I find the small, competition style goggles, such as the Swedes, very uncomfortable to wear. Granted, in a race, every small factor matters for that split second difference, still, I wonder how much difference does the goggle shape make? Has anyone actually experimented? Is the difference enough to be worth giving up the comfort one needs in long distance swimming? It seems to me the comfort level is in this order:
Swedes "hybrids" with silicone skirts
I think you're talking WAY faster than just sub 25 scy 50's to make a difference. Look at the TOTAL surface area of the outside of a goggle lens. What is it, 2 sq. in? 3 sq in? Now what percentage of that is actually facing a direction exactly perpendicular to movement? 10%? Maybe? The rest you'd have to take a trig measurment of the given angle based on the goggle itself to get the representative amount of perpendicular opposing surface area, and that's assuming the head position is kept the same . I'd doubt it even came out to 0.5 sq in between the two lenses. Certainly the more rounded the goggle the better water will flow past it but you're talking such a completely miniscule amount it's arguable that fixing the wrinkles in your swim cap or not cutting your fingernails would yield more results than choosing an "aerodynamic" goggle. I'd even go out on a limb and say it's not even worth a hundreth to a 50 swimmer.
That is some cool science. I think I'm the slow car. Now, do the bungee cords hanging off my sweedes make a difference? Those are the only goggles I can keep on during a dive, so I live with any discomfort they give me.
I'm definitely the slow car. (No really, check out my times: www.usms.org/.../indresults.php ) Your straps on your bungies are pretty much the same way. You probably have to be swimming pretty fast (those sub 25 second SCY 50s) before that even BEGINS to make a difference.
I find swedes to be very comfortable and they have great visibility.
Swedes have great visibility. I used to think they had the most, then I switched over to Speedo Raceviews, and I cannot go back to Swedes. It is as though the Sweded field of view is way to small and confining for me. I love the raceview field of view now.
As far as answering the question, I assume the lowest profile goggle that contours to your body the most would provide the least amount of resistance. I think a diving mask would cause drag for sure, but all the other goggles on the market today I would assume are more or less equal.
Goggles would be the last thing I would consider for slowing me down. Good visiblity is more imporant, but not at the sacrifice of the drag created by a diving mask.
In recent years, I have thought about this question a lot more. I stopped using a cap between the ages of 11-28 (shaved my head in hs and college). I started using a cap again, because I need whatever help I can get to swim faster and shaving my head is out of the question.
Unfortunately, my swedes have a tendency to fall off or fill up with water about 75% of the time when I use a cap. Without a cap, there is never a problem. Very annoying, because I have used swedes since I was a kid. I've tried tightening the straps, using the set string nosepiece, but nothing seems to work. I'm probably going to try out some new goggles soon, so if anyone has recommendations, I'll take em :D
In recent years, I have thought about this question a lot more. I stopped using a cap between the ages of 11-28 (shaved my head in hs and college). I started using a cap again, because I need whatever help I can get to swim faster and shaving my head is out of the question.
Unfortunately, my swedes have a tendency to fall off or fill up with water about 75% of the time when I use a cap. Without a cap, there is never a problem. Very annoying, because I have used swedes since I was a kid. I've tried tightening the straps, using the set string nosepiece, but nothing seems to work. I'm probably going to try out some new goggles soon, so if anyone has recommendations, I'll take em :D
Have you tried wearing the swedes UNDER the cap?
