Not too long ago, swim goggles weren’t even a thing. When swimmer Mark Spitz won 7 gold medals in the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, he did it without any at all. We’re not recommending that.
Goggles do more than help you look like a serious competitor. They can keep pool chemicals, salt water, bacteria and everything else out of your eyes, they can shield your eyes from the sun, and they can help you see better underwater. And if you need prescription goggles, they can also help you see the posted workout at swim practice, or, if you’re super nearsighted, can even help you see the other end of the pool.
As great as they are, goggles can be pretty annoying when they slide off your face, fog up, or give you a headache from how tight they are. So finding the perfect pair of goggles makes everything easier no matter what body of water you’re swimming in.
Goggles can also help you out no matter what the reason is that you swim. Swimming is a great workout. And Olympic swimmers like Michael Phelps, Cody Miller, and Adam Peaty are all in ridiculous shape. Swimming also can help you crush your weight loss goals.
So what should you look for to find the best swimming goggles for you? We asked MH health director Marty Munson, who’s a US Masters Swimming Level I and II coach and is also a distance open-water swimmer who has swum around islands including Key West and Manhattan. The first thing to know is that “there’s no single, foolproof way to choose goggles online that will fit you perfectly, since faces are shaped so differently,” she says. “If you don’t already have a brand or style that works for you, start with a pair that comes with different nose bridge sizes so you can customize them a little bit.”
Next thing is to think about what lens color and shape you want. “Mirrored goggles tend to make you look like a competitor to really contend with,” Munson says. “And they’re great for bright conditions outdoors and in open water. Yet they’re not so great for seeing the posted workout on the board in dimly lit basement pools, so go with clear or a light tint. Also know that orange-tinted ones tend to heighten contrast, just like orange-tinted sunglasses do.”
How big should they be? “In general, larger goggles with more peripheral vision are better for open water and triathlons, where there’s a lot more for you to visually process than a black line and the other people in your lane,” Munson continues. “Competitive swimmers also prefer lenses that are super low profile to keep everything streamlined so you aren’t losing speed.”
Fortunately, there are many different styles to choose from. Some now even have built-in tech that tells you how many laps you’ve swum and how fast you’re going. Others are a lot simpler. To help you nail a hassle-free swim workout, we’ve rounded up 15 of the top swimming goggles on the market.
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