New to the Swim Team, Essential Gear

After you get your swim suit and your towel, the next most essential swim team item for the pool are the Goggles. You’ll need the goggles to protect your eyes from the stinging and irritating effect of the Chlorine and water you’ll be swimming in. There are a lot of different options for goggles and the choices can be overwhelming for many new swimmers and families.

Beginner Goggles Underwater at swim pool

There are many different types of goggles

Swimmers have different faces, different types of eye sockets and different face types. These differences contribute to the plethora of different styles and types of swim goggles. When you are a beginner on a swim team it can be overwhelming to find out what type of goggles are best for your child. If you haven’t had a chance to ask your coach first then we’ve listed out a few basic recommendations for you that may help you find the pair of goggles that best fits your swimmer.

Goggle Types:

•  Competition
• Practice
• Recreational
• Swim Masks

 

Competition Goggles:

These types of goggles are meant to be worn during swim meets and when competing in races. They are designed to absolutely minimize drag and rest deep in the eye socket and close to the face. They may be tight, constricting and uncomfortable. They are usually sheer and as flat to the face as possible. If you are interested in some of the latest styles check here:

SPEEDO Adult Fastskin3 Elite Mirror Goggle, Black/Smoke

Practice Goggles:

Most swimmers have a different pair of goggles that they wear at practice. Though, many people also use the same pair for swim meets as they do in practice. Practice goggles are typically a bit better made and designed for comfort and function. While reducing drag is a strong goal of most manufacturers, comfort around the eye and the eye socket for long duration wearing is the primary goal.

For swim practices that last longer than 1 hour consider looking at these types of goggles.

 

Recreational Goggles:

When you forget your goggles in your swim bag at home and you’ve just arrived at the local swimming pool or lake, you can sometimes stop by the pool office and pick up a pair of recreational swim goggles. These plastic creations are usually under $10.00 are decent enough to keep the water out of your eyes, but when asked to maintain a tight seal during a dive or a streamline they fail. For most swim lessons, swimming pool play, recreational swim goggles are perfect and you’ll never need anything more advanced.  Sometimes you can get a 3 pack for $7.99 depending on your local retailer. Consider these optoions:

We recommend you go for comfort and personal color preference and spend less than $10 per pair.

 

Swim Masks Goggles:

There are two types of swim mask goggles: 1) nose cover 2) no nose piece. These are the least recommended goggles for general use, and should only be used or purchased if you have a specific need for them. They tend to be clunky, difficult to maintain a tight water proof seal (the large surface area required by the gasket lets water in), and they easily fall off the water when moving with any noticeable speed. Masks are designed to provide a better viewing angle and image of the world under the water. If you are snorkeling or doing a lot of underwater looking at specific objects through clear water, then these are the best choice.

If you are going to swim practice or swim lessons go with a different type.

 

The Two Best Goggles for Swim Team Beginners

We’re going to focus on a few core criteria to narrow down the field for swim pool goggles. Let’s look at 5 criteria:

Speedo Vanquisher 2.0 Mirrored Swim Goggle

 

These are perhaps the single best pair of goggles for most swimmers with a decently large enough face.

You may laugh, but when your swimmer is a beginner they may be between 6-8 years old and their facial size may be drastically different for their age or size.

Function:

The Vanquishers keep the water out well if you face is big enough for their size. The nose piece that connects to two eye pieces has the largest effect on the fit and comfort of the goggles. Most 10 year olds and 12 year olds fit perfectly into these goggles and should have no difficulties with them.

The included straps are generally more than adequate to keep a tight solid fit around the swimmer’s head. Some people put the straps above the cap or under it, and they tend to stay firmly set in their length. Remember to use both straps and not pull the cord through and only use one around the head. The straps are designed to have one just above the bulge in the back of the head, and one just under it.

There are easily purchased replicable straps and customization options for the Vanquishers. After the straps the most often broken item is the plastic piece between the two eyepieces. They can snap or break off and ruin the goggles without a replacement. Fortunately they are easily purchased and replaced.

Comfort:

The eye piece sits nicely in the eye socket if your face is large enough. They are one size for all, and are well suited for adults and younger swimmers. The cup or gasket around the eyepiece that keeps the water out is strong with a very small amount of give. They will rest firmly into the eye socket and can maintain a nice seal without having to extremely tighten the cord or strap. Depending on the tightness of your strap you should not be left with deep red marks around your eyes.

Visibility:

When wearing these goggles you have a clear view of the water and they tend to not fog up unless you’ve had them for over a year or go through constant use. Avoid rubbing the inside of the goggles with your fingers as the oil from your hands will wipe away the anti-fog coating on the inside.  While your field of view may be slightly distorted from the slanted sides on the eyepieces, you’ll have no troubles navigating the lanes in a swimming pool or sighting others and landmarks in an open water environment.

Customization:

 

You’ll find many customization options with the Vanquishers. There are different colored goggles, colored straps, and even different kind of nose pieces. You’ll find many colors to choose from and will be able to personalize your second most important swimming gear.

Speedo Hydrospex Swim Goggle (Clear/Clear)

 

Function:

The Hydrospex swim goggles are the absolute best goggles for the new swim team swimmer. Beginners in the swimming pool will find their solid one-piece plastic connector to be much more versitaile and comfortable than any other pair of goggles. There is no other swimming goggles that covers as wide as a range of faces and eyes for the new swimmer.  They are durable and resilient to tearing or breaking. The Vanquisher goggles are more likely to break from their small plastic parts and thin straps. The Hyrdrospex unique gel like plastic design adhere to the eyes of young and older swimmers with equal ease. When new families start swimming this is the goggle I recommend.

Comfort:

The solid gel plastic is soft and locks onto the face easily. Because they are more broad and connected by a single formed piece, they are less likely to leak or be unbalanced on the face and eyes. The only discomfort you’ll run into is if your face is too big.

Visibility:

When you are under water viewing is much the same as with other goggles.  The only drawback of the solid plastic design around the lenses is that you don’t get a wider field of view from these goggles. The Vanquishers have a slightly extended side which allows light in and little detail. The Hydrospex sit closer to the eye itself and have less of an extended eye port. Most beginners will not notice a difference and will enjoy very fine visibility.

Customization:

Google Hydrospex goggles come in a variety of colors and the straps can be easily swapped out, though with slightly less customization than the Vanquishers.