Anyone actually tried both?
No subscription for holoswim and lower initial cost
But how do they compare?
a set for $99, or get two for $160…almost worth getting just to try out
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Interesting… I have a pair of the FORM goggles. They are okay and I like the information while I swim but the goggles leak sometimes, give me really bad goggle eyes and seem particularly heavy.
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Tbh a very good product would be a dumber swim goggle that I can click a button at T-minus 1 or 2 seconds from the start and shows me nothing more than a timer. Super helpful for longer sets.
I don’t need a head pitch score.
I don’t need a breathing percentage rate.
I don’t need auto start/stop.
HR is nice.
Bluetooth upload is nice.
In my N=1 experience, there is no comparison. It’s like driving a Ferrari vs. a Chinese copy of a Ferrari.
Looking at a broader picture, you have numerous professional athletes, swimming coaches etc. using and recommending Form swim goggles, while the only people who use and promote Holoswim goggles are the influencers who are paid to do it.
There was an aftermarket timer (stopwatch) you could attach (suction cup) to your goggles to get a HUD. Unfortunately Google bought it out for the IP while developing google glass and killed it.
What is your HPS? 
How long did you try each of the 2 goggles?
It’s actually messed up and I don’t know if it’s just my goggles or if I have a messed up face. It consistently tells me I should be looking like 10ft down the pool.
So what you’re really saying is you want one that actually “Works” not that you dont want to know what it is…
I personally have a secret crush with the googles. I think they are one of the best kept secrets for 80% of triathletes.
Hahaha yeah you got me there.
I do agree that the Form goggles are a massive aid. The individual length timing isn’t perfect, but getting real time feedback on a 50/100m basis is huge. Try something different with your hand entry, see right away the HR and pace difference. It’s not perfect but over the span of a normal swim it’s valuable data.
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You can use the Finis Tempo Trainer Pro.
Its basically a metronome that you can set to your desired length time and get feedback on every turn if you are going too fast/slow. You can also use it to help keep a desired stroke rate, I find it useful since I always tend to go too high at first then fade.
Here’s a ST thread about it: Metronome for swimming
In my experience Form goggles promised a lot and haven’t really delivered. It seems to be a pretty finicky device all things considered. It gave me a perfect swim score, stupid fast times, and my swimming is terrible and slow.
Tempo trainer is great but overprice for what it is, $60 USD is a joke for a fragile “waterproof” metronome. They are not durable and I’ve had to replace mine multiple times. I’m an early adopter of the form goggles and have cost me less than the tempo trainer overtime due to durability. It also easier to use and provides more data that I find relevant.
Could you share an opinion on the training plans and Headcoach?
In my case the first week was really weird with Form, then I started enjoying it and the Improve Your Pace type plans and it felt like I was getting similar to a decent Masters membership. Then I tried the tri plans which didn’t inspire and didn’t see improvement, and the headcoach stuff mostly just made it hard to breath.
I’m in two minds looking ahead to next season. Subscribe to Form plans or join an inconvenient masters club.
I have one in my swim bag for many years with zero issue.
I’m not doubting your experience, but it does sounds a bit weird. You would have to replace it many times (twice for initial purchase and twice a year for the service) to get to the cost level of the form goggles. I doubt the Finis tempo dies twice every year with no option to get a replacement.
Having said that, I absolutely agree that $60 is a total racket for a simple metronome.
I’ve been using the training program for just under 1 year. I have mixed opinions on the plans and I agree that tri plans are on the weak side vs other. In the past, I’ve used swim smooth and I find their overall program much better. I do love it for the convenience and being able to just load something up and jump in the pool. I have unusual work schedule to I jump in pool at random times so the subscription has gotten me in the pool more that I have previously.
Regarding the scores/headcoach, I find some metrics helpful and others not so I don’t put too much value in it. The overall score do tends to correlate with how well or poorly I feel with my swim.
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Same here
Going on 4 years with TVs tempo trainer zero issues
I like my Form goggles and have using them for a year with the free first year. My 2nd year is costing only 99 bucks.
What i dont like about them is the limited visibility due to their shape. For this reason i may never use them in a race.
I love selecting a workout and the goggles tell me when and what to do and i don’t have to hit a button at the end of every interval. I’m now swimming better after a year than what i have in a long time. The head coach skills have helped as well as the actual workouts which give me way less rest than i use to give myself. Another great feature (imo) is each interval has a prescribed speed.(slow,mod, hard). I believe swimming at different speeds is “goo fo you”!
Mine always leaked. The first time I was able to get it replaced for free under warranty. Subsequent ones I had leaked not too long after warranty expired so they lasted maybe a little over a year for me. Maybe it’s because I often leave my swim gear in car and with hot summers and cold winters (Chicagoland) was what contributed to the issues.
I loved the tempo trainer but even if they never broke, I would have eventually switched over to the Form. For me as someone who didn’t grow up swimming, the value of the Form with additional features > than the tempo trainer, especially when on sale at $129 USD. I got mine discounted through my tri club.