Jloewe wrote:
Is there a way to make my Aqua spheres last longer or a cheaper alternative? I’ve tried a number of other goggles and nothing else seems to work. Haven’t tried TYR yet. But standard goggles never work for me. And I’m sick of paying twice as much for aquasphere. With that said... I’m on my way to the cry like a little biatch thread right now.
So, full disclosure, I worked for Aqua Sphere for 8 years and I still know the line really well. Here are some questions and recommendations. There are a lot of great open water goggles out there. The Kayenne is certainly one of the best.
- Do you keep the goggles in the case they come in? I highly recommend this as it helps to retain the shape and keep them from getting scratched.
- Do you store them in a place that gets really hot? If so, try to find an alternative. The gasket material isn't silicone by materially very similar. It is still susceptible to becoming deformed if they are left in prolonged heat. Best recommendation is store in the case in a dry/ cool climate. I know this isn't always possible. The more you can, the better off the goggles will be.
- Do you rinse them with fresh water after every use? Rinse them in the shower. This helps to remove a lot of the chlorine or other chemicals that will break down the material on the goggle and the lens over time.
- It is recommended to never touch the inside of the lenses. If you read the little booklet that comes in the case it does say this on one of the first pages. This includes defog wipes. The reasoning is that this will scratch the antifog coating that is on the lens from the factory. Antifog drops can be applied without rubbing them in. The best application is long enough before you swim that the antifog can dry. This will provide the best results. I have never really been a fan of antifog and I don't ever use it, but this is the recommended way with Aqua Sphere goggles.
- Don't over tighten the straps. That flattens the gasket down and makes it difficult to get a seal.
- Try not to push the sockets of the goggles onto your eyes. Light tension on the strap works well to provide a good seal.
- Don't get the goggles wet before you get in the water. Put them on before you get in. Providing a dry surface and not introducing water to the inside of the goggle can reduce fogging.
- if the goggles leak a little bit, try readjusting. Sure this sounds counter-intuitive, but it can be a solution.
- The goggles do not have a defined lifespan, but the better you care for them, generally the longer they will last.
The Kayenne and Kaiman are very similar, with slight variances in fit. The Kaiman generally fits more people. All Aqua Sphere goggles are designed to fit around the eye socket. They are bigger goggles designed for open water swimming, but they perform really well in the pool as well.
MP Michael Phelps goggles are smaller more competitive style goggles. I found great success with both Aqua Sphere and MP goggles, but unfortunately no goggle fits everyone perfectly.
I'm not sure if this helps at all, but I'm happy to chat more if you do have any questions. I no longer work for Aqua Sphere though so I can't help from that perspective.
jake
Get outside!