Best pool and open water goggles

BUDDY SWIM OzeanX

£48

Pro: Super comfortable fit
Con: Takes a moment to adjust the strap
The BuddySwim OzeanX were one of the most comfortable goggles we tested. Although they look a little unusual, the super soft honeycomb material in the eye zones form a leak-proof seal without the need to over-tighten the goggles; while the same feature around the nose bridge reduces the pressure required for a comfortable fit. This means you can wear them for long training sessions or events, without getting that uncomfortable feeling of pressure around the eye socket. The curved lenses offered a wide field of vision – both laterally and vertically – and exceptional clarity. They come in a range of lenses; we tried the silver mirror lens, which protects eyes from glare in bright conditions but was a touch dark for an indoor pool. A super stretchy split strap kept the goggles in place throughout a training session. Available in white or black, and a wide range of lenses.

ZONE3 Vapour
Photochromatic

£45

Pro: Comfortable and robust
Con: Frames a touch bulky
The ZONE3 Vapour is a robust and versatile pair of goggles. The large curved lens provide great peripheral vision – ideal for open water – while the ultra-soft silicon gaskets are remarkably comfortable, not adding too much pressure around the eye or leaving imprints, although the thick black frames are a touch bulky and visible in your peripheries. They come in a choice of eight frames and lenses; we tried the photochromatic lens, which adapts to the given light conditions, meaning they’re ideal for morning or evening dips when light conditions change over the course of your swim. They’re also so easy to adjust while in the water.

ZONE3 Vision Max Mirror Swim Mask

£32.50

Pro: Excellent peripheral vision
Con: Takes some adjustment to get a good seal
There are many reasons for choosing a mask over goggles for open water swimming. Sitting comfortably on the cheek bones, masks provide extra coverage and protection from the elements, enduring comfort on long swims and a little extra coverage from the cold. But the main benefit is the wide field of vision, which offers not only better peripheral vision but also helps you see better vertically for sighting. The ZONE3 Vision Max delivers 180º visibility with anti-fog and scratch resistant lenses and a relatively low profile for a more streamlined swim. The rainbow mirror lenses reduce glare and enhance visibility outdoors, but surprisingly also provided a bright and crystal clear view in an indoor pool. It took a few attempts to get the seal right, but once adjusted properly, the mask formed a pressure-free, water-tight seal, which felt just as comfortable after a long swim.

ZOGGS Spectra

£20

Pro: Excellent goggles for the price
Con: You can see the black frames in your peripheral vision
Billed as Zoggs’ most technical budget swimming goggles, the new Spectra goggles look to offer a higher spec for less money. Zoggs has designed a special double layer nose bridge to stop the watertight seal from breaking when you adjust the goggles, and they promise a comfortable, customisable fit thanks to super soft and flexible thermoplastic. Designed primarily for pool swimming, the most promising feature of these new goggles for outdoor swimmers is that they fit around your cheekbones rather than on them, so they sit closer to your eyes for better field of vision. They also come in a range of colours and lens tints. The goggles felt soft and comfortable, had a good seal and didn’t leave a goggle mark. The profile is low and streamlined, and we liked the ratchet mechanism to adjust the strap tension while you’re wearing them. A great pair of goggles for the price.

SWANS Ascender

£49.99

Pro: Great field of vision
Con: Fiddle to sort nose piece
These are perfect in open water. The wide, curved lens provides a great field of vision, which is ideal for sighting as well as being able to see other swimmers in your peripheral vision. The mirror lens with 100% UVA and UVB protection helps with sun glare on bright days and they are not too dark in low-light. The bigger eye shape gives greater comfort around the socket and the soft silicone ensures no red marks after swimming. They come with interchangeable nose bridges, which was a bit of a fiddle to sort on first wear, but afterwards made a huge difference to the fit. Once on the strapping secured the goggles and no adjustments were needed.

SWANS SR-2

£36.99

Pro: Anti fog lens lasts well
Con: Leave marks around eye socket
These goggles are designed for both pool and open water, but for me they were best for pool swimming. The box they come in are ideal for protecting the goggles in your kit bag and they come with multiple nose bridges so you can get the fit just right. The silicone is soft wearing around the eyes, but they sit in the socket, so left marks after a long pool session. The double strap kept the goggles in place and didn’t need adjusting once swimming, and the anti-fog has survived multiple uses. They are also well-made and simple to adjust for different face shapes. The UVA and UVB protection, as well as the mirror lens makes them great for open water, but we prefer a larger lens when outdoor swimming.

SPEEDO Vanquisher 3.0

£29

Pro: Streamlined and hydrodynamic design
Con: Less peripheral vision means better suited to the pool
With their hydrodynamic and streamlined lower profile design, the women’s specific Vanquisher goggles are ideal for pool training sessions. Designed with extra cushioned fit gaskets, they’re comfortable and provided a leak-proof fit while the wide and flat split strap at the back kept the goggles firmly in place while being relatively easy to adjust. We would normally reach for the Vanquisher goggles for a pool session, but they’re well suited to open water, too, thanks to the mirrored lenses that reduces the sun’s glare. They don’t have the wide peripheral vision of the Biofuse (right), but the new ‘Ocular 360 Lens’ give an increased field of vision compared to the previous Vanquisher 2.0 design.

SPEEDO Biofuse 2.0

£32.50

Pro: Super comfortable and robust
Con: Foggy after regular use
We really rated the Biofuse 2.0 goggles, which are a women’s specific fit. The super-soft seals sit outside of the eye sockets and adapt to the contours of your face for a cushioned fit, meaning they’ve never let water in and feel comfortable even for longer training sessions. The wide split-strap feels secure, and the push button mechanism makes for really easy adjustments while in the water. After several weeks of regular use, we’ve noticed slight fogging, but nothing a quick rinse every 20 lengths or so can’t fix. The wide curved lenses provide good peripheral vision, too, so these goggles are good for both the pool and open water.

BUDDYSWIM OzeanX Black/Silver Mirror

£41

Pros: Exceptional peripheral vision of vision
Cons: A touch dark for the pool
We loved the wide lenses on the BuddySwim OzeanX, which provided all-round vision; we couldn’t even see the frames in our peripheries. While the reflective mirror lenses gave good protection from bright glare off the water’s surface, they were a touch dark for an indoor pool – but so well suited to open water. The goggles are immediately comfortable thanks to the soft honeycomb material around the eyes, which didn’t leak once even during a vigorous training session. We also like the easy-to-adjust split strap, which works particularly well if you wear your hair up. They haven’t fogged up yet, even when swimming in a warm pool. (Review by Kat P).

ORCA Killa Comfort

£24

They say: The Killa Comfort are ergonomic goggles, perfect for different applications. Designed with a soft, comfortable silicone, they seal to the eye contour very well without creating too much tension. In addition, their optimal fit and wide field of vision help you orient yourself in the sea, giving you the confidence to enjoy open water swimming. The different lenses allow you to use these goggles in all kinds of weather conditions.

We say: The Orca Killa Comfort has a wide field of vision, which is handy for peripheral sighting and spotting other swimmers. One of the bulkier goggles tested (comparable with the Zone3 Vapour), these goggles feel robust and they have an exceptionally comfortable fit, providing a good suction and seal without putting noticeable pressure on the face. We tested the smoke/black lens, which darkens vision enough to eliminate glare on bright sunny days, while still having good visibility in the pool.

SPEEDO Biofuse 2.0 Polarised

£40

They say: Our Biofuse goggle just got better. Featuring our best-selling Speedo Biofuse® technology, the new Biofuse 2.0 Polarised goggle takes comfort and fit to the next level with our patent-pending push-button mechanism and super-soft seals with a new groove design. Available for the first time in a polarised lens to reduce light reflections and glare indoors and outside, it’s everything you love about Biofuse – now even better.

We say: It’s the first time this best-selling goggle style has been available in a polarised lens. Blocking the sun’s glare on an early morning dip without being too dark for lengths in our local pool, they didn’t disappoint. The soft seals and flexible frame fit well to the contours of our tester’s face and provide barely there comfort, while the push-button mechanism made them easy to adjust even with cold hands. A really decent pair of goggles, just with slightly less peripheral vision than some others on test.

ZONE3 Vapour

£45

They say: Comfort or vision and functionality, indoors or outdoors, these used to be the questions that you had to ask yourself when buying new goggles. The Zone3 Vapour goggles have been designed to meet all of your needs, no more choosing or compromising. Featuring large curved anti-fog lenses, 100% UVA/UVB protection and ultra-soft silicone gaskets.

We say: A little bulky but so comfortable, the Zone3 Vapour goggles sat well and the velvety soft gaskets didn’t add too much pressure or leave imprints. The large curved lens gave fantastic peripheral vision in open water and we liked the warm tint, which suited bright conditions but equally wasn’t too dark for the pool. We tested the polarised lenses with a mirrored finish, but they also come in a clear/blue or photochromatic lens. We really liked the stylish teal and copper.

SWANS Valkyrie

£44.99

They say: SWANS Valkyrie goggles are for pool and open water swimming and racing. The Valkyrie has low profile, curved lenses to give a wide-angle view and enhance your streamline. The anti-bacterial silicone improves comfort and prevents deterioration of the silicone gasket. A traditional double silicone strap ensures a secure, comfortable fit. FINA approved, with 100% UVA and UVB protection.

We say: These neat, Japanese style, FINA-approved goggles fit securely within the eye socket and are ideal for racing outdoors. The mirror lens had a warm tint, which suited bright conditions while transitioning well between the pool and open water. The anti-fog lens is crystal clear and the premium lens technology is proven to be four times more durable and three times more absorbent than other anti-fog systems. They came in a smart slide-lid box, with five interchangeable nose bridges for a custom fit.

HUUB Mirage

£39.99

They say: Aphotic, our most popular goggle, inspires the Mirage swim goggle. It is designed to fit the face perfectly with a precision fit and feather-like feel. The low-pressure fit is secure even for the most adventurous open water swim. Ideal for bright pool swims or in the open water, the mirrored lens reflects light, giving a darker view. On bright sunny days, this gives you a shaded, more comfortable view. With anti-fog and scratch resistant lenses.

We say: We were immediately drawn to these red Mirage goggles with a gold, mirrored lens. The silicone gasket and straps were comfortable against the delicate skin around the eyes and the sweeping frame shape ensured good visibility but also efficacy in the water. The lens is designed to reflect light, which meant there was a darker view when the sun wasn’t out, but it didn’t take away from the visibility. They will be a preference on long-sunny swims. We really liked the quick-release adjustment design.

ORCA Killa 180

£23.99

They say: The Killa 180º Goggle is high performance, multipurpose and ergonomic, which will enhance your comfort and speed through the water. It offers exceptional optical clarity, making it suitable for both racing and training. With a range of different lenses, it performs equally well in all weather conditions. An added bonus is the silicone strap, which can be quickly and easily adjusted, giving you all the confidence you need.

We say: These smart mirrored goggles have a lower profile than the Killa Comfort, but the soft silicone gaskets felt no less comfortable around the eye. Clip adjusters at the side meant we could easily get the fit just right. The curved oval lens gave a good breadth of vision, clarity and visibility were excellent, and the cool coloured lens eliminated surface glare, but was a touch dark for the pool. They only came with a cloth bag, but for the price that still seems reasonable.

BLUE SEVENTY Hydra Vision

£35

They say: The Hydra Vision goggle is built with the latest soft frame technology with emphasis on visibility. It features improved hydrodynamics with an integrated strap adjustment and a unibody nose bridge that keeps the curved lenses close to the face. A great cross-over goggle for pool to open water, it features a curved wide lens for unparalleled vision with a low profile and feature fitting frame.

We say: The light-enhancing blue tinted lenses we tested were great in gloomy conditions, and the hydrodynamic, low-profile fit gave a wide field of vision and minimised the chance of them being knocked off. The soft frame was reminiscent of jelly shoes we wore as a kid, but the fit was comfy and the low profile meant they felt secure. These goggles were among the lightest we tested, which gave them a barely-there feel. Adjustment was simple using neat integrated buttons in the goggle frame.

YONDA Hydro Glides

£34.99

They say: Designed for comfort and ease of use, with soft silicone gasket and curved polarised lenses. Yonda Hydro Glides have been designed to sit comfortably against your face during swim sessions and be easy to adjust. The curved lenses ensure exceptional 180-degree visibility and feature anti-fog technology so that you can focus on your swim. Polarised lenses are great to used in sunny or cloudy conditions and work as a great bit of kit to have in your swim bag.

We say: Although the polarised lenses were a bit dark for a gloomy Cumbrian morning, these will be a good option for sunny summer swims and brighter conditions. If you find swim masks too big and racing-style goggles too small, the Hydro Glides are a good compromise when it comes to size. The silicone gaskets were soft and comfortable with no water ingress. Strap adjustment was easy. A decent pair of goggles.

SWIM SECURE FotoFlex Plus

£35

They say: Our second generation FotoFlex Plus goggles are designed to be the only open water swimming goggles you will need. The photochromatic lenses adjust to all light conditions – clear in low light and darker in bright conditions –and are extra wide to give a panoramic field of vision. The straps are easy to adjust even with cold fingers thanks to larger buttons. The new ‘x-flex’ nose bridge adjusts to the contours of your face.

We say: If you’re going to buy one pair of goggles for the pool and open water, we would definitely recommend the FotoFlex Plus. The photochromatic lenses look bright and clear in the pool and adjust to block glare in open water. The soft silicone gaskets created a comfortable seal while the extra wide-angle lenses had fantastic breadth of vision. The goggles came with the most robust storage case and feel like a solid all-rounder at a good price.

ZOGGS Predator Flex Titanium

£40

They say: Get ready to experience our best fit yet, with our Predator Flex Titanium swimming goggles. Offering unrivalled comfort and fit, thanks to the use of four unique flexpoints for enhanced frame flexibility and a customised fit. As no two faces are the same, we have introduced two different sizes into the Predator Flex range of goggles; regular profile fit, and smaller profile fit. Coupled with the new Advanced Ultra Fit™ gasket, for exceptional comfort, Predator Flex goggles now fit more faces than ever before.

We say: The Predator Flex is a favourite of ours for open water racing and swimrun. The most noticeable difference between the Predator (reviewed below) and the Predator Flex is the strap adjustment mechanism. On the ‘Flex’, there are ratchets on either side of the eye-pieces, making it super easy to tighten the fit while wearing them, although it’s slightly bulkier. The curved lenses, which offer excellent peripheral vision, are impregnated with anti-fog and they haven’t misted up on us yet. Super flexible, they’ve got a forget you’re wearing them level of comfort, and we’re confident they won’t leak and will stay in place in race conditions. While the all-in-one construction means you can’t change the nose piece as you can in some other goggles, they do come in two sizes – regular fit and smaller profile fit for smaller faces or inner eye socket fit – and you can use Zoggs’ clever fitting tool to find the best fit for your face.

THEMAGIC5 Custom Goggle Indoor Outdoor Bundle

£119

They say: This is the world’s first made-to-order custom-fit goggles. Our innovative and technically advanced goggles feature UV-protected lenses with a unique shape and superior peripheral vision. Our goggles are crafted using best-in-class materials and our innovative Optimal Fitting Technology (OFT) which shapes the goggles to your unique facial structure. This exclusive set of 2 x goggles is everything you need as a multipurpose swimmer. 

We say: I was sceptical of the claim that these goggles would be the ‘perfect fit’ – even after completing a face scan using the app – but they really were! Wearing these made me realise just how often I’m spent fiddling with and fixing goggles during swims – there was none of that with this pair. A big investment, but a complete game-changer.

SPEEDO Futura Biofuse Flexiseal Tri

£40

They say: The Futura Biofuse Flexiseal Triathlon goggles offers the ultimate in Speedo goggle comfort. The new super soft flexible seal offers greater flexibility versus previous Biofuse goggles for an even softer and more cushioned fit around the eye. Designed using super soft, gel-like materials and featuring Speedo Biofuse® technology, this goggle makes your comfort top priority. The Polarised lenses make this goggle ideal for open water swimming and triathlons.

We say: These goggles score top points for comfort, with the flexible seal preventing water ingress, without feeling too tight around my eyes. There was a great field of vision too. I did feel these goggles didn’t protect my eyes as much from the sun as other polarised lenses, so I would be inclined to use these more in cloudy conditions or indoors.

ZONE3 Attack

£30

They say: Built for the ultimate flexibility, the Attack goggle is designed to conform to a wide variety of face shapes and sizes. Featuring a curved lens for enhanced vision, and your choice of Polarized or Photochromatic lenses, they are ideal for both open water and pool swims. Anti-Fog treated lenses and 100% UVA/UVB protection.

We say: The goggles offer an incredible range of vision, and the polarised lenses work well, even in very sunny conditions. The goggles also claim to have Anti-Fog lens protection, and while time will tell for how long that will last, throughout my swim the goggles didn’t mist up, allowing me to concentrate solely on my swimming.

AQUASPHERE Defy.Ultra Swim Mask

£129.99

They say: Experience infinite vision and conquer open waters with the Defy. Ultra. Our new swim mask features an all-new DuoCurve lens, offering panoramic vision both laterally and vertically, ultra-thin silicone Precision Fit technology skirt for a comfortable, leak-free seal and a groundbreaking ultra-light frameless design thanks to our Cool Inject Technology for reduced drag in the water. 

We say: The style might look a bit futuristic and we felt a bit self-conscious at our local lake – but my goodness what a pair of goggles! Super comfortable, brilliant view, excellent in bright sunshine or dark clouds. Once on they stayed on, no leaks or faff. Expensive, but worth it. If you use the included case, which is also brilliant, and take care of them they will last.

ZOGGS Predator

£30

They say: Predator goggles are ideal for the versatile swimmer. Excelling indoors, these goggles can also hold their own outside with UV protection and anti-fog equipped. The pair are also sporting a pulley adjust system on the double strap, so there won’t be any time wasted fitting your goggles when you can quickly adjust the fit and jump straight in. Featuring the iconic WIRO frame look and original predator colours, they undisputedly look great too. That’s always a bonus.

We say: We love the superhero look of the new predator range (the “titanium” lens is a favourite) but these goggles do more than look good. They are comfortable, low profile and secure, and equally at home in the pool or the ocean. Our only (very minor) quibble with the Zoggs Predator is that the profile is so low that you can feel your eye lashes brushing against the lens.

AQUASPHERE Kayenne Gold

£35.99

They say: Whether you’re racing or training, the Kayenne is designed to help you reach your goals in the water using a unique, oversized lens design with expanded vision and a low-profile micro-frame. Save valuable seconds with our Quick Fit Buckle offering easy one-touch strap adjustments, and guarantee your perfect position thanks to the Stabilising BiMaterial Nose Bridge for a secure and comfortable fit.

We say: Comfortable, secure, and with an eye-catching design, there’s lots to like about these goggles. The triangular shaped lenses look a bit unusual but actually fit nicely around your nose. The “Quick Fit Buckle” makes the strap easy to adjust as promised. The strap feels more heavy duty than it needs to be but it’s very secure.