Outdoor swimming specialist, Rowan Clarke, picks her top six swimming goggles for open water.
The Best Swimming Goggles for open water swimming
From pool training to open water swimming, good goggles are essential. Get it wrong and leaks, fogging or discomfort could spoil your swim. Get it right and comfortable, well-fitting goggles will greatly improve your swim experience.
The choice of goggles is bewildering. There are different sizes, fits and lenses to choose from. And then there are all sorts of extras. I’ve explained how to shop for goggles in the buyer’s guide below, but in short, I’m looking for:
- Fit: Goggles should fit closely to avoid leaks
- Comfort: The gasket should have a bit of suction without feeling too tight
- Visibility: The correct lens tint, protection, field of vision and anti-fogging
Once you’ve chosen your goggles, look after them well. Rinse them with clean water after every use. And no more tears baby shampoo is great for a gentle clean. Plus, keeping them in a soft bag or case will guard against scratched lenses.
And yet, no matter how well you care for your goggles, they will wear with use. That’s why I look for brands that sell spare parts like replacement straps and gaskets and invest in antifogging spray.
I always keep spares in my kit bag plus I have goggles for different weather and for wearing at the pool. But, my best open water goggles are the pairs I reach for time and again – and these are the goggles I’ve shared.
At a glance:
Best swim mask:
Best all-rounders: Swans Ascender Open Water Goggles
Best open water goggles for women: Speedo Women’s Biofuse 2.0 Mirror Goggles
Soul Cap Kellerman Mirror Goggles
Best low-profile swimming goggles
Specifications
- Streamlined fit
- UV-protective mirrored lenses
- Skin-friendly silicone
- Easy to adjust with a quick-release LatchLock
- Curved lenses for enhanced peripheral vision
- 4 interchangeable nosepieces (XS, S, M and L)
Reasons to buy: Curved lenses for great peripheral vision, 4 interchangeable nose pieces, UV-protective mirrored lenses for protection
Reasons to avoid: Tight fitting around your eye-sockets
Low-profile goggles are great for racing because they create minimal drag. In open water, the low profile also means they stay put throughout your swim – which is especially important in choppy water. But there’s an inevitable trade-off with breadth of vision. The Kellermans counter this with curved lenses – they’re not as broad as other goggles, but impressive for such a low-profile fit.
Saying that, I don’t find many low-profile goggles comfortable. But I quickly got used to the Kellermans thanks to super soft silicone gaskets that didn’t leave those dreaded goggle rings – even after an hour-long sea swim. You can choose the nose piece that best suits your face. Super easy to clip in and out, it means that these goggles work for all face shapes.
With absolutely no leaks or misting up, the Kellermans are among my favourites. Even better, they’re made by Soul Cap, a fantastic socially-minded brand that brings inclusivity and accessibility to swimming for all.
Orca Killa Comfort Swimming Goggles
Most comfortable open water swimming goggles
Specifications
- Soft, comfortable silicone
- UV-protective mirrored lenses
- Wide field of vision
- Anti-fog coating
- Clip-on closure for easy fitting and adjustment
- Three-dimensional gasket to improve water-tightness and reduce pressure
- Different lens tints are available
Reasons to buy: Wide lenses for great vision, super-soft silicone gaskets, UV-protective mirrored lenses
Reasons to avoid: One size fits all
Killa Comfort by name, killer comfort by nature. You’ll forget you’re wearing these fantastic all-rounders.
Named after the ocean’s ultimate apex predator, Orca is renowned among open water swimmers for quality, functional products – and these goggles are no exception.
Their beauty is their simplicity. No gimmicks, no fancy features, just great goggles. They only come in one size, but they worked just as well on my narrow face as they did on my swim buddy’s wide face. Plus, their nifty ergonomic, three-dimensional gasket fits to your face to reduce pressure around the eye meaning that they left no marks.
They fit flush to your face minimising drag and the breadth of vision is fantastic for sighting. There were no leaks, no misting up and I appreciated the anti-glare mirrored lenses on a sunny day.
Available in three lens-tint options, it’s very tempting to collect them all.
HUUB Ryft Open Water Photochromic Swim Mask
Best swim mask
Specifications
- Wide peripheral lenses
- Light reactive lenses
- Soft, durable silicone head strap
- Comfortable, leak-resistant silicone skirt
- UV protection
- Durable polycarbonate lenses with anti-fog and scratch-resistant coating
Reasons to buy: Light-reactive photochromatic lenses, wide vision, soft silicone for comfort
Reasons to avoid: They don’t work for every face shape or with moisturiser
I love a swim mask because you can’t beat it for vision, especially when swimming outdoors in clear water. Masks also cover more of your face. This takes the pressure off your delicate eye area and minimises brain freeze in cold water.
But swim masks can feel cumbersome. Not HUUB’s, though. True to form, this excellent brand known for creating high-performing open water swimming gear has nailed swim mask design.
Because it’s as low-profile as it can be, it created minimal drag as I swam front crawl for an hour in the choppy Adriatic sea. That meant enjoying the exceptional breadth of vision without the usual mask-related issues. I was careful, though – I made sure that the edge of my swim hat and sun cream didn’t interfere with how the silicone sealed around my face. And some smaller faces may find that it doesn’t fit at all.
For a superb field of vision above and below the water with minimal trade-off for streamlining, the Ryft is the best swim mask I’ve tried.
Swans Ascender Open Water Goggles
Best all-rounders
Specifications
- Premium anti-fog lenses.
- 100% UVA and UVB protection.
- Interchangeable nose bridges (S, M, L).
- Double silicone strap for a secure fit.
- Replacement parts available.
Reasons to buy: UV-protective mirrored lenses, wide lenses for good vision, 3 Interchangeable nose bridges (S, M, L)
Reasons to avoid: Fiddly to adjust
Comfortable, adjustable and with great vision – the Swans Ascenders are my go-to goggles.
Designed for open water and triathlon swimming, the Ascenders are perfect for outdoor adventures. With a traditional double silicone strap and interchangeable nose pieces, you get a comfortable fit and no budging, even in choppy conditions.
Wide, curved and patented scratch-resistant, anti-fogging lenses give superb peripheral vision and clarity. I went for the mirrored lenses, not just because they’re a little bit disco, but also because they offer UV and glare protection.
Swans goggles are durable, too – they last for ages and survive being bunged into a kit bag. I also love that they sell replacement nose pieces, gaskets and straps as well as anti-fogging spray and a snazzy case to make them last even longer. A great sustainable choice.
Speedo Women’s Biofuse 2.0 Mirror Goggles
Best women’s open water goggles
Specifications
- Super-soft flexible seals
- Flexible external frame adapts to the contours of your face
- Designed for the female face
- Wide Vision lenses
- Patent-pending push button adjuster
- Anti-fog coated lenses with 100% UV Protection against UVA & UVB
Reasons to buy: Super-soft flexible seals, designed for women’s faces, wide vision lenses, push button adjuster for those with longer nails
Reasons to avoid: Perhaps a little flimsy
I tested the open water version made for women’s face shapes. They offer anti-fog coated lenses with total UV protection against harmful UVA and UVB radiation and fantastic wide vision.
Best of all, they’re made for women. Thankfully, that doesn’t mean they’re pink – just that they fit female faces comfortably. They also have a push button mechanism on the strap, which is great if you have long nails. You can get them in men’s and children’s versions and with different lens tints.
BEEWAY Swimming Goggles with attached Ear Plugs
Best budget open water goggles
Specifications
- Anti-fog coated lenses.
- UVA protection
- Easy fit clip clasp
- Integrated earplugs
Reasons to buy: UV-protective mirrored lenses, wide lenses, connected earplugs, great value
Reasons to avoid: Anti-fog coating wears off, plastic nose piece can dig in, poor eco credentials
If you’re the kind of person who loses their goggles (or earplugs), the Beeways are great. They’re cheap but also function very well.
These goggles fit nicely. The quick-release clip at the back makes them easy to put on and take off, even with cold hands. Although they weren’t as soft and comfortable as other goggles, they didn’t leak or mist up. That said, the antifogging coating wore off quite quickly and the hard plastic nose-piece started digging in. And, with nowhere to get spare parts, I had to throw them away.
I rate the Beeway goggles for value, integrated earplugs and surprising durability. They come in a plastic case (a bit like a glasses case) and have earplugs attached, which makes them perfect as my kit bag spares. However, the sustainable credentials are awful, so if you can afford to spend your money with a better brand, do.
How to choose the best swimming goggles
When shopping for swimming goggles, you need to consider three factors:
- Your face shape
- How you’ll use the goggles
- Your preferences
Goggles to fit your face shape
Most adult goggles come in one size, but we all have different face sizes and shapes. So, it would be great if we could try before we buy. However, that’s rarely possible. Instead, look for goggles with good adjustability.
For example, one big face-shape variable is the space between our eyes. Goggles with interchangeable nose bridges account for this. Another is face size, which is why you get goggles designed specifically for men or women. If you’re still struggling with fit, custom goggles might be a wise investment.
How you use the goggles
Many swimmers have more than one pair of goggles. I have a swim mask, racing goggles, polarized open water goggles, UVA protective blue tinted goggles for duller days and clear goggles for indoor pool swimming or night swimming!
How you plan on using your goggles will dictate the lens colour, breadth of vision and profile. For example, if you like dipping in the sea on holiday, choose a polarized swim mask. If you race in the pool, go for clear, low-profile goggles. Generally speaking, the brighter the sky, the darker the lens. The faster you swim, the lower the profile. And, for open water, choose a broad range of vision.
Your preferences: optional extras
Once you know what fit and lens to choose, think about what extra features you want. This might be a prescription lens if you normally wear contacts or glasses. You can also get goggles with in-built displays that show your swim speed and distance. You can spend upwards of £300 if you want – just don’t drop them in the ocean.
6 More swim goggles you might want to consider…
Speedo Fastskin Speedsocket 2 Mirror Goggles
Best swimming goggles for open water competitive swimming
Reasons to Buy: great slim design, mirrored lenses, anti-fog
Reasons to Avoid: expensive
Specifications:
• Sizes: One size
• Colours: black, green
• Lenses: mirror
Speedo’s Fastskin goes straight to the top of the class for serious swimmers – this premium goggle is a great choice for athletes. The sleek goggle is designed to reduce drag in the water, while mirrored lenses are ideal for bright sunlight if you’re swimming outdoors in endurance events or competing in a triathlon. These goggles also had some of the best anti-fog treatment we tested, and stretchy straps and goggle seals mould nicely to the face and head and stay put as you move. If you take swimming seriously, invest in the Fastskin.
Aqua Sphere Vista Goggles
Best swimming goggles for open water leisure swimming
Reasons to Buy: great leak-free seal, large field of vision
Reasons to Avoid: too bulky for competitive swimming
Specifications
• Sizes: one size
• Colours: five available
• Lenses: clear
If you’re sick of goggles that let water leak in over time, try on Aqua Sphere’s Vista for size. This was the most reliable goggle we tested for getting a comfy but leak-free seal around your eyes for casual swimming, and the clear lenses are a good choice for going deeper underwater – wear these goggles for wild swimming adventures and exploring the ocean during fitness and endurance swims. Anti-fog technology keeps things clear in changeable weather conditions.
Speedo Aquapulse Pro Mirror
Best light weight swimming goggles for pools swimmers
Reasons to Buy: great comfort, light weight, mirrored lenses
Reasons to Avoid: outdoor swimmers may want bigger lenses
Specifications:
• Sizes: One size
• Colours: black
• Lens colour: black/gold
Meet the goggle you’ll barely even notice you have on. Speedo’s Aquapulse is pleasingly slim, streamlined and lightweight, with thin but effective adjustable silicone straps and super-comfortable and soft suction cups that fit nicely around the eyes and doesn’t leave angry red marks. The orange and gold mirrored lenses effectively reduce glare outdoors but can also be worn indoors, and while the lenses don’t look big, they still offer decent vision for fitness swimming. A great all-rounder, especially if you find most goggles uncomfortable.
Decathlon Swimdow
Best swimming goggles for open water swimmers on a budget
Reasons to Buy: wide field of vision, good strap, versatile clear lens
Reasons to Avoid: bulky design
Specifications
• Sizes: One size
• Colours: white, blue, black
• Lenses: clear
Beginner swimmer or shopping on a budget? Goggles needn’t cost a lot – Decathlon do models starting from just £5.99. Our pick for newbies is the Swimdow 100, which is simple and functional but comfortable. Clear lenses will suit both indoor and outdoor swim sessions, and the oversized mask-like goggles offer a brilliant wide field of vision and can even double up as a snorkel mask if you want to check out what lies beneath the waves. The thick adjustable strap stays snug on the head, but these goggles are bulkier and less streamlined than more expensive, sporty models.
Zoggs Predator Flex Reactor Goggles
Best swimming goggles to cut glare in open water
Reasons to Buy: two sizes available, ideal for sunny weather, comfortable
Reasons to Avoid: less useful indoors
Specifications:
• Sizes: Small or regular
• Colours: white
• Lenses: polarized grey
If you’re a budding triathlete or love to train in open water, you’ll need a goggle that can cut the sun’s glare and offer clear vision. The Predator really stood out on test in sunny conditions – the polarised lenses work like sunglasses and the oversized sockets offer great vision even if you’re in and out of murky water. Anti-fog technology does a great job of keeping lenses clear even in different weather conditions and temperatures, and a flexible frame hugs the face nicely, while two sizes makes it easier to get the right model for you. Top marks, and a good price point too.
Swans Prescription Goggles
Best swimming goggles for open water swimmers with eye wear prescriptions
Reasons to Buy: both lenses customisable, great fit, different nose bridges included
Reasons to Avoid: smoke lens won’t suit low light
Specifications
• Sizes: one size
• Colours: black
• Lenses: orange smoke
See clearly now with prescription goggles – our top pick for glasses wearers who want good vision underwater are designs from Swans, who were the first manufacturers to introduce prescription swimming goggles to the market. You can customise both left and right lenses to suit you when you order, and the smoke/orange lens colour of this goggle cuts glare nicely without impeding vision, so it’s a good all-rounder for both indoor and outdoor swimming sessions. Swans also include four different nose bridges with each goggle model, so it’s easy to get a snug customised fit on this sleek design, which doesn’t feel bulky to wear.