Triathlete Edgaras is used to having data close at hand. On the bike, he can check his power and other ride metrics on a head unit. While running, his watch keeps him informed. Swimming has always been different.

“I don’t feel my pace,” he says early in his HoloSwim 3 Pro test.

That is the problem he wanted the goggles to solve. Instead of stopping to check his watch—or waiting until the swim was over to discover that he had started too hard—could he see useful information without breaking his stroke?

Edgaras took HoloSwim 3 Pro into open water to find out.

Watch Edgaras’s Full Test

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The Pacing Problem He Wanted to Solve

Edgaras describes a familiar pattern for open-water swimmers and triathletes: the first part of a swim feels manageable, so the pace gradually—or sometimes not so gradually—creeps up.

Without a wall clock or an easy way to check a watch, it can be difficult to know how hard you are working. Edgaras says he often starts too fast and only realizes it after stopping, when he looks at his watch and sees how high his heart rate has climbed.

Checking a wristwatch during the swim is possible, but it interrupts the movement he is trying to maintain. He has to slow down, change his arm position and take his attention away from the water ahead.

What interested him about HoloSwim 3 Pro was straightforward: pace and distance could remain visible while he continued swimming.

Seeing Pace and Distance in the Water

Once Edgaras starts swimming, the display gives him access to two of the figures he cares about most: his current pace and the distance covered.

The information sits inside his field of view, so he does not need to turn his wrist or stop swimming to check it. For a triathlete who struggles to judge pace by feel, that creates a much shorter feedback loop. He can see what is happening during the swim rather than reconstructing it afterwards.

This does not mean the goggles choose the right pace for him. Edgaras still has to decide how hard he wants to swim. The difference is that he can now compare how the effort feels with the pace displayed in front of him.

That is the part of the test that appears most useful for his training: making pace awareness part of the swim itself.

His First Reaction to the Display

Before entering the water, Edgaras admits that he is not entirely sure what to expect from a display built into a pair of goggles. Once he starts swimming, his reaction is much more direct.

He describes the display as “crystal clear.”

The figures remain readable while he is moving, and he does not appear to need to search around the lens to find them. That matters in open water, where reflections, changing light and movement can make a poorly positioned display distracting rather than helpful.

Edgaras uses the display at maximum brightness during this test. He notes that he could reduce it if needed, giving swimmers some room to adjust the screen to the conditions and their own preference.

Finding the Right Fit

HoloSwim 3 Pro comes with interchangeable nose bridges, and Edgaras uses the medium size for his swim.

The fit appears secure during the session, and after roughly 10 to 15 minutes in the water, he reports no problems with comfort. He also feels that the goggles provide enough surrounding visibility for open-water use.

His experience is a useful reminder that setting up the nose bridge is worth doing before judging the display or seal. The position of the goggles affects both how they sit on the face and where the information appears in the swimmer’s field of view.

Because facial structure varies, another swimmer may need a different nose-bridge size to achieve the same result.

A Simple First Test—and a Clear Answer

Edgaras approaches the swim with some hesitation. That feels more credible than beginning with the assumption that the product will work exactly as expected.

His verdict after getting out of the water is equally uncomplicated:

“It works.”

In the context of this test, that means he could see his pace and distance while swimming, the display was clear enough to read in open water, and the goggles remained comfortable during the session.

For Edgaras, the value is not having more data after the swim. It is being able to use that information while the swim is still happening.

What Edgaras’s Experience Means for Open-Water Swimmers

The most relevant part of this test is not the novelty of seeing numbers inside a pair of goggles. It is the problem those numbers address.

Open-water pacing is difficult because effort can be misleading. Conditions change, there are no pool walls for reference, and the excitement of a race start can make a pace feel sustainable when it is not.

Edgaras wanted a way to check himself without repeatedly stopping or looking at his wrist. During this swim, HoloSwim 3 Pro gave him that immediate reference.

Swimmers who already judge pace accurately by feel may use the display mainly to confirm their effort. Those who tend to start too fast may find it more valuable as an early warning that their pace is getting away from them.

Edgaras’s First-Swim Verdict

Edgaras began the test unsure whether an in-goggle display would be genuinely helpful. He finished it convinced that the idea worked for him.

The display was easy for him to read, the medium nose bridge provided a comfortable fit, and he could follow pace and distance without interrupting his stroke.

More importantly, the goggles addressed a specific weakness in his own swimming: he often cannot tell how fast he is going until it is too late.

That makes this less of a general technology demonstration and more of a practical open-water pacing test. Edgaras was not looking for another set of post-swim charts. He wanted useful information while he was still moving—and that is what he found.

Frequently Asked Questions

What information did Edgaras see while swimming?

During the open-water test, Edgaras viewed his pace and distance through the in-goggle display.

Could he read the display clearly in open water?

Yes. Edgaras described the display as “crystal clear” and was able to read it while swimming.

Can the display brightness be adjusted?

Yes. Edgaras used maximum brightness during the test and noted that it could be reduced to suit different conditions or personal preferences.

Which nose bridge did Edgaras use?

He used the medium nose bridge. HoloSwim 3 Pro includes interchangeable nose bridges so swimmers can adjust the fit.

Was the HoloSwim 3 Pro comfortable for him?

Edgaras reported no issues after approximately 10 to 15 minutes of swimming. Fit remains individual, so other swimmers may need to try a different nose bridge or strap adjustment.

Why did Edgaras want live pace data?

He explained that he often starts swimming too fast and does not realize it until he stops to check his watch. Seeing pace inside the goggles allowed him to monitor his effort without interrupting his stroke.