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When you walk into your local swim shop it is easy to get overwhelmed by the hundreds of goggles to choose from: hard frames, soft frames, mirrored, non-mirrored, anti-fog—not to mention all of the different brands. Goggles fit everyone’s face differently, so what works for your teammate may not work for you. We’re going to give you some key differences to help make your goggle decision just a little easier.

Whether you are diving into the pool for your 100th Masters meet or running down the beach for your first open water race it is important for you to be confident in your equipment. It’s important to understand the different types of goggles so you don’t find yourself an hour into an open water swim and blinded by the sun, or at an indoor pool and unable to see the black line.

We classify our goggles one of two ways: open water or pool. Open water goggles are made of a softer silicon gasket as well as flexible lens, while pool goggles are made of a hard plastic gasket and hard non-flexible lenses. Why? It hurts less in an open water race if you are accidently hit. Open water goggles also typically offer a larger lens, which helps with sighting and peripheral vision. In the pool we have the black line and flags, so that’s not quite as important, and we’d rather worry more about our drag coefficient. 

Lens color also plays an important role in choosing goggles. Do you swim inside or out? Are you swimming at dawn, dusk, or the middle of the day? Is it cloudy or sunny? Mirrored goggles are best for sunny or high-glare conditions, and they offer the best UV protection. Another good option for sunny days is a smoke lens. A blue or violet lens is designed for moderate light conditions and is best for cloudy days or indoor lighting. If you swim early in the morning or late in the evening, a yellow/orange, pink or amber lens is best because it will help brighten dark situations.

Most goggles offer an anti-fog coating, however it does wear off over time. Also, during a long set or a distance swim, the anti-fog may not be able to combat the cold water and heat that your body is producing. Fog will eventually occur in these situations.

This information should help you find your perfect pair of goggles. It’s important to remember that what works for one person may not work for you. For more information on blueseventy goggles visit blueseventy.com.