Original Swedish Swim Goggles

If you have never tried Swedish goggles, you may be thinking that they will be very uncomfortable because they don't have a soft gasket like most goggles. You might also think that the lack of a soft gasket will make them leak more than a traditional goggle. The truth is, they are still pretty comfortable and they don't leak any more or less than any other goggles I have used. Soft gaskets are slightly more comfortable, but the Swedish goggles still feel great even for long practices. I typically lift my goggles off my eyes for a few seconds between sets to clear the fog. I think these goggles could be uncomfortable if you left them on for two hours straight, so I would not recommend them for long-distance swims without breaks.OK, so now you know that they don't leak and they are only slightly less comfortable than a soft gasket goggle. Why would anyone want to go with a "slightly less comfortable" goggle? Swedes have several advantages that outweigh the slight sacrifice you make in comfort. First of all, they are very low profile goggles, which means less drag and less surface area for the water to hit during fast starts and turns. Some goggles tend to move or fall off during starts and turns, but swedes always stay put. This is the main reason most people give for wearing Swedes.The second advantage is their price. You can get these for between $4-$6. For that price, everyone should at least try them once. Seriously, some people spend this much on a cup of coffee every day.The third advantage is the "coolness" factor. Am I vain? Maybe, but there is something cool about stepping onto a pool deck with a pair of these goggles.Finally, they have an advantage in their utilitarian simplicity. Their minimalist design and strict focus on performance make a statement about you as a swimmer. I tried SCUBA diving a few times and hated the feel of all that heavy equipment on my body. It made me feel so foreign in the water. When I swim, I want the exact opposite feeling...just a fast swimsuit and some Swedes. I don't want to make too fine a point about this, but anything that gets between me and the water lessens the connection I have for the medium of my sport (the water). Swedes are as close to nictitating membranes as I can get. Now if only I could grow some gills!

~~PROS~~1) Simple yet effective2) No excess3) Inexpensive4) No leaks5) Hardly any fogging~~CONS~~1) May take some adjustment for those used to traditional Speedo-type rubber gasket goggles2) Complete assembly required~~THOUGHTS~~I was tired of my Speedo goggles fogging up. Tired of them leaking. I remember these Swedish goggles from when I was swimming high school and how the Olympic-prospects were using them, so they must be good. Don't let the price fool you. It's inexpensive because it doesn't take much to make and yet, less is more in this case. You'll need to assemble the entire thing, but there is a YouTube video for it. I don't need to spit in these, nor do I need to keep readjusting them. I slap them on once and never have to worry about them ever again. Buy these, you won't be disappointed.

My favorite goggles I have tried to date. It's simplicity and functional qualities are really hard to believe. Value wise finding an equivalent would challenging. Two things of note, be sure to tighten the knot and not cut the excess too short as it may result in the knot untying itself. Secondly, these do not come with anti-fog coating. In terms of optics, the view range is very good, which translates into a better sensation of speed. In terms of comfort, the notion of a hard material without any type of cushioning would seem counter intuitive with comfort, but somehow they are. Comparing them to other brands they fit more comfortably, securely and with very little to no adjustment, the design is simple and functions flawlessly. I now have a smoked pair for sunny days and the amber for the early morning 6 am lap swims in the dark. However, as not two faces are the same, what works for some may not for other but at the price it's work a try.

Super cool and very cheap. Did these in my wedding favor bags for a destination wedding because they were so cheap. They're also VERY effective goggles! I made the mistake of assembling them for my wedding guests (~14 people) and it was a pain to do that many!My only complaint as a "favor" is that there is a sticker with the price on each bag and they do NOT peel off easily. I ripped holes in many bags trying to take those stickers off.But as for the goggles themselves, they worked great!

If you are a competitive swimmer you probably know about these goggles. for those of you who are 'regular' swimmers you may look at the price and design and think they are junk. The beauty of this basic design is that there is no foam or rubber seal, your skin is the seal there's never a leak because the foam ripped or deteriorated. I've met some swimmers over the years who did not like these which is possible if your eye sockets are 'oddly' shaped, but majority of you will find that these can be comfortable. Just make your you adjust the distance between the eyes well, the head strap does not need to be super tight. If you can get your hands on a bead (those basic kid ones) that make the best cinch for the strap and can be adjusted easily.If you want these to last longer (or any goggles) make sure you rinse it off in fresh water, chlorine will eat away the straps over time...the place that tends of break is where the strap meets the goggle holes.