't know what I'll do when I run through the 10 pairs I bought when they were 80% off. The swim masks have always seemed good to me, but they always fog up.

Tomer T

+1 to Aqua Sphere Kaiman

Scott Alexander

+1 more to aqua sphere Kaimans, but as noted they do have a tendency to leak pretty quickly - and at $20/pair, that gets expensive.
I've ordered an aqua sphere vista (new product by them) to try it out.

What's the cheapest place y'all have found to purchase goggles and other swim stuff?
I've done some research, and found triathletesports.com is the cheapest for the aqua sphere Kaimans, but it's negated when they add shipping/handling, etc.

thewindshop

I have had great luck with Zoggs - Predator Wiro's

hebs

+1 for Kaiman's. I haven't had a problem w/ them leaking, but they do seem to fog up more easily after they're a few months old. Not really an issue in the pool but it's a real pain on race days when the air temp is much different than the water temp.

John Dannenfeldt

AquaSphere Kaimans in the pool for the last 3 yrs. Great. Have to replace every 12 months because the lenses get cloudy even if you rinse them carefully each time. Never had any leak problems.

Used Aqua sphere Seal goggle when doing open water swims or racing. Slightly better visibility. Probably increases drag but as a MOPer not a big issue. I'd be curious if anyone knows how much the mask would impact IM swim times?

John

jetskr

I get this 3 pack of Speedo from Cost Co every spring. They aren't super fancy goggles but it's $15 for 3 of them and they last me all year. Never have an issue with them leaking but over time they start to fog pretty bad. However, for $5/goggle you can't go wrong.