Been wearing the same goggles for the last decade? It might be time for a change. Swimmers from the Outdoor Swimming Society and Outdoor Swimmer magazine ran 30 pairs of goggles through their paces at Vobster Lake in Somerset (among other locations), and got rather hungry for a new, swanky pair.
We swam with them, dived with them, jumped with them, raced with them, and – very importantly for outdoor swimming – looked about in them, under and above the surface. Most outdoor swimmers have at least two pairs of goggles, for sunny and cloudy conditions. Some like their goggles to be the sun, and go for a sunny lens, others are purists about seeing nature untinted.
£22-28 zoggs.com
Comfort: ✓✓✓✓
Vision: ✓✓✓
Security (do they stay in place): ✓✓✓
Adjustment: ✓✓
Style: ✓✓✓
A classic goggle that comes in different colours and was the best in test in terms of all round performance. The polarised copper lens in these goggles had the strange effect of making water look like blood or a shark attack – this didn’t put testers off.
Our testers said:
“Very comfy even on narrow nose bridge.”
“Good. Bit different, look nice on.”
“Shark attack!”
“Lovely lens colour.”
“Copper lens option turns the water to blood.”
“Narrow face favourites.”
Lens options:
Clear/blue/black, polarized, copper polarized, mirrored
Women’s fit? No
$25 roka.com
Comfort: ✓✓✓
Vision: ✓✓✓
Security (do they stay in place): ✓✓✓
Adjustment: ✓
Style: ✓✓✓✓
A new brand to most of us, these were by far the most popular style on the block and the most coveted – the bi plane pilot styling looked great on everyone, man or woman, narrow or broad face. There were two issues which took them away from the top spot: hard to adjust. And hard to get: only available from America, with an additional $20 postage.
Our testers said:
“I back-flipped in and the goggles stayed on.”
“Comfortable, clear vision.”
“Hardly knew I was wearing them. Good visibility.”
“I looked like a bi-plane pilot.”
“Very novel design.”
Lens options:
Various colours and mirrored options
Women’s fit? No
£38 solosports.co.uk
Comfort: ✓✓✓✓
Vision: ✓✓
Security (do they stay in place): ✓✓✓
Adjustment: ✓✓✓
Style: ✓✓✓✓
We trialled three pairs of goggles that had styling similar to these, and while they all looked good, these were by far the most comfortable – everyone looked great in them. Like the ROKA X1 they have a new look to them. The moulded sides limit side vision, but that didn’t stop testers wanting to get a pair and wear them.
Our testers said:
“Fit comfortably without pinching.”
“A favoured style but limited side vision.”
“Comfy and clear.”
“Comfier than expected.”
“Look very nice for polarised goggles.”
Lens options:
Black or silver mirrored
Women’s fit? No
£12 wiggle.co.uk
Comfort: ✓✓✓
Vision: ✓✓✓✓
Security (do they stay in place): ✓✓✓
Adjustment: ✓✓
Style: ✓✓
What a bargain! These were top favourites even before we knew the price: great looks, stylish, comfy, good peripheral vision and fantastic clarity.
Our testers said:
“Fantastic peripheral vision.”
“Comfy – dived in and they stayed on.”
“Really comfy and stylish.”
“Survived test dives.”
“Wouldn’t suit wider faces.”
“Beautiful visibility.”
Lens options:
Mirrored
Women’s fit? No
£10 ewetsuits.com
Comfort: ✓✓✓
Vision: ✓✓✓✓
Security (do they stay in place): ✓✓✓
Adjustment: ✓✓✓✓
Style: ✓✓
Lens options:
Clear
Women’s fit? No
£10 ewetsuits.com
Comfort: ✓✓✓
Vision: ✓✓✓
Security (do they stay in place): ✓✓✓
Adjustment: ✓
Style: ✓✓✓
Our testers said:
“Loved these. Good all rounder.”
“Nice to swim with.”
“Comfy, good vision.”
“Good adjustment but not great style.”
Lens options:
Black
Women’s fit? No
£26.99 aquasphereswim.com
Comfort: ✓✓✓
Vision: ✓✓✓
Security (do they stay in place): ✓✓✓✓
Adjustment: ✓✓
Style: ✓✓✓
A proportion of swimmers prefer masks for their wide angle view of the world, and seals that rest on cheeks and forehead rather than delicate eye tissue (ever found goggles leave you with dark black circles?). These won the day in the mask category – comfortable, secure, and great vision.
Our testers said:
“Comfortable but secure.”
“I feel like Gertrude Ederle.”
“Good vision.”
Lens options:
Clear, black, blue
Women’s fit? No
£22.99-£29.99 aquasphereswim.com
Comfort: ✓✓
Vision: ✓✓✓
Security (do they stay in place): ✓✓
Adjustment: ✓✓✓✓
Style: ✓✓
Our testers said:
“Polarised lenses made swimming more fun.”
“Really comfy. Stayed on when I did a back flip.”
“Great peripheral vision. Feel as though a kick in the face would be absorbed fine.”
Lens options:
Dark, clear, polarized, mirrored
Women’s fit? Yes, and small fit
£25 mailsports.co.uk
Comfort: ✓✓✓
Vision: ✓✓
Security (do they stay in place): ✓✓✓
Adjustment: ✓✓
Style: ✓✓
Our testers said:
“Perfect fit, good vision, no fogging.”
“Good fit but hard to adjust.”
Lens options:
Mirrored, black
Women’s fit? No
£24.50 swansuk.co.uk
Comfort: ✓✓✓
Vision: ✓✓✓
Security (do they stay in place): ✓✓✓
Adjustment: ✓✓✓
Style: ✓✓✓
Our testers said:
“Super vision.”
“Don’t fit close-set eyes.”
“Style is very much personal taste.”
Lens options:
Mirrored
Women’s fit? No
£38 finisinc.com
Comfort: ✓✓✓
Vision: ✓✓✓
Security (do they stay in place): ✓✓✓
Adjustment: ✓✓✓
Style: ✓✓✓
Our testers said:
“Great adjustment.”
“Fantastic! I am keeping these.”
“Good vision under the water.”
“Great plastic box for storage.”
“Good rims.”
Lens options:
Polarised
Women’s fit? No
£29.50 racezone3.com
Comfort: ✓✓✓
Vision: ✓✓✓
Security (do they stay in place): ✓✓✓
Adjustment: ✓✓✓
Style: ✓✓✓
Our testers said:
“Comfortable and secure.”
“You feel like a serious swimmer wearing these.”
“Very soft rims.”
“Looks sexy with my wetsuit.”
Lens options:
Mirrored Polarised
Women’s fit? No
£18.99-£22.99 racezone3.com
Comfort: ✓✓✓✓
Vision: ✓✓✓
Security (do they stay in place): ✓✓✓
Adjustment: ✓✓✓
Style: ✓✓✓
Our testers said:
“Good clarity.”
“Classic – great shape.”
“Super comfy.”
Lens options:
Clear, black, mirrored
Women’s fit? Yes, and small fit
Outdoor Swimmer is the monthly magazine for adventurous swimmers, dedicated to providing inspiration and information for people who swim outdoors. Find out more at www.outdoorswimmer.com