There’s a ritual I’ve done before nearly every Ironman. The day I arrive, I walk the village and stop at the ROKA area and buy a fresh pair of R1s.

I know, I know. No new nothing on race day. We say it every time and every athlete knows it’s the right call.

But I still do it every time.

It’s not superstition exactly but more of a treat to myself for making it through training and to the starting line. It’s the only time I purchase new goggles and why wouldn’t you want some ultra fresh anti-fog as you tackle 4K meters. And the R1’s have been so consistent, that the act of cracking open a new pair the night before a race has become as much a part of my pre-race routine as transition setup.

So when ROKA sent us a demo pair of the R2’s ahead of its launch, I was excited but wondered how much better can they be. I already had the goggles I loved.

And then I put the R2s on.

What Made the R1s Special

The R1 was a rethinking of what a goggle is supposed to be in open water. The patented 11-degree retroscopic lens tilt aligned the lens with the direction you’re actually moving, so you can sight without lifting your head, creating the ability to swim straighter.

They won a Red Dot Design Award and IMO, that award winning design gives you less drag or air bubbles that hang onto the edges for dear life.

All while sitting in the mid-pack of costing only $45, making them not as expensive as Magic 5 goggles but not as cheap as Speedo Swedish ones. For two seasons, they’ve just been reliable.

What’s Different: R1 vs. R2

Firstly, everything that made the R1 our go-to goggles remains; like the patented retroscopic lens tilt, SPCTRM™ optics for seeing buoys easier, through predawn darkness, fog, haze, transition light, glare more clearly, and full UV protection.

ROKA didn’t fix what wasn’t broken which is good. We hate when a good pair of training shoes change and they mess up the good for minor improvements. This is not that.

Interchangeable Nose Bridge: If you look at the images above, this might be the biggest change. The R1’s semi-rigid unibody nosebridge works well, but it’s one size. The R2 ships with four interchangeable bridge sizes, meaning you can dial in a truly custom fit regardless of your face shape. They’re secure and easy to snap into place making it so there is no reason it shouldn’t fit perfectly.

2x Anti-Fog: The R1’s single anti-fog coating has been one of its most reliable features but ROKA doubled down on the R2 by adding two layers of coating. According to ROKA, this will create longer-lasting clarity, especially for those longer efforts where fogging can creep in late in the swim.

Silicone Gaskets: The R1’s TPR gaskets were already soft and hypoallergenic but the R2 upgrades to premium silicone, which brings both better comfort and improved long-term durability. If you’re the type who gets 8+ months out of a pair like we do, this matters.

No-Slip Strap: This is a cool little added feature and worth mentioning. With notched grooves on the strap, it keeps everything locked in place once you’ve dialed your fit. You shouldn’t have any reason to adjust the straps anymore. Set it and forget it.

First Impressions of the R2

Delightful and everything you’d expected from a version 2.

We actually thought the design changed a bit because the R2 feels like you can sight even better but ROKA told us that wasn’t true; just in our own head.

I love that ROKA included interchangeable nose bridges over the one piece form of the R1. The double anti-fog coating sounds nice on paper and we’ll continue to see how it performs, but after 3 hours of swimming, we didn’t have any issues. Sighting remained just as clear as when we first put them on.

The R2 feels like ROKA took everything that worked about the R1 and removed any negatives. In talking with their team, that’s exactly what they did after listening to swimmer feedback.

The forward visibility is exceptional and the improved seal held through turns and I didn’t walk away with raccoon eyes for the rest of the day.

The R2 disappears on your face in the best possible way.

The Verdict: Will It Replace My Race-Day Ritual?

Almost certainly, yes.

The R1 earned my trust in ROKA and the R2 takes that foundation and elevates it.

I haven’t stood in an IRONMAN village with a pair of R2s in my hands yet, but I’m confident I know what I’ll be training and racing in moving forward.

The ROKA R2 Goggles are available now for $52 non-mirrored / $57 mirrored at rokamultisport.com.