Goggle reviews

Tinder

Hi folks.

Just thought I would give my two cents on Goggles. I have been through quite a few over the last year or so thought I would share my views.

Firstly the conditions in which I tested these goggles are at least 3 sessions and one of the sessions in the open water or in triathlons.

Speedo Futura Biofuse Goggle €18
Got these as a spare goggle to have in the car for opportunist swims, the fit is comfortable and the eye sockets are not too harsh, these are one peace goggles which I always prefer due to having a fairly standard nose size and less points to fail on the goggles. I got the clear lenses as I don’t like colours lenses (more later). On putting them on they are easy to adjust with a locking system simular to other manufacturers so no problem there, the view out of them is good for open water, but you can see a good bit of the frame when sighting. The issue I have with these goggles is on a long swim the tend to move around on the face and leaks begin to sneak in after about 20 mins, in the open water I had little confidence in them and waves tended to shorten the time it takes for the leaks to come in. So in summary, I would use them for pool swimming and for €18 it is a good price but I would not buy them again.

Blueseventy Vision 31 Large Frame Goggles €17
I was tempted into buying these in a tri-shop, all the pretty things and packaging tempted me into this purchase. Opening the nice packaging and the sip lock bag these look like the bees knees. There not. The left goggle leaks all the time, the fitting is poor and the lenses are way to dark for anything you could do in Ireland other than the longest day of the year at 30 degrees and swimming into a setting son. Marketing works.

Aqua Sphere Kayenne Goggles €20.16
I bought these to replace the rubbish Blueseventy ones and first off they look huge in the box, but come in a handy box which helps avoid scrapes. The view is brilliant, a clear lens and totally uncluttered, sighting in the open water is spot on you can really just glance out the top of your stroke and see all around, the profile is slim and straps secure, so getting them pulled off in a race is unlikely. These glasses are the best I have ever used. highly recommended for every type of swimming. I bought the black ones, if you like a little less noticeable they have them in white frames also.

Aqua Sphere Eagle €19
I bought these on the back of the other Aqua Sphere goggles, why you ask, well if you are completely blind as I am and don’t want to put in your contacts every time you swim these come as prescription or non prescription. All you have to do is buy the glass part of the goggle in your prescription and clip them in. I was not to convinced this would work but got them anyway and they work brilliant, no leaks, none. I was amazed. Although they don’t have the view range of the Kayenne they are more than sufficient. About the same view range of the Speedo’s but more comfortable and inspire more confidence. All the Aqua Spheres seem to be bigger on first view, but I think the extra size is well worth it, no leaks and very comfortable over an hour session in open water and pool.

The prices are rough.
Hope the info is helpful. All goggles are available from online shops and triathlon shops.

2old4dacold

Tinder wrote: »

Aqua Sphere Eagle €19 . . . . if you are completely blind as I am and don’t want to put in your contacts every time you swim these come as prescription or non prescription. All you have to do is buy the glass part of the goggle in your prescription and clip them in. I was not to convinced this would work but got them anyway and they work brilliant, no leaks, none. I was amazed.

these sound the business . . . . how much for the prescription lenses?

do you need to be the same correction factor in both eyes?

kris71

Very interesting post I will add a few words from myself then

Speedo Sockets mirrored €26 - best goggles I've ever had, and I had plenty. They fit really nice on me, however after excessive use the strap broke, but I get a new one from speedo for less then €3. Another thing if you won't find a box for them, or if you are one of those people like myself who just throw goggles back into the bag then expect some damage, can't say they are not durable as they really gone through a year of heavy testing but today one of the goggles is no longer mirrored so I'm looking a bit like a pirate. But other then that they are still in one piece. This is the first pair of goggles that survived so long under my care
I wouldn't recommend mirrored model for open water swimmers in Ireland. Maybe as a plan b for a really sunny day

I will write more about different pairs after I get back from work

Tinder

these sound the business . . . . how much for the prescription lenses?

do you need to be the same correction factor in both eyes?

No you can get different lenses for each eye, you clip in the entire eye section into the strap section, that's why I was so sceptical when I bought them.

The only downside is when purchasing you have to buy a clear set and then the lenses. Just a note, make sure you buy two lenses, I know it sound stupid but they don't come as pairs. Lenses retail for €11.50, you need to care for them as they do scratch very easy.

Here is a link.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/aqua-sphere-eagle-optical-lens/

wosheen

tinder -thanks for the reviews

I'm on the hunt for goggles myself at the moment, and the AquaSphere Vista and Eagle models seem tobe coming up tops....

Besides the fogging and leaking, one of the biggest issues I'be had with my older goggles is the dreaded "panda eyes" After I go for a morning swim (50-60 lengths) I look like I have horrible dark rings around my eyes - must be the suction from the goggles. The worst bit goes away after an hour or so, but for several hours I continue to look like i have dark heavy "bags" under my eyes. Friends have asked if I'm tired or feel ok, even though I feel great after my morning swim! Any goggles that can prevent or minimise this??

swimmer_hoop

I would highly recommend to everyone the original Swedish goggles, particularly for the pool but also quite clear and (once you look after them) fog free so good in the Sea aswell. Nice and cheap, I buy them online and they work out at €5 each.

On the negative side after a long time in the water the straps tend to weaken, but this would be after months and I train up to 70km/week at times. The straps can be easily replaced too.

People also are very divided on comfort, there is no padding around the cups, but I find that they sit inside of the eye socket as opposed to on the bone so I find them very comfortable.

kris71

hate them or love them :cool: for some reasons they not as popular now as few years before, I would blame Phelps for that one

forfcksake

I was in Elverys in Dundrum today and they had a pair of speedo goggles which I thought were these http://store.speedo.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product6_10651_10202_85851_-1_45351_33314_Y_85854
but they didnt have any in stock so i was looking for them on the net but from the picture on the speedo site they dont look the same, In elverys the strap was black but red around the back of the head & I think the ones on the speedo website are black all round, anyone know what the ones in elverys are called? (they are racing goggles btw)

Edit: Found out these are them . . http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/merit-black-red-160176349/#

kris71

those from decathlon website aren't best I have a drawer full of them available for collection %)

I get my speedo sockets in Elverys ask a staff member to help you as mine weren't on display. 'Racing' one comes in a red 'inside' box(sort of)

wosheen

I tried ordering AquaSphere goggles from Amazon (cheaper than wiggle.co.uk) but apparently they can't ship them to Ireland! Anyone else have this problem, or know another site that does good deals on goggles and CAN ship over here?

gottarun

wosheen wrote: »

I tried ordering AquaSphere goggles from Amazon (cheaper than wiggle.co.uk) but apparently they can't ship them to Ireland! Anyone else have this problem, or know another site that does good deals on goggles and CAN ship over here?

I got my Aquasphere Vistas in Amphibian King.

2old4dacold

Tinder wrote: »

Aqua Sphere Kayenne Goggles €20.16
I bought these to replace the rubbish Blueseventy ones and first off they look huge in the box, but come in a handy box which helps avoid scrapes. The view is brilliant, a clear lens and totally uncluttered, sighting in the open water is spot on you can really just glance out the top of your stroke and see all around, the profile is slim and straps secure, so getting them pulled off in a race is unlikely. These glasses are the best I have ever used. highly recommended for every type of swimming. I bought the black ones, if you like a little less noticeable they have them in white frames also.

Bought a pair of these myself on your recommendation and have to say I'm very happy with them....I'd agree with everything you said

nice_guy80

how will I stop goggles fogging up??

doing a triathlon this weekend.

home solutions please, there has been enough expense already!!!

Tinder

It's sound bad but I find spitting on the inside of the lenses or licking them if you have no spit due to nerves works. They should not fog up too bad as the water and air temp are simular at the moment, in fact last weekend the water temp was warmer than the air, the sea felt balmy compared to the cold sand on the beach.

Good luck at the weekend.
T

Tropheus

+1 on the Aquaspheres. I'm on my second pair (lost the first pair) and find them second to none. Yes, they're big, but you get used to them very quickly.

kris71

spitting is a good advice, but it doesn't work so well after drinking anything so make sure it's nice, fresh and not mixed up with any other fluids