The range
We have turned down a lot of good ideas to keep this list short. Everything here is pressed, tinted, sealed and tank-tested at Ashburton Works, and every pair carries the two-year seal guarantee.
Named after the mill district where we started. Wide silicone seal, four interchangeable nose bridges in the box, and a strap buckle you can move with wet hands and cold fingers. If you only ever own one pair of goggles, this is the one we would sell you.
A smaller frame with a deliberately chunky buckle that small fingers can actually work without a grown-up. Clear lens, because a nine-year-old in a dim leisure centre does not need a tint. There is a blank label on the strap — write the name on it before the first lesson, not after.
One soft moulded piece rather than a hard frame, so there is nothing to pinch and nothing to dig in. The strap is a single loop that goes over the head in one go — no adjusting on the poolside with a cross toddler.
Sits almost flat in the eye socket, so there is nothing for the water to grab when you hit it off the blocks. Twin split strap, four bridge widths, and a smoke tint for indoor pools with unkind lighting. Worn at every British championship since 1996 by somebody, at least.
A proper mirrored lens for lidos, holiday pools and the four good mornings a year we get here. Cuts glare off the surface without going so dark you cannot see the tiles. The mirror is vacuum-deposited upstairs in the coating room, not stuck on.
A big curved lens that gives you nearly 180 degrees, because in open water the thing you need to see is usually off to the side. The amber lifts a grey morning and makes an orange buoy jump out at three hundred metres. Our most-returned-to pair among triathletes.
Side by side
If you are still not sure, ring the shop on 0161 496 0142 and describe the pool. Somebody there will have swum in it.
| Pair | Best for | Lens | Fits | Anti-fog | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Ancoats | Lane swimming, lessons, everything | Blue tint | Ages 12+ | Clearcoat 3 | £14.00 |
| The Ripple Junior | Swimming lessons and galas | Clear | Ages 6–12 | Clearcoat 3 | £11.00 |
| The Little Otter | First time in the water | Clear | Ages 2–5 | Clearcoat 2 | £9.00 |
| The Mercury Racer | Starts, turns, race day | Smoke | Ages 14+ | Clearcoat 3+ | £28.00 |
| The Daybreak Mirror | Lidos and bright water | Mirror, UV400 | Ages 14+ | Clearcoat 3 | £24.00 |
| The Long Course | Lakes, sea, triathlon | Amber, wide | Ages 14+ | Clearcoat 3+ | £32.00 |
Looking after them
If the seal goes within two years, post them to the address at the bottom of this page with a note and we will re-gasket them and post them back. We do not need a receipt; we can tell they are ours.
