Speedo Speed Socket Swimming Goggles

Advantages: Last ages, good fit, adjustable nose clip.

Disadvantages: Price.

As a triathlete and swimmer, buying goggles has become a regular occurrence for me as they can break or get lost very easily. I have always bought a couple of pairs in the past, one for training and a couple for racing in. I initially decided to buy these as they are designed for racing and look great, however I use them all of the time now.

I got these from JJB last year to replace an identical pair that broke as they were brilliant to race in. After I bought these my training goggles broke, so I decided to swim in these. At first I found the fit round the eyes slightly tight, but after a while they became more comfortable. The most ingenious feature of these goggles in the adjustable nose clip. They come with 3 different sized nose clips which can be changed around depending on the size of your nose and how the goggles sit round your eyes. I decided to use the middle size and I have fitted it upside down as it suits my nose shape more.

The goggles are sealed round your eyes by a piece of thin black rubber that follows the contours of your face well and provides a great seal. There are 2 straps that are highly adjustable and are very comfortable. My goggles have a black rim and strap and then have dark blue eye pieces. These look very good and they are made out of a strong plastic material that is very durable and doesn't seem to of been eroded by the chlorine in the pool. As the lenses are built into the main frame of the eye piece, there is no problem of the lens being pushed out when putting them on.

My goggles came with a small mesh pouch that the goggles can be stored in along with the spare nose pieces. This is a great addition as when you have wet goggles, they can be put in here and then in your bag and they will be dry when you next get them out. The mesh bag is black with a small tag on the side that has the Speedo logo on it.

I have always found the swimming products from Speedo to be of excellent quality in the past and these goggles have shown that there products are still well made. I paid about £18 for these goggles a year ago and for the price I am very pleased. I now have another spare pair of goggles that cost me £3.50 (highly discounted) which do not match the quality at all of these. If you are a club swimmer or just like to swim every now and then then these goggles will be perfect for you. They may be expensive, but they will last you for a long time. 5/5 as they are the best I have used.

Summary: Great goggles for anyone

Zoggs Swimming Pull Buoy

Advantages: Great for improving technique, very long lasting, durable.

Disadvantages: Colour fades over time.

For those that do not know, a pull buoy is a swimming training aid that is placed between your legs when you are swimming front crawl so that you can concentrate on just your arms technique only. It is an invaluable tool for swimmers of all abilities and I have seen it used by all ranges, from complete novices to GB athletes.

This pull buoy is produced by Zoggs, a company that initially started in Australia in 1992 selling and producing goggles. Since then, they have grown into a worldwide brand well known by swimmers and triathletes. This pull buoy is blue and yellow in colour and measures 23cm x 13cm x 7cm. It is made of a hard foam material that is designed to be very buoyant in water. On one end it says "Zoggs" and some safety information and on the other end it has the same repeated. I also have my name written on the end in permanent marker so it does not get lost at training sessions.

For a pull buoy to be good, it needs to fit comfortably between your legs and lift them to the surface. This does both of those really well. It fits well between your legs and is comfortable for long durations and it also is very buoyant, keeping my legs on the surface of the water all the time. By having your legs floating, it allows you to work on your front crawl arm technique and build strength in your arms and shoulders. It can also be used to do kicking drills with, if you don't have a kick board to hand. It is just buoyant enough yo support your arms, however I would recommend buying a proper kick board as it is much more comfortable.

I bought this a couple of years ago for about £10 from my local sports shop. I believe they are about the same price now and can be bought from and good sports shop, the internet or from your local swimming pool. They are very durable and will last you a very long time. The colours slightly discolour over time but the pull buoy itself stays structurally intact and still performs its intended function.

If you are a keen swimmer and want to improve your stroke and times then this is a worthwhile investment for you. By doing it, you can improve your arm action through the water, which will lead to you getting quicker through the water.

I am going to give this 5/5 as it has been exceptionally helpful to me over the years and has helped me become quicker and stronger.

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Summary: If your looking to improve your swimming, buy one.