Posted by Huub Design UK on 28th Aug 2018
How to find the perfect swim goggle for triathlon
Swim goggles are one of a triathlete’s most
important pieces of race day equipment, so our scientific approach to
tri kit extends to developing the best racing goggles you’ll find for triathlon.
Within our range, you’ll discover photochromatic, self-regulating
lenses that adapt to light conditions to give you the best vision
possible, as well as anti-fog, scratch resistance and leak resistance to
ensure triathletes get the most out of their swimming goggles.
Selecting
a pair of goggles isn’t easy, there are so many choices and without
trying them all on it's hard to know what will suit best. There are a
few things to consider to narrow down your selection, all of which will
be individual to the swimmer and the 'swim'. The ideal scenario is to
find a google that suits all, however as a triathlete, you will find
yourself in varying locations, from the pool to the sea.
The fit of a goggle
Perhaps the most essential part of getting the right goggle
for you. Everyone’s face is inevitably unique, and therefore all
goggles are going to sit slightly differently. Goggles with a larger
socket or seal usually fit a wider range of people due to a softer and
broader rubber seal that will shape around the eye socket. When you look
at the goggles with a smaller and sleeker socket, it gets more
important that you make sure the fit is right. Making sure the goggles
come with varying nose bridge sizes gives a much greater chance of
getting that perfect fit. The worst thing you can have is a pair of
leaking goggles,
or one that aggravates eye socket and nose. Additionally, when swimming
in the open water your awareness is crucial, the majority of which
comes from your vision, so you don't want to impede that with goggles
full of water!
The lens of a goggle
The
most undervalued aspect of a pair of goggles, people don't necessarily
always think about light conditions and sighting. You could be swimming
at the crack of dawn when the sun is rising, or you could be swimming in
overcast and gloomy conditions. Each of these conditions will have a
lens which is most suited. For cloudy conditions the best choice would
be a clear lens, however, this doesn't necessarily have to be
non-colour, it has been found that certain colours such as yellow in
fact highlight features such as buoys and coloured flags and make them
stand out in gloomier conditions. Mirrored lenses are the best option
for strong sunlight and bright days. Sighting while swimming is hard at
the best of times, so you want to make sure you have the best visibility
and do not have to squint to see where you are going!
The shape of a goggle
Similar
to the fit of a goggle, the general rule of thumb is that the bigger
the goggle the increased chance of it being comfortable. Here at HUUB,
we look into all aspects of making a swim faster, and one of these is
drag and streamlining - the goggle has a sizable impact on this. If you
are all about speed then you want a goggle with minimal
drag that almost sits within the eye socket without impacting vision
too much. Some would argue that these goggles aren't as comfy as a more
traditional bulky goggle,
however, this isn't always the case. A final thing to consider is your
proximity to others when swimming, in essence how likely is it that
you're going to get clonked around the head? A goggle with a bigger seal
and malleable frame will be able to absorb the impact easier and will
have less chance of being dislodged.
Altair Goggle
Good for: Race, pool and open water swimming
Key feature: Three interchangeable lenses
Fit: Flexible X-O Skeleton frame and interchangeable bridges for a custom fit
Aphotic Goggle
Good for: Open water swimming
Key feature: Photochromatic lenses
Fit: Designed to fit the face perfectly with silicone that offers a secure fit
Brownlee Goggle
Good for: Race and pool swimming
Key feature: Market leading clarity and peripheral vision
Fit: Interchangeable nose bridges for fit and split straps for comfort
Varga Goggle
Good for: Race and pool swimming
Key feature: Minimal drag and precision fit
Fit: Soft frame and gasket for a comfortable fit