Well, they are.
I've been swimming pretty regularly now for nearly two months. I can swim freestyle pretty good, but I still get tired easily. For the first time, I asked someone if I could share a lap lane with them. I wore out my previously brand-new swimming suit, and have to buy another. My swimcap is still hanging in there. People have told me that I smell like chlorine. And I found out that earplugs are a great way to prevent ear infections. I now have a blue Nalgene bottle that guards my lap lane when I am swimming. And I've learned how to dive off the board (stand backwards on the very edge of the board, then lean over backwards, hands over head, knees straight, and just plop into the water). Also learned that I have a slight dermatological reaction to chlorine, so I have to put itch-stuff on my arms after I'm done swimming.
The above is my swimmy progress report.
Everything is great except for MY EVIL GOGGLES.
They are nice goggles. They have silicon gaskets and a one-piece nosebridge thing. I think they cost $7 at the time. I bought them when I was a swimming newbie and was like "Oh look, GOGGLES". But they absolutely suck at keeping water out of my eyes for any length of time. Every two laps or so, or after every dive, I have to take my goggles off, try to get the water out of my eyes, and readjust.
I want to buy new goggles, but I don't know what ones to get. The guy at the store gave me funny looks when I was trying to break into a goggle case to try them on. Trying them on (the stick 'em to your face suction test) in the store doesn't seem useful.
I think my goggle problem lies within the gasket, which appears to be failing in its job of sticking to my face. In your experience, do molded (silicon) gaskets work better (keep water out and stick to your face) than foam gaskets? And does an adjustable nose-piece help goggles fit better? My face is sorta broad.
What goggles do you use?
Need gogglehelp :confused:
Former Member
Originally posted by aquageek
I, too, have this opinion. I don't train with anyone who wears Barracudas. When I see folks with them they are constantly tinkering with the straps, nose area, etc. And, they cost a fortune. I can buy 10 pairs of perfectly fine Kiefer goggles for the price of one pair of leaky cumbersome Barracudas.
Amen. Worst goggles I ever owned - an over-engineered waste of money.
I have a pair of Water Gear optical goggles (that someone here recommended last year) and LOVE them.
-LBJ
Former Member
I wear the Speedo hydrospecs - about $20 Canadian. They come in jr and sr sizes - the jr seem to fit smaller faces better. Many people in my club wear them.
Here's a tip: a dab of Ultra Swim shampoo swished around in the goggles and ten rinsed out keeps them fog free all practice.
Former Member
Originally posted by blairbecky
Rubber gaskets feel uncomfortable to me so I prefer foam. These are the goggles that I have loved for awhile now. I swim indoors and I know I look like a dork with my mirrored goggles. Of course I'm oblivious. ;)
www.speedousa.com/.../ I am also a member of the "I wear mirrored goggles at an indoor pool" club. What can I say, they make me happy and that is what matters most right?
Former Member
If you find a pair of goggles that work for you--buy several pairs if possible because when you need a new pair --they won't be making that model anymore.
Former Member
Originally posted by Janis
If you find a pair of goggles that work for you--buy several pairs if possible because when you need a new pair --they won't be making that model anymore.
So true, Janis. I bought 2 pairs for all available colors (black, blue, amber) for the Super Marlin model by Speedo. It's swedish style and is a great fit for me. Each pair comes with 3 sizes of a nose centerpieces. Just pick one nosepiece and assemble. No tools required. No tying, no knotting. The "medium" size fits me very well.
The great thing with swedish goggles is that the construction is simple. No gaskets or foam to fool around with. Even with an initial perfect fit, I'd bet that with time, gaskets and foam will eventually lose their shape and 'suction' ability. This won't happen with swedish since they're just made of hard plastic and no linings.
The downside is it'll be relatively painful if somebody jabs your face. Luckily for me, there's no crowd at my pool.
On a related note, I've always wondered about the swedish goggles worn by top atheletes which have this loose hanging strands of string at the nose piece. What's up with that? Looks like a worn piece of discarded rope! It looks so totally uncool!
Former Member
I've been wearing Hind compys since I was 10. Will wear them until I die. No bettter goggle in my opinion and the cost is a whopping $5.00. Hard to find though, last place I got them I bought 20 pairs of them to keep for as long as I can. Never been able to wear any other type of goggle since I started swimming. Speedo tried to make a knock off and someone else did also, but Hind still has the secret recipe. Kind of like Coca Cola I guess...
I compete in Swedish goggles because they are leak proof. However, I do not train in them as I cannot keep them fog-free. All my regular tricks for defogging other goggles seem not to work with the Swedish ones (spit, soap, drops). Anyone else have this issue with Swedish goggs?
Former Member
haha i am also a mirrored swede addict. what is it about that mirroring??
i usually switch out the straps around the back of the head with the easily adjusted bungee cord-like straps.
also, i really like the new speedo womens vanquisher. i always keep them around for the occassion that the nose piece on my swedes breaks right before a race or during practice.
