If you’re planning to swim in open water or to make your next training session a swim workout at an indoor pool, there’s one essential item you need alongside your favorite swimsuit and sunscreen: goggles. The right swimming goggles should fit snugly without digging into the skin or letting water seep in.
Best swimming goggles
Best Overall
Speedo Optical Vanquisher
Best Bargain Buy
Malmsten AB AB Original Swedish Goggles
Best For Outdoor Swimming
Aqua Sphere Kayenne Swim Goggles
Good goggles will protect your eyes from harmful pool chemicals and saltwater, and they can enhance your swimming experience by providing clear vision, says head coach of women’s swimming at Princeton University Abby Brethauer. This makes them crucial for both beginners and pros.
Whether you’re buying your first pair or looking to upgrade your current set, this guide will help you narrow down the perfect goggles for your needs to keep you swimming year-round. Here’s what to consider the next time you’re shopping.
What to consider
Comfort
Before you consider all the technical stuff, you should first make sure your goggles are comfortable because if they aren’t you likely won’t wear them, says Brethauer. Goggles that fit properly will create a secure seal around the eyes, Mescolote says. This will help prevent water leakage and reduce the risk of irritation.
“Soft silicone gaskets (the part that suctions around your eyes) can also enhance comfort by providing a gentle, snug fit that minimizes pressure around the eyes,” Mescolote adds. This way swimmers can focus on their performance without distraction.
Lens Type
The most common lens types are mirrored, polarized, tinted, UV-protected, and clear. Choosing your lens type comes down to your swimming conditions. For instance, Mescolote recommends UV protected-lenses for any outdoor swimming as they shield the eyes from harmful ultraviolet rays and any glare.
Mirrored and polarized lenses are another great outdoor option for brighter days because they significantly reduce brightness and eye strain. On the other hand, if you are swimming indoors, you want to opt for a clear lens that offers amazing visibility or a lighter tinted lens that reduces glare from any pool lights. “Additionally, anti-fog coatings and scratch-resistant lenses are valuable features that ensure clear vision over time,” Mescolote says. This can maintain the goggles’ effectiveness throughout extended training periods and competitions.
Material
Because frequent replacements can be costly and inconvenient, Mescolote says, you should prioritize googles that promote long-lasting performance. “High-quality materials, such as polycarbonate lenses and silicone straps, can withstand the rigors of frequent use and exposure to pool chemicals,” he says.
Adjustability
Goggles with adjustability features can help them stay in place better. “Shoppers should look for goggles with adjustable straps and nose bridges to customize the fit according to their unique facial structure,” Mescolote says. These adjustable features ensure a proper fit that can be easily changed and will significantly improve your next stroke.
How we chose
To help find the best goggles, Women’s Health editors, including contributor Amanda Rosenthal, consulted expert coaches and swimmers Abby Brethauer and Joao Mescolote to help break down what to look for in goggles, and to help advise what the best brands on the market are. Keeping in mind comfort, lens type, durability, and adjustment capability, we narrowed down the top five goggles for all swimmers.
Below, shop the best swimming goggles, according to swimming experts.
Pros
- Corrective lens option
- Four nose-adjustment choices
- Double head strap
Cons
- Clear lenses are better suited indoors
After researching and testing numerous different goggles, multiple experts say that Speedo’s Optical Vanquisher 2.0 is the best swimming goggle overall for swimmers of all levels. This goggle sports multiple adjustable facets, like four different nose-piece options and an adjustable double head strap, which fits most faces. It features anti-fog and UV protection panoramic lenses that increase peripheral vision. Plus, Speedo offers an optical lens to aid near-sighted swimmers.
Highly recommended by Brethaeur as a favorite among her swimmers, “the vanquishers tend to be more comfortable [than other goggle options] and something I recommend for entry level swimmers.” The cushioned silicone seal rests firmly around the eyes without causing too much pressure or allowing any water seepage. Brethaeur also notes that despite all its great attributes, the Vanquisher swimming goggle is available at a better price point than many others on the market.
It’s worth noting that its clear lenses are better suited for indoor pools, but fortunately, Speedo makes a mirrored version of this same model that is great for outdoor environments.
| Material | Silicone, polycarbonate, and polyurethane |
|---|---|
| Lens Type | Clear, corrective, UV protection |
| Adjustability | Headstrap, 4 nose-piece options |
After researching and testing numerous different goggles, multiple experts say that Speedo’s Optical Vanquisher 2.0 is the best swimming goggle overall for swimmers of all levels. This goggle sports multiple adjustable facets, like four different nose-piece options and an adjustable double head strap, which fits most faces. It features anti-fog and UV protection panoramic lenses that increase peripheral vision. Plus, Speedo offers an optical lens to aid near-sighted swimmers.
Highly recommended by Brethaeur as a favorite among her swimmers, “the vanquishers tend to be more comfortable [than other goggle options] and something I recommend for entry level swimmers.” The cushioned silicone seal rests firmly around the eyes without causing too much pressure or allowing any water seepage. Brethaeur also notes that despite all its great attributes, the Vanquisher swimming goggle is available at a better price point than many others on the market.
It’s worth noting that its clear lenses are better suited for indoor pools, but fortunately, Speedo makes a mirrored version of this same model that is great for outdoor environments.
Pros
- Blue tint improves contrast and depth perception
- Great price point
Cons
- You have to tie and untie the head strap to adjust
Favored by both Brethaeur and Mescolote for their afforable price point and durability, the Swedish Malmsten goggle is an excellent choice for those seeking a budget-friendly option. Known for its simple and straightforward design, this goggle is designed with an adjustable strap that you can knot for your perfect fit and a singular, standard nose-piece.
One standout feature is its effective blue tint. “Blue-tinted lenses can improve contrast and depth perception in low-light or indoor settings,” says Mescolote. “The Swedish goggle offers great comfort with the perfect angle of lenses so you don’t have to move your head to see forward.”
This effective goggles is also a great bargain, and you won’t have to spend much to replace it if it gets lost or damaged.
| Lens Type | Tinted, UV protection |
|---|---|
| Material | Polycarbonate, silicone |
| Adjustability | Head strap |
Best For Outdoor Swimming
Aqua Sphere Kayenne Swim Goggles
Pros
- Three different lens options
- Leak-free resistance seal
Cons
- No nose adjustment
Wider and oversized lens designs are ideal for open water and outdoor settings, and the Aqua Sphere Kayenne goggle fits the bill perfectly. This goggle comes in three different lens options— mirrored, polarized, and tinted—all suitable for outdoor use. With a 180-degree wide field of vision, its lenses won’t distort your vision underwater.
The leak-free eye skirt ensures your goggle remains tightly sealed without irritating your eye area. Engineered to be easy to use, the one-touch quick-fit buckle makes tightening and loosening a breeze, too. There are also plenty of different color pairings to choose from.
| Lens Type | Mirrored, tinted, polarized |
|---|---|
| Material | Not available |
| Adjustability | Head strap |
Pros
- Double-seal frame
- Anti-fog lens
- Glare-reducing
Cons
- Anti-fog coating can fade quickly
The Zionor G1 SE has everything you could want in an indoor goggle: It’s secure, durable, provides great light transmission, and comes in a variety of colors. One of the most important aspects of a goggle is its leak-proof capabilities, and the Zionor excels in this area with its 3D double-seal frame that provides a tight, water-resistant fit.
The clear lenses offer swimmers great visibility, reduce glare from pool lights, and feature UV400 protection. We can’t forget to mention the anti-fog coating and its high-quality craftsmanship that makes this goggle a true standout.
It’s important to note that the anti-fog coating can fade quickly, though, so avoid wiping the inside of the lenses too often or roughly to extend its effectiveness.
| Lens Type | Clear |
|---|---|
| Material | Silicone, polycarbonate |
| Adjustability | Head strap |
Pros
- Anti-fog
- Lots of color options
- Lens reduce drag
Cons
- Not as comfortable as others on this list
There’s a good reason this baby has ‘speed’ in its name. Speedo’s goggles are great for professional swimmers and competitors due to their ability to reduce drag and increase panoramic viewing. Recommended by Brethaeur for its low profile (how far the goggles stick out from the face), these goggles are popular among competitive swimmers.
The mirror lenses are ideal for brighter outdoor and open water conditions, reducing glare and fog while protecting from UVA and UVB rays. Designed with an adjustable double head strap and three nose-piece options, these goggles offer you the perfect custom fit. Luckily, you won’t need to compromise effectiveness for style, as there are 21 different color options to choose from, too.
| Lens Type | Mirrored |
|---|---|
| Material | Nylon, plastic, silicone, rubber |
| Adjustability | 3 nose-piece options |
