The curse of goggles and starts...

All these people recommending specific goggles perplexes me. Everyone's faces are shaped differently. It stands to reason that goggles with different contours will fit differently. My recommendation is that you go into a shop with a fairly wide selection (I happen to live near a Kiefer store) and see what fits. If they fit you well, I think they should pretty much "stick" with just light external pressure - no straps. Of course, they won't stay on your face long without the straps, but if you can't get a decent seal in the store without a strap, I'd move onto another style. Once you find something that fits at that level, then sure, all the other tricks come into play. I used to have a favorite style of goggle (they were Speedos, the style name has long been forgotten and no amount of Googling has helped me) and they are no longer made. I, unfortunately, do not live near a real swim shop, so I don't have the option to go into the store and try on every pair. I really, really wish I could, but I have to base my choices off of online reviews and trial and error. It's been quite an expensive several years and I still haven't found a pair that I like yet.

Elaine, I also have a narrow face. Maybe I will try the Tyr Womens' T-72 that you mentioned. Swim Outlet has them for $9.95: www.swimoutlet.com/ProductDetails.asp

I had the same problem, I used to hide the strap under the cap, I put my cap that it overlaps top edge of my goggles - that helped they stopped to fall off but still from time to time they leaked. That happened until I bought Arena Tracks Mirror - after that my goggles have never ever fell off or leaked, so I use them them on every meet. I still hide the strap under the cap - that's a habbit but no cap overlapping over goggles since that time - they stick to my face as if I've used superglue. :banana:

All these people recommending specific goggles perplexes me. Everyone's faces are shaped differently. It stands to reason that goggles with different contours will fit differently. My recommendation is that you go into a shop with a fairly wide selection (I happen to live near a Kiefer store) and see what fits. If they fit you well, I think they should pretty much "stick" with just light external pressure - no straps. Of course, they won't stay on your face long without the straps, but if you can't get a decent seal in the store without a strap, I'd move onto another style. Once you find something that fits at that level, then sure, all the other tricks come into play.

Elaine, I also have a narrow face. Maybe I will try the Tyr Womens' T-72 that you mentioned.

All these people recommending specific goggles perplexes me. Everyone's faces are shaped differently. It stands to reason that goggles with different contours will fit differently. My recommendation is that you go into a shop with a fairly wide selection (I happen to live near a Kiefer store) and see what fits. If they fit you well, I think they should pretty much "stick" with just light external pressure - no straps. Of course, they won't stay on your face long without the straps, but if you can't get a decent seal in the store without a strap, I'd move onto another style. Once you find something that fits at that level, then sure, all the other tricks come into play. I agree with this. I found that the speedo speed sockets fit my face perfectly and even with the straps as loose as possible they have never leaked or come off from a dive. My race pair are a bit tighter but they fit me very well.

So I finally got some of those T-72 Petites. They are great! I didn't even try with the strap they came with (it looked super short) and just put my own strap on. I haven't tried any starts with them but I have a meet on Sunday (I know, no new goggles for meets but my old ones are leaking too badly) so we'll see how they do then! Glad you like them! Are you sure the strap is too short? You will want to wear them tighter for races. And, if you do the following, you shouldn't have any problem on the start: 1. Put Vaseline around your eye sockets for better goggle suction/ fit. 2. Put the strap around the crown of your head. 3. Make sure you get good suction when you put them on. 4. Wear your cap over your goggle strap or double cap, with the goggles in between the two layers of caps. 5. Pull the front of the cap over the top edge of your goggles. 6. On the start, tuck your chin, get into a tight streamline with your arms pushing against your ears, and look back at your feet before you hit the water. I have never had goggles leak or fall off, when I did all of the above. Good luck! :cheerleader:

I had a strap that I knew I really liked that wasn't attached to any goggles so I just went with it. I will try the Vaseline and cap over the strap tips, though! I think I do everything else already. I just have a really hard to fit face, I think, and they stopped making my old favorite goggles several years ago.

So I finally got some of those T-72 Petites. They are great! I didn't even try with the strap they came with (it looked super short) and just put my own strap on. I haven't tried any starts with them but I have a meet on Sunday (I know, no new goggles for meets but my old ones are leaking too badly) so we'll see how they do then!