💦 How to choose goggles to suit your swimming 💦

All you need to know about goggle shape and lenses

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Choosing goggles can be a confusing business if you're an open water swimmer who also likes to train in the pool, perhaps even enter the odd race or event now and then. With terms like 'low-profile goggles', 'photochromatic lenses' and 'ergonomic gaskets', it's no wonder we get ourselves in a pickle!

That's why we've put together this goggle guide with ORCA to help demystify the techy terminology, narrow down your choices and find the next pair of goggles to suit your swimming! 

Abi Whyte

Digital Editor, Outdoor Swimmer

🤔 Which goggle shape? 🤔

Low-profile

Low-profile goggles are designed to sit close to the face with minimal bulk. The slim fit means they reduce drag, making them ideal for speed training and competitive swimming. 

The ORCA Killa Hydro goggles (above right) come with interchangeable nose bridges, so you can adapt the goggles to the shape of your face. I'm not much of a speedster and don't enter races, plus I prefer a wider lens for maximum peripheral vision, so this type of goggle wouldn't be my personal choice. But they'd definitely be Outdoor Swimmer founder Simon's!

Best for: indoor pool training and racing

Large lenses

Goggles with large lenses have wide peripheral vision, making them great for visibility in open water. 

With their super-soft gaskets, the ORCA Killa Comfort (above left) goggles felt instantly comfortable and secure with minimal faff, so I could get straight in the water. I liked the thick split-strap, which was handy for placing over my hair bun. There are three lens options to choose from – smoke black, mirror and clear. 

Best for: open water swimming

Wide lenses and slim profile

If you're lucky, you can come across goggles that offer good peripheral vision for the outdoors AND have a slim profile for high performance. 

The ORCA Killa 180 (above middle) are those very goggles, and they're my favourite among the ORCA range. They’re similar to the Killa Comfort in terms of offering wide peripheral vision, but for me the eye gaskets feel a lot softer, and the profile less bulky. There are four lens options for these goggles – mirror, blue tint, smoke and clear.

Best for: open water and pool training

🤔 What type of lens? 🤔

Goggle lenses filter the light in different ways to enhance your experience in the water. Each lens type is suited to different environments and conditions.

CLEAR LENSES allow in the maximum amount of light, providing excellent visibility even in low-light environments. They are a versatile option that work particularly well for indoor training sessions. While some offer UV protection, they do not reduce glare from bright sunlight. 

TINTED LENSES offer a variety of benefits depending on the colour. Blue-tinted lenses are a versatile option that help reduce surface glare, improving visibility. Smoke lenses can soften harsh artificial lighting, making them ideal for indoor pool training and racing.

MIRROR LENSES (or polarized lenses) reduce intense glare created when sunlight reflects off flat surfaces like lakes or the sea. They are ideal for bright outdoor conditions and also perform well on overcast days.

 ☀️ So, are you clued up on your goggles? ☀️

Whether you're after goggles for sunny wild swims, to help perform your best in your next race, or – like me – something versatile for indoor and outdoor use, we hope you've found our goggle guide useful.

Take a look at the ORCA swimming goggle range to choose the perfect pair of goggles for YOU. 

“My faves are definitely the ORCA Killa 180. The wide lenses are ideal for open water, yet the profile is slim enough for pool training. They're super comfy, too!"

Abi Whyte, Digital Editor, Outdoor Swimmer