An Introduction to Swimming Goggles

Modern swimming goggles have evolved considerably since they were first introduced. They are an essential part of our swimming experience and must be chosen according to how well they suit your swimming and how they suit your individual needs. Swimmers are as accustomed to wearing these items of eyewear as they are accustomed to the smell of chlorine.

A Brief History

As a kid, you probably were asked to wear these items. If you did not realize their importance, here is a look at why you should make it a point to wear them every time you enter the swimming pool. A person called Tom Burgess was the first swimmer to wear swimming goggles. Those early items had a couple of large sockets and were secured to the head with the help of an elastic band. Since then, not many major changes have taken place though the materials and size and colors are certainly a lot different from what were the norm in the early days.

Good Reasons to Wear these Goggles

Most swimmers, especially those who swim in a swimming pool, think that there is no need to wear goggles. However, there are some good reasons why you should. First of all, wearing these goggles ensures that you are able to see more clearly when underwater. The human eye is not designed to see well underwater and so wearing goggles can help us see better.

Protects Your Eyes

Second, when you wear swimming goggles, you are able to protect your eyes from any irritation they may otherwise feel. The water in a swimming pool is treated with different chemicals and these chemicals can irritate your unprotected eyes. However, it is not just the chemicals in the water that irritate our eyes because our eyes become sensitive and they can also become blood-shot when spending a long time in the water. Now that you know why you need these goggles, here is a look at how you can buy the right pair.

Things to Consider

The first thing to look for is that your swimming goggles fit your face perfectly. Our faces are all of different sizes and so, it is important to choose the right shape of goggles to fit your face perfectly. You must ensure that they have adjustable nose pieces and it also pays to opt for a pair with multiple nose pieces which are of different lengths. In this way, you can ensure that no water leaks into the goggles and the goggles will also feel more comfortable on your face.

You also need to understand that goggles that have fixed nose pieces won’t fit everyone the same. It therefore pays to go with the classic Swedish style as they are easy to adjust and are equipped with a string that you can tie to the nose bridge at the right length.

Third, you need to choose the correct lens color. If you swim in dark conditions, then you need to pick lenses that won’t fog up easily.

Factor in the Cost

Last but not least, you need to factor in the cost of your swimming goggles. The Swedish goggles are a good option because they offer style as well as comfort but they are not the cheapest options. So, make sure that you pick a pair that is affordable and which meets the above-mentioned criteria in selecting the right pair.