Millions of swimmers replace their perfectly good goggle straps with adjustable bungee straps. (Also known as bungee cords).
Buy why would you replace a perfectly good goggle strap, especially on expensive swimming goggles?
Bungee straps are great to replace your existing goggle straps if your old ones are worn or need repair. Some swimmers use a bungee strap for their goggles to create a tighter fit, while most will use a bungee strap as they are fun and will give your goggles a customised look.
Anyone who uses replacement bungee straps seems to absolutely love them, so I had to purchase a swimming goggle bungee strap to try it out for myself to see what all the hype was about.
The bungee strap cord I purchased and tested was the TYR Bungee Cord Strap Kit.
I had a lot of fun picking my bungee strap colour and fitting it to my goggles and learned a lot in the process.
In this article I will cover:
- What are swimming goggle bungee straps?
- How do you attach a bungee cord to a pair of goggles?
- Are bungee straps better for goggles?
- Is a bungee cord better than a flat strap?
- Are swimming goggle bungee straps worth it?
What Are Swimming Goggle Bungee Straps?
Swimming bungee cord straps are replacement straps for existing goggles. They are also known as bungee cords or bungee straps.
Unlike regular goggle straps that are flat, they are an elasticated cord.
Why use swimming goggle bungee straps?
Bungee straps are a great way to replace old or worn-out goggle straps. They can also provide a tighter fit for goggles and give them a more custom look.
For many, they are a really fun way to customise and make your swim kit look cooler.
From kids to adults, many swimmers have fun with bungee straps, just to bring some fun back into their swimming kit.
How Do You Attach A Bungee Cord To A Pair of Goggles?
Attaching a bungee cord to a pair of goggles is a relatively straightforward task and can be done in less than five minutes.
The following procedure will talk you through how to replace your goggle straps with a bungee cord.
Before you start, it is essential to check that the strap on your goggles can be easily removed and replaced with a bungee cord.
Some goggle straps are designed to never be removed and these will not work with bungee cord straps.
1. Remove Your Old Goggle Straps
The first step when attaching a bungee cord to a pair of goggles is to remove your old strap.
Below is a picture of an old pair of Speedo Unisex Kids Futura Biofuse Flexiseal Swimming Goggle, which is a great pair of goggles, especially for small adult faces.
2. Fit The New Bungee Strap Onto The Goggles
Once you have removed your old goggle strap, thread the new bungee strap cord through the goggle strap holes, as shown in the image below.
3. Arrange The Straps To Be Tied
Arrange the straps so that they are threaded through your goggles on both sides.
4. Thread The Bungee Strap Through The Strap Lock Provided
Once your bungee cord is threaded through the goggles and in position, it is time to secure them with the bungee strap lock that will be provided.
5. Check The Fit
When the bungee cord is correctly fitted, it should look like the image below.
Are Bungee Straps Better For Goggles?
There is no definitive answer to this question, as it depends on personal preference.
Some swimmers find bungee straps provide a tighter fit for their goggles, while others simply enjoy the fun and customised look that bungee straps can give.
Ultimately, it comes down to what you prefer and what works best for you.
Is A Bungee Cord Better Than A Flat Strap?
Flat swimming goggle straps are designed to sit flat against your head, which results in the following benefits:
- Very comfortable
- Better streamlined fit
For competitive swimming, especially at an elite level, you could argue that flat straps are better as the flat profile will make the swimmer more streamlined.
In addition, bungee cords can be very long, which can create drag in the water.
For regular swimmers, this is not a problem at all, but for the most elite swimmers, where a fraction of a second can make a difference between a gold and silver medal, every tiny advantage can count.
Although typically you don’t see bungee cord straps at the elite swimming level, they do exist and are worn by some pro swimmers.
Unfortunately, I cannot find the names of any elite swimmers who wear bungee cords to verify this, but I do recall a swimmer at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics wearing a bungee cord goggle strap.
I remember it well, as the commentators judged him hard as his ears were sticking out from his cap and his bungee strap was trailing behind him. He didn’t look “streamlined” and they were quick to point it out.
I can’t remember his name, but I do remember him winning his heat!
One thing I have noticed from using a bungee strap is that they are very comfortable if you have long hair. I find that the bungee strap does not pull my hair as much.
In addition, the soft bungee cord does not grab or stick to my silicone cap as much, giving it a more comfortable fit.
Final Thoughts
So are swimming goggle bungee straps worth it?
Bungee goggle straps are a great and affordable way to replace an old or worn-out goggle strap.
In addition, it is a lot of fun customising your goggles and finding some fun colours.
At first, my attitude was, “why would I replace a perfectly good goggle strap?” but once I felt the pride and fun in customising my swim gear, I loved it.
Although this customisation is often done by child swimmers, I think more adults should have a playful attitude and enjoy the fun that customising their goggle straps brings.
Personally, I didn’t think I would easily remove the flat strap on my existing goggles to use a bungee as what I had already worked very well, but I was very surprised at how comfortable the bungee cord is.
Using the bungee cord, my hair does not feel as pulled and the cord can be easily adjusted for a very custom fit.
I am definitely keeping my bungee cord strap and going to find some other gear I can customise!
Happy swimming!
