When thinking about taking a dip (whether that be in a pool at your local sports centre/gym or wild swimming), a pair of the best swimming goggles may not be the first thing on your list. Not when there are one-piece swimsuits, bikinis and towels to consider first. However, a good pair of goggles can make or break your swim.
One of the best things about taking up swimming as a sport is that you actually don’t need loads of gear to get going. A decent costume and pair of goggles is pretty much your checklist complete.
Swimming goggles have a primary job of protecting your eyes from chlorine and/or the harmful substances found in natural waters while improving vision, of course, but you should also opt for a specific design or style that will help to enhance your performance too.
Take a deep dive (sorry) into the sorts of things you ought to consider below, before investing in a pair that’s right for you…
How do you choose swim goggles?
First of all, ask yourself where you intend to use your goggles; depending on the water, the lens type will differ. If you’re wanting to paddle outdoors then consider darker lenses with UV protection (something polarised would suit), if it’s indoors you favour then you can choose something lighter – unless it’s in a particularly dark room.
Next up is the gasket (the bit around the lenses). The smaller the gasket the better you’ll find your performance as you’ll experience less resistance underwater, but they also need to be comfortable, so this isn’t something to get too hung up about. Rubber or silicone are the best materials to look for at the seals, too, as they create the best suction and therefore won’t let any water in.
It’s important to try your goggles on, too, before you decide to keep them. Make sure they’re snug on your nose but don’t pinch, test the adjustability of the head straps (will they come loose too easily?) and lastly make sure your eyelashes don’t touch the lenses when you blink. All of these things can become quite annoying if they’re not discovered beforehand. If you’re planning on swimming with waterproof headphones, too, then you’ll want a pair of goggles that won’t get in the way of those.
For more from GLAMOUR UK’s Commerce Writer Georgia Trodd, follow her on Instagram @georgiatrodd.