We Tried It HIGH-TECH SWIM GOGGLES

My version of swimming is standing in a pool or a lake, sometimes with a cocktail in hand.

- ISHANI NATH

The last time I actually put effort into swimming for any measurable distance was in Grade 6, a casual two decades ago. So you can imagine my trepidation when I decided to dive back into the world of lanes and laps to test out the latest high-tech fitness gear designed for swimmers.

Smart Swim Goggles, made by Vancouver-based fitness tech company FORM, claims to be the world’s first augmented reality swim goggles. They offer real-time metrics like time elapsed and distance traveled, for pool, open water, and swim spa swimming. And unlike other fitness gadgets, the display is built right into the lens—yes, like the terminator—so you don’t have to interrupt your workout to check a fitness band or phone app to see how you’re doing. Just keep swimming.

I had read about the many benefits of swimming, low-impact activity that provides a full-body workout accessible for a vast range of bodies and abilities. I saw this in action at my local community pool, where my fellow swimmers included a fit teenager, as well as an elderly woman who walked with a cane. It’s a fitness environment that felt surprisingly welcoming.