Swim masks

Swim masks are some of the most popular swimming equipment, and for good reason. They are extremely comfortable to wear and provide excellent visibility in the water. This makes them suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, from the pool to the sea. For this very reason, they are extremely versatile as you can use them for snorkelling, swimming lanes at the pool or open water swimming. In this category you'll find all our best swim masks, and there's something for everyone. 

What is the difference between swim goggles, diving masks and swim masks?

Although their function is similar, there is a big difference when it comes to the use of swim goggles, diving masks and swim masks.

Swim goggles are the smallest and only cover the area around the eyes, making them most suitable for swim training and the pool, but not quite as suitable for snorkelling. On the other hand, they are highly hydrodynamic, which lowers their water resistance to an absolute minimum.

A diving mask, on the other hand, takes up a large part of the face and often comes with a nose in the mask, making them best suited for diving and snorkelling, but not for breaking records in the pool. This is not least due to their low hydrodynamics, which gives them a high water resistance. This also means they're more likely to come off during sudden head movements underwater.

And then there's the swim mask, which has taken the best of the swim goggles and diving masks. You can therefore think of them as a middle ground. They cover a larger area around the eyes, which means they fit better than goggles and have better hydrodynamics than diving masks. That's why many people prefer a swim mask, as it can do the same thing as both a diving mask and swim goggles.

A swim mask is also called diving goggles, but it's basically the same thing. However, they come in different coloured lenses, shapes and sizes, which means some models are better for swimming laps, while others are better for snorkelling.

Which swim mask should you choose?

Depending on which water activity you're most likely to use a swim mask for, there are a few things to consider for the best results and comfort. While different swim masks do the same thing, some are better for certain water activities than others.

If you'll be using a swim mask for swimming laps at the swimming pool or swimming in open water, it's best to choose a swim mask with a smaller frame and a flatter frame that has high hydrodynamics. This way you can be sure that it offers the least amount of water resistance, which also makes them a favourite for triathlon training. Especially since they stay in place better than swim goggles, meaning they won't come off if you get hit by a wave.

However, if you're more into exploring marine life underwater, it's best to choose a swim mask with a wider frame and a larger frame, as it will give you the best visibility. This will also maximise the amount of light entering the swim mask, allowing you to see everything more clearly. In addition, the wide frame will give you a wider field of view.

In this category, you will also find swim masks with a nose, which makes them very similar to a diving mask, but smaller in size. This is a great advantage if you do a lot of snorkelling and diving, as the nose allows you to equalise the pressure. If you dive more than a few metres below the surface, a swim mask without a nose will be uncomfortably pressed against your face.

Choose a swim mask with the right lenses

You might think that the different colours of lenses are mostly aesthetic, but in fact, they each have a specific function. That's why you shouldn't just choose your swim masks based on which one you'll look best in. For example, choosing one with dark mirror lenses can quickly ruin a good snorkelling trip. To make it easier to understand, we have listed the different types of lenses and their benefits:

• Clear lenses: Provides the most natural view and therefore lets the maximum amount of light into the goggles for the best vision. Therefore, they are well suited for low-light environments as they do not reduce brightness or reflect the water surface's glare and bright flashes of light.
• Smoke lenses: They basically perform the same function as sunglasses do on land. They reduce the strength of the light entering the goggles, giving a darker view - just like sunglasses. This is why they are the most favoured, as they are very all-round in terms of their applications. However, you should take into account that your vision can become very blurred in low-light environments.
• Mirror lenses: It's very easy to distinguish the swim masks that have mirrored lenses from those that don't. As the name suggests, they reflect light in the same way as a mirror, only you can still see out of the mask. The advantage of this type of lenses is that they reflect strong light away from the eyes and therefore protect you from strong sunlight, glare and sudden flashes of light. This makes them very popular among triathletes and open water swimmers.
• Coloured lenses/Blue lenses: Here you'll most commonly find swim masks with blue lenses, but they're also available in other colours. They provide a clear view in the colour shade you choose for your goggles, which helps to shield you from glare and flashes of light. They don't reduce brightness as effectively as smoke lenses, but are more of a middle ground between them and clear lenses.

It may seem a little confusing, but you'll find that you'll quickly realise which type of lenses are the most beneficial. Especially if you use your swim mask in open water.

Do you have your equipment organised?

You may have already picked out the swim mask you want, but do you have everything else you need?

This could be a case for swim masks, as some models don't come with their own. We can only recommend that you store your swim mask in a case to protect it from damage and scratches. It would be so annoying if you've found the perfect swim mask and the scratches on the lenses make it difficult to use as it limits your vision.

In addition, the swim masks are treated with an anti-fog layer on the inside of the lenses, which will gradually lose its effect over time. However, you can easily recoat them yourself with an anti-fog spray. It's simple, takes no time and keeps your swim mask from becoming unusable due to fogging.

If you're going to use your swim mask to explore life below the surface, we highly recommend that you combine it with a good quality snorkel. It just makes the whole experience that much better, and many of the snorkels you'll find on this site are compatible with most swim masks.

In addition, a good pair of diving fins for snorkelling will also make it easier for you to swim around the surface and dive down quickly if you find something underwater that you want to take a closer look at.

Take good care of your swim mask

It's quite simple to keep a swim mask in good condition and extend its durability. Salt and chlorinated water are generally hard on the materials swimming equipment is made of, even if they are very sturdy. Over time, the materials will soften and make the swim mask more fragile over time. This will, for example, result in the skirt leaking and the strap breaking.

Luckily, this is easy to avoid if you remember to rinse it well in fresh water after each use. Then make sure it's completely dry before you put it in storage. That way you avoid mould and limescale build-up.

Buy your new swim mask here at Watery.ie

We are very enthusiastic about using swim masks ourselves, as their versatility makes them suitable for virtually all water sports activities. That's why we're pretty sure you'll be just as excited as we are if you buy a swim mask. That's why we have chosen to have a large and wide selection of many different types of swim masks, so you can find the one that suits you best.

If you have questions about any of the models or need advice and guidance, our customer service is ready to help you. Together we'll find the swim mask that will benefit you the most. And when you shop with us, you get a number of customer benefits:

• Free shipping on orders over €79
  
• 3-5 days delivery
• Our customer service is ready all weekdays from 8 AM to 10 PM.

So take a look around the site and find the swim mask you like best.