How To Try On Goggles Author: Dr Brenton Gray Date Posted: 3 February 2018 Leaking or ill-fitting goggles can be a major inconvenience, so follow our simple guide to make sure your chosen goggles suit your face shape. Pool, open water, mask, small fit, Swedish... there are so many different types of goggles available today! Each style has unique features and fit, and finding the right pair for your face shape is essential. Remember, we are unable to refund or exchange goggles that have been exposed to water, so make sure you test them at home away from the pool. 1. Fit the goggles to your face without using the head strap You're testing the suction here, so don't pull the strap over your head just yet. Simply press the goggles to your face. They should give a light sensation of suction, and stay on your face for at least 3-4 seconds before popping off. If they pop off straight away or don't form a seal, adjust the nose piece (if applicable) or try a different pair. 2. Pull faces! Now you know they fit when your face is at rest, test them out! Frown, smile, pull silly faces, just generally use your facial muscles and make sure the goggles won't lose suction if you move your face while swimming. If they dig in uncomfortably or pop off your face, try a different pair. 3. Put on the head strap and adjust With the googles on your eyes, stretch the head strap back to sit straight across the back of your head. Use the buckles on the side to lengthen or shorten the head strap as necessary, so that it is firm but not uncomfortably tight. If your goggles feature a split strap, the two sections should sit a few centimetres apart at the back of your head for stability. If the outsides of the eye pieces start to dig in at this point, shorten the nose piece, or try a smaller framed style. 4. Adjust/replace the nose piece Many goggles feature adjustable or replaceable nose pieces, which pull the eye pieces closer or further away. If the goggles push painfully around the bridge of your nose, try lengthening the nose piece or try a larger framed style. If you're losing suction from the inside of the eye pieces near your nose or the outsides of the eye pieces are digging in, try shortening the nose piece, or try a smaller framed style (marked Small Fit or Womens on our website). 5. Check your field of vision. If you're swimming in a pool, you generally only need to be able to see straight ahead, but for open water, you'll want to make sure you have sufficient peripheral vision for comfort and safety. Invest in tinted, mirrored or polarised lenses if you often swim outside, clear lenses if you swim only inside, and blue or yellow lenses for a bit of both. You should now have a comfortable, well-fitted pair of goggles. Happy swimming! About The Author Dr Brenton Gray - Orienteer, Hiker and Wildfire Sports Owner Brenton has orienteered around the world, from Finland to Romania and New Zealand to Italy. In his travels he keeps abreast of the latest trends for athletes running both on- and off-trail. He also loves testing gear for multi-day hikes (see his Larapinta Trail gear checklist blog) and participating in cycling adventures in far away places such as Korea and Lithuania. Brenton isn't looking for absolute perfection in gear; rather, he seeks items that are affordable and effective and that work without fuss. To that end his favourite gear is the Brooks Adrenaline, Salomon Speedcross and 2XU clothing. And his favourite piece of gear? His Osprey Farpoint Trek 75 has gone around the world three times and completed 60 days of rough multi-day hiking. It just works for every adventure.
