GEAR
THE BEST… GOGGLES
ZOGGS PREDATOR FLEX Price: Mirrored £22.99 / non-mirrored £19.99 Available from:
shop.zoggs.com
Comfort: Security: Adjustability: Vision: Value for money:
Best for comfort
Comfort: Security: Adjustability: Vision: Value for money:
Designed with open water swimmers in mind, the Predator Flex is also worn by many triathletes. Key features include the fl exible nose piece, which can be fl exed to fi t different face shapes, and the ratchet mechanism to tighten the goggles once in place. The wide fi t
means you can pull them really tight, which is reassuring for mass start events. Visibility above the water is excellent. People used to more traditional goggles may fi nd the lenses a little large: if you wear them to a masters swim session expect some comments about resembling Spiderman, especially if you opt for the mirrored version.
Comfort: Security: Adjustability: Vision: Value for money: Is it goggles, is it a mask? Somewhere in between these
AQUA SPHERE VISTA Price: £19.99 Available from:
swimshop4u.co.uk
Best for clarity
two traditional categories of eyewear, the Vista is a popular choice for those who want an all-purpose goggle. Allegedly giving the widest range of vision of any on the market, it brings the underwater world into new sharpness, boasting – and delivering – 180 degree clarity. Having said that, a bigger pair of goggles in competitive swims is a larger target for fl ying limbs, so take heed if wearing these into competition. For outdoor swims with underwater landscapes – fi sh, coral, etc – the clarity couldn’t be better.
As the name suggests, this is a mask-style goggle designed for open water swimming. Comfort and visibility are great and the mask can be pulled super-tight once in place. Some people may fi nd the mask style too clunky and unstylish compared to sleeker designs. Other people fi nd that a small price to pay for the additional comfort and wide-angled vision. Our tester worried that the large size might make it easier to dislodge by a stray fi st or foot. On the other hand, the mask covers a large area so may provide extra protection and help reduce face- freeze in cold water.
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SPEEDO SPEEDSOCKET MIRROR Price: £20 Available from:
speedo.co.uk
Best for Phelps
wannabes
According to Speedo, these are the goggles of choice for speed-star Michael Phelps. You’ll also see them on the faces of leading triathletes, like Helen Jenkins, suggesting an open-water as well as a pool pedigree. As the name suggests, these are socket goggles. As with Zoggs Fusion Air, the Speedsocket uses a replaceable nose piece for width adjustment. The fi t is tight and the profi le low. They feel fast. It’s good to remember, however, that Jenkins will usually be in the water for less than 20 minutes before she leaps onto her bike, and she’s often at the front of the pack. The tight, secure fi t will mostly likely become uncomfortable with longer use.
SPEEDO BIOFUSE RIFT PROMASK Price: £16.99 Available from:
speedo.co.uk
Comfort: Security: Adjustability: Vision: Value for money:
Best for cold water
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