Swimming is one of the most beneficial forms of exercise, giving you an excellent all-over workout and building strength, stamina and muscle tone. Many people love to swim in their local pool, and open water swimming is also increasing in popularity as the additional positive effects on mental health are discovered.
One great thing about swimming is that you don’t need much swimming equipment to get started; you’ll just require a swimsuit and a pair of goggles. As you become more invested in your swimming routine, you might add in a specialist towel and flotation aids, especially if you are swimming outdoors, but your initial investment is low, so you can try out the options and find out how swimming best fits into your life.
Goggles are essential because they protect the eyes and streamline your performance, but choosing the right pair for you can be a challenge. Read on to discover why swimming googles are a must, and find out more about the best options for you and your lifestyle.
Why Wear Swimming Goggles?
Swimming goggles can simply be used to protect the eyes from the water you are swimming in, but there are also many other advantages to wearing goggles, including:
1. Eye Protection. If you are swimming in a pool in your local area, the water will almost certainly contain chlorine and other chemicals, which keep the water clean enough for public use. Some facilities use alternative methods such as UV light to maintain their hygiene standards, but this is unusual and inaccessible for most people. Wearing goggles is essential to protect the eyes against the chemicals used in pools, which can cause irritation to the eyes and can be extremely uncomfortable and even heighten sensitivity in the long term. You might think that this problem is avoided by open water swimming, but it is important to be aware that open water is likely to contain pollution and bacteria, as well as salt that can also irritate the eyes.
Standard goggles are a good option for beginners and those learning to swim, and the Speedo Future Classic Junior Goggle is a great choice for kids. Whether you’re enjoying the pool as a family or taking the children to weekly swimming lessons, these flexible, comfortable goggles feature anti-fog lenses with UV protection that will reduce glare and make every trip to the pool more enjoyable.
2. Better visibility. Whether you are swimming in a pool or in open water, visibility is key, and you can optimise this with a good pair of goggles. In a pool, this will help you to keep in your lane and maintain a good awareness of your position in the pool, especially when you are underwater, and this is crucial in competition swimming when you have other competitors and turns to navigate. However, staying safe while swimming in open water also depends on your visibility, and you can help yourself by ensuring that your goggles give you excellent vision so that you can avoid hazards, stay in the correct area and keep sight of safety buoys as you swim.
The Arena Cobra Ultra Swipe Mirror Goggles are a great choice for the pool, including for racing, with a highly moulded shape that offers expanded vision and helps to streamline your silhouette for better performance. Swipe refreshable antifog technology is designed to give you clear vision for ten times longer, and you can try the five interchangeable nose bridges to ensure that the fit is just right. The Finis Alliance Goggle Clear is an ideal option for open water swimming, designed with a wide frame and curved lenses to give you a wider field of vision. The mirrored option provides good protection in outdoor conditions, especially when the sun is out, and you can customise the fit to suit your preferences.
3. Comfortable fit. Whether you’re swimming for fun or competitively, you’ll want to make the most of the experience by ensuring you are as comfortable in the water as possible. Wearing a good pair of goggles will help to avoid itching, irritated eyes, and will improve your visibility so that you feel comfortable in the water, leaving you free to concentrate on your swim. Goggles that fit you well will help to eliminate distractions, and many of our quality options include interchangeable nose bridges so that you can find the perfect fit.
Finding the right fit for your face can be tricky, especially if you have a smaller face shape, and Aquasphere Kaiman Compact Swimming Goggles are designed with this problem in mind. They are an excellent choice for smaller women and teenagers who cannot achieve a comfortable fit with standard goggles, and the curved lens technology expands the field of vision to give a viewing angle of 180 degrees. The ergonomic design ensures that you won’t be distracted from your swim by being uncomfortable, and these goggles include UVA and UVB protection as standard.
4. Safer swimming. Swimming in a pool is not without risk, as there are factors such as other swimmers and pool walls to contend with, and open water swimming demands an awareness of the potential hazards, which include objects beneath the water, pollution and other water users. Wearing goggles will optimise your vision so that you can spot anything that could present a danger to you, and will also help you to identify any other swimmers who are at risk.
We love the Finis Alliance Goggle Aqua Mirror goggles, which have a wide frame and curved lenses to extend your field of vision. These are ideal for optimising your vision, and the anti-fog lenses will also increase visibility, with the mirrored design ideal for outdoor or bright conditions and the clear design for indoor or low light conditions.
5. UVA and UVB protection. If you are swimming in an outdoor pool or in open water, you must protect your eyes against the dangerous UVA and UVB rays that can cause permanent damage. Many of our goggles feature mirrored lenses that minimise sun exposure without compromising your vision. The Speedo Biofuse 2.0 Goggle Harlequin is designed to bring you the latest Speedo Biofuse technology in a sleek design, featuring a unique lens shape that enhances vision. The lenses are made from polycarbonate that provides UV400 protection, and the flexible and comfortable fit can be adapted to suit your face shape.
Get Started With Open Water Swimming
If you’ve always wanted to try open water swimming, now is the time to step out of your comfort zone and embrace the challenge. You’ll find it easier to brave the cold water if you are well prepared, and we suggest the following:
- Find the right equipment. Open water swimming in a location such as Ireland can mean you are exposed to very cold temperatures, especially if you are swimming all year round. You may find that a wetsuit helps you to get into the water and to stay in for longer, and you can also try neoprene gloves and socks or boots to keep your extremities warm. You will find it helpful to use basic safety equipment, including a whistle and a tow float that increases your visibility and allows you to lean on it if you need a short break while swimming. A good swimsuit and a good pair of goggles are the most important pieces of kit, and a large towel or dry robe to wrap yourself up in afterwards can make all the difference!
- Researching your location. If you are new to wild swimming, you can find out if there are any local groups where you can meet like-minded people and find out about local swimming spots. There will be tried and tested lakes, rivers and areas of the coastline, so it is a good idea to seek out recommendations and check out all safety information about a location before you get into the water.
- Learn to breathe correctly. You may find local wild swimming coaches or online advice that can help you to learn effective breathing techniques for cold water swimming. You may also find that building up your exposure to the cold water by taking cold showers is helpful, although this is a very different experience that some cold water swimmers do not find helpful.
Planning ahead will help you to get the most from your swimming experiences, and you will soon be building up your stamina and enjoying all of the benefits of open water swimming for yourself.
Swimming and Outdoor Activities Equipment at The Edge
At The Edge, we are committed to helping our customers explore the outdoors, and we have everything you need to get started. Whether you are looking for a new mountain bike or a wetsuit, we will take the time to understand your lifestyle and make the recommendations that suit you best. We would love to hear about any adventures you are planning and will be happy to recommend local opportunities where we can.
You’ll find all the essentials for pool and open water swimming in store, as well as experienced team members who will help you to find what you are looking for and share their top tips. We also specialise in cycling, running, surfing and triathlon, so you can visit us in store for bikes, running kit, surfboards and more. Discover our full catalogue on our website or come in and see us today!
