POOL GOGGLES
The perfect pool goggles should last thousands of laps and feel like they’re barely there. Jack Sexty dives in and tests eight pairs, starting at a mere £12
While it seems wise for a triathlete to prioritise obtaining the ideal bike or a perfect pair of run shoes to avoid expensive upgrades further down the line, swimming goggles are often overlooked. Everyone has a different-shaped face, so it’s going to be a case of trial and error when you embark on your quest to find the perfect goggles.
When you do find the right pair, you can often enjoy many months of use out of them. Additionally, with the average price on test being £28, they’re one of the most walletfriendly and lowest CPW (cost per wear) tri choices you’ll ever make.
Commenting on his recent switch to TheMagic5 custom goggles (look out for a big review next issue), multiple Ironman world champion Jan Frodeno says that forgetting your goggles are on your face is “the best thing that can happen to you” while swimming. This means no fogging, a seal that won’t leave unsightly rings around your eyes and all-round comfort from the gaskets to the straps.
Squeezing in the swims before Lockdown 2.0 began, we tested all goggles multiple times in a 25m pool. Close attention was paid to comfort, vision, the quality of the seal and effectiveness of the antifog treatments. We also assessed subjective features, such as the lens and gasket shape, according to how likely it is that they’d work for the majority of triathletes.
SPEEDO AQUAPULSE
£35 The new Aquapulse Pro Mirror slot into Speedo’s fitness category for everyday training and racing. The wide, mirrored lenses offer plenty of peripheral vision and 100% UV protection, so they’re strong candidates for goggles that you could use for both pool training and racing in open water. The anti-fog coating worked as new after multiple training sessions and, although on the dark side, the lens tint was fine to use during evening sessions in a dimly-lit pool. One thing we weren’t so keen on was the gasket seal, which is large but quite firm, and dug into our cheekbones a little. Speedo’s ‘IQfit’ straps have a handy numbered scale printed on the back, which is really useful for nailing your ideal amount of tension for when you need to buy your next pair. speedo.com/uk
ZONE3 VIPER-SPEED
£32 Zone3 say their ViperSpeed goggles are designed specifically for “pool-based speed sessions” with a hydrodynamic profile to make you look like you mean business. Despite the intimidating appearance, they’re surprisingly comfortable due to the soft gasket seal. The lenses have a heavy tint, but we could still see fine in a gloomy pool with little natural light. The blue hue made things look different to what we were used to underwater, but the field of vision is wide and the anti-fog worked as it should. The patented ‘ultraFAST quickFIT’ rear buckle system has two buttons at the back of the strap to adjust the length, which is quick and easy to use. Extra nose pieces, a storage pouch and fitting instructions complete a fine package. zone3.com
PHELPS XCEED
£34.99 The Xceed Mirrored goggles are a collaboration between Michael Phelps and Aqua Sphere. Like the great man himself, they’re stonecold quality – they tick every box when it comes to comfort, clarity and fit. While you usually have to choose between low-profile racers and wider, more comfortable training goggles, the Xceeds do both by having a wide field of vision through the quality mirrored lenses, which have a hydrodynamic curvature to save you every last millisecond. Three nose bridges are included, and the straps are flat so they’re incredibly comfortable on your head. To adjust, you just need to pull on either side of the rear clip, which is simple and effective. Yes, they’re up with the most expensive here, but they’re worth every penny. michaelphelps.com/uk
ZOGGS PODIUM
£25 The versatile mirrored lens is great for those who want one pair of goggles they can use indoors or in the sun. The Titanium Podium should also provide extra protection from reflected light, say Zoggs, which is good for outdoor pools. Zoggs’ curved lens technology (CVT) give you a great field of vision and plenty of clarity, and we experienced little fogging. The gaskets are adequately soft, although not the most comfortable on test, and the swivel-style nose bridge has flex that should mould to most face shapes. The straps adjust via the rear buckle and are made of a soft silicone. The shape of the lenses and feel of the goggles are similar to the Huub Brownlees, with the latter just edging it for the softer seal, and useful extras such as a carry case and extra straps. zoggs.com
HUUB BROWNLEE
£34.99 Having scored highly before in 220 tests, our opinion hasn’t changed on the Brownlee goggles: they’re some of the finest pool goggles around. The brothers demanded optimal clarity and peripheral vision when they asked Huub to make them a goggle, and the lenses provide a crystalclear view underwater in both the pool and open water. Over 180° of peripheral vision is great for tight lanes, and the mirrored coating on the lenses is hard wearing. They’re as close to custom as you can get without actually being custom, featuring three sets of interchangeable straps and nose pieces in the carry case to secure your ideal fit and pressure. While we prefer a flatter strap around the temples, those provided are perfectly serviceable and easy to adjust. huubdesign.com
NIKE VAPOR
£24 Described by Nike as their “most hydrodynamic goggle ever,” the Vapors have curved lenses that Nike describe as “oversized” to increase your field of view in the water, and the low profile offers some claimed extra drag reduction through the water. We found the field of vision, while adequate, isn’t as wide as that of similar racey goggles such as the Phelps Xceed. The seal is comfy and we experienced no leaks after changing the nose bridge (you get four). The straps are very firm, so it’s key to adjust them properly before starting your swim to avoid making the seal too tight. The lightly tinted lenses are best suited to indoor pools, but for brighter conditions you can opt for the Vapor Mirror (£28). We found the lenses did fog up at the start of our swims and scratch quite easily. proswimwear.co.uk
MARU PULSAR
£11.99 These goggles are the cheapest of our selection. And it’s a case of ‘you get what you pay for’ as the Pulsar Mirror didn’t match the standard of the pricier pairs on test. The gasket seal is quite small and didn’t sit comfortably, leaving some marks around our eyes after swimming. The lenses are flat at the front with little peripheral vision, and we found them disorientating when trying to negotiate a busy lane swim. We also experienced some fogging after a couple of sessions, despite rinsing and storing them in the case between swims. For us, the Pulsar Mirror goggles will provide, at best, an average experience for most swimmers if a flat frontage is preferred, and some might struggle to get on with them at all. The highlight is the low price. maruswim.com
SWANS SR2
£27.50 Swans say this is their “most popular all-round versatile goggle ”, featuring a mirrored lens with a blue tint and a flat frontage to keep your eyes focussed on what’s in front of you. You get a case with four nose bridges included for dialling in your fit, and the dual straps are soft and flexible with a simple adjustment toggle at the rear. The gaskets aren’t the softest on test, but were comfortable enough for long sessions. During lane swims we did find that the sides of the lenses distorted our view underwater, and we’d have liked more field of vision to avoid potential arm clashes with other swimmers. Otherwise, the anti-fog coating is great, and the tint of the lenses is fine for indoor pools, but there’s also plenty of UV protection for outdoor swimming. swansuk.co.uk