Orca Killa Comfort goggles review

Orca’s Killa range has long been a test team favourite, plus we like the name, which merges the Orca tag ­(killer whales, get it?!) with a tongue-in-cheek nod to how many triathletes like to see themselves in the swim.

Mind you, how many of us manage to find that killer instinct in a thrashing swim pack and how many of us skulk off to the side in the hope of staying out of trouble, is to be debated…

Anyhow, joining the existing range which consists of the Killa Speed (£17), Killa 180° (£23.99), Killa Vision (£15), Killa Hydro (£23) and Killa Mask (£22.99) is the new Killa Comfort (£24), seen here.

For me the Killa 180° has always been my Orca goggle of choice, having as it does wide, curved lenses and soft gaskets. It’s a versatile goggle which has served me well over many races and is easily adjustable, comfortable and leak-free.

The Killa Comfort is in fact a very similar design to the 180°. I’d think of it as the slightly larger alternative – having the largest lenses in the range now, excluding the Mask.

Wider vision for swimming

That extra bit of vision is a bonus in open water, giving a touch more peripheral vision, which can be make-or-break in a race where you really need to stay across what (and who!) is around you (plus they make you look a bit like Black Manta from Aquaman… If only they did a red version!).

The main bonus of that sightly larger size is, as the name states, comfort though. You get the same soft silicone gaskets here as in the 180° but they’re that touch bigger, which allows the goggles to sit on the sockets of your eye, rather than directly on the delicate eye tissue as so many smaller race goggles tend to.

We wore these for swims of an hour in testing and didn’t end up with any soreness or goggle marks. Plus they gave great suction and no water ingress.

As they are a little larger, just make sure you sit them under and not over your swim cap though. If the edge of your cap makes it under the gasket, you will see water ingress!

Choice of lenses

I have the mirror/negro option here, which looks stylish and has the advantage of reducing glare, without making things too murky in low light.

Although they look quite greeny-purple, colours actually stayed quite true in bright light which is my preference. I’m not a huge fan of goggles for open water that change the colour of things too much, especially ones that make everything cold and blue and Smurf-like.

Two other colourways are available. You can also choose from clear/white and smoke/black, though, if this tint isn’t your thing.

Call me biased though, I would always go for this option as it does the job admirably, looks cool and has a mirror finish which I love for reducing glare and also for psyching out the competition during the wait to race (look at me, pretending to be a killer in the water again…).

Orca state their anti-fog coating is exclusive and long-lasting and we certainly didn’t have any issues with fogging during our weeks of using these.

Goggle straps and adjustability

The straps are wide and the split-strap is a good option for security and keeping your goggles in place – plus it’s handy to be able to put them either side of your bun, if you have longer hair.

Adjustment is via two buckles which feel sturdy and easy to use. In fact I’d say these goggles in general feel a quality item which will stand the test of time, with no brittle plastic or skinny components to cause problems. The nose bridge is integrated but is soft and pliable.

Wondering how to get the perfect fit with so many goggles to choose from in the market? Read more about how to find the right goggles for your triathlon here.

Value for money

Finally, there’s that price – for a good pair of open-water goggles from a premium brand, I’m impressed to see these coming in under £25.

All Orca’s open water goggles are competitively-priced, but we can see these going for double the price from some other brands.

There isn’t a hard case included which I would have suggested wasn’t ideal back in the ‘old days’ of gear testing. But now, with such a focus on reducing plastic waste, there’s bound to be mixed opinions on that – so we’d say hurrah to Orca for producing a superb goggle at a budget price.

If we choose to buy a case to keep them safe from scratches? Well, maybe it’s better to give that choice to the consumer. On that note Orca’s goggles all come in recycled cardboard packaging with no shiny plastic in sight.

In conclusion

I wouldn’t swap from our usual Killa 180° goggles to these as they are a small upgrade – but if we were in the market for a new set, or our existing ones needed replacing, then the Killa Comfort would definitely be worth considering.

From the wide lenses with a superb mirrored tint to the flexible gaskets and straps, these are a goggle that I would happily recommend for open water and for most swimmers. Great value, good looks and performance to boot.

Want to find some other top options for open water swimming? Check out our list of the best swimming goggles for more.

Orca Killa Comfort goggles specs

Price:	£24/$25
Lens options:	Three
Strap type:	Wide, split strap
Packaging:	Eco, cardboard
Case included?	No