Best Goggles for Open Water Swimming and Triathlon

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Comments

  • Openh2oOpenh2o Member
    edited August 2020

    100% for Swedish!( original)
    My opinion
    Second place for speedo speed sockets!
    But the most important is goggles to be u own!)
    Ps i have some crazy story about goggles with me! On my first ever ow swim in my life! When i back in this days.feel this unreal!)

    Have in forum discoussion for first ow swim in our life? Or how u know about this kind of swim? From who and when?
    All the best and good luck..with goggles!)

    chrisjohnson75celsarbo5
  • sosophiaphiasosophiaphia Colorado USAMember

    I can't quite get Swedes to fit right. But that $2.95 Sporti imitation? Those are perfect and I can't complain about the price!

    Openh2ocelsarbo5
  • BogdanZBogdanZ Bucharest, RomaniaSenior Member

    I "compete" with eye lens :smile: and my pref pair of goggles is TYR special ops 2, polarized and with mirror.

  • Openh2oOpenh2o Member
    edited August 2020

    2.95$!))) Top price no doubt!
    When i was young have same.but swimwear " Spedo"for 3$ and use them 4 years!) Iron spedo!
    Great price for all!
    Wish one day have same price for booking O7!))) I wish and hope!
    This month i swim 5km ow jubilee 80 edition and pay 6$ fee! Have great souvenirs.cool Tshirt.great swim cap all jubilee and food...and diploma!
    The price is not alll but is important!) My opinion!
    With 10-20$ u are ready for action ( 3$ goggle. Another 3-5 for swimwear and fee 6$) and will have for beer!)
    Back to goggles Swedish original! Top on my opinion!
    All the best to all

  • curlycurly Issaquah, WASenior Member
    edited August 2020

    For a long time I swam with my eyes closed and no goggles. Got pretty good at swimming in a straight line... Also knew how far 25 yards was to the nearest quarter inch. Now I have some money to spend on goggles.

    Edit: I was just thinking further about this. When I started using goggles, I still swam with my eyes closed even with the goggles on. It took a long time to get used to the idea of being able to see clearly in the water. Now I swim open water with goggles and there is nothing to see underwater... I just must not be too bright...

    Openh2oSoloMLamby
  • Openh2oOpenh2o Member
    edited August 2020

    Curly u Great!
    All best swam like u!
    I have one time this expirians and was... diferent!)
    Ow was 6.5km oficially but i swam maybe 10 or 12km!)))
    Ps know u sameone do Catalina without goggle???
    Will be hard but so exciting!
    My opinion!

    Solomiklcctcelsarbo5
  • Openh2oOpenh2o Member
    edited August 2020

    Greatest flyer Pablo Morales swim no goggles!
    100 fly Olimpic games Barcelona 92!
    Speechless!

  • chrisjohnson75chrisjohnson75 Derby, UKNew Member

    I’ve been wearing Speedo Fastskin Elite goggles since around 2012 when they were first released. The eye socket shaped gasket/seal makes them fit so snuggly and comfortable that I forget I’m wearing them. I find I can also wear them on a looser strap fitting without leakage which reduces any Red marks around my eyes.

    I used to wear Speedsockets but the lens shape of Elite goggles gives greater field of vision and less distortion.

    Openh2oSolo
  • dpm50dpm50 PA, U.S.Senior Member

    Like others, I've been using Aquasphere and been happy w them. I have clear ones as well as mirrored. Like the comfort and the wider lens.

    In a pinch, I've liked the tinted Speedo Hydrospex. Needed a new pair of goggles for Spuyten Duyvil and couldn't get to my favorite swim shop or buy online as time was short. The Speedo seemed clost to what I wanted and I was pleasantly surprised how comfortable they were.

  • BogdanZBogdanZ Bucharest, RomaniaSenior Member

    I wanted to avoid this topic, because I felt it is a personal decision, as we all have different head/ face shapes and personal perceptions/ feels. I tried a lot o models and finished with Aquasphere and TYR.

    I recently swam for 12hrs with the same pair of goggles, with no need to change - only rinse them with some water, for 2-3 times.

    I was extremely happy with "them" and because of that, I think they are worth mentioning.
    These are TYR Special Ops 2.0 Mirrored (better feeling for me than with 3.0 model)

    I start being a TYR fan, after (off-topic) using also their Racer- series briefs, which seem to last for centuries.

    MLamby
  • boobooabooboobooaboo Seattle, WA, United StatesNew Member

    Another die hard Swede fan...college coach loved that my goggles choice was WELL under the 30-40$ allotment. I set mine up with a single strap with a knot, and use elastic for the nose piece as well.

    Does anyone use Swede with bungee strap? The only bad part about Swedes is that I have probably 10 pairs but little extra strap. Agree with an earlier poster that the strap on my pool pairs wear down faster than my OW pair (lake swimmer, occasional salt on vacation). I have a random pair with silicon strap...I would love to find that in bulk. Anyone who might know where to find that, let me know. So far the only way I know how to get it is to order a full set of goggles that has that material strap.

  • wendyv34wendyv34 Vashon, WASenior Member

    Swim outlet has silicone straps. I replace the stock straps on my TYR Racetech goggles with these as soon as I get them.
    https://www.swimoutlet.com/p/sporti-silicone-goggle-replacement-strap-31102/?color=9325

    It's always a bad hair day when you work at a pool.

  • boobooabooboobooaboo Seattle, WA, United StatesNew Member

    THANK YOU! How I missed this when I order my stuff from swim outlet is beyond me. Thanks again.

  • kejoycekejoyce New EnglandSenior Member

    I get these for my swedes (I prefer the tyr-brand version which I think are a little stretchier but I couldn't find them listed right now)
    https://m.swimoutlet.com/p/sporti-bungee-strap-21092/?q=1&richrelevance&SolrSearchToProduct&search_page.rr1_mobile

  • ColmBreathnachColmBreathnach Charter Member
    edited November 2020

    @boobooaboo said:
    Another die hard Swede fan...college coach loved that my goggles choice was WELL under the 30-40$ allotment. I set mine up with a single strap with a knot, and use elastic for the nose piece as well.

    Does anyone use Swede with bungee strap? The only bad part about Swedes is that I have probably 10 pairs but little extra strap. Agree with an earlier poster that the strap on my pool pairs wear down faster than my OW pair (lake swimmer, occasional salt on vacation). I have a random pair with silicon strap...I would love to find that in bulk. Anyone who might know where to find that, let me know. So far the only way I know how to get it is to order a full set of goggles that has that material strap.

    I can recommend these silicone straps as replacement for swedes. They are a bit stronger and don't stretch as much, so are a bit less forgiving than the original straps. Hence they take a bit of "fettling" to get setup properly - as with all things swedish !

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/Arena-Goggles-Silicone-Multicoloured-95274/dp/B00GSKQLW2

  • boobooabooboobooaboo Seattle, WA, United StatesNew Member

    @ColmBreathnach said:

    @boobooaboo said:
    Another die hard Swede fan...college coach loved that my goggles choice was WELL under the 30-40$ allotment. I set mine up with a single strap with a knot, and use elastic for the nose piece as well.

    Does anyone use Swede with bungee strap? The only bad part about Swedes is that I have probably 10 pairs but little extra strap. Agree with an earlier poster that the strap on my pool pairs wear down faster than my OW pair (lake swimmer, occasional salt on vacation). I have a random pair with silicon strap...I would love to find that in bulk. Anyone who might know where to find that, let me know. So far the only way I know how to get it is to order a full set of goggles that has that material strap.

    I can recommend these silicone straps as replacement for swedes. They are a bit stronger and don't stretch as much, so are a bit less forgiving than the original straps. Hence they take a bit of "fettling" to get setup properly - as with all things swedish !

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/Arena-Goggles-Silicone-Multicoloured-95274/dp/B00GSKQLW2

    Thanks! Hopefully I can find on Amazon in the USA - swim outlet shipping is too expensive for a small item. I wish there were more in person swim shops.

  • jaimie072jaimie072 perthNew Member

    I wear Arena Cobra ultra for pool, tri and OWS. IMO you don't need those massive, dorky goggles unless you're going snorkelling.

    smithMLambySullyYorkshireTom
  • smithsmith Huntsville, AlabamaSenior Member

    @jaimie072 said:
    I wear Arena Cobra ultra for pool, tri and OWS. IMO you don't need those massive, dorky goggles unless you're going snorkelling.

    Agreed, especially in races with lots of people in the water. Excellent field of vision, comfortable, and zero leaks. If it's a small group of people in the water where the probability of taking an accidental kick to the face is low, I'll default to Swedes.

    Keep moving forward.

  • MLambyMLamby Senior Member

    I may have already posted this, but I am a big fan of Aquasphere Kayennes. They ARE a LITTLE on the big side, but they are super comfortable, have great field of vision, never fog, and last a really long time even being used in chlorinated water 15 miles per week. Biggest problem I've had is keeping people from stealing them. :)

    SoloBogdanZKatieBundpm50
  • curlycurly Issaquah, WASenior Member

    Notice for Zoggs fans. I just got an email from them that makes it sound like they are no longer going to be in the goggle business.

  • abbygirlroseabbygirlrose Los Angeles and Palo Alto, CASenior Member

    OH NO!

  • andissandiss Senior Member
    edited July 2021

    Just a tip on the straps for Swedes, I use elastic lock laces.

    Seem to last forever but they are a PAIN to assemble. Trying to fit the lace through the hole will require, scissors, fire(!) :# and small tools. Make sure they are not too tight also.

    LakeBagger
  • Nick_PNick_P PAMember

    @MLamby said:
    I LOVE my Aqua Sphere Kayenne Polarized. Especially for long open water swims. I have been using them for a little more than three years, have intermittently tried others on recommendation, and always go back to them. Love them.

    To my Kayenne folks I loved these googles the fit was great and they only fogged up in a 40ish swim.
    My gripe is it seems like the seals around the lenses break after a few months and the goggles leak.
    I switched to the vanquisher 2 and no leaks only sore eyes.
    How long does a pair of Kayennes last before they start leaking?

    MLamby
  • dc_in_sfdc_in_sf San FranciscoCharter Member

    @Nick_P said:

    @MLamby said:
    I LOVE my Aqua Sphere Kayenne Polarized. Especially for long open water swims. I have been using them for a little more than three years, have intermittently tried others on recommendation, and always go back to them. Love them.

    To my Kayenne folks I loved these googles the fit was great and they only fogged up in a 40ish swim.
    My gripe is it seems like the seals around the lenses break after a few months and the goggles leak.
    I switched to the vanquisher 2 and no leaks only sore eyes.
    How long does a pair of Kayennes last before they start leaking?

    I used the Kaimans for years they have the same seal issue. My pool pair would last forever, but my open water pair would inevitably breakdown and start leaking after a couple of months. I assumed it was something to do with the salt water. That was my impetus for switching to swedes and I have never looked back.

    MLamby

    http://notdrowningswimming.com - open water adventures of a very ordinary swimmer

  • Nick_PNick_P PAMember

    For the cost and how cult like everyone seems I order a pair of swedes.
    Sunday after my qualifying swim I am going to try them out for a few laps.

  • evmoevmo SydneyAdmin

    Tip for swede newbies - your eyesockets may need a week or two of regular use to adjust, at first. They may cause eyesocket soreness, the first few times. Don't give up!

    (loyal swede user since 1992)

    dc_in_sfLakeBaggerjendut
  • dc_in_sfdc_in_sf San FranciscoCharter Member

    @evmo said:
    Tip for swede newbies - your eyesockets may need a week or two of regular use to adjust, at first. They may cause eyesocket soreness, the first few times. Don't give up!

    (loyal swede user since 1992)

    This

    First time I tried them I hated them and gave up on them. Tried again maybe a year later and gave them more of a chance and now love them.

    http://notdrowningswimming.com - open water adventures of a very ordinary swimmer

  • sarahcassidysarahcassidy Las Vegas, NVMember

    I'm curious; why do those of you who use swede goggles like them so much? Do they ever leak? Do they ever become painful during a long swim? I don't like the sensation of having my eyeballs sucked out of their sockets, but I now see from the above comments that they're an acquired taste.

    My absolute favorite googles are the Sporti Antifog Plus Goggle at https://www.swimoutlet.com/products/sporti-antifog-plus-goggle-22394/?color=bluelensblackframe. I've tried many brands and types of goggles over the years, and now won't buy any other goggles except this one. I even stocked up on several brand new pairs just in case Sporti ever stops making this. Doesn't hurt that the price is right, currently $7.13 each.

    My only exception would be the ROKA swim goggles which I also like but they're much more expensive than this goggle. Sporti makes a smaller version (S2) but this one is far better IMO.

  • dc_in_sfdc_in_sf San FranciscoCharter Member

    @bresar said:
    I'm curious; why do those of you who use swede goggles like them so much? Do they ever leak? Do they ever become painful during a long swim? I don't like the sensation of having my eyeballs sucked out of their sockets, but I now see from the above comments that they're an acquired taste.

    Swedes last forever because they have no seals to degrade

    They only reason to stop wearing a pair of swede's is that the lenses have become so scratched you can no longer see out of them (I never buy the mirror coated versions because that is one more thing to scratched up)

    The nose bridge and the strap will eventually fail, but you can replace those easily (the nose bridge is just string and a pretty common upgrade is to change the rubber strap for a bungee cord that can almost last forever).

    Because there are no seals to cushion them, they feel uncomfortable when your first start wearing them compared to other goggles, but you acclimate to the feeling. I've never had issues with leakage or pain, however the longest swim I have worn them on is only 8 hours.

    Before I switched to swedes, I was changing out my open water goggles every couple of months because they'd inevitably start leaking (the exact same model of goggle used exclusively in pools would last much longer in comparison)

    In the scheme of things, buying goggles is not a big expense, but it was annoying to get started on an open water swim and have to abort because I couldn't get a decent seal on my googles.

    evmo

    http://notdrowningswimming.com - open water adventures of a very ordinary swimmer

  • MLambyMLamby Senior Member

    @Nick_P said:

    @MLamby said:
    I LOVE my Aqua Sphere Kayenne Polarized. Especially for long open water swims. I have been using them for a little more than three years, have intermittently tried others on recommendation, and always go back to them. Love them.

    To my Kayenne folks I loved these googles the fit was great and they only fogged up in a 40ish swim.
    My gripe is it seems like the seals around the lenses break after a few months and the goggles leak.
    I switched to the vanquisher 2 and no leaks only sore eyes.
    How long does a pair of Kayennes last before they start leaking?

    I guess I've been lucky. I am only on my third pair in four years. Changed once for color, and once because some d-bag stole mine off the bench in the changing room. I always make sure to clean mine well with a mixture of water and baby lotion after each use.

  • kejoycekejoyce New EnglandSenior Member

    The only time I have discomfort with my swedes is if I get the straps too high up on my head. It's a quick and easy adjustment to move the straps and the discomfort goes right away. It's only ever a problem when my hair is longer and my bathing cap is shaped weird. I also use bungee straps so they're a little more prone to moving around.

  • LakeBaggerLakeBagger Central OregonSenior Member

    @bresar said:
    I'm curious; why do those of you who use swede goggles like them so much? Do they ever leak? Do they ever become painful during a long swim? I don't like the sensation of having my eyeballs sucked out of their sockets, but I now see from the above comments that they're an acquired taste.

    If it feels like your eyeballs are getting sucked, I believe they may be too tight. My straps for my Swedes feel a bit looser than other goggles (even if it’s a recycled strap from the other goggles). The Swedes just don’t need to be as tight. I always press them gently to my eyes after I put them on. I’ve noticed if my cap is too low, (close to my eyebrows), the goggles might leak after a turn.

    Why do I like them? More comfortable (once you get the fit right), due to looser strap, plus minimal something-on-my-face feeling. The longest I’ve worn them is 9.5 hours and still felt totally fine. Most important for me is that the metalized version (only the original ones made by malmsten) are the darkest goggles I’ve ever been able to find. I do a lot of backstroke, so that’s really important to me.

    evmo
  • Nick_PNick_P PAMember

    Swedes update, why are these not talked about more?!?!
    I guess I am about three months in with them and they feel like I am wearing air.
    No rings after swimming, very little issues with sealing in rougher water.
    Best of all the price and there is nothing to break down.
    My only complaint is why aren’t there more outlets where you can get them.
    If it was not for this forum I would not know Swedes existed and the online world is dominated by Tri-Guys most of which put down Swedes.
    Seriously even my hyper sensitive kiddo likes them.
    Many thanks for turning me on to this style google.

    kejoyceevmoLakeBagger
  • heartheart San Francisco, CACharter Member

    Years ago I recommended Zoggs here, but now I swim with THEMAGIC5 and have not looked back. They are fantastic!

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