Selecting the Perfect Pair of Swim Goggles for Triathlon

By Nathan Kark, CPT, USAT Level 1 
Co-founder/Coach, T4 Endurance

Are you in the market for a new pair of goggles for the upcoming season? There are many different types of goggles out there: open-water goggles, competitive pool goggles, and swim masks/scuba goggles, just to name a few (trust me, we just ...side-stepped a list analogous to a Bubba Gump shrimp dish sound-off). Open water goggles are designed for maximized open water navigation/sighting and to protect your eye sockets in the event that you happen to catch someone’s foot in your face while swimming (yes, it can get a bit rough out there). As a result, I recommend a pair of open water goggles for most triathletes.

There are a lot of good open water goggles out there and, just like any other piece of multisport equipment, fit is very important. To find out whether or not a pair of goggles is a good fit for your face or not requires trying on as many pairs as you can get your hands on. While trying goggles on and looking for the perfect fit, you should mainly be concerned with three things: (1) the nose-piece, (2) the eye socket size, and (3) the padding around the eye sockets.

Some goggles have a flexible, non-interchangeable nose-piece while others come with many nose-pieces to swap in-and-out. For non-interchangeable nose-pieces, make sure the nose-piece fits around your nose with a little bit of space between your nose and the nose-piece to ensure that the goggle sockets do not bow outward when you are wearing them—leaving room for water to leak in. If the goggles you are trying on have interchangeable nose-pieces, be sure to try all combinations to see how the fit changes. You might just end up liking one.

Regarding eye socket size, find a pair of goggles that is neither too big nor too small. To do this, press the goggles into your eye sockets but do not place the strap around your head. The proper sized goggle for your face should be able to suction easily into your eye sockets and stay there by applying only a minimum amount of pressure (again, without the strap around your head). Additionally, the goggles need to fit comfortably—no skin pulling or rubbing on the bones surrounding your eyes.

Lastly, pay attention to and try on goggles that have different cushioning material surrounding the eye-pieces. For example, some goggles use a foam pad while others use a rubber or plastic piece. A lot of athletes find it surprising how differently each material can feel and tend to build up a personal preference over time.

Once you are satisfied with the nose-piece, eye socket size, and eye padding of the goggle, pull the goggle’s strap around your head. From there, personal preference kicks in and you should be able to narrow the goggles down to your favorites and choose the perfect pair.