While your swim goggles may be one of the least expensive items in your fitness bag, they can have a huge impact on your comfort and technique while in the water. Goggles should form a tight seal around your eyes so that you're able to see in the water, but when they leak or become foggy, they can become more of a nuisance than a piece of fitness equipment. By trying swim goggles on before you purchase them and testing them in the water, you can be sure you have the proper fit.
Step 1
Pull the stretchy band around your head and fit it over the area of your skull that bulges slightly. This should be the widest part of your skull and the proper area on which your goggles should be fitted.
Step 2
Separate the two elastic bands around the goggles by an inch or two and evaluate your goggles for comfort. If they feel too tight, you should be able to readjust them by feeding more elastic through the belt-like closure around the plastic straps. To tighten, pull the free end of the plastic straps tighter.
Step 3
Fit the goggles over your nose, checking to ensure that you have a good seal. The nose piece should fit snugly, but should never dig into your nose or cause you pain.
Step 4
Place the eye pieces of the goggles on top of the bone structure around the eyes, not on the socket. Only professional swimmers wear tight fitting goggles that fit over the socket to help them become more hydrodynamic in the water, according to the iSport.com website. Unfortunately, they can be extremely uncomfortable and only meant to be worn for short periods of time. For recreational and fitness swimming, the goggle should fit over the bone comfortably.
Step 5
Look around the goggles to check for obvious gaps between your skin and the goggle. Gaps are the main culprits for fogging and leaks, so it's important that you get a tight seal. Ask the retailer about their return policy. Some sporting goods supply stores will allow you to test the goggles in the water to ensure that you have the best fit possible. Being in the water is the only sure way to ensure that your goggles are comfortable and secure, notes the All About Vision website.
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