Q: I have a hard time keeping my goggles on without water seeping through.  Any tips?

A: Most people like to wear goggles with foam padding.  It feels like your eye sockets are more protected and you are less likely to get a black eye.  However, the problem with foam is that it can let water seep through.  This is especially true when goggles are exposed to chlorine or sun.  This exposure will eat away at that foam rather quickly, leaving leaks as a result.

Another common leaking issue with some goggles is when they have set nose-piece lengths (the distance between the eyes).  This is problematic for some people whose eye distance falls somewhere between the notches or if your eyes are exceptionally far apart or close together.  I suggest trying out any pair of goggles with set nose-piece lengths before you buy.  It is the only way to be sure they will fit you well enough to avoid leaking.

As for myself, my eyes are exceptionally close together.  They are so close that I cannot use any of the set nose-piece goggles.  Instead, I use goggles that you put together yourself (like Swedes).  With these, you can customize the eye distance for yourself.  This means they will fit better and leak less in the long run.  But if you absolutely hate Swedes or messing around with building your own goggles, make sure you try out what you buy and also replace goggles frequently, before the foam begins to wear.  Until next time, happy training.

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