Watch any kid in the water and the awesomeness of swimming is readily apparent. Whether in seawater or a public pool, kids make swimming seem fun and not like exercise, which it completely is for adults. A great pair of swim goggles not only makes a workout easier and better protects eyes from water and UV light, it also makes swimming more fun for people of all ages.
A pair of swim goggles is also one of those things that doesn’t cost very much but pays for itself because of how useful (and fun!) it is. For around $20, swim goggles stop water from reaching the eyes — assuming a proper fit — and allow for clear vision. That’s no small feat, either. Clear underwater vision is useful for not bumping into people or things — a necessity for viewing sea life and a critical feature for racing and competitive swimming. Not to mention, watching people’s legs kick as they tread water is awkwardly hilarious. People willing to spend a little more can also find customized goggles for racing and snorkeling. Whatever the water activity is, there’s a pair of swim goggles to help.
The Best Swimming Goggles: At a Glance
What the Experts Say
SPY spoke with multiple experts to understand the ins and outs of swim goggles, including Helen Vanderburg, a Balanced Body fitness coordinator and world champion synchronized swimmer; Kristen Hislop, the founder of Hislop Coaching and a triathlon and Ironman coach; Chris Kaplanis, co-founder and professional triathlon and run coach at RTA Triathlon; Charlotte Meier, a former NCAA Division I competitive swimmer and marketer at SwimOutlet.com and Sporti; and Kim Tokarski, the head of pool lifestyle products at Leslie’s, the spa and pool equipment retailer.
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First, everyone really should get some swim goggles for their plain advantages. “I feel goggles are a must for swimmers,” Vanderburg says. “They protect your eyes from chemicals and substances in the water, and they provide clear vision when underwater. If swimming outdoors, they protect the eyes from glare off the water.” Hislop agrees, saying, “Chlorine can cause red eyes, and you certainly can’t wear contact lenses without some eye protection. Anyone who likes to swim, even recreationally, should consider goggles.”
Those basic protective benefits apply to all swimmers but swim goggles come in many varieties depending on the swimming details. “When it comes to finding the perfect goggles for your activity, it really depends on your priorities,” Meier says. “Are you swimming in the ocean or a pool? Do you care about a hydrodynamic profile? Is it sunny where you are swimming? These are all great questions to ask yourself when shopping.”
For sunny swimmers, mirrored swim goggles reflect light away from the eyes, while tinted options help filter light. “While mirrored goggles look cool, they are designed to be used outside to cut the sun’s glare,” Hislop says. “There are a variety of tints for bright sun or just a bit of glare.” Put simply, think of mirrored goggles as swimming sunglasses, Kaplanis says. Blue-tinted lenses and clear goggles are good for indoor swimming while yellow-tinted lenses are good for outdoor swimming on cloudy or rainy days, he adds.
More competitive swimmers will be better served by goggles with more technical features. “Generally the lower-profile or minimalistic goggles are best for swim racing in a pool,” Kaplanis says. “Some goggles have better vision on your peripheral / 180-degree view, which is particularly useful when swimming open water.” (Let’s not forget about the snorkelers who might prefer mask-style swim goggles that cover the nose, as well.)
Speaking of noses — the nose bridge is one of the more important considerations because it can make or break the comfort and lens fit. For those reasons, multiple experts recommend adjustable nose pieces for most swimmers. “Look for goggles that have an adjustable nose piece, so you can properly adjust the goggles to fit across the bridge of your nose without being too wide or too narrow,” Tokarski says.
In terms of overall fit and lens sizing, finding the ideal is a little trickier, especially for people only shopping online. Most goggles have an inner-fit lens, meaning they fit inside the eye sockets, but there are middle- and outer-fit options, too. Though the experts say trying on a pair in person is ideal, don’t fret because most swim goggles are, expectedly, designed for every kind of face and use case. To boil the experts’ advice down, swim goggles should be tight but not too tight. It’s beguilingly simple, but that’s really all there is to it. If the goggles are too loose, water seeps in; too tight, they could leave “raccoon eyes” and produce a headache.
Ultimately, the financial stakes aren’t too high: Most swim goggles are returnable, given consumers’ fit concerns, and $20-$40 will buy excellent casual goggles and race-ready designs, though more specialized options can go unpredictably higher.
Finally, swim goggles will last a long time with regular use and care, so take care of them — especially pairs with mirrored lenses and anti-fog coatings. “Rinse your goggles with cold water after you swim to increase their longevity, and keep your goggles away from items that will scratch the lenses,” Vanderburg says. To help preserve anti-fog coatings, don’t ever touch the inside of the lenses, either.
Speedo Vanquisher 2.0 Swimming Goggles
One option stands out among the best swim goggles for men for its widespread use and popularity among swimmers, according to experts: Speedo’s Vanquisher 2.0. Goggle. With a snug inner-eye fit thanks to soft-sealing silicone gaskets, four nose pieces, a streamlined design, and mirrored varieties for outdoor swimming, these swim goggles haven’t met a swimmer they couldn’t help. “I use the Speedo Vanquisher as a daily goggle,” Hislop says. “Across the board for recreational and competitive swimmers, the Vanquisher is a great goggle.”
Tokarski, Meier and Vanderburg are all fans of the Vanquisher too. Vanderburg says she’s a Speedo girl and doesn’t plan to change soon. “[The Vanquisher] is designed for competitive swimmers,” she says. “You can see well through the side of the goggles (lateral vision) as well as the front. The adjustable nose bridge is an advantage to get a better fit.”
For $20-$30, depending on the retailer, the Vanquisher swim goggles also hit the sweet spot price-wise. Around $20, they’re a steal and even paying closer to $30 will still yield more than enough dividends for frequent swimmers to justify the purchase.
TYR Black Ops 140 EV Swimming Goggles
TYR makes some of the best swim goggles for men, including the TYR Black Ops 140 EV Racing Goggles. With racing-friendly tweaks like a low profile, close fit, and 140° peripheral range, as well as four swappable nose bridges and a mirrored option, these goggles help swimmers glide smoothly through the water when seconds matter.
Though they cost a little more than average at $30, Meier says she raced and trained in them for years and finds they hold up to both well over time. “The TYR Black Ops 140 Racing Goggle is a great lightweight, hydrodynamic option for racing,” she says.
Arena Combra Ultra Swipe Goggles
Swimmers with a need for speed have to use a super streamlined goggle that won’t fall off at critical moments. The Arena Cobra Ultra Swipe Goggle promises that and more for swimmers. “The Arena Cobra Ultra Swipe Goggle is a very modern competitive racing goggle that features a hydrodynamic lens design, easily adjustable dual strap on the back of the head, and five interchangeable nose bridges,” Meier says. “The unique thing about these goggles is the ‘Swipe’ technology, which is activated by the swipe of your finger on the lens.”
Vanderburg agrees: “These are high-performance goggles,” she says. “They’re very sleek to reduce drag [with] lots of adjustment for fit and comfort.”
Available in a mirrored option and a whole variety of tints, these goggles are race-ready for any conditions, assuming people are willing to pony up for the $50+ sticker price.
TheMagic5 Swim Goggles
Move aside, generic plastic and silicone molds. The customized goggles future is now courtesy of TheMagic5 Swim Goggles and their app-based face scan. First, as a custom-made product, these swim goggles are expensive at $60 and likely not worth it for more casual swimmers.
But for people who want an optimal, personal fit shopping online, the app actually works, producing perfect-fit, individualized goggles. Kaplanis and Hislop both say they’re among the best swim goggles for a custom fit. “I also have TheMagic5 — my first scan was perfect,” Hislop says. “[They’re] worth a look if you have trouble with leaking goggles. They come in a nice case, too. Because they fit my face so well, I don’t have goggle marks after a swim.”
For anyone considering this option, be sure to take some time learning how to use the app to get a precise scan and the best results, Hislop says.
Sporti Antifog S2 Goggle
The Sporti Antifog S2 Goggle has two important qualities going for it: First, it’s wildly cheap even though it’s pretty solid quality, and second, it comes in optical varieties — for those with corrective lenses — and mirrored and tinted options for barely any more money. Ultimately, being able to get the right goggles for the right situation at a more-than-affordable price is exactly what we’re all trying to do when we shop.
For around $10 a pair, it’s hard to argue the Sporti goggles are anything but that.
Frequently Asked Questions About Swim Goggles
How Can I Find the Best Swim Goggles For My Needs? What Do I Need to Look For?
People need to think about two things: What kind of swimming they are doing and what features will be best for that and their personal comfort.
In terms of features, that means seeking out soft, silicone eye seals, adjustable headbands and adjustable, swappable nose pieces. People sensitive to silicone might prefer Swedish-style goggles, which typically skip the silicone gasket.
In terms of purpose, getting the right swim goggles means thinking about indoor or outdoor swimming, the levels of light, and any race-friendly or open-water swimming designs.
“It’s important to keep in mind that goggles come in all shapes and sizes in order to help serve their primary purpose (lap pool, open water, backyard pool / recreation, snorkeling etc.) and to fit the various shapes and sizes of people’s faces / heads,” Kaplanis says.
Generally, for all but the most serious swimmers, buying a mirrored/tinted option or an unmirrored option will be the most applicable consideration because the former are better suited to manage sunlight while the latter don’t help with it at all.
How Should I Wear Swim Goggles For the Best Results?
In short, the goggles should fit snugly without leaving eyes sore after some time in the water. Tokarski recommends getting the straps situated tightly and then pressing the goggles firmly against the eye sockets to create the seal. “Make sure there’s no hair or obstructions that might compromise the seal,” she says.
If the seal is compromised in any way — whether by loose straps, a poorly fitted nose piece, or something jostling them out of position — the goggles won’t keep the water out, she adds.
How Can I Deal With Fog in My Swim Goggles?
Fogging is the number one problem for swimmers aside from the actual fit of the goggles. Goggles that claim anti-fog benefits have coatings that help. But all swim goggles will face fog sooner or later, whether due to a temperature difference or the wear and tear of their use. Experts do have advice to help manage the problem though.
Hislop says don’t wipe the inside of lenses that have anti-fog coatings and don’t use soap, both of which will decrease the life of the coating. Stick to a quick rinse with cold water to clean them when finished. “The key is to try to not touch the inside of the goggles for as long as possible,” she says.
Once goggles begin fogging on a regular basis, whether due to physical contact, the presence of water or the loss of coating from use, there are no permanent fixes. However, there are temporary fixes. This is no joke, but licking the inside of goggles can help as the saliva basically acts as a temporary coating and it’s always readily available.
Hislop and Kaplanis say anti-fog wipes can also help and will last for multiple uses since they basically temporarily replace the coating.
What’s a Good Price Range For Swim Goggles?
The best swim goggles for men can go for hundreds of dollars while functional options can be had for $10-$15, the experts say. But most people looking for casual or competitive goggles without a custom fit will be more than OK with goggles in the $20-$40 range and a max of around $60.
“The average prices are more like $15-30. In most cases you get what you pay for,” Hislop says. “Under $10 and you likely will not have different nose pieces and will have a cheaper lens. Once you are up to the $50 and above range, you are looking at very specific attributes.”
Are There Differences Between Swim Goggles For Men and Women?
The short answer is not really, Kaplanis says, and most swimmers wear unisex swim goggles, Meier adds. However, some swim goggles marketed toward women can have a smaller facial frame, smaller eye cups and a potentially more narrow nose bridge, Meier says.
So though most faces will be fine with unisex options, people who know they have a smaller head or eyes might want women-branded swim goggles.
