you can get a black eye from padded goggles too. A kick in the face is a kick in the face and a little bit of rubber probably isn’t going to help much. It didn’t for me.
Pro’s wear them all the time, I mostly wear swedes, but also won a pair of blue seventy carbon goggles on here I wear a lot too. If not for that, it would be only swedes.
That’s actually what I use, the TYR Socket Rockets, I can wear either but the TYR’s I use have antifog coating in them.
If you see me at a race I’m an OK swimmer, not real fast but may be fast enough for some to draft off of 
jaretj
I wear them when I am training and racing. Chicks dig them , and they take the attention away from my big fat gut.
I’m a masters coach, and a former college swimmer and college swimming coach. I don’t often wear Swedish goggles, preferring to stick with either the Speedo Sprint or the Hind Compy (which is still sold by Hind as the “Competition” and by Water Gear by the same name). I do sometimes wear Mirrored Swedish goggles for OWS races and outdoor training because they are the darkest. These are all small, low-profile goggles, and all are very inexpensive.
I definitely agree with the statements about spotting swimmers in Swedish goggles. It’s almost a universal truth: spot someone in Swedish goggles (or the Hinds), and you know they are or have been relatively serious. Just this week, a woman joined our team, wearing more of a beach suit (with the skirt, even), but rocking the Swedish goggles from her HS days 10 years ago. The skirt suit said to me “I’m going to be spending lots of time teaching her the strokes and rules,” but the Swedish goggles said “stand back.” Sure, she hadn’t swam in a decade, but it only took about a 25 for me to confirm that she was good once. I should have just saved that first 17 seconds and taken the cue from her goggles.
I’ve said this before: if you like the Swedish, at least give the Hind Competition a chance. They’re the traditional goggle with the thin neoprene seal and the single green strap, but they are so light. you’ll never notice them. I’ve never lost them on a start, and they have a huge range of vision. I’ve worn them in my thee IM races. Give them a shot: for $4 you can’t go wrong. Plus, if you think the Swedish goggles make you look legit, you’ll be even MORE impressive with these little, unobtrusive things on.
I knew swimmers who were seriously hoarding their remaining stash of Compys during the time period between Hind’s original bankruptcy and when Saucony bought the label and brought the goggles back.
Swedes & socket rockets fan here, and I’ve never had problems open water racing in them. And as someone with contact lenses in the water (-14 myopia) I need a goggle I can rely to stay on, so I love the double strap deal.
Hind Compys are the bomb. Wore them when I actually started wearing goggles back in the late 70’s, remember getting shit from my teammates who thought wearing goggles was for whimps. Once they tried them on, literally one time, they were hooked. I couldn’t find them (“compy”) when I returned to swimming, but was relieved to find them finally as “competition.” Like you I have the mirrored swedes for sunny days, but the compy is my comfort goggle. I have can’t remember ever losing them diving in or having them leak, except for that one time I had the gasket disintegrate on a pair I used for 5 years.
Let’s start a movement, here and in the pools. Try to get Swedish goggle-wearers converted. I tried that with a college team, and it stuck for quite a few members.
It’s not a “scuba mask”, but Faris has used a Seal Mask in Kona. And, I’d say he’s a pretty good swimmer. So, that’s not necessarily “how it is”…
Show up in swedes, let everyone know you mean business. Show up in a scuba mask, everyone will know you learned to swim from TI or even worse, a fellow triathlete. That’s how it is.
This is right on the money. I always judge people on their goggles; that’s not even meant to be sarcastic. Betting on a race between between guy in small, low profile goggles like swedes, and a guy in huge Aqua Sphere scuba mask I’ll take the swedes guy every time.
No need to have a huge face shield, you can see just as much with two little pieces of plastic. No need for an enormous gasket, they won’t leak. Small, sleek, and dependable (mine are going on 7 years old now, no problems).
I’ve been swimming my entire life and switched from a speed socket to the Kayennes and saw no decline in my swim times. Still swimming 26 at a 70.3.
Better yet, I think Faris may have a difference of opinion.
I think it’s safe to say “don’t judge a book by its cover”
Jake
I swim OW and race(tri’s) in Swedish goggles. When i tell some people this they look at me like im retarded. Why do i need some crazy looking goggles to have good vision? the swedes are clear and i have great vision in the water and can see all around. Just wanted some of your thoughts and what the ST community races in.
stick with them… I wouldn’t switch what works for me just cause there are more on the start line… Just swim fast and stay ahead of the masses
I wear the swedes for all my tris.
They are really popular amongst former competitive swimmers. Use this to your advantage! When you are on the start line, look for who’s wearing swedish goggles and plan on targeting their feet. Chances are high they will be swimming fast.
I’ve noticed this as guys find me and line up with me to try and draft me… does’t work too often.
been using them since 1990
No shit it’s not a scuba mask, and the fact that you knew what I was referring to shows that this didn’t need to be disputed. It looks like a scuba mask, and with very few exceptions, the people who wear these don’t have very good swims. Your exception hardly makes my statement any less true.
No shit it’s not a scuba mask, and the fact that you knew what I was referring to shows that this didn’t need to be disputed. It looks like a scuba mask, and with very few exceptions, the people who wear these don’t have very good swims. Your exception hardly makes my statement any less true.
one word : Fred
Provided you’re talking about the scuba mask folks, and not me, then you are 100% correct.
No shit it’s not a scuba mask, and the fact that you knew what I was referring to shows that this didn’t need to be disputed. It looks like a scuba mask, and with very few exceptions, the people who wear these don’t have very good swims. Your exception hardly makes my statement any less true.
Actually, I would dispute that that’s “how it is”. I know plenty of guys who aren’t great swimmers that wear Swedes, too. Lining up behind the ripped guy wearing the Swedes is just as likely to get you a fast pair of feet to follow as lining up behind the chubby guy wearing the Seal Mask.
Show up in swedes, let everyone know you mean business. Show up in a scuba mask, everyone will know you learned to swim from TI or even worse, a fellow triathlete. That’s how it is.
wouldn’t this be a reason to NOT race in swedes? Let everyone chase down the the guys in swedes then crush all their dreams.
When I go out and crush races i’m not concerned with who is behind me, dragging on my feet, etc (unless I know them to be a legitimate threat…)
Mickstar evidently not aware of how to spot a good swimmer from a bad one. He is beyond help. Ignore him.
Alternate signs of the good swimmer:
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Is doing one arm forward-one arm backward arm circles at the swim entrance just to show up.
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Does a couple of lat slaps
Alternate signs of the good swimmer:
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Is doing one arm forward-one arm backward arm circles at the swim entrance just to show up.
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Does a couple of lat slaps
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rubbing hands on a rock or other rough surface (I use blocks/diving boards at swim meets)
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They usually warm up for more than 2 minutes