Gear Review: TYR Socket Rockets Swim Goggles

The TYR Socket Rocket goggles have quickly become one of my go-to training goggles at swim practice. Here’s a quick review of these bad boys.

The TYR Socket Rockets are an update on a beloved classic—the Swedes—that combine increased comfort and durability to create an extremely comfortable swim goggle that performs like a boss in the water.

The goggles have become a heavy favorite on my swim goggle rotation. The TYR Socket Rockets Goggles are a remix of the old-school classics, Swedes.

The reasons why they have become such a favorite of mine are simple: they are comfortable, look great, and are highly functional. The TYR Socket Rockets also came “ready to wear” out of the packaging and come in a range of snazzy colors and tints.

Here’s more on why the TYR Socket Rocket goggles rock my chlorinated socks and why they might just be the best goggles for your next swim:

1. The lens is exceptionally clear.

Like most swimmers, I prefer a dark or mirrored lens. But one problem with mirrored and darker-tinted goggles is how limited your vision becomes in pools that aren’t as well-lit.

This problem becomes even more noticeable when the anti-fog inevitably wears off.

But the first thing you will notice when you pull a pair of Socket Rockets over your head is how clear the lens is.

2. Comfortable.

Swedish goggles are super popular among competitive swimmers. The main downside to Swedes is the hard plastic lenses, which leave your face feeling a little sore after bouts of extended wear, especially if you aren’t used to wearing this type of goggle.

The Socket Rocket has a rubberized socket, so it sits comfortably against your face. You get the look of a pro swimmer without the sore face after extended use.

The rubberized seal creates a slight suction against the skin around your eye socket, which helps prevent goggle leaks, something every swimmer can appreciate!

3. They are good-to-go out of the package.

Another complaint of Swedish goggles is that they come completely unassembled.

Not a big deal, but if the idea of spending 20 minutes putting goggles together doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, then you’ll be stoked on the TYR Socket Rockets; they come ready to rock and roll.

All you need to do is tighten the nose and head strap to your liking and off you go.

4. Great for snorkel use.

The swim snorkel is one of the more popular pieces of equipment in swim bags. And with good reason—swim snorkels are great for balancing out muscle development, promote better technique, and help you keep your face down when swimming.

This last part is what is relevant—the Socket Rockets make it easy to see ‘above’ you when you are swimming with your face down.

In my experience, some goggles have limited vision out the top of the goggles (the Speedo Vanquisher, for example), which makes snorkel use a little riskier when you don’t necessarily trust the other swimmers in your lane.

5. Lots of color and tint options.

The TYR Socket Rockets come in a variety of colors, from the full black strap with mirrored lens, to the white strapped Socket Rockets that have a border-line clear lens, making it great for pools that are a whole lot darker (they are my go-to for the aforementioned YMCA pool).

So whether you are swimming indoors in the dark, or need to shield your eyes from the sun in an outdoor pool, the Socket Rockets have a color combo for you.

6. Ideal for training and racing.

While swim goggles have become to get more specialized in recent years, with ultra low-profile goggles becoming common for competition, the TYR Socket Rockets are durable enough for training and also low-profile enough for competition.

While you can always spring a few extra bucks for swim goggles for racing, the Socket Rockets are fast adn tough enough for both the practice and competition pool.

Other Stuff:

• They come with a regular cotton string and silicone barrel if you want to put them together like a pair of Swedish goggles.
• The straps are made of latex, which, unlike silicone, will degrade over time. Give ‘em a quick rinse after each use to boost the life span of the straps.

Where to Buy the TYR Socket Rockets:

You can pick up a pair of TRY Socket Rockets in a wide variety of colors at SwimOutlet.com. They average between $10-30 depending on lens color.