2013 Triathlete Buyer’s Guide: Goggles

Get a look at the six goggles featured in the 2013 Triathlete Buyer’s Guide. More from the Buyer’s Guide.

1. Finis Lightning

$16, Finisinc.com
The draw: Minimalist, durable

For the pool purists who simply want a resilient, no-frills training goggle, the Lightning fulfills that need. After wearing bigger frames designed for open water, the Lightning seems as if it just covers your eye sockets—a minimalist feel that competitive swimmers are more accustomed to. It comes with four interchangeable nose bridges to adjust your fit.

RELATED – Seeing Straight: Choosing Your Next Pair Of Goggles

2. Sable WaterOptics RS 101

$50, Sablewateroptics.com
The draw: Perfect vision

In the world of goggles, Sable is a luxury buy at $50. But if you’re looking for the clearest, most fog-free lenses for race day, you can’t go wrong spending a little more to get top-notch clarity (just be sure to store them in their case instead of the bottom of your gym bag). Testers didn0’t initially find them as comfortable around the nose as some of the one-piece models, but the bridge can be swapped for a precise fit.

RELATED: 14 Triathlon Wetsuits Reviewed

3. Tyr Special Ops

$30­-$35, Tyr.com
The draw: Customizable, comfy

We love Tyr’s new custom goggle line for multiple reasons: First, it’s just fun to design your own personalized pair‹everything down to the strap adjuster and individual gaskets can be your color of choice. Second, the Special Ops features one of the softest gaskets we¹ve tried. And last, the clear, peripheral vision provides easy sighting in open water.

RELATED: TYR Freak of Nature. The $1,200 Wetsuit.

4. Aqua Sphere Kayenne Small Fit

$20, Aquasphereswim.com
The draw: Narrow fit, wide view

With a 20 percent smaller fit than the original, this version of the Kayenne is perfect for swimmers with a narrower face shape. The frame is low-profile (one tester mentioned the lenses felt close to her eyelashes), comfortable and sleek, with a unique lens shape that allows for 180-degree visibility. A button on the side of the lens makes strap adjustment easy.

RELATED: The 2013 Triathlon Wetsuit Performance Test

5. Zoggs Phantom Elite

$18, Zoggsusa.com
The draw: Flexible fit for many face shapes

The lenses of the Phantom Elite are more curved than the standard Phantom to increase field of vision. The frame is durable and flexible, and stayed secure on a variety of face shapes. Testers liked the blue lenses and soft feel for long yardage in the pool, but the wide lens shape would work well in open water also.

RELATED – Beginner Triathlete Kit: Swim And Transition Race Necessities

6. Blue Seventy Vision

$25, Blueseventy.com
The draw: Full field of view

The lenses of the Vision provide one of the widest fields in the group, making it ideal for open-water swimming. Testers found the perspective underwater to be clear and bright through the gold mirror lens, and there are 10 different lens and color combinations as well as a small or large sizing option.

RELATED: 8 Triathlon Racing Kits From The 2013 Triathlete Buyer’s Guide

Join in the conversation about everything swim, bike and run. “Like” us on Facebook.