goggles and masks...

I've been buying the el-cheapo gogles at season's end from Target and K-mart and serves me right... almost every one are leaking even after just a few times of use. I can stop some of them from leaking if I tighten them till it hurts.

I'm not a lap swimmer so I don't need a gazillion $$$ mask. But I do want good comfortable "leisure" swim masks for general water play. As I know nothing about the subject and I don't see an appropriate subject so I'm posting the question here. I'd like to get some for the kids too. Also... masks? or goggles?

I bought a nice set of Speedo goggles from Campmor in Paramus NJ. They were less than $30 - and after buying El Cheapos for years, the difference in the fit and finish is like night and day - they even came with an extra strap and three sets of nose bridges.

I got them in person at their store, but they have a great web site and mail order catalog as well. Their prices are excellent. Their sales are outrageous. Before we went to Maui last year I bought a complete dry snorkel/fins/glass mask kit in a bag there for about $60. In Hawaii, the snorkel alone was going for almost that. It was worth packing an extra duffel full of gear.
Here's the Campmor web site:

www.campmor.com

And if I am not mistaken, they have an amazing exchange/return policy. I bought a pair of Keen sandals there for the same trip and they told me they had a one year return policy.

Another goggle question - which one should you use with contacts. I am scared to death to use goggles (rely on them) and just don't open my eyes under water (or my contacts will come out in the pool water).

Is there a specific model that is really reliable for contact lens wearers?

I guess I could take them out - but then I might as well be close my eyes b/c I won't be able to see anything without them in!

I wear contacts. So far I have had no problems with any of the goggles I have used. All have been cheap goggles too. I use the kind with the soft clear rubber seal not the foam rubber looking seal. They seem to let less water in.

I don't really use goggles, but I have kids that do, and the cheap ones are not the way to go. have a sister in law who is on a swim team, and she uses the speedo ones, and I like the look of them, they seem to be made well.

I should really try some better goggles someday. :)

I am blind without my contacts, so I hate swimming without goggles.

All I can say about all the cheap ones I have had, is that I have not lost any contacts because of them.

They do have their downsides though. For instance, they don't last long, they are uncomfortable, and they don't last long. ;)

I don't wear contacts, so I can't speak to that. I would think that a mask might be more accommodating for contacts. I prefer them to goggles myself.

I bought an Aqua Sphere Seal Kids for my son tonight (expensive for kid's masks at $20). Tomorrow it'll be returned. The Seal does not seal very well across the bridge of his nose. THe straps have to be painfully tight to eliminate any visible gaps.

I do like the design and am considering the purchase of the adult version for myself. Perhaps it's because my Son's got a flatter bridge or he's too young (5yrs old).

TYR "Youth" works very well for kids and are no more than $10.

I got some speedo ones. There @ academy for less then 10.00.

I tried Speedo, TYR and NIKE (Nike makes goggles?)

But when I tried alll of them the Speedos felt so nice and seem I can see more with them.

Since I love to go all the way to the bottom of our pool (8 feet), it just makes it more fun.

What really honetly helps me out a lot also is the speedo nose plug. I can hold my breath underwater allot longer now. At least by 30%.

When you guys mean Cheapo goggles, what brand are you speaking of?
Or do you mean just in price??

My son has a set of DOLPHINO goggles they leak a little and fog really bad after about 3 dips in and out from under the water. My speedos are anti-fog and as of yet leaks what-so-ever.

Overall I am happy w/ my $9.00 speedo goggle purchase. It does make a world of difference when going down under the water.