June 2019 / / 71GEAR FOCUS
feature light sensitive lenses which
darken or lighten depending on the
conditions. These are also a great
idea if you’re taking on a longer
swim, where the weather conditions
may change.
Finally, there are a couple of
other key things to look for with
your lenses. Mirrored lenses again
help reduce glare, but also look
cool (be honest, it matters!) and
can offer a psychological advantage
on race day if you want to psych
out your competitors. An anti-fog
coating is a good idea, too, as it
will help prevent your goggles
steaming up during the race – and
is a little classier and more reliable
than the old ‘wipe-a-bit-of-spit-
on’ trick!GOGGLE CARE
Whatever goggles you choose,
look after them and they’ll serve
you well. “Longevity really comes
down to how you look after your
goggles,” says Neil from Zoggs.
“For someone swimming two to
three times per week they should
last anything from 6-12 months –
however, we know of many
swimmers who are still using thesame pair of Zoggs they bought
several years ago.”
Protect the lenses by rinsing
them in fresh water and avoiding
touching them with your hands (and
definitely don’t get lube on them,
that’s an instant recipe for bin-
fodder), then always put them back
in the case or soft bag when not
using them.
A good tip for race day if you’re
feeling fancy is to take your hat and
goggles off first, then pull your
wetsuit off leaving the hat and
goggles protected inside the sleeve
until post-race...OPEN-WATER
GOGGLE TECHLENSES
Your lenses are arguably
the most important
part of the goggles, so
think about what you
need in relation to the
type of swimming you
will be doing. Different
lens shapes allow for
different types of visibility,
while different colours
suit different lighting
conditions. Also consider
finding a pair with an
anti-fog coating.GASKET
The gaskets are the soft
pieces of rubber that sit
around the lenses and
make contact with your
face. They should be
comfortable and create
a good seal to prevent
annoying water ingress.
A good tip if you can try
before you buy is to try
attaching them without
the strap – if they stay
suckered to your face,
chances are the design
suits your face shape!STRAP
The goggle strap should
offer good security, so
look for a wider strap
or a split-strap design.
Adjustability is also
worth considering, in
case you need to quickly
loosen or tighten your
goggles on race day. If so,
look for a pair with quick-
adjust clips.