We receive (and publish) from Massimiliano Arcieri, triathlete, runner and IT expert this review of the Canadian brand’s new swimming goggles.
A technology lover like me could not remain indifferent to the market launch of FORM goggles, a Vancouver-based company that has marketed the world’s first model of smart goggles thatcan provide real-time metrics and information as you swim, whether in the pool or in open water.
At first glance, watching a few videos and advertising demos, I maintained a fairly skeptical approach to the product, especially in relation to a less-than-affordable price tag and features that, all things considered, could, at least in my original thinking, be found in the more common multi-discipline sportwatches. But the curiosity to understand more remained, and strong.
Then, as often happens, things take a turn you don’t expect, and in early March, the month of my birthday, when asked the usual question “What are you getting this year?” I thought that goggles could quickly solve the question, as well as become a welcome gift!
I therefore immediately set out to “navigate” discovering almost immediately that the purchase options are two: directly on the website FORM (paying a surcharge for extra US shipping) or Amazon. Buying on the site turns out to be slightly cheaper (now there is even a 15% off promo!) so I opted for this solution, anticipating having to wait a few more days in delivery. In fact, to our surprise and delight, the parcel arrived after two days, causing me to discover that shipping for Europe is handled by Amazon.
Right from unboxing, the impression is very good: both thea boxa exteriora that the case containing the goggles are well detailed. The package also includes six types of interchangeable nose pads of various sizes and shapes and the charging cable. I wear them to test their “heaviness,” and the feeling is that of wearing a classic pair of goggles, a feeling that will come Then also confirmed in water. The next step is to download the app – is called FORM Swim and it is free – on own smartphone; in addition to synchronizing and downloading each workout’s data for in-depth analysis, the app allows you to customize different dashboards (the set of three display modes you can view while swimming, tacking, and resting) for managing different types of workouts (you can choose from intervals, technique, pace, and lap swim).
Instead, there are four swim modes: pool, open water, open water with GPS (by connecting your smartwatch) and swim spa (for controlled swimming). You can also connect the goggles with popular heart rate monitors to monitor heart rate as well.
The test
I am ready to test them in the water and the opportunity presents itself as early as the next day; of course, the benchmark could only be my Fenix 6, tested both in open water and in the tank. The first note of satisfaction comes from the display: the small monitor, located on the left side, shows the data and various options very clearly and legibly. I set the pool parameters (the test was conducted in a 50-meter pool) and the “swimming pool” mode through the two small buttons and dive in. I begin to do a few warm-up strokes and on the first turn I am shown the time taken, the distance traveled, and the estimated time I will have at the 100-meter mark, continually updated with each turn. Finished warming up, during a break, I realize that the device automatically detects the stop and goes into rest mode automatically. What is really amazing is that the goggles can distinguish between different swimming styles and even tablet work, and in this the comparison with the Fenix 6 is merciless.
Trying it on repetitions (e.g., 10×100 mt with a 2’00” restart), the use of the clock is particularly useful; it allows you to dose your energy during the series, you already have an idea of how much recovery you expect, and when you stop you are shown the “rest” from the start time; you therefore do not need to look at the stopwatches on the wall but simply at the display and wait for it to reach 2′. On another positive note, the battery lasts a long time; I did 4-5 full workouts before putting it back on charge. (The manufacturer claims 16h battery life, Ed.)
I have detected a few drawbacks: if you do 25-meter work (in 50-meter pool) the sensor measures 50 meters anyway; also, if you don’t turn fast enough, especially in long swims or doing bottom, the series is interrupted and the “rest” mode is activated. I have not been able to conduct an open water test yet, but I expect that the accuracy of the distance measurement in that case depends mostly on the accuracy of the GPS it connects with, thus that of the smartwatch. I have also been unable to find any information about the technology on which these goggles are based; the idea I have is that they have an internal gyroscope but that is a hypothesis to be verified. In conclusion, despite the not-so-affordable price, I would definitely recommend the purchase of FORMs to those who wish to swim while having a very good tool with which to monitor their progress and to make their swimming workouts more effective.
