SwimRun Goggles

Updated November 2024

Most swimrunners looking for Swim Run goggles will choose standard open water swimming goggles. Of course, it’s important that any protective eye wear fits well, is comfortable on your face, and keeps the water out! Open water swimming goggles are a little different to standard indoor pool swim goggles.

Open water swim goggles are larger than pool goggles; the lenses are slightly bigger, to allow for better peripheral vision. Also, the rubber or silicone seals around the eyes are bigger and softer, making them more comfortable to wear for long periods of time, especially in salt water.

Additional points to look for are anti-fogging qualities, and also polarized lenses. Many goggle manufacturers say that their goggles are "anti-fog", but I have found this feature to be variable at best! The best trick when you have new goggles is to GENTLY clean around the insides of the lenses with a SMALL amount of toothpaste.

This seems to remove any oily layer left over from the production process, and helps prevent fogging. This is a trick used by many scuba divers. BUT it's important to be very gentle, as toothpaste is mildly abrasive, and you could scratch the lenses if you rub too hard.

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Get detailed swimming data with the Garmin Swim 2!

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Garmin Swim 2

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Custom Fit Swim Goggles
by THEMAGIC 5

These goggles are the only custom-fit swimming goggles available on the planet. THEMAGIC 5 app can scan your facial contours and produce a 3-D map, which is then used to cut the rubber eye seals. Result? No leaks, no undue pressure, no "goggle eyes", no stress. And they look pretty cool, too!

The American company was set up by three professional swimmers and triathletes who were fed up with the traditional one-size-fits-all approach. Their solution is high-tech and high-quality!

Zoggs SwimRun Goggles

The second point above, about getting polarized lenses, is very important if you plan to swim in any kind of sunshine. There are 2 issues at stake here.

SwimRun Goggles - Zoggs Predator

I do all my training off the Spanish coast, and I can tell you my polarized goggles reduce my eye strain on bright days! I can continue to sight the exit marks onshore even in the brightest sunlight, without getting tired eyes.

ALSO, it’s MUCH easier to actually SEE your destination with polarized lenses, whether it’s a buoy or a shoreline marker. The clarity of vision is just so much better.

My favorites are Zoggs Predators, as pictured above.

You can buy the Zoggs Predator Flex with polarized lenses to cut out glare HERE

The colors vary as Zoggs are constantly updating them! Above is the 2024 version.

FORM Smart Swim 2 Goggles
- Holoswim vs Form

Inside view of the display inside a Form swim goggles lens

At the top end of the market, both price-wise and tech-wise, are the smart goggles from FORM. They have a head-up display built into the lens which can show all sorts of information, such as elapsed time, pace, distance etc. You can also upload training plans, and have a plan running in real time as you work through it. You can read my full review on the FORM Smart Swim Goggles HERE.

For the best price check them out on Amazon HERE

FORM smart swim goggles.

Holoswim Smart Goggles
- Holoswim vs Form

Holoswim Smart goggles.

The Holoswim 2S Smart goggles are a rival to Form Smart swim goggles. The main features include:

Real-time near-eye display for key metrics to stay focused in your swim.
Track stroke count, swimming distance/pace, laps, performance by laps, calories, rest time and SWOLF score for measurable growth.
Swimming data tracking with precision: The Holoswim 2S is capable of tracking all stroke styles: freestyle, butterfly, backstroke and breaststroke.
World-class anti-fog technique to ensure your visual clarity under water.
No annual or monthly subscription fee! Lifetime Free!
The goggles support both pool and open water modes.

HoloSwim Smart goggles readout showing training data.

Information on your swim session!

The manufacturers of the Holoswim 2S have introduced a new model in 2024, the Holoswim 2 PRO. The PRO has a reduced profile, making it less bulky and more streamlined.

The PRO also has a bigger selection of nose bridge size options, offering 9 different nose bridges as opposed to 4 in the 2S version. The strap has also been made flatter and wider, resulting in a more secure fit. The anti-fog coating has been tested and approved by the German TÜV Rheinland quality-assurance organisation.

The PRO can connect to your Apple Watch, and display Apple Watch data inside the lens while you are swimming! There are also various training plan templates you can bring up for your training session.

You can check the current deals at Amazon now.

A young woman in a swimsuit and cap looks out over a blue swimming pool, with a Holoswim goggles internal display visible on the right side.

Holoswim PRO goggles

Zone3 Viper-Speed Goggles

Zone3 Viper-Speed Goggle wins the 220 Triathlon 'Cutting Edge' Award!

Featuring wide-angle curved lenses that are essential in providing a wider field of vision required when navigating the open water, the Zone3 Viper-Speed goggles are two-time Kona Ironman swim section winner Josh Amberger's goggle of choice.

Viper-Speed Goggles in yellow with a black strap against a white background

Zone3 Viper-Speed Goggles - Black/yellow option

They were initially designed as a pool goggle, but with with wide field of vision and hydrodynamic design they are excellent for both pool and open-water swims.

A woman in a black Zone 3 wetsuit wearing Zone 3 Viper-Speed swim goggles

Some features of the Viper-Speed Goggles

ADDED FEATURES:

Ultra-soft silicon gaskets
Lucid, anti-fog lenses with tinted finish
100% UVA/UVB protection
Horizon wide angle lens
Thin silicone strap
Ultra fast quick fit strap adjust system

COLOURS:

Turquoise/Blue
Black/Yellow with smoke lens
White with mirror lens

For more information and the best price for the Viper-Speed goggles CLICK HERE

Have you tried these goggles? We would love to hear from you - CONTACT US with your review or opinion.

Swimrun Goggles

Zone 3 Venator-X

Zone 3 have introduced their latest swimrun goggles, the Venator-X model. From the Zone 3 website.

Train and race in the open water or the pool, the Venator-X excels equally in both. A flexible build optimizes their fit for a variety of face shapes and sizes, ensuring comfort and distraction-free performance. Available with polarised mirror, photochromatic or tinted lenses, the Venator-X is the goggle you can rely on regardless of weather or water conditions.

An exclusive mould developed in collaboration with leading pro Ironman swimmer Josh Amberger. This is Josh’s training goggle of choice as he builds up to achieve the first out of the water accolade at Kona for third successive year.

Find out more at Zone 3 here.

Prescription Goggles

For myopia swimmers who need a prescription goggle we have found the following to be great and highly recommended by many of our readers.

UTOBEST Nearsighted Mirrored Swim Goggles - Anti Fog Myopic Optical Swimming Goggles with 100% UV Protection

A male swimmer wearing a black swim cap with Utobest mirrored SwimRun goggles

100% UV protection,the tinted mirror lenses are ideal for outdoor swimmers;
Anti-fog and UV lens treatment for long lasting clarity under water,Oversized,180-degree visibility;
Professional myopia goggles:-1.5,-2.0,-2.5,-3.0,-3.5,-4.0,-4.5,-5.0,-5.5, -6.0;the best choice for myopia swimmers;
Adjustable Silicone strap for comfort and durability, Soft TPU nose bridge keeps fitting secure and comfortable; Two replaceable nose bridges Included;
Fashion Design, with tinted mirror lenses, for pool or open water.

HUUB Aphotic Swim Goggles

These come highly recommended by some of our readers and on the UK SwimRun social media forums.

The Aphotic from HUUB is a swim goggle that gets darker or lighter through photochromatic technology during training/a race without you really noticing. The self regulating lens gives you the vision and comfort to maximise your sighting while swimming. This can of course help when you are swimming into the sun or into shadow, so would be of great value in a longer race with changing light.

HUUB Aphotic Swim Goggles

They are in a higher price bracket (£44.99 as at June 2024) but currently come with free HUUB sliders.

More information and the option to purchase can be found on the HUUB website HERE.

Aquasphere SwimRun Goggles

I have recently tested a new pair of swim goggles from Aquasphere - the Aquasphere Kayenne goggles. Here is a picture, with an Ötillö competition swim cap. These particular goggles are mirrored, with an anti-fog coating on the inside. The manufacturer specifically recommends NOT touching nor cleaning the insides, to avoid damaging the anti-fog properties. They state that the lenses should be simply rinsed with fresh water after use.

A green Otillo Swimrun Sprint swim cap with Aquasphere swim goggles

Aquasphere Kayenne swim goggles

The picture below shows the adjustment mechanism for the strap. You just have to press down on the button, as shown, to release and adjust the strap length. The release the button to lock the strap. Brilliant!

The size adjustment toggle on a pair of Aquasphere Swimrun goggles

Aquasphere Kayenne adjustment

The picture below illustrates the wide and soft latex eye sockets. Theses promise to exert less pressure around the eyes, especially during a long swim.

The eye seals on Aquasphere Kayenne Swimrun goggles against a white background

Aquasphere Kayenne eye seals.

I tested the new Aquasphere swim run goggles during our training for the Isles of Scilly Ötillö World series event. Unfortunately I had a big problem with them fogging. I ended up going back to my Zoggs Predators. However, everyone is different so they may be perfect for you! They come in many different colorways.

CLICK HERE for the best price on Amazon if you want to try them.

Speedo Biofuse 2.0 Review

The Speedo Biofuse 2.0 goggles were recommended to us by a friend who is training to swim the English Channel. She told us that she had tried around 12 different makes of goggles, but this Speedo version are the best!

Speedo Biofuse

The current model is the Speedo Biofuse 2.0. This has very soft eye sockets with quite wide flanges, and a larger surface area coverage than usual. This spreads the pressure out, making the Biofuse very comfortable.

The internal frame design is flexible and contributes to an excelent fit. The polycarbonate lenses are slightly larger than the Zoggs Predators, for example, and wrap around the sides slightly to provide improved peripheral vision. This helps you to see fellow swimmers who are close before you hit them! They also provide UV400 protection, and are treated with an anti-fogging spray.

Speedo Biofuse 2.0

There is an interesting push-button adjustment mechanism, which is just visible below the Speedo emblem in the upper photo. You can tighten the strap by just pulling it through the strap mount, but to loosen the strap you have to press the little red button.

I have bought a pair of these goggles, and I have to say I am very impressed. They feel a bit more comfortable than my recent Predators, and I don't finish a 1 hour swim with "goggle eyes"!

When I first dived in, I was stunned by the clarity of the lenses, and by the degree of lateral vision. I have to admit, the lenses are not tinted, but even so the vision through these lenses is the best I have ever seen.

For open-water swimming on a bright day in the Mediterranean, the UV400 protection seems to take the dazzle out of the sunlight, and the lack of tint or mirror finish did not bother me. HOWEVER you CAN get these goggles with a degree of lens tint if you go for a different color such as blue or red, for example.

At around $30 the Speedo Biofuse 2.0 are very good value for money. The small concern I have is that the very flexible seals and frame may not last as long as Zoggs Predators - but time will tell!

CLICK HERE for more information and best deal on Amazon.

I hope you have found our guide to swimrun goggles useful. Please let us know if you are using something different, and think they deserve a mention on this page, using the Contact Us link. Thank you!