Purchasing goggles for a gift is like buying underwear for a gift. It's a personal thing that no matter what you buy it will be the wrong thing! There are many different type of goggles. The differences include such as size and shape, lens color, fog-free or anti-fog coatings, nose bridge, and the eye piece. And then of course practice goggles, open water googles, race day goggles and goggles that are just cool! Some of us swimmers have more goggles then there are days in a month. But with that said we all need more goggles! Like shoes, one can never have enough pairs of goggles.
I rated the goggles by 5 categories giving up to 35 points. The categories I selected were:
Ease of Use - 5 possible points
Comfort - 10 possible points
Visibility - 10 possible points
Aesthetics - 5 possible points
Value - 5 possible points
The Good - TYR Racetech
My daily go to goggle in the past were the TYR Racetech. Actually that TYR Racetech Metallized Goggle. The can be purchased for under 15 USD so they are reasonably priced for an every day
goggle. In my experience they were snug and actually lasted up for a considerable amount of time with my rough usage. I'm constantly taking off the goggles in between sets, tossing them on deck while I go take a men's room break and these survived my abuse. They do what a google should do and hold up.
Metallized finish with the same great features as the Racetech plus anti-glare and added UV protection.
• Low profile, wide angle anti-fog lenses
• Leak proof TPR gaskets
• Easy, adjustable side clips
• Split TPR headstrap
• UV protection
Back in 2009 Men's Journal Magazine rated them "Best Overall Goggle" LINK. Purchase TYR Racetech Goggles at SwimOutlet.com
Ease of Use - 5
Comfort - 9
Visibility - 7
Aesthetics - 3
Value -4
TOTAL - 28
The Cheap And Good - Swedish Goggles
Cheap is good, VERY good! I've been a big fan of the Swedes for along time manly cuz' they are so
cheap that one can have a bunch of them on hand and in our swim bag at all times. Since we all fall victim to the goggle monster from time to time having extra goggles is a must. The goggle monster is that swim mate that hides under the swim bleachers and reaches up to take your goggles right before you leave the pool. But at 3.95 USD you just won't mind so much when the goggle monster strikes. As for Swedes they are snug to the face although some people think that they are too snug. I like them for dialy swim practice wear. I actually spring for a bungie cord and toss out the elastic straps so they'll last a little big longer. The elastic straps seem to be the first part that fails with these goggles. Now assembly can be a bit tricky and I've posted a How2 before LINK.
Purchase Swedish Goggles at Swimoutlet.com
Ease of Use - 1
Comfort - 3
Visibility - 3
Aesthetics - 1
Value - 5
TOTAL - 13
The Whole Crap They Are Expensive But Good - Fastskin3 Super Elite
If money is no object and you need to have the latest and the greatest in tech then the Fastskin3
Super Elite is the goggle for you. At 100 USD they are pricey! But if they are good enough for Michael Phelps then they are good enough for you. Of course these should be used for swim meet duty and not for day to day swim practice. Unless you are the 1% then hell buy a new pair every week. But for the 99% these are a very expensive but fast pair of goggles.
Available at Speedo.com
Ease of Use - 3
Comfort - 8
Visibility - 7
Aesthetics - 10
Value - 0
TOTAL - 28
The Not So Good - Barracuda HydroBat Racing Goggle
Now I love everything about the Barracuda HydroBat Racing Goggle except for it's quality. Previously before switching to the Barracuda Hydrobat I was wearing sort of a knockoff version of
them from Ministry of Swimming, the Zombie. I wore the Zombie on and off for two years before they finally broke. That is a very long time for a pair of goggles for me. Once the Zombies became no more I decided to buy the original Barracuda Hydrobat. The Hydrobat lasted less then a month before the rubber seal around the eyes broke apart. That is NO GOOD in my book. So the Barracuda Hydrobat gets The Not So Good title.
Purchase Zombies at Ministry of Swimming or Barracuda's if you must at SwimOutlet.com
Ease of Use - 4
Comfort - 8
Visibility - 8
Aesthetics - 9
Value - 0
TOTAL - 29
So, what about you? What is your favorite goggle and why?
