How Are Swim Goggles Supposed to Fit?

Swimming is an activity enjoyed by millions of people worldwide. It provides improved levels of physical fitness, without a harsh impact on the knee and ankle joints. Competitive swimming is an excellent sport for children because it is a relatively simple one to participate in. The equipment needed for swimming is fairly minimal. One of the few things needed is a pair of goggles and the way goggles fit is rather important.

  1. Function

    • Swim goggles are used by both recreational and competitive swimmers. Their primary function is to keep water out of the eyes and enable a swimmer to see underwater. This protection is further needed for those who choose to swim in chlorinated pools. Chlorine is useful for sanitizing pools, but the chemical itself is an irritant which can cause dryness and redness in the eyes. By wearing swim goggles, though, a swimmer can help prevent this irritation.

    Types

    • There are a variety of kinds of swim goggles available on the market in many different shapes. Some goggles contain padding around the eye pieces, to provide comfort for the swimmer. Lenses come in a variety of colors, although this does not affect the fit. The shape of the lenses, however, will impact how they fit. Lenses are generally either round, often called "bug-eyed," or oblong.

    Features

    • Swim goggles are typically comprised of two eye pieces connected with a bridge and using a strap to go around the head and keep them in place. Some swim goggles contain padding around the eye pieces. Others are simply made form hard plastic and do not offer cushioning. Anti-fogging is a feature in certain goggles, but solutions are available which serve the same function. When the solution is applied to the lenses, it helps them not to become foggy and enables the swimmer to see clearly.

    Considerations

    • The fit of a swimmer's goggles may depend on whether he is training or swimming in a competition. When preparing to swim in a meet, it is more important to ensure a tight fit. This will prevent the goggles from falling off upon entry into the water following a start. For practice, it is not quite as important for a pair of goggles to be overly tight.

      To adjust the fit of a pair of goggles, the strap that goes around your head can be tightened or loosened to secure the goggles. If the eye pieces themselves are either too close or too far apart, the bridging piece that connects them can be adjusted as well.

    Test

    • A method to test whether swim goggles fit well or not is to start by holding the goggles over your eyes and then press into your eye sockets with your fingers in a firm, but gentle manner. Upon letting go, the goggles should stay in place if they fit correctly. If not, find another pair and repeat the process.

    Significance

    • If goggles are not fitting properly, they can provide tremendous discomfort for a swimmer. Proper fit of a pair of swim goggles prevents waters from filling up in the eye pieces. Should this happen, a swimmer will need to stop in the middle of training and readjust his goggles.