What are the best swim goggles?

Question

Don't just tell me brand like type

Answer 1

It all depends on what you plan on doing:

If you plan on recreational swimming (lakes, rivers, just messing around in the pool) you can use virtually any kind of goggles.

If you're talking about competing, you need to have googles that aren't very large, and are relatively hydrodynamic. Large ones with a lot of foam don't really help you go faster, you want to go towards small goggles with little or no rubber on the rims. Examples would be Swedish goggles, which have no rubber, or the Speedo/TYR alternative, which are the same as the Swedish, but have a liner of rubber.

Answer 2

I have to disagree with the comment that most people who wear Swedish Goggles wear them only for meets.  I personally know of no swimmers who wear them who do not wear them all the time--practice, meets, and all.  They actually are very comfortable, though they feel funny when you first wear them.  Some people do make the mistake of overtightening them out of an unfounded (though understandable) fear that they will leak because they lack eye padding.  The overtightening is not necessary, and will make them uncomfortable.  But once you adjust them properly, so they are comfortably snug, you will not go back.  I have worn Swedish Goggles for the last 15 years, practice, meets, whenever.

TYR Socket Rockets are also a good option.  They are a lot like Swedish Goggles, with a more flexible rim--giving some padding.

But in the end--there is no best goggle.  But if you find a streamline goggle that is comfortable for you, you cannot ask for anything more.

Answer 3

There is no best goggle: goggles vary highly with shape of face. Different goggles will fit different people well.

Personally I wear swedish goggles, they look uncomfortable, but if you put them together correctly and give yourself time to adjust to them, they usually become the goggle of choice.

I think the types of goggles that have the rubber sockets tend to work very well and are comfortable, but they don't last as long.

The ones with the foam sockets are generally uncomfortable.

Answer 4

My favorites that have a universal fit are TYR racetech, and Speedo hydrospecs, but the Speedo vanquisher is very popular too.

The swedes are not real comfortable.  I have worn swedes, most people who where swedish goggles only wear them for meets.  I have coached hundreds of swimmers over the years.  The swedes are usually worn by older swimmers and not age groupers, they are for experienced divers because they do not have a wide angle lens and I have never seen anybody wear them for a 3 hr 10,000 yard practice.  But hey that could be just DE.  I know that people here stopped wearing ugg boots 3 years ago but they are hot in NJ.

I do like that they come in red, few goggles do and I like them for university pools because the temp is so cold 78*F

When I personally wore swedes, they were not adjustable, they were tyed in a knot on the nosepiece and the headstrap.  I know they are a bit different now.