POOL GOGGLES

A set of goggles that are reliable and fit you perfectly means one less thing to worry about on top of the demands of pool training. Jack Sexty tests nine

For triathlon, goggles are a relatively inexpensive purchase compared to the latest bling wheels or feature-packed GPS watch. Yet you can easily accumulate a frustratingly large spend if you keep buying pairs that are unsuitable or don’t last long enough due to poor durability.

While some trial and error is inevitable, it’s worth thinking about what you want from your goggles and stick with a pair that include features you get on with, e.g. fixed-nose pieces or interchangeable plastic ones to suit different nose shapes; curved-lens goggles for greater peripheral vision, or a flat lens that keeps your focus towards the bottom of the pool.

Curved lenses are becoming popular, even with competition swimmers, as the latest high-end versions tend to look sharp and have a close fit. There are even some claimed hydrodynamic benefits – although some swimmers may find that they simply want to count tiles and find anything else a distraction, so it really is a case of finding what works for you.

But the three things you’re really looking for are fit, comfort and clarity. You want your goggles to be easy to adjust and fit perfectly every time; the seal shouldn’t leave huge red rings around your eyes; and you don’t want them to fog up.

The 10 pairs on test are of various shapes and sizes and differ greatly in style and price point, so we were keen to see if each pair would tick off our three golden rules of fit, comfort and clarity in testing. Time then to hit the chlorine!

Gaskets A soft seal made from silicon, foam or rubber to create a vacuum around the eyes that prevents water ingress. straps Most often a piece of silicon, arranged into two independent loops or split at the back. Lenses Usually polycarbonate and tough so they don’t crack or wear. The lenses will usually have an anti-fog coating. nose bridge Either an interchangeable piece of plastic that comes in various sizes, or an integrated softer bridge with a universal fit.