2011 Triathlete Buyer’s Guide: Goggles
Need a new pair of goggles? Check out our goggle lineup straight from the 2011 Triathlete Buyer's Guide.
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Blueseventy Hydra-Vision $27
By far the tester’s favorite frames and lenses thanks to comfortable suction around the eyes and great peripheral vision. The curved mirrored lenses allow a smooth transition for sighting, and the low profile creates minimal drag through the water. Dislikes included no adjustment for nose width and excess strap around the temples. Blueseventy.com
Written by: Sara McLarty
Tyr Tracer $17
Ladies, this one is for you! A smaller frame designed for petite faces but still Tyr’s fastest goggle. Pink and purple color options, mirrored lenses for sunny days and five nose bridges for a custom fit. Testers liked the rear head-strap adjustment but found the anti-fog coating to be slightly delicate. Tyr.com
Barracuda Vision XL $20
The large frames made our testers wary, but after a few laps, their appeal was unanimous. The silicone nose bridge expanded and contracted to fit various-sized faces, and the one-button strap was easy to adjust. The lenses allowed unobstructed vision and prevented fogging but were too big for some eye sockets. Barracudausa.com
Speedo Vanquisher 2.0 $17.99
The family that swims together shops together! The Vanquisher category of goggles includes Junior, Women’s, 2.0 and Plus (ultra mirrored). Speedo is a longtime leading designer of swim accessories, and these reflect that lineage. Bonus features include three adjustable nosepieces, reduced glare, UV protection, anti-fog coating and 100 percent PVC- and latex-free pieces. Speedousa.com
Aqua Sphere Kayenne $24.99
The Kayenne held up to its promises. The soft gaskets sit outside of the eye socket and remove pressure common of most socket-type frames. Testers liked the clear lenses on cloudy days. The adjustment strap’s locking system is reliable, as long as it is not accidentally pushed or grabbed. A small-fitting goggle is available. Aquasphereswim.com
Tyr Orion $40
In addition to the malleable gaskets, durable strap and flexible nosepiece, the lenses make the Orion unique. They are rigid and provide a flat rather than curved lens. Curved goggles distort the swimmer’s view to various degrees, but this lens eliminates that problem. However, the rigid lenses also mean that the gasket must match your face for Orion to fit you well. Tyr.com