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TRI-FIT Volt swimming goggles review – did the best just get better?

We test out the new TRI-FIT Volt swimming goggles to see if they can outperform their top rated predecessor, the RAPID-X and become our new go-to triathlon goggles.

Writer & Long Course Triathlete
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Jenny Lucas-Hill

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After getting her chlorine-soaked mitts on a pair pre-launch, TRI247’s Jenny Lucas-Hill has been putting the new TRI-FIT Volt swimming goggles to the test throughout her winter pool training. Can they match – or exceed – the top-rated original RAPID-X goggles? Or will this be a case where TRI-FIT should have adopted an ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ approach? Read on to find out!

TRI-FIT made quite the splash when they launched their first swimming goggles, the RAPID-X, back in 2024. In fact, those goggles were so good that all my other goggles haven’t seen the light of day since – they’re probably growing their own eco-system of unidentified green fuzz somewhere in the depths of my swim bag as I type.

The RAPID-X goggles ticked almost every box for me fog free, faff-free and comfortable enough around the eye sockets that I’m not having to apply my concealer with a trowel after every swim. I used them for every single training session, open water swim and race last season – and miraculously, they’re still going strong. We even managed to accost some age-groupers at the practice swim before Challenge The Championship to see if it was just me – or if these goggles really did have holy grail potential.

So I was intrigued to see what TRI-FIT could do better when I heard they were bringing out the new Volt swimming goggles. With promises that they’d be even better than the RAPID-X, I’ve been hitting the pool over the last few months to really put them to the test.

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Summary

The best goggles just got better

The TRI-FIT Volt goggles bring you all the best bits of the RAPID-X – plus a few improvements. You’ve still got the same ultra-comfortable fit, with soft gaskets that have been leak free throughout every single swim set. And despite my local pool having an absolute shocker with their temperature control recently – it’s either boiling in the pool and freezing on pool side, or vice versa. I’ve not had any issues with fogging either.

But you’ve also got an even better field of vision compared to the RAPID-X thanks to a subtle re-design which leaves even more lens space. And the addition of interchangeable nose pieces, means those who struggled to get quite the right fit with the RAPID-X should have no issues with the Volt. And the best news is, all those improvements don’t come with a significant increase in cost. At £35, the Volt goggles are only a tad more expensive than their predecessor and in my opinion give you far more performance for your price tag compared to other far pricier options out there.

PROS
+ Comfortable fit with an even better field of vision
+ Optical grade lenses with UVA/UVB protection and no leaking or fogging
+ Interchangeable nose pieces means they should work for more face shapes
CONS
+ Single split strap lacks adjustability for longer hair
+ Lime green strap won't be for everyone
Best For
All rounder for pool training, open water swimming and triathlon.
Versatile swimming goggles offering performance far beyond the reasonable price point
RRP
£35 GBP / ~$43 USD / ~€41 EUR
Sizes
One size with interchangeable nose piece
Colours
Black mirrored with lime green strap

Initial impressions

The Volt goggles are like the RAPID-X’s cooler older sibling

The Volt goggles have the same ‘more premium than the price tag’ feeling that I got from the RAPID-X, coming with their own hard storage box, and made from materials that feel anything but cheap and plasticky.

At first glance, these goggles seem fairly similar to their RAPID-X predecessor. But look closer and there are subtle improvements all around. The fairly notable silicone frame around the lenses on the RAPID-X has been pared right back on the Volt goggles, giving a sleeker profile, a bigger lens and an improved field of vision. The gold mirrored lenses have been swapped out for a stealthier black-silver mirrored option. And notably, the fixed silicone nose piece has been switched to an interchangeable option – you get a narrower and a wider option in the box, which should make it easier for more people to get the right fit with these goggles. The only thing that hasn’t changed much is the head strap – though it now comes in a bright lime green. That might not be to everyone’s taste, but it is useful for ensuring you’re visible while swimming in open water.

In many ways, the Volt goggles are the RAPID-X goggles all grown up. But how would they compare in the water?

TRI-FIT Volt swimming goggles
[Photo: TRI-FIT]

FIT

Enhanced adjustability

If you read my review of the OG TRI-FIT goggles, you’ll know that I had very few issues with the fit – they were near spot-on right out of the box. But the addition of an interchangeable high elasticity TPEE nose bridge should mean that anyone with a wider or narrower face has more options to get the perfect fit. For me, the fit out of the box on the Volt’s has been perfect, but switching the nose pieces is easy enough if you need to do so.

The curved frame design fits my face well, and it’s large enough not to put pressure around my sinuses or brow bones. The overall size of the goggles feels similar, but TRI-FIT have given the lenses more space – which means the field of vision is wider. The gaskets feel very similar to those on the RAPID-X offering a firm enough seal to keep water out, without making you feel like your eyeballs are at risk of being suction cupped out of their sockets.

The Volt goggles have also stayed in place well, without needing to be tightened to headache-inducing levels – staying on my face throughout speed sets and even staying in place when an unfortunate ‘random dude spontaneously doing butterfly’ incident saw me collide with the lane rope while taking evasive action. You’ve got to love the fiasco that is public lane swimming.

Comfort & PERFORMANCE

Strong performance so far

Comfortable fit aside, the Volt goggles have performed well enough that I actually haven’t gone back to wearing my RAPID-X goggles since unboxing them. Which says a lot.

The pool temperature has been a bit all over the place at my indoor pool of choice over the winter months – sometimes way too cold for 6am on a Monday morning, and other times leaving me feeling like a lobster in a pot by the time I’ve ticked off a few 100s. But despite this ongoing game of pool temperature roulette, the goggles haven’t fogged up on me. They feel very similar to swim in to the RAPID-X goggles – so if you liked those, you’ll get on well with the Volt goggles.

It’s been the depths of winter while I’ve been testing these so, beyond a cursory dunk in the North Sea on Christmas Day (got my knees wet, it counts), open water has been firmly out of the question. But I have full confidence that with the increased field of vision and the same fog-free, leak-free, fuss-free performance. The Volt goggles will perform just as well, if not better, than the original TRI-FIT RAPID-X goggles I loved so much last season once it’s time to don the wetsuit once again.

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DURability

Made to last

Obviously it’s too soon to give a full verdict on durability after 2 months. But given that the Volt goggles predecessor has lasted me 10 months, two full Ironman training cycles, four major races and counting. And the Volt goggles if anything, are made from sturdier stuff than the RAPID-X goggles thanks to the harder nose piece. I don’t foresee any issues with durability – I’ll be sure to come back here and update you if they suddenly break on me, though!

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VERDICT

TRI-FIT have only gone and done it

I’m really struggling to find something I don’t like about these goggles. The already very good field of vision from the RAPID-X has been improved. The overall look is sleeker and more serious. And the potential fit issue the fixed nose piece of the RAPID-X might have presented to some, has been fixed with the introduction of an interchangeable bridge. At £35, these are also exceptional value for money compared to pricier options out there.

I guess the only thing I can really moan about is the strap. Like the RAPID-X, it’s a split single strap construction – so if you’ve got long hair, you need to make sure you place your hair bun in the right spot otherwise you’re going to be adjusting the strap tightness to accommodate your mane. Oh, and the strap is lime green. Which I don’t hate, but if you’re fussy about colours could be something to gripe about.

But really, those are non-issues. The TRI-FIT Volt goggles have become my go-to pair. I didn’t expect them to be able to improve upon the RAPID-X, but they’ve only gone and done it. Nice work.

Fit
85%
Comfort
90%
Performance
95%
Value for money
100%
Overall
95%
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