goggles and masks...

[KirstenHW]

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.

[Simmons99]

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!

[Dr. Spike]

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.

[sevver]

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.

[Dr. Spike]

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.

[KirstenHW]

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.