Having a constant problem with my goggles, and not sure what is causing it.
Tried 3 different types of goggles: Aquasphere, BlueSeventy, and TYR… all with the same result.
When I first put on my goggles for my swim workout, they seal perfectly. Usually about half way through my workout, I take off my goggles to do kicking drills. When I put them back on, I can never get a seal around my left eye. They always leak.
And this problem happens in races too. When I go for a warmup swim before the race, goggles seal great. If I take off my goggles in between warm up and race start, left eye leaks the whole race.
I know the easy solution is don’t take off the goggles, however there has be something I’m doing. And why the left eye only? I know eye sockects are not symetrical, but there has to be an easy solution…
Any help or suggestions would be greatly apprecialted!
All joking aside, try different brands on in a store. Just sick em to your face without using the straps. If you find a pair that sticks to (both) of your sockets, bingo.
If problems continue try Sable googles. Be warned, once you try them all other googles will seem like crap.
What goggles are you using? Doesn’t matter the brand alone, but also the model.
I used to use Speedo and had to really ratchet them down on my face, also used some Tyr, not sure which ones, and had the same problem. Did better with the Blue Seventy Hyrdos, but found them cheaply constructed, and had fogging/water BETWEEN the lenses which gave me an awful race, and wound back with Tyr when one of the people recommended I try the Nest Pros for my face. I almost don’t need a strap they seal so well.
There is more to goggles than just the brand, and you might have to go through and try on a bunch of different models. I think if I was using the Tyr Socket Rockets, I might have a similar problem, but once I got into the Nest Pro, they have been awesome.
The Orion is another one from Tyr you might want to try… They have a slightly bigger seal, and as much as the Nest Pros stay on for me, the Orions are like vaacumed sealed on my face… best seal I have experienced for a goggle.
You just need to try on different ones until you find the one you like. I went through bunch and fell in love with the Speedo Air Seal Tri Mirror Goggle.
very comfortable and no leaks in pool or races. I lost mine after my last HIM swim and immediately ordered 2 more.
The BlueSeventy goggles were the Vision model, TYP Racer, and can’t remember the Aquasphere. Pretty much all mid level goggles under the $20 range.
Good advice. I’ll try a few different models, and see how they work. Probably should spend the extra $10-$20 and get a better pair, my left eye deserves it after all the h-ll I’ve put it through…
Not sure if you necessarily have to spend “more money”. The Orions will run you close to $30, but the Nest Pros are only like $15, and the mirrored lenses like $22 or so. I have also found that I had to look around for the ones I wanted where the Tri Shops or places like Sports Authority would carry a few models, but not the ones I wanted.
Took me a year and a half of trial and error. I lucked out in the end and had run into an All3Sports / Tyr rep at Rev 3 Quassy who was teasing me about my B70s , and I had told her I had tried the Tyrs before in the past and never fit my face, seal problems etc… Those were coincidentally the Hydravisions which are similar to the ones you have.
Needless to say, after my Timberman experience, I got back in touch with the All3Sports rep and asked “What was the model you were recommending me again?,” she reminded me, and I have been using them for a year and a half and have not been happier.
Goggles are like almost everything else, fit is going to be key and if your face has a particular shape, there likely will be a goggle out there that will seal better than others. Maybe it is Tyr, could be Speedo, or maybe even Barracuda… Best thing I can say is the “dry press test” worked best for me. I can take the Tyr Nest Pros, press them to my face without the strap and they have stayed on for over 10 minutes. Your mileage will likely vary, but I am sure there is a goggle out there that will perform better for you than others… Hardest thing is finding it
I became somewhat serious about triathlons about three years ago and have this problem every step of the way. I have literaly tried over 10 different types/brands of goggles and have not been able to solve.
After much trial and error the best goggles I have found are the TRY nest pro as doing the best job. But they definitively are not perfect and still have leaking from time to time. Luckily it has not happen in a race. A huge deal for me as I also wear contact lessons.
One thing that have helped me. I put my goggles on first and then cover with swim cap. I realize the risks but no dice the other way. I don’t believe my face is that unusual but there is something with it that is an issue with goggles.
I have followed many threads on the forum on the topic. You should definitely try the most common goggle types to see if one works for you. Many swear by the Sweedish goggles. So give them a try. They are also very inexpensive. You might also try the large goggles that cover a bunch of your face. Also do give the Nest Pro a try has many have had good luck with with them. They make both a regular size and a smaller size. For me, the regular size works better.
There is also the Sweedish goggles but with a slight gasket around them. Might also give them a try.
I have had a lot of luck with TYR socket rocket 2.0
the nose bridge is adjustable and there is very little gasket. It basically uses the suction of the goggles to create a leak proof seal.
Nearly 50 years of swimming experience, and I have settled on Barracuda goggles. They have memory-foam gaskets that simply do not leak. They are also quite comfortable for IronMan-length swims and don’t leave me with raccoon-face.
Like you, I have had problems with leakage in my left eye only. About once a year, I remind myself why I don’t wear swedes (they leak too) and I don’t even bother with ANY goggle that doesn’t have an adjustable nosepiece because that’s where the left eye leakage is coming from.
If I am someplace where I can try on a pair of Sable goggles before buying them, I’d be open to giving them a try. But at $50+, I’m not buying sight, unseen.
Are you doing anything differently when you put them back on?
Out of habit, I lick my goggles every time I take them off my eyes. I’ve never had an issue with goggles fogging that way.
As far as the leak goes, really putting the goggles on tight can sometimes reduce the effectiveness of the seal of the goggle. Do you wear a cap with the goggle strap under the cap? Pulling your goggles up with the strap under the cap is probably going to give you slack in the straps and not hold the goggles to your face properly. I do recommend wearing the strap under your cap, but if you do, be sure to either not take the goggles off, or make sure the the strap is re-situated after you put them back on.
The bigger goggles you may try are going to have a seal that takes less pressure to create a seal than a hard socket goggle. Are you securing the straps in the same place each time you put them on? Higher on your head usually gives a better angle to hold the goggles in place and give you a better seal.
Alternatively, trying a few goggles is an option. Try them on in the store. Find what fits you comfortably. I’m not a huge fan of the “if it sticks, it works” train of thought, but it will show you what is going to seal and what isn’t. That being said, some of the bigger goggles may need the strap to help the goggle seal make good contact with your face.
Generally speaking every goggle is going to fit everybody a little bit differently. So trying them on will give you a better feel for what works.
I have done it several times. First time I did it I did not “time” it but went for a time that felt like 10 minutes. Next time, some one had called BS and for clarification, did it a couple times to see if it was hyperbole.
Most times I go about 5 minutes or so and get bored. I did about 5 minutes just last weekend when I was talking after the Newport Naval Tri to another athlete who was having sealing problem and swam with one eye closed most of the swim, I had my goggles there as I was packing up, so did the dry press as an example and chatted for a bit.
I can also lightly pull with the strap AWAY from my face and they will still stay sealed until I get the tension higher.
Are you wearing sunscreen that the goggles come in contact with? I found that my sunscreen makes it difficult to get a good seal. I apply my sunscreen sparingly around the eye area. That solved my leaking problem.