Best Swim Goggles: Top 5 Pairs Most Recommended By Experts

Are you ready for your day in the sun? Whether you’re seeking to swim off some stress, get in shape, or just enjoy a vacation dip, swimming is a relaxing pastime enjoyed by many. And one essential piece of gear for your outing is one of the best swim goggles to allow you to explore underwater. We’ve got you covered, with the top five expert-recommended products for you to try!

If it has been a little while since your last soak, you’re not alone — one survey shows that three in 10 adults haven’t been in a swimming pool in a decade. Maybe now is the time to break that trend! After all, a recent study finds that taking regular vacations can add years to your lifespan, helping to reduce your stress. And your kids will thank you for taking one!

Swimming is also a great way to stay in shape. If you feel overwhelmed by the idea of daily workouts, have a hard time making time, or just feel too tired at the end of the day, going for a swim might just be the answer. It’s refreshing, invigorating, and may feel easier than lifting weights or going for a jog. A swim on your lunch break, or at the end of the day before the dinnertime crunch, could improve your whole day!

Protect your eyes from the chlorine, sun, salt and sand with a good pair of well-fitting goggles. There are designs intended for training, racing, triathlons, open water, sun, indoor and outdoor swim, plus colors, fits and sizes for every need. So, let’s take a look at the list of the top five best swim goggles recommended by experts. Don’t see your go-to goggles below? Tell us about them in the comments!

A woman swimming with goggles and a swim cap
A woman swimming laps (Photo by Mia Gracia Tabili on Unsplash)

The List: Best Swim Goggles, According to Experts

 

1. Speedo Vanquisher 2.0

The Strategist says, “Here’s a wonderfully versatile pair of goggles that will suit all kinds of swimmers and, miraculously, fit most people’s faces. Even more improbable? These cost just $20 and are praised by athletes and instructors alike. ‘It seems like just about everybody starts with a pair of Speedo Vanquisher goggles,’ says Christine Frietchen, a board member of the Brooklyn Tri Club. Samuelsohn keeps a spare pair of women’s Vanquishers in his bag for teammates, ‘because they seem to have a reasonably universal fit regardless of your face — male or female. They’re like type O-negative blood,’ the universal donor. According to Julie Stupp, 2012 Olympic Trials finalist and in-house product reviewer for SwimOutlet.com, these are the best-selling goggles on the market.”

Speedo Unisex-Adult Swim Goggles Mirrored Vanquisher 2.0
Speedo Unisex-Adult Swim Goggles Mirrored Vanquisher 2.0

Health prefers the mirrored version, stating, “The goggles are a great choice for both indoor and outdoor swimming. Because these goggles are mirrored, they also provide protection against the sun.”

“The rubberized gasket ensures a very comfortable fit. The silicone straps are basically indestructible. And the adjustable nose bridge means you get a leak-proof fit. These Speedo goggles also come ready to wear. Put em over your head, adjust the strap, and it’s go time,” enthuses YourSwimLog.

2. Aqua Sphere Kayenne

Wirecutter likes the Aqua Sphere Kayenne for all ages: “Unveiled in 2010, Aqua Sphere’s Kayenne goggles come in both adult and child sizes. We were impressed with the Kayenne’s durable frame, proprietary silicone eyecups, on-the-fly adjustable strap, and remarkably scratchproof and fog-resistant lens. Perfect for competition, an hour of lap swimming, or a week in the sand and sun of the Caribbean, the Kayenne represents a technical step up from competing models.”

Aqua Sphere Kayenne
Aqua Sphere Kayenne

Verywell Fit says this is a great pick for taking a dip. “The 180-degree visibility on these goggles is essential for open water swimming because when you’re in open waters, you will need to be able to use your peripheral vision to see where you’re going and to spot buoys. This can also help with swimming in a straighter line, which can improve race times. When it comes to open water swimming, clear lenses (like the ones found on these goggles) are superior to tinted lenses, since swimming in already potentially murky waters can prove more difficult with a tinted view. Plus, the goggles built with 100% UVA and UVB protection, ensuring that the sunlight won’t hurt your eyes, even through a clear lens.”

“The Kayenne has wide lens sockets made to disperse pressure over the outer edge of your eye socket, on the brow and cheek bone, rather than the interior eye socket. This makes for a more comfortable fit and helps keep post-swim dark eye circles at bay. Because of its large profile, it might cause a bit too much drag for sprint races, but it’s a great pick for long training sessions in the water,” adds Popular Mechanics.

3. TYR Blackhawk

Runner’s World says, “For speedy workouts or races, you’ll want a pair of goggles that will stay on securely and provide the least amount of drag possible. Enter: This pair from TYR, which has a super sleek, low profile that won’t slow you down. It also uses silicone both around the eyes, which will keep the goggles in place on your face, and for the band, which makes it super comfortable and highly stretchy. The lenses are slightly elongated, providing coverage for your peripheral vision and making it easier to stay aware of your surroundings in the water.”

Blackhawk Mirrored Adult Fit Swim Goggles

Blackhawk Mirrored Adult Fit Swim Goggles

Travel + Leisure adds, “The goggles also come with an impressive five different nose bridges to make sure you can find the ideal fit for your face, along with an adjustable clip on the back of their double straps. There are plentiful colors available, so you can get a pair to match all of your favorite swimsuits.”

Health touts the sun protection: “They also provide full UVA and UVB protection, making them a good pair to use for outdoor swim races and workouts.”

4. Aegend Anti-Fog

Verywell Fit names this pair best for your budget. “They have also been improved to include a higher nosepiece so that it won’t press on your face as you swim, giving it a more comfortable feel compared to a typical nosepiece. Due to the ergonomic design, these goggles are known to be fairly leakproof—which is an added bonus, especially considering the price.”

Aegend Anti-Fog Swim Goggles
Aegend Anti-Fog Swim Goggles

GearJunkie says, “They’re the perfect family goggle because they’re easy to adjust and can be worn by most adults and most children. They’re available in 14 different lens and color configurations, so you can get a different set for every member of the family.”

“They have flexible, ergonomic frames and soft silicone gaskets for leak-free comfort, plus shatter-resistant polycarbonate lenses with an anti-fog coating,” says Byrdie.

5. ROKA R1 Anti-Fog

Tom’s Guide describes the history behind this groundbreaking design: “It’s fair to say that American brand ROKA — founded by former swimmers Kurt Spenser and Rob Canales, who swam together at Stanford University — has taken over the triathlon world, sponsoring the likes of IronMan athlete Lucy Charles-Barclay and Olympic champion Flora Duffy. The pair decided to launch ROKA after taking part in an IronMan 70.3 back in 2011 — they realized that their kit (specifically their wetsuits) wasn’t doing them any favors, and so decided to create their own. Now ROKA is everywhere. And they don’t just make wetsuits, but sunglasses, tri kits and goggles, too.”

Roka R1 Swim Goggles
Roka R1 Swim Goggles

T3 magazine explains the enhanced fit and tint: “To create the best premium swimming goggles right now, ROKA has sliced off the top of its R1 swimming goggles and tilted the lens angle backwards 11 degrees to create what it calls ‘Rapid Sight’. Ideal for triathlons, it means you can sight above the waterline without really lifting your head. The goggles are available in nine tints, though they all claim to be ‘optimally tinted’ for all conditions. We tested the dark amber mirror, which enhances orange and red buoys. They performed impressively well in direct sun with zero glare which can be a big distraction while swimming. Due to the narrow profile of the goggles and one-size-fits-all nose bridge, they won’t fit everyone perfectly, so it’s worth trying before buying if you can.”

“A favorite of triathletes, these goggles’ slight wraparound makes for easier sighting (and straighter, faster swimming). Available in mirrored and non-mirrored styles; both have anti-fog coating and no latex,” says Men’s Health.

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