How to choose the right lenses for your outdoor swim goggles

Polarised, polarised ultra or mirrored… How do you know which lenses are right for you when picking a pair of swim goggles? With the Predator range from Zoggs there’s a choice for every swimmer. Here’s how to pick the right ones for you.

When choosing a pair of swimming goggles it can be tempting to go for the set that look the snazziest. Or, if you’re confused by the selection available, the set that fits best with your expected budget.

So often though, swimmers are buying goggles with lenses that although good in terms of the technology, aren’t necessarily the best for the type of swimming they are doing.

The Predator range from Zoggs is a classic in the world of triathlon. With great visibility, curved lenses for peripheral vision and gaskets and a fit that suits the majority of face shapes they’ve consistently scored highly in our testing over the years. Plus if you needed more proof, the Predator range of goggles have over 2750 (2764 to be exact!) five-star review across zoggs.com and Amazon.

Should you go for polarised, polarised ultra, or mirrored lenses, though? Read on to find out more. Plus, once you’re ready to buy your pair use code ZOGGS220 to receive a 25% discount on the Predator range.

About the Zoggs Predator

First up, a bit about the goggles. Zoggs are proud of the evolution of this model and it shows:

“These are not our best goggles yet. These are the best goggles
This is not our best fit yet. This is the best fit yet” – Zoggs

Predator is the ongoing realisation of Zoggs’ ambition to make the best and most comfortable swim goggles the world has ever seen. From lenses to fit, every pair is packaged with the learning and technological advances that have come from over 30 years of dedicated development and desire to improve.

Predator utilises the Zoggs Advanced Ultra Fit gasket, made from high-grade silicone, to provide enhanced contouring around your eyes for a secure, lightweight fit that endures any distance. Available in small and regular sizes, you can even scan your face with the Zoggs app to find the perfect fit.

About the lenses

Frames chosen, then it’s on to the trickier part – which lenses to go for? First, it can be useful to think about the kind of swimming you are doing. Are you buying your goggles for open water? Where will you be swimming?

For open water, the conditions of the water and also the weather need to be considered. Is the water clear and does the sunlight penetrate through it increasing glare and reflections? Or are you usually in murkier waters where you may struggle more for light an visibility?

Polarized Ultra lenses

Polarized Ultra lenses increase contrast for sharper and improved vision, providing a higher contrast with anti-glare properties. The copper Polarized Ultra lens filters harmful blue rays to prevent eye fatigue in both bright and low light so are the perfect lens for all conditions.

Choose these if you swim in different locations (or countries) and need a set of goggles that can cope with both bright light and darker conditions.

Polarized lenses

Polarized lenses increase contrast for sharper and improved vision, providing a higher contrast and anti-glare properties. Ideal for high level light and especially in direct sunshine, when sun is low on the horizon.

Go for these if you tend to swim in early mornings or evenings in the summer when the sun can be at its trickiest – think those Ironman race starts when the sun is low and in your eyes!

Mirrored lenses (Titanium)

Zoggs’ mirrored (‘Titanium’) lenses are ideal for direct sunshine and extreme bright conditions when swimming outside, this lens reduces glare and reflections of the sun.

The Titanium range is available in silver mirror or coloured mirror finishing. Which one you go for can be partly down to personal preference – a silver mirrored finish will keep colours true, whereas an amber or pink tint will make things look warmer, much like a pair of sunglasses!

Other options

We’ve focused on Polarised, Polarised Ultra and Titanium lenses in this piece but you can find plenty more goggles online as well as options for the swimming pool.

Use code ZOGGS220 at the Zoggs website to receive 25% off your new pair of Predator goggles.