Why You Need Goggles for Swimming - Ps - It’s not just about the look

While most of us can agree, seeing a seasoned swimmer with a great pair of goggles and a neat swimming cap – can be inspiring to say the least!

However, if you have only just begun your swimming journey, you may be asking yourself, “Is it really that necessary?”.

The answer in short, is yes, it’s really that necessary! A good set of goggles is very important to help you in the beginning stages while you learn to develop your swimming style and technique. 

Protect Your Eyes

Whether you intend to swim in open water or in a swimming pool, your human eyes were sadly not designed to see under water. Taking care of your eyeballs is essential – You only have one pair for the rest of your life.

Sea water with its high levels of natural salts and pool water with chemical cleaners can really irritate your eyes leaving them red and itchy, while over time potentially damaging your eyes as the membranes can weaken if you are submerging your face in pool or seawater on a regular basis.

Perfect Visibility

Wearing your goggles will give you perfect vision during your whole swimming session. They will allow you to feel more present as you won’t have to refocus your eyes each time your head goes under the water. This is crucial in helping you perfect your stroke and speed time. 

Goggles come in different shapes and sizes, with a range of different lenses to choose from. Depending on where you will be swimming, if it is in open water or in a swimming pool, the type of lenses you choose will make all the difference.

Say you swim in an outdoors pool or in open water, a set of mirrored lenses could be very helpful to shield your eyes from the glare of the sun. While if you are swimming in an indoor pool that does not have any glare, a normal set of goggles would be perfect for you.

Technology has also come a long way to cater for prescription lenses in goggles. If you regularly wear glasses, be sure to look out for a set that can be modified for you.

How to Find Your Perfect Fit?

Finding your first set of goggles can take a bit of trial and error. A lot of new swimmers have a hard time in the beginning, but the main thing to remember is that there really is a perfect pair of goggles out there for you, all it takes is a little patience and a good retailer with a great returns policy.

Helpful Buying Tips

It can be daunting picking out your first pair of goggles from such a wide range to choose from. It is important to have a clear idea in your mind of what you will need before beginning your search.

Ask yourself these questions beforehand to make your life a little easier.

• Will you be swimming indoors, outdoors, or in open-water?
• Will there be glare on your eyes? If yes, mirrored lenses would be the answer apposed to normal lenses for indoor swimming.
• If you wear prescription glasses, does the manufacturer offer the lenses you need in the style you like?
• Does the swim shop or online retailer you’ve chosen have a friendly returns policy? This is very important to note as it might take a few tries before striking gold.

The main thing to remember is that taking your time and being patient will help you find your perfect pair. Don’t give up, every swimmer has done this – You can too!

Pro-Tip: If you are swimming in open water, polarized polycarbonate lenses are ideal. They ensure the best clarity and often come in a ‘wrap around’ model giving you optimal peripheral vision.