by
Olivier Poirier-Leroy
With the FORM 2 Smart Swim Goggles, the world’s first and best smart goggles for swimmers get a big upgrade. Here’s what to know about how they perform in the pool.
The FORM 2 Smart Swim Goggles are a massive step forward for swimmers who love swimming (yay, puns!) in data.
Instead of relying on the old-school pace clock, or stopping to check your favorite swim watch after every lap, or guesstimating how fast you are going, laps you’ve swum, and how long you’ve been swimming…
The FORM 2 Swim Goggles take care of all that for you.
(And, as we will see, a whole lot more.)
With features like live training metrics, and some cool new coaching features that help swimmers use better technique, and guided swim workouts and training plans, the FORM 2 Goggles are easily the most advanced smart swim goggles on the market.
But are the FORM 2 Smart Swim Goggles right for you and your goals in the pool?
And are they worth upgrading from the original FORM Swim Goggles?
In this hands-on, in-the-pool review, I’ll outline my experience swimming with them for several months.
I’ll highlight the key pros and cons of the goggles and also compare them to the original FORM goggles and its closest competitor, the FINIS Smart Swim Goggles.
By the end, you’ll have a freshly-chlorinated-pool clear idea of whether the FORM 2 Swim Goggles are the perfect training accessory for you.
Let’s dive in.
The FORM 2 Smart Swim Goggles are a high-tech swim goggle with a heads-up display on the inside of the lens that gives swimmers live training data as they swim up and down the length of the pool (or in open water, too).
The goggles use a built-in augmented reality (AR) display that shows key swimming performance metrics like splits, time elapsed, distance, heart rate, and more.
By having the data in front of your face—quite literally—swimmers can make smarter decisions about their training and goals.
Here is a rundown of the key things that stand out about the FORM 2 Swim Goggles.
They include:
Swimmers who train without a coach, without a pace clock, or on their own will find that the FORM 2 Smart Swim Goggles are a total game changer.
Instead of basing your times and results on a pool-side analog clock, or stopping every lap to check your watch, the goggles provide real-time feedback and results on your swimming.
When I came back to swimming in 2013 after a decade away, and was training on my own during those first couple of years, I would have gone absolutely crazy for the detailed training data that can be pulled from the FORM 2 Goggles.
The metrics in the heads-up display checks all the essential boxes:
For swimmers who train on their own, or even swimmers simply looking for more detailed and accurate training data, these goggles will help better inform progress and performance.
Ultimately, the FORM 2 Goggles will help you be more focused in training and better monitor your performance over time.
The FORM 2 goggles and the corresponding app for your smartphone/tablet are extremely accurate.
Over the course of 7 weeks of swim training testing the updated FORM goggles, it only missed a single lap of swimming (because I flopped on my back mid-length to adjust my earplugs and confused the tracker).
It easily tracked all of the major strokes, including freestyle, backstroke, and breaststroke (didn’t test it with butterfly), not missing a stroke and accurately categorized laps and strokes in the app.
Swimmers who do lots of swimming, and prize accuracy with their workout tracking, the FORM 2 goggles are as good as it gets.
They are far better than the Garmin watches I’ve used over the years (including the Garmin Swim 2, Forerunner, and Fenix) and the FORM 2 Goggles are competitive with the Apple Watch for best-in-class for accurate swim workout tracking.
The real-time data is a tool to learn proper pacing in the water. Because you are able to see your splits, you can better understand what target pace “feels” like and adjust your intensity accordingly.
Swimmers are always going to be at a disadvantage when it comes to seeing their splits in the water without a coach.
Trying to guesstimate splits and pace by sneaking a glance at the analog clock across the pool deck or stopping to look at your swim watch every lap is not accurate or convenient.
The real-time splits mean swimmers can focus on churning away at a target pace, increasing or decreasing pace as necessary, and gain a clearer understanding of what different levels of pace feels like.
The heads-up display inside the FORM 2 Goggles can be configured to show the information that is most important to you and your swimming.
The default pool dashboard shows time and distance in the primary slot, with heart rate in the top corner. But if you want to adjust what metrics are shown and in which place, you can pick and choose metrics and save the custom dashboard within the app (which then syncs up to your swim goggles).
This feature is awesome for helping swimmers focus on the things that matter most to their swimming and training.
With the FORM 2 Smart Swim Goggles, you not only see how fast (or in some cases, how not fast) you are going, but you also have a live snapshot of your heart rate.
This type of functionality is crucial for swimmers who do a lot of heart rate zone training and want to stay in their target zone(s).
A huge update on the FORM 1 Goggles was integrating heart rate monitoring—which is done via the tech unit on the side of the goggle frame that measure heart rate against the temple—whereas with the original FORM goggles swimmers needed a separate heart rate tracking device like a chest strap.
Smart swim training means using the right intensity and effort levels, and the live heart rate monitoring on the inside of the goggle lenses keeps swimmers within target heart rate zones for maximum efficiency and endurance.
There’s no other waterproof device on the market that provides this level of heart rate real-time tracking.
The complementary app for the FORM 2 Smart Swim Goggles is very intuitive and easy to use.
My first impression of the app was that it was very much organized in a way that swimmers think and review their workouts and training.
The goggles sync easily to the app on your smartphone after your swim workouts, giving you a massive data dump of training information that you can mine for review and analysis.
The post-swim analysis in the app can include all the standard stuff, like the total yardage of the swim workout, time spent in respective heart rate zones, SWOLF scores, average pace, and all the rest.
Review your swim workouts, identify areas for improvement, and build on your work for more improvement.
One of the perks of a detailed app like FORM’s is that it also gives you a quick way to reflect and review on the progress and hard work you’ve done to date, providing a jolt of motivation and confidence as you swim towards your season-end meets and goals.
For open-water swimmers who struggle with zig-zag swims and staying on course when swimming in open water, the FORM goggles have a “SwimStraight” feature that acts as a built-in compass.
Open water swimmers typically rely on landmarks and feeling to ensure that they are swimming straight, but SwimStraight can reduce navigation mistakes by helping you stay on course.
This is particularly helpful in situations where the water has mist or fog, choppy water, or the body of water is simply so long that it is difficult to accurately asses your line in the water.
The FORM 2 Goggles are more than just a tool for tracking every granular detail of your swims.
They can also be used for guided swim workouts. Choose a workout from the FORM app (or create your own custom workout), sync the goggles, and follow along with the workout at the pool.
Everything can be customized, including repetitions, distance, rest intervals, and so on. This is an excellent feature for swimmers looking for structured swim workouts.
Personally, I’ve found that uploading a workout ahead of time holds swimmers more accountable to their goals in the pool.
Another recent upgrade to the FORM Swim Goggles is the HeadCoach feature, which tracks your head position while swimming and offers a score based on head tilt, rotation, and time to neutral.
The goggles automatically track head position during your swims and assigns you a score for the swim (and an accumulated score based on your most previous swims).
Proper head position is crucial for an efficient freestyle stroke.
A study published in the journal Sports Health examined the freestyle technique errors of a group of 31 NCAA division I swimmers at the University of Carolina.
Among the most common freestyle mistakes was an “eyes forward” head position, with a whopping 46.8% of swimmers presenting this technique error. More interestingly, improper head position compounded into other stroke errors, including an incorrect pulling motion.
Improving head position in the water is difficult because there are few feedback mechanisms that tell swimmers precisely the pitch and position of the head.
By using the FORM 2 Goggles and the HeadCoach feature, swimmers can improve this fundamental aspect of smooth freestyle swimming and see better technique and faster swimming.
Note: HeadCoach, SwimStraight, and the guided swim workouts and training plans are premium features that require a monthly subscription to access ($19.99 per month). The goggles come with two months of free access to these premium features.
The brightness of the digital display on the FORM 2 Goggles can be changed to accommodate for dimly-lit or very bright swim pools, and for swimmers with sensitive eyes.
When I first purchased and swam with the original FORM Goggles in 2019, the clarity of the display was one of the big surprises. Not sure why—but I imagined that an AR display would be difficult to read and see.
Not so.
With the adjustable brightness, swimmers have more options for just how easy it is to read your workout metrics from the FORM app on your smartphone.
Finally, the FORM 2 goggles have the ability to switch between left and right lenses for the heads-up display.
This feature is awesome for swimmers with a dominant eye or who prefer to see the data on a particular side.
In my case, I use the display on my right side as it allows me to better see swimmers on my left side while circle swimming (the lane rope is always on my right side at my local pool).
Because the goggles do reduce your overall field of vision with the HUD, being able to set a preferred side for the display is a bonus for increased safety and reduced distractions when swimming.
Alrighty. While there is obviously a TON to really like about the FORM 2 Swim Goggles, there are some fairly obvious drawbacks of the goggles and one lacking feature that I really hope they address in future firmware and/or software updates.
They include:
The swim tracking on the FORM 2 goggles is awesome. Accurate. Detailed.
But one limitation is that they don’t track kick sets accurately, and in some cases, doesn’t track kick on a kickboard at all.
The moment you grab your trusty kickboard and push off, the FORM 2 goggles continue logging “rest” period.
Kicking with a board is something I do a lot of, so it was frustrating not seeing those meters being logged into the workout. The goggles “logged” my kicking as rest, which muddied the overall workout metrics.
But… very few swimming trackers log kick yardage.
The Apple Watch is the only device I’ve tried in nearly ten years of testing and evaluating swim that accurately tracks kicking.
The FINIS Smart Goggles can be used to track kick as it measures that you are doing something when kicking, but you still need to go into the app after your swim workout and edit the laps and sets where you did kick in the app from “drills” to “kick.”
The FORM 2 Smart Swim Goggles has a slightly reduced field of vision. This is par for the course for smart swim goggles, who need to place the AR display somewhere.
First time users will find it disconcerting losing a percentage of their peripheral vision when swimming.
It takes some getting used to, and after a few hundred meters (or yards), you’ll start to get used to the reduced field of vision.
One of the things that I love about using my Apple Watch is that the Workout app that tracks swimming workouts is super simple.
While Apple does gently hawk their paid Fitness+ feature in the app, it’s not front and center. Swim workouts are presented simply, and you can get a quick overview of your training history.
Most of the app functionality is centered on the premium features of the FORM 2 Goggles.
Swimmers who are looking just for the meat and potato metrics of their swim workouts may find it a little frustrating navigating the app for workout results.
As mentioned earlier, the premium features of the FORM 2 goggles require a monthly subscription of $19.99, which can significantly increase your investment in the goggles above the princely price tag of $249.
The original FORM Swim Goggles were released back in 2019—you can read my original review and experience with the FORM Swim Goggles here—and in 2024 received a big update with the FORM 2.
There are a lot of differences between the two swim goggles, but the big updates with the FORM 2 include:
Both the FORM 2 and FORM 1 can be used for all of the “standard” features including the heads-up display, optional membership for HeadCoach, SwimStraight, and custom and planned workouts.
The big difference I noticed when swimming with the FORM 2 Goggles is that the upgraded gasket is more comfortable and definitely more leak-proof.
Tip: If you still have the old FORM goggles linked to your phone, go into the Bluetooth settings and “forget” the device to establish a fresh connection with the FORM 2 Goggles. The app doesn’t allow you to pair multiple goggles.
The seal on the FORM 2 Goggles is as watertight as I’ve ever seen on a swim goggle. Once the goggles made contact with my face it felt like an octopus had stuck itself to my face.
The slimmer tech unit design on the FORM 2 does mean that you lose a little bit of battery life compared to the FORM 1 Goggles. The original lasted up to 16hrs on a full charge; the second edition lasts up to 14hrs.
Also, being new and fancy, the FORM 2 Goggles are pricier, with a $249 price tag versus $179 for the FORM 1 Goggles.
The FORM 2 Goggles also have an upgraded carry case that provides slightly better ventilation to your swim goggles between swim workouts.
Whereas the FORM 1 Goggle case has vents on the bottom, the FORM 2 case has vents on the top and the bottom. Small difference, but a difference, nonetheless.
Here is a more detailed breakdown of the differences between the FORM 2 and FORM 1 Swim Goggles:
| FORM 2 | FORM 1 | |
| Price | $249 | $179 |
| Heads-up display | Yes | Yes |
| Heart rate sensor | Yes | No (Requires secondary device like a chest strap) |
| Carry Case | Dual-vented | Single-vented |
| Updated goggle seal and head straps | Yes | No |
| Battery life | 14 hours | 16 hours |
| FORM App | Yes | Yes |
| HeadCoach | Yes | Yes |
| SwimStraight | Yes | Yes |
| Custom and pre-set workouts | Yes | Yes |
| Nose pieces | 5 | 5 |
The FINIS Smart Goggles are another goggle in the category of smart swim goggles with a heads-up display, and the only real competitor to the FORM 2 goggles.
The FINIS Smart Goggles—which I reviewed in-depth here—are very similar to the FORM 2 Goggles in the key ways, including a heads-up display that shows all your training metrics in real time, a detailed and accurate app for workout analysis, and a comfortable gasket and seal design for extended use when swimming.
The FINIS Smart Goggles also have their version of the HeadCoach feature, which produces a 3D rendering of your head position during your swim workouts in the complementary app with the goggles.
However, there are some key differences:
HUD type. The FORM 2 Goggles have a display that is always “on.” The digital readout is always in front of your eye, whereas with the FINIS HUD, you have to look at it to see your workout metrics. This is a preferable option for swimmers who don’t need workout data constantly streaming at them and prefer to check in every so often.
Replaceable HUD. The tech unit that houses the HUD is baked into the goggle frame on the FORM 2 Goggles. This means once the goggles are toast, you have to replace the whole unit. The HUD on the FINIS Smart Goggles is replaceable, which means swimmers can remove the HUD and buy a new set of goggles. This gives you the option of having multiple goggles for the HUD for swimming indoors or outdoors or simply just getting a new set every year or so.
Battery life. The battery life on the FORM 2 goggles is significantly longer, reducing charging frequency. Because both of these goggles use specialized adapters to charge, it’s not as easy to top up the battery as say a regular USB device, giving the FORM 2 goggles an edge.
The price point on the FINIS Smart Goggle is also another biggie, retailing for considerably less than the FORM 2 Smart Swim Goggles.
The FORM 2 stands apart with the guided swim workout and plans, better open-water swimming features (especially SwimStraight), and the integrated heart rate sensor.
Here’s a side-by-side comparison of the FORM 2 and FINIS Smart Goggles:
| FORM 2 | FINIS Smart Goggle | |
| Price | $249 | $139-199 |
| Heads-up display | Yes | Yes |
| Heart rate sensor | Yes | No |
| Carry Case | Yes | Yes |
| Battery life | 14 hours | 4-6 hours |
| Complementary tracking app | Yes | Yes |
| Head position coaching | Yes | Yes |
| Custom and pre-set workouts | Yes | No |
| Tint options | One | Multiple |
| Replaceable goggles | No | Yes |
| Open water features | Elapsed time, heart rate, stroke | Elapsed time |
| Smartwatch pairing | Yes (Apple and Garmin) | No |
| Nose pieces | 5 | 6 |
Both the FORM 2 and FINIS Smart Goggles are great for overall tracking accuracy, and the apps for both devices are excellent for analyzing your swim training.
The FORM 2 Smart Swim Goggles are a blend of basic swim accessory (we need swim goggles to see underwater, after all), real-time data tracking, and personalized coaching features.
The goggles provide accurate and exhaustive tracking, measuring and logging every stroke, second, breath, heartbeat, head tilt, and split you take in the water, better informing your progress and training.
The FORM Smart Goggles are certainly pricey—at the time of writing, they retailed for $249, and that’s not including the monthly subscription for the premium features—but for swimmers who are serious about optimizing their swim training, the goggles can be a total game changer.
The goggles come with a 30-day free returns policy, a two-year warranty, and free shipping.
Unlock performance-boosting training data, improve your workouts, and happy swimming!
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Olivier Poirier-Leroy Olivier Poirier-Leroy is the founder of YourSwimLog.com. He is an author, former national level swimmer, two-time Olympic Trials qualifier, and swim coach.
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