FORM Smart Swim Goggles provide an augmented reality display inside your field of vision as you swim. This allows you to see and track your laps, sets, and intervals, and swim distraction-free. Swimmers of any skill level can be guided and motivated through an immersive swimming experience with real-time metrics and workouts.
After the session, data can be analyzed in the app. This gives you both real time coaching and the data tracking you need to progress. As a pool and an open water swimmer, I was exceptionally curious to test them.
FORM Smart Swim Goggles – The Fit
Let’s start here because while you might choose FORM goggles for the technology, that’s not much good to you if they end up around your chin every time you push off the wall.
I was genuinely impressed with the pair I received. Out of the water they initially felt a touch boxier and heavier than what I’m used to, but once in the pool they fit as well as any premium goggles I have ever worn.
It’s easy to adjust both the straps and the nose bridge, although for me they fit well straight out of the box so I didn’t test that feature much.
Over 5,000 meters of testing, including tumble turns, hard pushes off the wall and diving from pool level, I only experienced traces of water slipping through, and nothing to the point that caused me any discomfort while swimming.
I haven’t tried them yet in open water, but in my experience the demands on goggle-fit are higher in the pool where I have interval training, sprint sessions, etc.
My last point regarding the fit is that I often come out of the pool with small dents around my eye sockets where goggles have dug into the skin during a swim. With the FORM goggles there was none of that. Just a really solid, comfortable fit.
FORM Smart Swim Goggles – The Tech
Now for the part you’re probably most interested in. What is it like swimming with smart goggles? For me it took a bit of getting used to.
First I put the display over my right eye and I found it tricky to focus on the data that was appearing. I then turned them around so it was over my left eye (which is my dominant eye) and it definitely worked better, although it was still a little blurry.
I set off on a couple of slow 50 meter lengths and it was a little disorienting as the screen caught my attention. But that feeling quickly went away and the data fell into the background as I got into a rhythm. My eye got used to the display and the information became sharper. By the end of my first session (1,000 meters) they felt completely natural.
In terms of navigating the UI, there is definitely a learning curve. There are two buttons which control everything. This sounds simple, but I did find myself getting lost as I forgot which button did what. I think part of the problem comes from being conditioned by the UX systems of big tech companies, which makes any new UI seem foreign. But it didn’t take long to become fluent and soon I could quickly navigate to exactly what I wanted to select.
If you’re not someone who loves every new gadget that comes to market, I’d say it’s worth committing to using FORM over several swim sessions before making a judgement on them. I suspect quite a few people might struggle with them at first, before coming to love them.
There is also one feature I haven’t tried yet which I am very keen to test. FORM has what it calls Swimstraight technology which helps you navigate in open water. As someone who needs 5.5k to swim a 5k race, that is very interesting.
When the water heats up a bit outside I’ll give that a go and update the article.
FORM Smart Swim Goggles – The Data
This is very cool. I learned to swim as a child but never competed or trained properly until I had accumulated enough injuries from various other sports that I needed a low-impact way to stay fit in my thirties.
I quickly got the bug and now train two to three times a week with a team and do the odd race in the summer months. One issue I have had as my improvement plateaued is I don’t have a great feel for what constitutes zone 3 pace, zone 4 and so on. I basically go slow or fast!
Having the data, both live while swimming and after a session, is already proving a big help to me as I try to get more from my training.
It’s also fun to look at things like your FORM score, a measurement which takes into account swimming efficiency and technical proficiency based on your height, swim speed and distance per stroke.
Verdict
I will continue to use my Form goggles and make them a part of my swimming routine. There are still unanswered questions like durability (the reviews are good but I haven’t had them long) and value for money, which will depend on how long they last. But they come with a 2-year warranty so as long as I use them regularly I’d be confident the price is worth it.
Performance – It delivers on everything promised: BOXROX rated ⭐
Durability – A bit early to say but the warranty, customer service and reviews give me confidence: BOXROX rated ⭐
Design and Usability – There’s a learning curve but stick with it and it becomes natural: BOXROX rated ⭐
Value for Money – Competitive with other brands in the space: BOXROX rated ⭐
Community Fit – Given much of swimming happens under water where a coach can’t clearly see what you’re doing, the data and analysis Form provides is a massive help: BOXROX rated ⭐
The BOXROX Ratings System
BOXROX Highly Rated (95% and above) ⭐⭐ The best of the best. Exceptional quality and performance. Rarely awarded.
BOXROX Rated (80% and above) ⭐ Trusted, athlete-approved, and reliable.
BOXROX Recommended (70–79%) 👍 Good products with some limitations.
BOXROX Unrated (Below 70%) ⚠️ Does not meet our standards.
Learn more about FORM Smart Swim Goggles.
