Best swim goggles for pool and open-water swimming in 2025

Think your swimming goggles should be a cheap, often-replaced item? Then think again. Technology has moved on loads in recent years, so there’s no need to settle for leaky, ill-fitting or foggy goggles. Buying an unsuitable pair can be frustrating and a waste of cash that can be spent on kit elsewhere.

Your goggles are your portal on the world when you swim, so much as you wouldn’t skimp on sunglasses for riding and running, don’t skimp on your goggles. Invest in a good pair that suit your needs and will last, then look after them!

As well as being 220 Triathlon editor, I’m an open-water swim coach and have been testing triathlon and swimming gear for well over a decade.

This year I have put dozens of pairs of swim goggles through their paces over multiple seasons, in swimming pools and open water, and the verdicts below are based on my honest opinion so you can make an informed purchase.

---

---

---

Best pool swimming goggles in 2025

1. Tri-Fit Propel swim goggles

Price	$55/£40
Lens	PC lens with UVA/UVB protection, REVO mirrored lens coating
Vision	Slimline and curved
UV protection	Yes
Spec	Adjustable nose bridge with three sizes, silicone head strap, TPE frame, adjustable back buckle

The Tri-Fit Propel swim goggles are a sleek, high-performing option that impressed from the start. With a stylish design and extended cat-eye lenses, they offer great peripheral vision and a secure, comfortable fit.

The green-purple tinted optical-grade lenses provide HD clarity, UV protection, and effective anti-fog performance in both pool and open water.

We found them easy to adjust, with a central clip and multiple nose bridge options, to that they stay snug without leaving deep marks.

The soft gaskets and split strap enhance comfort and stability. At $55/£40, they deliver reliable performance and come with a durable hard case for protection—well worth the investment.

Read our full Tri-Fit Propel swim goggles review here.

---

2. TheMagic5 Goggles

Price	$70/£75
Lens	blue, clear, smoke, mirror
Vision	semi-wide
UV protection	not mentioned
Spec	box included, anti-fog

These TheMagic5 goggles appear later on in this group test in the open-water category. So why include them here as well?

Put simply, the uniqueness of this brand stems from its made-to-measure approach and with a wide range of tints available, there is a pair to suit every type of swimming venue. In this review, we test the clear and blue tint lens options for pool swimming.

So how does it work? Download the brand’s app and it will scan your face from a number of angles (turn your head until it tells you to stop!) to create a 3D picture.

The app can then send this info to the lab, where your goggles will be made exactly to suit the dimensions of your face and eye sockets. If you’re a swimmer who finds it hard to get a pair that fit and avoid leaks, this concept is a game-changer.

You’ll notice TheMagic5 goggles have quite an unusual shape (or maybe that’s just my face!) but popping them on the minimal gaskets instantly created a great seal without needing much suction. Fans of the old ‘Swedish goggles’ which don’t feature gaskets at all seem to really like these speaking anecdotally from our pool!

Later on in this test we’ll meet the ‘blue magic mirror gold’ option, which is designed for outdoor use. Here we are showing the ‘blue magic’ version for indoor use. Niftily you can buy a bundle too, with the whole bundle coming in at $130 (£119).

You can buy them separately if you choose to, though, with the indoor goggle available for $70/£75.

These blue lenses did a superb job of cutting glare in my brightly-lit local swimming pool. I have also tried out the smoke and clear versions too which are equally good – personal preference will play a big part here.

While clear goggles aren’t usually my first choice (I admit it, I prefer the look of tinted or mirrored one!), a set such as the ones shown here are always a useful tool in your kit bag and are especially useful if swimming in darker indoor pools. You can buy the clear version here ($75/£70).

The Magic5 have also released a limited edition colourway aimed at pool swimmers which is a collaboration with Polish Olympian Kasia Waswick.

The ‘Kasia’ edition features orange/gold lenses and a red and white strap and retail at £75/$70 as long as stocks are available.

See our full TheMagic5 goggle review to read more about these.

3. Form Smart Swim 2 goggles

Price	$249 / £249
Lens	dark mirror tint
Vision	standard width
UV protection	not mentioned
Spec	box and charger, anti-fog

Form’s Smart Swim 2 goggles are a potential game changer for people looking for help with their swimming.

The goggles display key data in one lens, including pace, time elapsed and distance covered, helping you keep track of your progress.

Another key aspect here is the ability to follow swim sessions (there are loads to choose from in the accompanying app), with prompts in the lens on when to change pace or stroke.

Helpfully, the goggles will also analyse your swim technique on the fly and post swim in the app, helping you improve your head pitch and roll, ensuring you’re not looking to far down or ahead and not rotating too much when breathing.

Key new features in version two include a handy heart rate sensor, plus the SwimStraight function, which gives you a bearing to follow when swimming outdoors so you can avoid zigzagging your way around a course and swimming additional metres.

Vitally, they also perform well as goggles, proving comfortable and fitting well. The cost is high, though. It’s £229 ($249) and then £7 ($8.25) per month if you want access to premium features in the app.

Read our full Form Smart Swim 2 goggles review for more.

3. Zone3 Venator X

Price	$50 / £35
Lens	tinted, photochromatic, or polarised (wide range of colours)
Vision	wide curved lens
UV protection	100% UVA/UVB protection
Spec	cloth bag, anti-fog

• $50 / £35

The Venator X last appeared in our September 2021 pool goggles test in a monochrome and smoked lens combo (see review below), which we felt looked a little dull – but that’s not a claim you could lay against this zingy gold and orange combo!

With soft, flexible silicone gaskets and a wide split strap with buttons that’s simple to adjust quickly, these felt like a quality set of goggles.

On this set, the lenses are mirrored and polarised, which, coupled with the relatively large size against others on test, made these feel much more like an open-water goggle.

Admittedly, they would be a good choice for someone looking to invest in just one set for pool and outdoors.

Although quite dark in the pool the Venator Xs weren’t as dark as the Aquaspheres, and this year they come in as as the second cheapest, which may add appeal.

A simple cloth bag is also included to keep them in when out of the pool.

4. Huub Pinnacle goggles

Price	$55 / £44.99
Lens	blue mirror tint
Vision	standard
UV protection	yes
Spec	anti-fog, hard case, nose bridges

The new Pinnacle’s from tri stalwarts Huub have a slightly different gasket to the others on test here.

A double-walled silicone gasket with air cushion design means they’re super-soft but also feel a little ‘bouncy’ and cushioned when applied to the face.

To me, this made them feel like they were achieving a seal without the high level of ‘suction’ on other models, so if you struggle with comfort or goggle marks, these could be the ones for you.

The smaller shape feels closer to a traditional pool goggle, while the mirrored lenses gave great clarity of vision and just enough tint to protect from harsh pool lighting.

I did find I preferred some of the larger, curved lenses on test as I could see quite a bit of the frames in our peripheral vision here as I swam, but for the pool that’s not such an issue and is personal preference. Multiple bridges plus a good-quality case add to the package.

5. Zoggs Tiger LSR+

Price	£36 (UK only)
Lens	dark tint, clear, mirrored
Vision	wide curved lens
UV protection	99-100% UV protection
Spec	anti-fog, two sizes

The Predator range has long been my goggle of choice for both open water and pool (it comes in such a wide range of tints) so I initially approached the new Tiger range with a tiny bit of anxiety. Would it perform?

Thankfully, the answer is a resounding yes. The Tiger is lighter, more streamlined and more flexible than our trusty Predator, but these things all made for an extremely comfortable swim experience.

The gaskets are made from Zogg’s ‘Liquid Skin’ silicone which was very soft against the skin and didn’t leave goggle marks, while staying perfectly in place.

They do sit quite close though which is great for streamlining, but if you have long eyelashes you might find they brush the lenses a little.

The lenses here are mirrored, which we always thinks looks cool as well as protecting from glare – here, taking the edge off pool lighting without making things too dark.

The classic split strap and quick-adjust system will be familiar to Zoggs customers and works as well as ever. Several tints and two face sizes are available.

6. Aquasphere Xceed Yellow

Price	$59.99 / £54
Lens	tint, mirrored,
Vision	wide curved lens
UV protection	not mentioned
Spec	adjustable nose bridge, anti-scratch

There’s a big caveat I have to put in place with the Xceed goggles – in this zingy yellow tint they’re designed for the brightest light conditions and marketed as such, so their submission in this test was a strange one.

In the fairly mellow lights of my local pool they were a touch dark, although the colour-contrast boosting lenses did give a sharpness to our surroundings.

Fit, meanwhile, was superb, with a close fit around the eye socket feeling streamlined and snug yet comfortable, while the curved lenses gave good range of vision.

Sturdy straps have a single buckle to adjust, while a choice of nose bridges are included and they stayed in place throughout my sessions.

Sadly, though, you don’t receive a case, which seems stingy for the $59.99/£54 asking price. But, the cardboard packaging was nice to see and is part of Aquasphere’s pledge to improve sustainability.

7. Speedo Vue Mirror

Price	$86.94 / £63
Lens	smoke, mirror
Vision	wide curved lens
UV protection	not mentioned
Spec	anti-fog, hard case

Much as we believe in investing in quality kit for training (we’d rather buy once and buy right) that weighty price tag for a set of goggles still made me gulp a little bit… Until I popped them out of the plastic case and put them on, that is.

Of all the choices here, this was the pair that instantly fitted to our face without needing adjustments and toed the line perfectly between feeling sturdy and secure yet soft and flexible.

The wide, curved lenses gave great visibility while still feeling ‘race’ enough for the pool.

I’d quite happily use them in open-water as well, and, in fact, added them to my kit bag for the last of my year’s open-water races, the fit felt that good.

Speedo quote two-times the anti-fog properties of other goggles on the Vue and although we can’t comment on that, we certainly did not see any fogging in testing.

Finally, the mirrored lenses blocked bright lights while still keeping colours true and not being too dark. There’s a hard case included too, which will help keep them scratch-free!

8. Speedo Fastskin Hyper Elite

Price	$78 / £55
Lens	mirror (different shades)
Vision	wide curved lens
UV protection	100% protection
Spec	adjustable nose bridge, anti-fog

Glance down this page and the Speedos instantly jump out with their bright colours and colourful mirrored lenses. That comes at a cost though, with these being at the higher end of the budget. So are they worth it?

Well, these sit snugly in the eye socket and were easily the comfiest on test, and with the most secure seal, sitting very streamlined on the face.

Adjustment is via an unusual one-piece strap with marked adjuster, which was a little touch of genius as well as splitting into two and being very secure throughout our swim.

You also get a massive hard case which, given the investment, we’d want to be able to keep them safe!

9. Aquasphere Fastlane

Price	$29.99 / £27
Lens	mirrored, clear, tinted
Vision	semi-wide curved lens
UV protection	not mentioned
Spec	hard case, adjustable nose bridge, anti-scratch

With a similar dark tint to the Huub Brownlee Acute, these are a good choice if you find the bright lights in your pool a bit OTT.

Mirrored lenses are always welcome, while I found these to be comfortable with soft gaskets and no fogging or leaking.

A hard case is included, which is good for the price point, while the double strap with single adjuster was typical of the goggles on test here and kept them securely in place.

I did find the side clips on the frames moved up and down the straps though, which was a little bit odd, and they were also a bit sharp to replace mid-swim.

Again like the Huubs, the lenses would cross over well into open-water swims.

10. Speedo Aquapulse Pro Mirror

Price	$52.44 / £38
Lens	mirrored white, red, silver, and gold
Vision	wide angle lens
UV protection	100% UV protection
Spec	glare reduction, anti-fog

The new Aquapulse Pro Mirror slot into Speedo’s fitness category for everyday training and racing.

The wide, mirrored lenses offer plenty of peripheral vision and 100% UV protection, so they’re strong candidates for goggles that you could use for both pool training and racing in open water.

The anti-fog coating worked as new after multiple training sessions and, although on the dark side, the lens tint was fine to use during evening sessions in a dimly-lit pool.

One thing I wasn’t so keen on was the gasket seal, which is large but quite firm, and dug into my cheekbones a little.

Speedo’s ‘IQfit’ straps have a handy numbered scale printed on the back, which is really useful for nailing your ideal amount of tension for when you need to buy your next pair.

11. Swans Ascender Mirrored + MIT

Price	$61 / £46.99
Lens	mirrored blue, red, orange, clear
Vision	wide curved lens
UV protection	100% UVA and UVB protection
Spec	anti-fog, interchangeable nose bridges

Numerous goggles in Swans’ range have impressed on these pages over time, and I had a fine swimming experience with this pair.

They’re available in six different lens options and I tested the mirrored versions with Swans’ Mirror Insert Technology that has an extra anti-scratch layer.

As we’ve found after numerous swims, the tech appears to work a treat and there are no signs of scratching or damage at all.

There are also photochromatic and polarised lens options available for more than the $61 (£47) asking price, yet I can’t see that either would be essential as the mirrored lenses deflect glare well.

The tint isn’t too bright so I also found them suitable for indoor pools, and the size and shape of the lenses provide excellent clarity and field of vision.

There are three adjustable nosepieces to secure your perfect fit, and the gaskets are extra soft and flexible so should fit well on any face shape.

A single clip at the rear does the job for tightening/loosening, and the straps are replaceable to prolong the life of the goggles.

All of which makes the Ascender leap to the top of our picks when it comes to a goggle that you can use for both training and open-water racing.

Best open-water swimming goggles in 2025

12. Orca Killa 180

Price	$30 / £24
Lens	mirrored black, green, orange, blue tint, black tint, clear
Vision	wide curved lens
UV protection	not mentioned
Spec	anti-fog

Winning ‘best on test’ in 2023 and a spot in our annual Gear of the Year round-up, the Killa 180 is appearing in our group test again, albeit in a different tint, and it’s still a clear favourite for this tester.

These are the black frames with mirrored lenses and they look good, but we also loved the tint on the lenses, which was enough to block bright sunlight but without affecting the colours in our swim lakes too much, meaning we could easily see the course buoys.

The gaskets are soft and hit the perfect balance between being small enough to feel ‘race day’ and big enough to give excellent vision, helped by the slight curve to the oval shape.

The split strap was secure, while clip adjusters were easy enough to use. You only get a cloth bag here, but at that bargain price for a great goggle we don’t think that’s a deal breaker.

13. TheMagic5 Goggle Mirror Lens

Price	$70/£75
Lens	blue, clear, smoke, mirror
Vision	semi-wide
UV protection	not mentioned
Spec	box included, anti-fog

Eagle-eyed readers paying close attention to this group test will already have spotted TheMagic5 goggles earlier on in the pool goggles category.

The range of lenses and tints available, as well as the fact the goggles are made-to-measure, means that they can be just as useful in open-water, though. in this review, we test the Magic5 goggles with mirror lens.

A quick recap: TheMagic5 goggles are specially ordered via an app which you download onto your phone. The app scans your face, creating a 3D model showing all the angles and contours of your face and eye sockets.

Choose the lenses and straps you want and your custom-made goggles will arrive to your door. The idea being they will fit you perfectly and only requite minimal gaskets.

Here, I tested the Blue Magic Mirror Gold version. Like my other pairs the fit was perfect, but if I did need to make any changes, that’s easily done via a choice of included nose bridges and a simple double strap with clip to adjust and secure.

While the pool tints block bright light, the mirrored version also block glare and in my opinion, look better for triathlon race day. Nobody being able to see your eyes means your competitors can’t see the fear!

Other open-water versions on sale at the moment include Green Silver and Pink Magic Mirror Gold but keep an eye on the website for limited editions, as well as money-saving bundles.

Our Blue Magic Mirror Gold goggles are also available in a bundle with the Blue Magic for the pool shown earlier, with the whole bundle coming in at $130 (£119).

You can buy them separately if you choose to, though, with the Blue Magic Mirror Gold goggle available for $70 (£75).

See our full TheMagic5 goggle review to read more about these.

14. Tri-fit Volt

Price	$46/£35
Lens	Silver mirrored
Vision	Curved wide angle
UV protection	Yes
Spec	Anti-fog, split strap and three nose bridges

New from tri specialists Tri-fit are the Volt goggles. Straight out of the supplied hard case, these are a classy package. The curved, silver mirrored lenses look great and the three supplied nose bridges ensured a perfect fit.

I loved how these felt on and thanks to the coatings on the lenses I didn’t experience any fogging and the fit was great with no leaks at all. The streamlined shape gave a good range of vision, with very little of the frames visible as I swam.

The straps are chunky and flat with good grip thanks to the eco-friendly silicone head strap with dual headband design to prevent slipping. This is adjusted via two clips, one on each side, which were easy to use.

Tri-fit tell me this design has optical-grade lenses with a scratch-proof, impact-proof, waterproof and fingerprint-free and advanced anti-fog coating included.

I found visibility to be superb, with just enough of a tint to take the glare off the bright light while keeping colours true. Swimming both ways along the bay and sighting off small buoys and boats, I found I could see well and the colour contrast was good.

15. Zone3 Volare

Price	$50 / £35
Lens	mirrored lens
Vision	wide angle, curved
UV protection	not mentioned
Spec	multiple nose bridges, no case

The Zone3 Volare goggles offer a sleek, race-ready design that’s stood the test of time and remains a popular choice in the pool.

With a low-profile fit, mirrored lenses, and ultra-soft silicone gaskets, they balance performance with comfort across pool and open water.

Visibility is generally strong, though there’s slight distortion at the lens edges. The adjustable split strap and interchangeable nose bridges help with fit, though sealing may take some tweaking.

Available in various tints, including a budget-friendly polarised version, they’re versatile for training and racing. A protective case isn’t included, but the overall value and performance remain impressive.

Read our full Zone3 Volare swim goggles review here.

16. Zoggs Predator Flex 2.0

Price	£40 (UK only)
Lens	mirrored, polarised, clear, tinted
Vision	wide curved lens
UV protection	yes
Spec	anti-fog

It wouldn’t be an open-water goggles group test without an outing from Zoggs’ Predator, such is their iconic nature.

On test here is the Predator Flex 2.0 in titanium, which has many familiar features such as the easy-to-adjust side clips, flexible nose piece and double strap.

Visibility is great with the curved lenses allowing for a wide field of vision, and while the mirrored smoke lenses did a good job in bright conditions, they were also forgiving on murkier days.

One thing to note is that the 2.0 is larger than previous models and, on this tester, that meant the gaskets sat a little uncomfortably. Zoggs offer a range of sizes though as well as a ‘fit finder’ on their app, so if you follow the recommended steps you shouldn’t have any problems.

After longer swims, they left prominent goggle marks – although the seal they created didn’t allow water ingress! Smaller-faced swimmers may be better opting for an ‘original’ model.

17. Blueseventy Contour

Price	$42 / £40
Lens	smoke lens, silver mirror, blue mirrored lens, rainbow mirror, clear
Vision	small, curved lens; wide angle
UV protection	yes
Spec	anti-fog, interchangeable nose bridge, low-profile

The Contour from Blueseventy is pretty much the same goggle as Zone3’s Volares, which are also in this list (brands often use the same factories, as is evidently the case here).

The important thing to note there is that the Zone3 version are only $30/£35 at the moment, making these quite a bit pricier. That said, we did like the blue colourway and mirrored lenses, which made everything very cool in tone.

As a smaller open-water goggle, these fitted well just in my eye sockets yet with the curved edges gave a good range of vision –albeit with a little bit of distortion on the edges and without the smoothness of, for example, the Orcas.

A choice of nose bridges and a basic soft case are included, while a choice of tints are also available in this style, too, if you’re not keen on the mirrored.

18. Aquasphere Kayenne Pro

Price	From $39.99 / £36
Lens	smoke, photochromatic, silver mirror, yellow mirror, clear, polarised
Vision	oversized, wide-angle, curved lens
UV protection	yes
Spec	anti-fog, interchangeable nose bridge

The Kayenne has long been a solid favourite among triathletes – and with good reason.

Hitting the sweet spot between being a smaller ‘race’ goggle and a larger open-water mask, these sit comfortably on the face with superb range of vision, but without taking up as much space as a full swim mask.

Here in a clearer tint, I liked the light mirroring on the lenses for murkier lake swims, though some may prefer a darker tint if racing in sun/abroad.

The wide strap was comfortable and you get a hard case.

Though they are relatively expensive in this test, I can’t fault them for comfort, so if you struggle to find goggles to suit you, they may be worth it.

19. Zoggs Predator Flex Polarized Ultra Reactor

Price	£42 (UK only)
Lens	polarised
Vision	wide-angle, curved lens
UV protection	99-100% UV protection
Spec	anti-fog, interchangeable nose bridge, two sizes

That lengthy name is testament to just how many iterations of this triathlete’s favourite are now available. First up, yes, that price point puts them into serious pay-day treat territory.

That said, these goggles and are the only ones on test to be both photochromatic (so change depending on light conditions) and polarised.

One of our testers reported it tricky to find a good seal, but I had no such issues. With that in mind, it’s worth noting that two fits are available (regular and small).

Once on and properly adjusted, though, I was impressed by the superb clarity of vision offered, especially on changeable weather days in the lake where the sun kept briefly appearing.

They are very comfortable – even on longer swims – and feel appreciatively light on the face. Side clips makes adjusting them extremely easy.

20. Zoggs Predator Titanium

Price	£35 (UK only)
Lens	pink tint, orange tint, mirrored
Vision	wide-angle, curved lens
UV protection	yes
Spec	anti-fog, two sizes

The classic Predator Flex has appeared in 220 reviews many times and is a stone-cold triathlon classic.

Here though we have the Predator (not Flex) which has a wiro frame and different strap design.

These feel a little more like a classic racing goggle, with adjustment via one straightforward central clip.

As we’ve come to expect from Zoggs the gaskets are wide and comfortable, while the width of vision through the large curved lenses is superb.

We also liked the Titanium lenses here (Zoggs’ version of mirrored) that did a superb job of cutting glare.

These are also available in a range of colours and tints and helpfully come in both small and regular fit, with a special online face scanner at findyourgogglefit.com to advise you on which to buy.

21. Zone3 Vapour

Price	$55 / £45
Lens	polarised, photochromatic
Vision	large, curved lens
UV protection	100% UVA/UVB
Spec	anti-fog, two sizes

First up, there’s no avoiding the fact that these goggles are almost identical in design to the Huub Aphotic goggles.

Frame size, shape and gasket feel is the same, meaning you enjoy the same great peripheral vision and comfortable feel (though again, these are bulky and can feel a little heavy on the face).

There’s only a couple of pounds in it, so a lot will come down to the small differences. Here, you don’t get a case – which seems stingy – but they’re a couple of quid cheaper (a case can be ordered for an extra $10, ouch).

We arguably prefer the finish of the Huub goggles with that silver edging, too.

If you’re not keen on photochromatic, though, it’s worth noting that the Vapours also come in three other colourways and with polarised lenses, with the pair including a mirrored finish being our preference.

---

How we tested

All of the goggles featured here have been tested extensively by me, 220 Triathlon editor and open-water swimming coach Helen Webster.

I have been testing triathlon and swimming gear for over a decade, and have used many of the goggles featured here over multiple seasons, in both swimming pools and open water.

A lot of the open-water testing took place in an inland lake and former quarry where Helen does her swim coaching.

The lake has clear water and catches the low sunshine at dusk, which has meant we’ve been able to test these goggles out with a low-slung sun, something which often happens in races when you start early in the morning.

When deciding which were the best swimming goggles for pool training, open-water and triathlon, Helen took a range of criteria into consideration.

This included comfort, field of vision, quality, value, resistance to fogging, whether or not they leak and how suitable the lenses are to the conditions the goggles are intended to be used in.

Any goggle that scores over 90% is nearing perfection, while those scoring between 80-90% are also fantastic products that come highly recommended.

Scores between 70-80% typically represent a decent pair of goggles with areas that could be improved, while anything below 70% may do the job, but doesn’t impress us all that much.

What’s the difference between pool and open-water goggles?

Pool goggles differ from open-water goggles in that they’re traditionally smaller, less mask-like and offer less peripheral vision. But things are changing with the former, where even competition goggles now offer greater vision.

This means stronger swimmers can scout out their opposition and less experienced swimmers and those sharing public lanes can swim with more confidence thanks to wider, curved lenses. Plus, the updated shape can actually decrease drag.

Open-water goggles also tend to be available with a wide range of lenses, allowing you to pick a tint or effect that will best suit the conditions you’ll be swimming in.

In recent years, some major advances have been made in goggles too. TheMagic5 are offering goggles that are made-to-measure based on a scan of your face via an app. Then there’s FORM developing training goggles with a digital screen in one lens to guide you through training sessions and give you feedback on your swimming. So whatever you need, there’s something to suit you.

How to choose the best swimming goggles for you

Swimming goggles can often be a bit of an afterthought for triathletes. But with a wide range now available, which offer different features for pool or open water – as well as elements to suit different swimmers’ face shapes and preferences – it’s definitely worth spending a bit of time choosing the right ones for you.

After all, find the right ones and you will have a better swim experience (leaky goggles are every swimmer’s pet hate).

Plus, if you’re racing triathlon, the right goggles can help you sight better and get round the course more easily – and who doesn’t want that?

Whether you’re looking for pool or open-water goggles, there are a few things that will apply to both.

Goggle size

Firstly, think about your face shape and which kind of goggles you find comfortable. Some swimmers prefer smaller goggles that fit more closely within the eye socket, while other swimmers like larger goggles that sit further away from the eyes, more on the edges of the cheek and brow bone.

Gasket choice

Different seals are available, too – the gaskets (the silicone or rubber bit that sits on your face and gives suction) are designed differently and fit differently depending on which model you choose.

It’s worth shopping around if you generally find swim goggles quite uncomfortable and if so, a softer, larger gasket may be for you.

At the other end of the spectrum, though, are ‘Swedish goggles’, which don’t have a gasket at all! These are traditionally used more within pool competition swimming, though.

Lens choice

Next, think about how big you want your lenses to be, as this will have a bearing on visibility, as well as the type of lens tint you are looking for (more on this later on). This will be based upon the type of water you’ll be swimming in, as well as the weather conditions for open-water goggles.

Straps

The next feature to look at is the type of strap. Double or ‘split’ straps are handy for security, plus swimmers who have a bun or ponytail tucked into their swim cap will find the strap sits either side of the hair.

Think too about how easily you would like your goggles to be to adjust as well. Most swimmers will just adjust the goggles and leave them, but if you do like to tweak the fit mid-session, then easily moved clips will be a good idea!

Finally, a note on fit. A set of goggles that fit you well should suction to your face without needing to use the head strap at all (that is there for added security), so when shopping around, try and attach the goggles to your face without the strap and see if you can achieve a good seal! See our guide on how goggles should fit for more on that.

What to look for in pool swimming goggles

Pool swimming goggles are often more simple in terms of the technology. Your pool goggles will usually be smaller and fit more into the eye socket for better streamlining and less drag in short swim competitions, as well as having less complicated lens designs.

The main reason for this is that in pool swimming or competition, we don’t need to look around to see a course – we only need to see the black line at the bottom of the pool or, at a push if racing masters, where the person in the next lane is!

The tint on your pool goggles will usually be one that’s appropriate for bright indoor lighting. They may be clear or have a light grey or blue tint. Mirrored lenses offer eye protection, too – and also (in our humble opinion) look pretty cool!

What to look for in open-water goggles

Open-water goggles differ from pool goggles in that they are usually larger to improve the field of visibility in open water. Some brands will offer curved lenses, while others will ‘zone’ the lenses, with facets offering better visibility to the front when sighting, or to the side when looking to see who, or what, is around you in the water.

There is a wider choice of lenses in open-water goggles too, as water and weather conditions vary so much.

Choosing the right pair for your race day can make a huge amount of difference to how well you can see, but all should offer eye protection from sunlight.

Think about the type of water you will be swimming in (for example, visibility in a clear ocean is very different to a peaty lake) and whether you would like your lenses to block light and/or improve clarity.

Budget of course plays a part, but if you can afford to spend a little more, polarised lenses would always be our choice for open water as they improve clarity.

We also like photochromatic lenses, which change colour (much like the same lenses in sunglasses) in bright sunlight. Perfect if you may be swimming in changeable or unpredictable conditions!

Finally, prescription goggles are available from several brands and are worth exploring if you struggle when swimming. Either made to your prescription, or off-the-shelf in a range of standard lenses.

What are the best brands for swim goggles?

There are many great brands offering swim goggles for both pool and open-water swimming and you’ll find many of them in the reviews above.

Popular swim brands include Zoggs, Aquasphere, Maru and Speedo. Many triathlon brands also offer goggles, such as Orca, Zone3, Huub, Lomo and 2XU.

You can also get customised goggles designed to suit your face from TheMagic5, with multiple lenses available to choose from.

Getting the right pair of goggles can boost your confidence and drastically improve your swim. For extensive advice on getting your goggles on point, have a look at our guide to the best swimming goggles to buy for triathlon.