Finis - Smart Goggle

Finis smart goggles are on clearance on their website for $40. I don't know how long they'll be getting support for the app because they're being discontinued but I think they're cheap enough that it's worth going for it and I like the fit of the goggles as well (the "smart" part is removable). They're way more accurate and helpful for swimming specific information than a baseline Fitbit, I can't speak to the other options but on the market but if you really only want something for swimming I'd start there eta: me and someone else on this sub both received the goggles with a broken strap, I'm assuming we could have gotten replacements from Finis but we both had extra straps at home and let it go. Just something to keep in mind, and the hole for the strap is kind of small and specific

I've just got myself finis smart goggles, and I'm pretty happy with the tracking results. They're dirt cheap at the moment on the official site as they are phasing them out so I got myself 2 pairs. Still cheaper than a sports watch.  I still use my FR745, but I start and stop my laps manually. To ensure accurate lap count, don't switch strokes during a lap. As for stroke detection, it's pretty accurate overall. 

Compared to Form goggles (the other brand that makes smart goggles) they're more "basic", but also less bulky: you "only" get splits, swim time, lap amd swim time, lap count, rest timer, clock. Data fields "rotate" depending on the moment (during a lap or while resting). Wish they had added average pace per lap/interval, but oh well..  No heart rate monitor or audio. I would not have bought them full price but since I got 60% off from the official site I figured I'd try. Also, I believe there is a subscription service with Form goggles, which was another reason for me to steer clear of them. Finis smart goggles also monitor your head position and you can then play that in the app, tbh I'd prob need a coach to help me make sense of it. They can be linked to the swim.com app and strava. I've only used the former, but I have disconnected the apps as somehow only the session's overall pace is transferred, and not the details for each lap, which I found frustrating.  The CIYE app (the technology behind the finis smart goggles) is pretty good though to analyse a single swim session. You can edit the swim stroke if it was wrong, and delete extra laps (but not merge, I think). There's also a csv export but haven't tried it.  I like the goggles combined to my garmin, I can compare readings and if necessary I edit my workout with https://swimdata.org/ I find the finis goggles are rather accurate for lap count, and maybe a tad more accurate for splits, especially if you switch strokes between lengths (e.g. freestyle the backstroke). They're purely motion based, but also detect kick sets (which Garmin does not do, but there is a drill function). For stroke detection my breastroke is registered as fly, but that's certainly my fault, perfect detection for free and backstroke.  The great thing is you just start them at the beginning of your swim, then stop the swim at the end.  There is no option for prescription goggles. I have -1.75 and slight astigmatism on my left eye and I cn read the data fine. My other eye is -3.25 so it's not that bad, I can see enough for lap swimming. There are some silicone lenses around that can be stuck to goggles but I have yet to try that, and also, as it'd be an additional layer inside the goggles, it might not work as my eyelashes already slightly touch the goggles - plus I fear it'd mess up the anti fog coating. I've ordered some for another project if I try that out ill report back.  As far as heart rate monitors are concerned, my experience is that optical HR is not reliable in the pool. I've used garmin swim hr monitor but I've given up as I prefer swimming without a chest strap and, in the end, I don't care too much about HR readings, really. Polar has one that you can clip to your goggles (OH1) and it's supposed to be pretty accurate. I haven't tried it, don't think it syncs with garmin anyway and I dont want to use too many different systems/brands. It also counts laps I believe but you can only check after a swim. Although that particular hr monitor might be a reason why I'd switch to Polar when my FR745 eventually dies. Going back to the finis smart goggles, note that as they are phasing them out, they'll only sell them until Dec 31, and you need to activate the smart coach before Jan 31, 2026. I reached out to customer services and they confirmed you'll still be able to pair them to another device after January 31, as long as it has been activated before that date. Also note that, if you go for that option, buying an replacement pair of goggles or an extra kit may be a good idea to have a replacement after they stop selling them. 

I'm happy with my Finis smart goggles, for both timing and lap counting.

Nope! You could even leave your phone at home. The sets are recorded on the goggles, and then you later sync with the phone.

Finis Smart Goggles would be good. She does not even need to look at it during the swim. All she has to do is to press a button to start the swim, and press the button to finish it. It comes with an app. No subscription payment needed. Key metrics are tracked much more accurately than with a smart watch, and even head position. You can replace just the goggles and keep the electronics when the goggles deteriorated. Oura ring does not track swimming in any meaningful way.