The ROKA R2 Swim Goggle

Let me preface this overview with the very first thing that got here to thoughts once I put these goggles on for the primary time –  within the span of the final 10 years I’ve owned a pair ROKA Maverick Pro wetsuits, a number of pairs of their goggles, their floaty shorts, and a pair items of ROKA run attire…I hope to have some ROKA Rx readers within the close to future! If you realize something about ROKA, you realize they construct their product round high quality and efficiency…you’ll be able to see it, and you may really feel it.

The new part from the unique R1 goggles, ROKA Multisport has launched the brand new R2 goggle that I’ve been swimming in for a few month now, with swims break up between pool exercises, open water classes, and race-day use. This isn’t a long-term sturdiness overview. I can’t inform you what they’ll seem like after a yr of chlorine, sunscreen, child shampoo, and getting tossed round in a transition bag. What I can inform you is what I’ve skilled in the course of the first month of use—and actually, it’s been fairly spectacular. What I’ve been testing out of the 7 totally different choices are the Cobalt Mirror

What’s new with the R2 in comparison with the R1

• 2x Anti-Fog
• Interchangeable Nose Bridge for a Custom Fit
• Premium Silicone Gaskets
• Anti-Slip Silicone Strap

The very first thing I seen proper out of the field was the consolation. I’ve worn loads of goggles that both leak, go away big raccoon-eye marks, or require the straps to be cranked down so tight that they provide you a headache midway via a swim. The R2s have been snug from the primary swim. The second factor that stood out was the anti-fog efficiency. I haven’t had them fog as soon as. Not within the pool. Not in open water. Not throughout race morning. That alone places them forward of a whole lot of goggles I’ve owned over time…and the one factor I did after every swim was run them underneath cool water, allow them to air dry, and return them to their little black ROKA baggie – which can also be a pleasant contact by the way in which…every pair comes with a storage bag…just like what you’d obtain when shopping for sun shades.

Pool Performance

Most of my preliminary swims with the R2 have been within the pool, and so they have been fairly uneventful—which is precisely what you need from a pair of goggles. No leaks. No fixed adjusting. No stress factors across the eye sockets. Just put them on and swim. As talked about, the gaskets are comfortable with out feeling squishy, and so they create a cushty seal with out having to cinch the straps down excessively and after attempting out the choices I ended up utilizing the medium nostril bridge that got here normal on the goggles to begin with.

Open Water & Sighting

Where I actually seen a distinction was in open water. ROKA talks fairly a bit about readability, sturdiness & visibility.  RAPIDSIGHT Technology – outlined as an 11 diploma retrodcopic lens angle tilt that radically opens ahead discipline of view, and SPCTRM optics know-how, to make issues like yellow and orange buoys pop…and whereas I normally take advertising and marketing claims with a grain of salt, I can actually say these goggles carried out properly when it mattered.

Race morning at Jordanelle was tremendous shiny and with a 2 loop swim course half of it was swimming just about straight into the solar which is normally the place even good goggles begin to battle. Despite the glare, I used to be nonetheless capable of choose up the buoys and keep on track. That’s in all probability themoment that offered me on these goggles. When you’re racing, the much less time you spend preventing glare, fog, leaks, or visibility points, the extra you’ll be able to deal with…properly…swimming.

So the place are we at after 30 days? Between the early morning pool swims, open water swims and a race day. The ROKA R2 has checked each field that issues to me personally. They’re snug. They haven’t fogged. They seal properly. And the visual view is open and clear. They’ve carried out equally properly in all of the environments that I’ve given them. Could one thing change after six months? Sure. But primarily based on the primary month of use, these are a few of the greatest goggles I’ve worn, and with 7 different lens options they’ll positively proceed incomes a spot in my swim bag.

About the writer

Jason Horne

Forum member since October 2009 · Slowtwitch Goodlife Racing Team

Husband of 25 years and proud dad to a son and a daughter. I stumbled into triathlon in 2008 whereas rehabbing a nasty leg fracture from soccer, and restoration became an obsession that’s taken me via each distance. Long-course racing (and particularly the coaching) is my glad place. By day I’m Director of Procurement for native authorities; if I may have any aspect hustle, I’d be a rave DJ. Born in Philly, raised and nonetheless in Utah. I reward exhausting coaching with an 8oz Red Bull. Most of all, I like giving again, teaching highschool cross nation and youth swimming.

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