When it comes to competitive swimming, swim goggles are one of the most essential swimming gears. It allows you to have a clear vision so that you can see the walls and other swimmers clearly.
Protecting your eyes while you’re swimming is very important. This is where swim goggles come into play as they help to keep our eyes protected from chlorine and splashing water, allowing us to stay focus.
If you want to win the race going forward, then it’s time to throw away your uncomfortable goggles and invest in a pair that’s specifically built for racing.
With that being said, we have compiled a list of some of the best swim goggles for competition out there base on our own personal experience and customer feedback.
So without further ado, let’s get started.
Best Swim Goggles For Competition
1. Arena Cobra Ultra Mirror Swim Goggles – Editor’s Choice
If you are into swimming you should certainly know about this brand by now and I must say it’s one of the best pairs of swimming for competition.
I once had a pair of Arena Cobra Ultra Mirror Swimming googles and after weeks of using them, I can guarantee they’re totally worth the investment. These goggles are specifically designed for racing, they certainly have one of the lowest profile and hydrodynamic on the market.
The Arena goggles are extremely comfortable to wear and it offers peripheral vision, giving you the ability to see all around you without having to break your streamline.
When it comes to durability this is pretty solid, I have had mine for over 2 years and although they are slightly scratched up and I had to replace the head strap twice, they still work just fine and I still believe they’re worth the money.
The straps are made of silicone which isn’t a big deal since most goggles these days are made with silicone. I think the reason behind this is because of this kind of material lasts way longer than the straps on the old school googles.
These goggles are also available in a variety of different colors. Also, it’s one size fits all – whether your a junior swimmer or an adult they are adjustable to match your size of the face.
In sum, I really like these amazing goggles. They are comfortable, don’t leak and the price is extremely affordable which is certainly a huge bonus.
Pros
- One size fits all
- It has an affordable price
- Comes in a variety of different colors
- Best for competitive swimming
- Very comfortable and durable
Cons
- Not the cheapest
2. Speed Socket 2.0 Mirrored Swim Goggles – Great For Beginners
Here is another solid pair of swimming goggles for competition. We believe Speed Socket 2.0 Mirrored Swim Goggles is one of the best on the market at the moment not only because of how effective they are, but they were also worn by the legendary Caeleb Dressel, during the FINA World Champions.
The Speed Socket 2.0 Mirrored Swim Goggles are built with shatterproof, polycarbonate lenses. The straps are made of super-durable silicone which is great because silicone is significantly more durable and less likely to snap on you after repeated expose to chlorine and general wear. While many other goggle straps wear and tear easily over time, the Speed Socket 2.0 was built to last for a very long time.
The goggles are extremely comfortable to wear, thanks to their sleek inner eye fit, hypoallergenic comfort seals and once again its durable silicone head strap. These goggles have a lot of features similar to their newer models.
The mirror lens does a pretty good job of reducing the glare of the pool lights, while also delivering a clear view of the surroundings. When racing the last thing you want to think about is having foggy goggles, with this you don’t have to worry because the anti-fog lenses on the Speed Socket 2.0 work and they feature UV protection.
This unique goggles also come in a variety of colors including vapor, dazzling blue, fiery red, smoke ice, black/silver, etc. These are a great pair of swimming goggles for competition, with some really amazing features.
Pros
- Ideal for training and competition
- Silicon head strap
- Lense has UV protection and anti-fog coating
Cons
- Some user felt that the lenses were too dark
3. MP Michael Phelps XCEED Swimming Goggles – Best Value For the Money
This is by far without a doubt one of the best swimming goggles for competition out there today. These swimming goggles are the works of Michael Phelps, the one and only most decorated Olympian in history and one of the greatest of all time.
This is one of the most comfortable swimming goggles you can find that offers an impressive peripheral vision in the water. The main reason behind its overwhelm comfort is because they feature ultra-soft softeril gaskets.
With these gaskets, you can expect a nice secure fit and watertight design. The patented curved lens technology and hydrodynamic low profile fit will allow you to have a competitive edge in perfect clarity.
It even has an ergonomic, easy to replace, interchangeable nose bridge for a customizable, comfortable fit. If the nose bridge is too tight out of the box, you will have a few options to swap out so you get the fit you desired.
Most goggles these days takes up a large portion of your eye socket in order to provide comfort. This is not a good idea because over a period of time they tend to cause a lot of pain as it presses on your cheekbones. This is why I really enjoy wearing the XCEED goggles because it settles right on the inside slope of your cheekbone which makes you even forget you were wearing goggles.
The only downside I’ve found with this goggles is it’s anti-fogging and the problem is that it doesn’t last long. With that said, these goggles are totally worth the investment even though they are a bit pricey compared to the others.
Pros
- FINA approved
- Designed and manufactured in Italy
- Anti-fog and Anti-scratch treated Polycarbonate lenses
- Titanium mirror coating
- Patented curved lens
Cons
- Anti-fogging wears out over time
Things to Look For When Buying the Best Swimming Goggles For Competition
Here are a few factors you should consider when it comes to choosing the perfect swimming goggles for your needs.
Secure Fit
We all have seen it either on the television or in person, and some of us have even experienced it ourselves. Many times you might be sitting watching the races and then suddenly you notice the swimmer in lane 2 swimming goggles is on his chin.
If you haven’t, then this is something you don’t want to ever experience while swimming. This is why when searching for high-quality goggles for a competition you should go with one that fits securely.
Peripheral Vision
This tells how wide your field of view is which is why it is by far one of the most important factors to consider when choosing swimming goggles for competition.
When swimming you will not be able to see your opponents in the lanes next to you, without breaking streamline and placing your self at risk.
But with this, you will know if you are falling behind. It could even help you win the race by helping you to push harder.
Comfort
The comfort that your goggles provide is a very important part of choosing swimming goggles. You will want to be able to focus on your race, your turns, breathing and if you are not comfortable while swimming this can be a big disadvantage. This is why wearing goggles that are comfortable is extremely important.
Low Profile Design
Having a goggle that’s low profile is another important factor when it comes to choosing the best swimming goggles for competition.
You should keep in mind that competitive swimming is all about reducing resistance in the water as much as you can and going as fast as possible.
So having a low profile goggle will help out a lot in reducing resistance and also help you to swim a bit faster.
Durability
This should be one of your number one priority because swimming goggles for competition can be quite expensive, this is why you should ensure that the durability of the goggles is on point. This will also save you a lot of money in the end and prevent you from breaking your swimming goggles before or even while you are swimming.
Conclusion
I hope you find the article helpful, the list contains some of the best swimming goggles on the market for competition. It can be really challenging when choosing the best swimming goggles for your needs. However, with the right information and a solid background of the best brands and types, choosing has become a lot easier than before.
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