Openwater goggles
We tested more than 30 goggles with the Outdoor Swimming Society in the pool and outdoors to bring you our pick of the
Best goggles for outdoor swimming
Zoggs Predator Ultra
£22-28 zoggs.com
Comfort: ****
Vision: ***
Security (do they stay in place): ***
Adjustment: **
Style: ***
Our testers said:
“Very comfy even on narrow nose bridge.”
“Good. Bit different, look nice on.”
“Shark attack!”
“Lovely lens colour.”
“Copper lens option turns the water to blood.”
“Narrow face favourites.”
Lens options: Clear/blue/black, polarized,
copper polarized, mirrored
Women’s fit? No
Roka X1
£17.46 roka.com
Comfort:***
Vision: ***
Security: ***
Adjustment: *
Style: ****
Our testers said:
“I back-flipped in and the goggles stayed on.”
“Comfortable, clear vision.”
“Hardly knew I was wearing them. Good
visibility.”
“I looked like a bi-plane pilot.”
“Very novel design.”
Lens options: Various colours and mirrored
options
Women’s fit? No
Arena Cobra Tri Mirror
£38 solosports.co.uk
Comfort:****
Vision: **
Security: ***
Adjustment: ***
Style: ****
Our testers said:
“Fit comfortably without pinching.”
“A favoured style but limited side vision.”
“Comfy and clear.”
“Everyone looked great in these.”
“Comfier than expected.”
“Look very nice for polarised goggles.”
Lens options: Black or silver mirrored
Women’s fit? No
Dhb Fury
£12 wiggle.co.uk
Comfort:***
Vision: ****
Security: ***
Adjustment: **
Style: **
Our testers said:
“Fantastic peripheral vision.”
“Comfy – dived in and they stayed on.”
“Really comfy and stylish.”
“Survived test dives.”
“Wouldn’t suit wider faces.”
“Beautiful visibility.”
Lens options: Mirrored
Women’s fit? No
Aqua Sphere Kayenne
£22.99-£29.99 aquasphereswim.com
Comfort:**
Vision: ***
Security: **
Adjustment: ****
Style: **
Our testers said:
“Polarised lenses made swimming more fun.”
“Really comfy. Stayed on when I did a back flip.”
“Great peripheral vision. Feel as though a kick
in the face would be absorbed fine.”
Lens options: Dark, clear, polarized,
mirrored
Women’s fit? Yes, and small fit
Vorgee Stealth Mark II
£25 mailsports.co.uk
Comfort:***
Vision: **
Security: ***
Adjustment: **
Style: **
Our testers said:
“Perfect fit, good vision, no fogging.”
“Good fit but hard to adjust.”
Lens options: Mirrored, black
Women’s fit? No
Swans SR-2M
£24.50 swansuk.co.uk
Comfort:***
Vision: ***
Security: ***
Adjustment: ***
Style: ***
Our testers said:
“Super vision.”
“Don’t fit close-set eyes.”
“Style is very much personal taste.”
Lens options: Mirrored
Women’s fit? No
Lomo Vector
£10 ewetsuits.com
Comfort:***
Vision: ***
Security: ***
Adjustment: *
Style: ***
Our testers said:
“Loved these. Good all rounder.”
“Nice to swim with.”
“Comfy, good vision.”
“Good adjustment but not great style.”
Lens options: Black
Women’s fit? No
Finis Surge
£38 finisinc.com
Comfort:***
Vision: ***
Security: ***
Adjustment: ***
Style: ***
Our testers said:
“Great adjustment.”
“Fantastic! I am keeping these.”
“Good vision under the water.”
“Great plastic box for storage.”
“Good rims.”
Lens options: Polarised
Women’s fit? No
Aqua Sphere Vista
£26.99 aquasphereswim.com
Comfort:***
Vision: ***
Security: ****
Adjustment: **
Style: **
Our testers said:
“Comfortable but secure.”
“I feel like Gertrude Ederle.”
“Good vision.”
Lens options: Clear, black, blue
Women’s fit? No
Zone3 Vapour
£29.50 racezone3.com
Comfort:***
Vision: ***
Security: ***
Adjustment: ***
Style: ***
Our testers said:
“Comfortable and secure.”
“You feel like a serious swimmer wearing these.”
“Very soft rims.”
“Looks sexy with my wetsuit.”
Lens options: Mirrored polarized
Women’s fit? No
Aqua Sphere Kaiman Exo
£18.99-£22.99 aquasphereswim.com
Comfort:****
Vision: ***
Security: ***
Adjustment: ***
Style: ***
Our testers said:
“Good clarity.”
“Classic – great shape.”
“Super comfy.”
Lens options: Clear, black, mirrored
Women’s fit? Yes, and small fit
Lomo Shark
£10 ewetsuits.com
Comfort:***
Vision: ****
Security: ***
Adjustment: ****
Style: **
Lens options: Clear
Women’s fit? No
Main image credit: Tim Bridges
Varies
Varies
Jonathan Cowie
Jonathan is a year-round skins swimmer with a particular love of very cold water. He has competed in ice swimming competitions around the world. He is a qualified open water coach with a particular love of introducing new swimmers to the open water.
