If you’ve ever dove headfirst into a stunning body of water or backyard pool only to emerge with beet-red and burning eyes, you know just how important a solid pair of swim goggles can be. But between all that snagging on your hair, a lack of suction at the eye socket, fogging at the lens and an all-around uncomfortable fit, finding the perfect pair of swim goggles can pose a serious challenge.
“For goggles, I definitely recommend going and trying different ones and seeing what fits,” says Charlie Ou Yang, a senior lifeguard contractor. “Everyone has different facial features, so how adjustable or comfortable they are around the bridge [is important]. Also, size doesn’t matter; it’s how you use them.”
Looking to make the most out of your next pool day? We spoke to folks who take their swim goggles seriously to find the best ones to shop just in time for swimming season.
Best swim goggles for kids
Whether you’re enrolling your kiddos in swim lessons or getting them to venture into new territory, it always helps to offer them something colorful and comfortable. “I like them because they have nice, fun colors you can’t find anywhere else, they’re super affordable and they don’t fog up,” says Nicholas Giambattisto, an executive chef.
Whether you have two kids or one of them who’s prone to losing a pair, this budget-friendly pick is a pool day must-pack. “They fit [my son’s] face nice and snugly from what I can tell, and they came in a two-pack, which is very handy with a toddler,” says Kimberly Elbaz, a marketing coordinator.
Kids like to fidget, so luckily, this popular two-pack with an adjustable strap is bound to ease some pool day jitters and discomfort. “This one came in a pack of two, and it’s very cool for kids because it opens and closes in the back,” says Marlee Kostiner, a mom of two and founder of MessyLikeAMother.com. “This is great for Parker because he’s so sensitive on his scalp to his hair being pulled while getting them on, so this prevents that.”
With a soft, comfortable frame and adjustable head strap, these swim goggles are an ideal pick for the littlest swimmers in your group. “Hudsy loves these ones,” says Kostiner. “They’re smaller and better for younger kids.”
Have your little fishy embody the “Baby Shark” song with these festive Amazon’s Choice goggles boasting various entertaining cartoon styles, an anti-slip head strap, an adjustable nose bridge and high-definition lenses. “They’re lightweight, and it matches [my son’s] shark towel,” says Rabia Mohammad, a personal support worker. “They’re adjustable, lightweight and the kids see clearly in them. The weather doesn’t get into their eyes.”
Best swim goggles for adults
These lifeguard-approved swim goggles feature an anti-fog coating and wide lenses for ample peripheral vision so you never miss a beat under the water. “I personally like these when I’m training,” says Ou Yang. “I train for speed and performance because every second counts when someone’s life is potentially on the line.”
For a foolproof fit, opt for these “Shark Tank”-famous swim goggles that are non-mirrored for ideal indoor visibility or outdoor visibility in low light. “TheMagic5 goggles are my favorites,” says Loll Harper, an open-water swimming coach and registered yoga teacher. “They’re custom-fit to your face using a face scanner, so there’s no leaking, no fogging, no fiddling constantly during swims and no goggle marks.”
Harper loves these goggles as a budget-friendly alternative to TheMagic5’s. Their pulley system allows for customizable comfort, their patented injected silicone frame creates a lightweight feel against the temples and they feature an anti-fog technology integrated into the lens itself that allows for unobstructed views of the deep blue sea.
“I got these for my partner for Christmas, and I like that they keep the suction on the eyes,” says Giambattisto. “They’re softer and less aggressive than her old pair, so they don’t leave red marks. They also don’t fog up ... and they float.”
Whether you’re accompanying your kids to the water park or spending the day swimming laps, these highly popular adult swim goggles promise to keep your peepers protected. Boasting more than 17,000 Amazon reviews, they come with UV protection, mirrored lenses that minimize glare and cushioned silicone frame seals, and they come in every color under the sun.
