Best swimming goggles for triathlon, pool and open-water swimming

Think your swimming goggles should be a cheap, often-replaced item? Then think again. Technology has moved on loads in recent years, so there’s no need to settle for leaky, ill-fitting or foggy goggles. Buying an unsuitable pair can be frustrating and a waste of cash that can be spent on kit elsewhere.

Your goggles are your portal on the world when you swim, so much as you wouldn’t skimp on sunglasses for riding and running, don’t skimp on your goggles. Invest in a good pair that suit your needs and will last, then look after them!

Here, open-water swim coach and 220 Triathlon editor Helen Webster tests dozens of pairs from the best brands in the industry and offers her verdict, so you can make an informed purchase.

If you’re in the market for a new pair of goggles, now is a great time to buy as there are a range of heavily-discounted options in the Amazon Prime Day sale. Take a look at the latest Speedo deals and Zoggs deals for more. Remember, you’ll need to have an Amazon Prime account to access these offers.

What’s the difference between pool and open-water goggles?

Pool goggles differ from open-water goggles in that they’re traditionally smaller, less mask-like and offer less peripheral vision. But things are changing with the former, where even competition goggles now offer greater vision.

This means stronger swimmers can scout out their opposition and less experienced swimmers and those sharing public lanes can swim with more confidence thanks to wider, curved lenses. Plus, the updated shape can actually decrease drag.

Open-water goggles also tend to be available with a wide range of lenses, allowing you to pick a tint or effect that will best suit the conditions you’ll be swimming in.

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Tried and tested: Best swim goggles at a glance

• Best pool swimming goggles: Phelps Xceed | Buy now from Sports Direct
• Best open-water swimming goggles: TheMagic5 | Buy now from TheMagic5
• Highly rated open-water goggles: Orca Killa 180 | Buy now from Wetsuit Centre
• Best goggles for pool and open water: Huub Brownlee Acute | Buy now from Amazon

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Best pool swimming goggles in 2024

TheMagic5 Goggle

• Buy now from TheMagic5 (£75)

• £75 / $70

These TheMagic5 goggles appear later on in this group test in the open-water category. So why include them here as well?

Put simply, the uniqueness of this brand stems from its made-to-measure approach and with a wide range of tints available, there is a pair to suit every type of swimming venue.

So how does it work? Download the brand’s app and it will scan your face from a number of angles (turn your head until it tells you to stop!) to create a 3D picture.

The app can then send this info to the lab, where your goggles will be made exactly to suit the dimensions of your face and eye sockets. If you’re a swimmer who finds it hard to get a pair that fit and avoid leaks, this concept is a game-changer.

You’ll notice TheMagic5 goggles have quite an unusual shape (or maybe that’s just my face!) but popping them on the minimal gaskets instantly created a great seal without needing much suction. Fans of the old ‘Swedish goggles’ which don’t feature gaskets at all seem to really like these speaking anecdotally from our pool!

Later on in this test we’ll meet the ‘blue magic mirror gold’ option, which is designed for outdoor use. Here we are showing the ‘blue magic’ version for indoor use. Niftily you can buy a bundle too, with the whole bundle coming in at £119 ($130).

You can buy them separately if you choose to, though, with the indoor goggle available for £75 ($70).

These blue lenses did a superb job of cutting glare in my brightly-lit local swimming pool. I have also tried out the smoke and clear versions too which are equally good – personal preference will play a big part here. See our full TheMagic5 goggle review to read more about these.

While clear goggles aren’t usually my first choice (I admit it, I prefer the look of tinted or mirrored one!), a set such as the ones shown here are always a useful tool in your kit bag and are especially useful if swimming in darker indoor pools. You can buy the clear version here (£70/$75).

Zone3 Venator X

• £35 / $50

The Venator X last appeared in our September 2021 pool goggles test in a monochrome and smoked lens combo (see review below), which we felt looked a little dull – but that’s not a claim you could lay against this zingy gold and orange combo!

With soft, flexible silicone gaskets and a wide split strap with buttons that’s simple to adjust quickly, these felt like a quality set of goggles.

On this set, the lenses are mirrored and polarised, which, coupled with the relatively large size against others on test, made these feel much more like an open-water goggle.

Admittedly, they would be a good choice for someone looking to invest in just one set for pool and outdoors.

Although quite dark in the pool the Venator Xs weren’t as dark as the Aquaspheres, and this year they come in as as the second cheapest, which may add appeal.

A simple cloth bag is also included to keep them in when out of the pool.

Huub Pinnacle goggles

• £44.99 / $55

The new Pinnacle’s from tri stalwarts Huub have a slightly different gasket to the others on test here.

A double-walled silicone gasket with air cushion design means they’re super-soft but also feel a little ‘bouncy’ and cushioned when applied to the face.

To me, this made them feel like they were achieving a seal without the high level of ‘suction’ on other models, so if you struggle with comfort or goggle marks, these could be the ones for you.

The smaller shape feels closer to a traditional pool goggle, while the mirrored lenses gave great clarity of vision and just enough tint to protect from harsh pool lighting.

I did find I preferred some of the larger, curved lenses on test as I could see quite a bit of the frames in our peripheral vision here as I swam, but for the pool that’s not such an issue and is personal preference. Multiple bridges plus a good-quality case add to the package.

Zoggs Tiger LSR+

• £36 (UK only)

The Predator range has long been my goggle of choice for both open water and pool (it comes in such a wide range of tints) so I initially approached the new Tiger range with a tiny bit of anxiety. Would it perform?

Thankfully, the answer is a resounding yes. The Tiger is lighter, more streamlined and more flexible than our trusty Predator, but these things all made for an extremely comfortable swim experience.

The gaskets are made from Zogg’s ‘Liquid Skin’ silicone which was very soft against the skin and didn’t leave goggle marks, while staying perfectly in place.

They do sit quite close though which is great for streamlining, but if you have long eyelashes you might find they brush the lenses a little.

The lenses here are mirrored, which we always thinks looks cool as well as protecting from glare – here, taking the edge off pool lighting without making things too dark.

The classic split strap and quick-adjust system will be familiar to Zoggs customers and works as well as ever. Several tints and two face sizes are available.

Save 48% on the Zoggs Tiger goggles right now with this Amazon Prime Day deal.

Aquasphere Xceed Yellow

• £54 / $59.99

There’s a big caveat I have to put in place with the Xceed goggles – in this zingy yellow tint they’re designed for the brightest light conditions and marketed as such, so their submission in this test was a strange one.

In the fairly mellow lights of my local pool they were a touch dark, although the colour-contrast boosting lenses did give a sharpness to our surroundings.

Fit, meanwhile, was superb, with a close fit around the eye socket feeling streamlined and snug yet comfortable, while the curved lenses gave good range of vision.

Sturdy straps have a single buckle to adjust, while a choice of nose bridges are included and they stayed in place throughout my sessions.

Sadly, though, you don’t receive a case, which seems stingy for the £49 asking price. But the cardboard packaging was nice to see and is part of Aquasphere’s pledge to improve sustainability.

Speedo Vue Mirror

• £63 / $86.94

Much as we believe in investing in quality kit for training (we’d rather buy once and buy right) that £60 tag for a set of goggles still made me gulp a little bit… Until I popped them out of the plastic case and put them on, that is.

Of all the choices here, this was the pair that instantly fitted to our face without needing adjustments and toed the line perfectly between feeling sturdy and secure yet soft and flexible.

The wide, curved lenses gave great visibility while still feeling ‘race’ enough for the pool.

I’d quite happily use them in open-water as well, and, in fact, added them to my kit bag for the last of my year’s open-water races, the fit felt that good.

Speedo quote two-times the anti-fog properties of other goggles on the Vue and although we can’t comment on that, we certainly did not see any fogging in testing.

Finally, the mirrored lenses blocked bright lights while still keeping colours true and not being too dark. There’s a hard case included too, which will help keep them scratch-free!

Aquasphere Xceed Silver Mirrored

• £50 / $49.99

Another classic goggle in the tri market, the Xceed has been reviewed by 220 since 2016 in various colourways and tints.

There are seven variations on sale at the moment ranging from £36-£54 with the silver mirrored version here based on a smoked lens being most appropriate for bright light, while still keeping colours true.

That bore out well in testing, though the tint was a little darker than some of the others so think about your likely race conditions before buying.

The double strap works well and the single clip is secure, though you can’t adjust on the fly.

Visibility is good and the curved lens allows excellent peripheral vision in a smaller open-water goggle. Cardboard eco packaging is good to see.

Speedo Fastskin Hyper Elite

• £55 / $78

Glance down this page and the Speedos instantly jump out with their bright colours and colourful mirrored lenses. That comes at a cost though, with these being at the higher end of the budget. So are they worth it?

Well, these sit snugly in the eye socket and were easily the comfiest on test, and with the most secure seal, sitting very streamlined on the face.

Adjustment is via an unusual one-piece strap with marked adjuster, which was a little touch of genius as well as splitting into two and being very secure throughout our swim.

You also get a massive hard case which, given the investment, we’d want to be able to keep them safe!

The Speedo Fastskin Hyper Elite is currently on sale in the Amazon Prime Day sale. Grab them now for a tasty 28% discount.

Aquasphere Fastlane

• £23 / $29.99

With a similar dark tint to the Huub Brownlee Acute, these are a good choice if you find the bright lights in your pool a bit OTT.

Mirrored lenses are always welcome, while I found these to be comfortable with soft gaskets and no fogging or leaking.

A hard case is included, which is good for the price point, while the double strap with single adjuster was typical of the goggles on test here and kept them securely in place.

I did find the side clips on the frames moved up and down the straps though, which was a little bit odd, and they were also a bit sharp to replace mid-swim.

Again like the Huubs, the lenses would cross over well into open-water swims.

Huub Brownlee Acute

• £34.99

With prices ranging from £10-£75 in this test, the redesigned Acutes from triathlon guru Huub sit nicely in the middle.

That’s not bad considering these goggles wear the Brownlee name and were developed with Ali and Jonny, come with a hard shell case and a choice of nose bridges, and look pretty damn stylish, too.

In the pool I found they lived up to their promise in terms of comfort, staying leak- and fog-free, and we avoided goggle marks even on long sessions.

This white/gold colourway features a smoked tint to the lenses, which dimmed the harsh lights in our pool and also worked well in sunny outdoor swims – the ideal do-it-all goggle.

Zoggs Fusion Air

• £25

The Fusion Airs have been around for a few years now and appeared in our 2017 pool goggles test, albeit in a different tint.

Whereas fans of the Predator Flex for open water might be tempted to go for the familiar brand name, though, these are quite a different goggle.

They sit more closely around the eye socket (as pool goggles tend to) but in a way I didn’t find that comfortable during my longer pool sessions, with an ‘airfilled’ spongy gasket (hence the name).

That said though, they are at the cheaper end of the spectrum and the smoked tint was welcome under the bright lights of our pool, while the double strap kept them securely in place.

Speedo Aquapulse Pro Mirror

• £38 / $52.44

The new Aquapulse Pro Mirror slot into Speedo’s fitness category for everyday training and racing.

The wide, mirrored lenses offer plenty of peripheral vision and 100% UV protection, so they’re strong candidates for goggles that you could use for both pool training and racing in open water.

The anti-fog coating worked as new after multiple training sessions and, although on the dark side, the lens tint was fine to use during evening sessions in a dimly-lit pool.

One thing I wasn’t so keen on was the gasket seal, which is large but quite firm, and dug into my cheekbones a little.

Speedo’s ‘IQfit’ straps have a handy numbered scale printed on the back, which is really useful for nailing your ideal amount of tension for when you need to buy your next pair.

Get up to 50% off of the Speedo Aquapulse Pro goggles right now in the Amazon Prime Day sale, but quick, the deal is only available for a limited time!

Phelps Xceed

• £34.99

The Xceed Mirrored goggles are a collaboration between Michael Phelps and Aquasphere. Like the great man himself, they’re stone-cold quality – they tick every box when it comes to comfort, clarity and fit.

While you usually have to choose between low-profile racers and wider, more comfortable training goggles, the Xceeds do both by having a wide field of vision through the quality mirrored lenses, which have a hydrodynamic curvature to save you every last millisecond.

Three nose bridges are included, and the straps are flat so they’re incredibly comfortable on your head. To adjust, you just need to pull on either side of the rear clip, which is simple and effective.

Yes, they’re up with the most expensive here, but they’re worth every penny.

Zoggs Podium

• £25

The versatile mirrored lens is great for those who want one pair of goggles they can use indoors or in the sun.

The Titanium Podium should also provide extra protection from reflected light, say Zoggs, which is good for outdoor pools.

Zoggs’ curved lens technology (CVT) give you a great field of vision and plenty of clarity, and I experienced little fogging.

The gaskets are adequately soft, although not the most comfortable on test, and the swivel-style nose bridge has flex that should mould to most face shapes.

The straps adjust via the rear buckle and are made of a soft silicone.

The shape of the lenses and feel of the goggles are similar to the Huub Brownlees, with the latter just edging it for the softer seal, and useful extras such as a carry case and extra straps.

Huub Brownlee

• £34.99

Having scored highly before in 220 tests, my opinion hasn’t changed on the Brownlee goggles: they’re some of the finest pool goggles around.

The brothers demanded optimal clarity and peripheral vision when they asked Huub to make them a goggle, and the lenses provide a crystal-clear view underwater in both the pool and open water.

Over 180° of peripheral vision is great for tight lanes, and the mirrored coating on the lenses is hard wearing.

They’re as close to custom as you can get without actually being custom, featuring three sets of interchangeable straps and nose pieces in the carry case to secure your ideal fit and pressure.

While I prefer a flatter strap around the temples, those provided are perfectly serviceable and easy to adjust.

Nike Vapor

• £24

Described by Nike as their “most hydrodynamic goggle ever,” the Vapors have curved lenses that Nike describe as “oversized” to increase your field of view in the water, and the low profile offers some claimed extra drag reduction through the water.

I found the field of vision, while adequate, isn’t as wide as that of similar racey goggles such as the Phelps Xceed.

The seal is comfy and I experienced no leaks after changing the nose bridge (you get four).

The straps are very firm, so it’s key to adjust them properly before starting your swim to avoid making the seal too tight.

The lightly tinted lenses are best suited to indoor pools, but for brighter conditions you can opt for the Vapor Mirror (£28). I found the lenses did fog up at the start of our swims and scratch quite easily.

Swans Ascender Mirrored + MIT

• £46.99 / $61

Numerous goggles in Swans’ range have impressed on these pages over time, and I had a fine swimming experience with this pair.

They’re available in six different lens options and I tested the mirrored versions with Swans’ Mirror Insert Technology that has an extra anti-scratch layer.

As we’ve found after numerous swims, the tech appears to work a treat and there are no signs of scratching or damage at all.

There are also photochromatic and polarised lens options available for more than the £47 asking price, yet I can’t see that either would be essential as the mirrored lenses deflect glare well.

The tint isn’t too bright so I also found them suitable for indoor pools, and the size and shape of the lenses provide excellent clarity and field of vision.

There are three adjustable nosepieces to secure your perfect fit, and the gaskets are extra soft and flexible so should fit well on any face shape.

A single clip at the rear does the job for tightening/loosening, and the straps are replaceable to prolong the life of the goggles.

All of which makes the Ascender leap to the top of our picks when it comes to a goggle that you can use for both training and open-water racing.

Best open-water swimming goggles in 2024

Orca Killa 180

• £23.99 / $30

Winning ‘best on test’ in 2023 and a spot in our annual Gear of the Year round-up, the Killa 180 is appearing in our group test again, albeit in a different tint, and it’s still a clear favourite for this tester.

These are the black frames with mirrored lenses and they look good, but we also loved the tint on the lenses, which was enough to block bright sunlight but without affecting the colours in our swim lakes too much, meaning we could easily see the course buoys.

The gaskets are soft and hit the perfect balance between being small enough to feel ‘race day’ and big enough to give excellent vision, helped by the slight curve to the oval shape.

The split strap was secure, while clip adjusters were easy enough to use.

You only get a cloth bag here, but at that bargain price for a great goggle we don’t think that’s a deal breaker.

TheMagic5 Goggle

Buy now from TheMagic5 (£75)

• £75 / $70

Eagle-eyed readers paying close attention to this group test will already have spotted TheMagic5 goggles earlier on in the pool goggles category.

The range of lenses and tints available, as well as the fact the goggles are made-to-measure, means that they can be just as useful in open-water, though.

A quick recap: TheMagic5 goggles are specially ordered via an app which you download onto your phone. The app scans your face, creating a 3D model showing all the angles and contours of your face and eye sockets.

Choose the lenses and straps you want and your custom-made goggles will arrive to your door. The idea being they will fit you perfectly and only requite minimal gaskets.

Here, I tested the Blue Magic Mirror Gold version. Like my other pairs the fit was perfect, but if I did need to make any changes, that’s easily done via a choice of included nose bridges and a simple double strap with clip to adjust and secure.

While the pool tints block bright light, the mirrored version also block glare and in my opinion, look better for triathlon race day. Nobody being able to see your eyes means your competitors can’t see the fear!

Other open-water versions on sale at the moment include Green Silver and Pink Magic Mirror Gold but keep an eye on the website for limited editions, as well as money-saving bundles.

Our Blue Magic Mirror Gold goggles are also available in a bundle with the Blue Magic for the pool shown earlier, with the whole bundle coming in at £119 ($130).

You can buy them separately if you choose to, though, with the Blue Magic Mirror Gold goggle available for £75 ($70).

See our full TheMagic5 goggle review to read more about these.

Zone3 Volare

• £35 / $50

The black/red version of the Volares appeared in issue 370’s pool goggles grouptest, but are now included here in the open-water test in a jazzy white frame with jet mirrored lenses.

The fit of these has a streamlined design and low-profile fit that felt – and looked – good.

These sit slightly closer to the eyes than others, which might not be for everyone, but I liked the feel and also the fact that smaller goggles are less likely to get knocked in a hectic swim start.

You get a choice of nose bridges, but no case is included here (it’s an extra £10), which feels a bit too expensive for something that usually comes as part of a package.

That tint on the lenses was nice, though, and I did think the goggles worked well, although there was some visual weirdness going on at the sides which would interfere with peripheral vision when racing in a pack.

Zoggs Predator Flex 2.0

• £40

It wouldn’t be an open-water goggles group test without an outing from Zoggs’ Predator, such is their iconic nature.

On test here is the Predator Flex 2.0 in titanium, which has many familiar features such as the easy-to-adjust side clips, flexible nose piece and double strap.

Visibility is great with the curved lenses allowing for a wide field of vision, and while the mirrored smoke lenses did a good job in bright conditions, they were also forgiving on murkier days.

One thing to note is that the 2.0 is larger than previous models and, on this tester, that meant the gaskets sat a little uncomfortably. Zoggs offer a range of sizes though as well as a ‘fit finder’ on their app, so if you follow the recommended steps you shouldn’t have any problems.

After longer swims, they left prominent goggle marks – although the seal they created didn’t allow water ingress! Smaller-faced swimmers may be better opting for an ‘original’ model.

Blueseventy Contour

• £43.99 / $42

The Contour from Blueseventy is pretty much the same goggle as Zone3’s Volares, which are also in this list (brands often use the same factories, as is evidently the case here).

The important thing to note there is that the Zone3 version are only £35 at the moment, making these quite a bit pricier.

That said, we did like the blue colourway and mirrored lenses, which made everything very cool in tone.

As a smaller open-water goggle these fitted well just in my eye sockets yet with the curved edges gave a good range of vision –albeit with a little bit of distortion on the edges and without the smoothness of, for example, the Orcas.

A choice of nose bridges and a basic soft case are included, while a choice of tints are also available in this style, too, if you’re not keen on the mirrored.

Aquasphere Kayenne Pro

• From £36 / $39.99

The Kayenne has long been a solid favourite among triathletes – and with good reason.

Hitting the sweet spot between being a smaller ‘race’ goggle and a larger open-water mask, these sit comfortably on the face with superb range of vision, but without taking up as much space as a full swim mask.

Here in a clearer tint, I liked the light mirroring on the lenses for murkier lake swims, though some may prefer a darker tint if racing in sun/abroad.

The wide strap was comfortable and you get a hard case.

Though they are relatively expensive in this test, I can’t fault them for comfort, so if you struggle to find goggles to suit you, they may be worth it.

Gul 7 Seas

• £44.99 / $57

Coming in a clamshell case and with three sets of lenses, two straps and three nose bridges, these build-to-suit goggles initially felt a bit daunting (disclaimer: this swimmer is a very clumsy person!).

But once I’d got used to how to pop the lenses in and out of the frame, I realised what a great idea they are. (Huub do a similar package with the Altair, £49.99.)

At the time of writing, though, these Guls were reduced to £23 online, which is ridiculously good value.

With gold, grey and clear lenses included you’ve got all eventualities covered. Favourite for us was the gold, which improved clarity but made everything bright and cheerful.

They do sit slightly proud on the face, which may be a concern in the washing machine of race day, but I still think they’re worth a try, especially if you can get them on sale.

Sundried Legend Polarized

• £24 / $30.21

We’re a big fan of polarised lenses for the clarity of vision they give under the water and for the price. These offer good value, too.

The grey tint cuts out bright light but isn’t so dark it would deter me from wearing them on murkier days – making them a good choice if you only want to buy one set of goggles for varied conditions.

They feel rugged, too, with chunky, solid frames and large soft gaskets – although the frames were quite visible.

Adjustment is simple via two buttons and we like the sturdy split strap.

Not having loops on the strap to feed the excess length through is an odd decision, though, meaning the sides flap about. But fit was good, plus you get a hard case included.

Zoggs Predator Flex Polarized Ultra Reactor

• £60

That lengthy name is testament to just how many iterations of this triathlete’s favourite are now available. First up, yes, that price point puts them into serious pay-day treat territory.

That said, these goggles and are the only ones on test to be both photochromatic (so change depending on light conditions) and polarised.

One of our testers reported it tricky to find a good seal, but I had no such issues. With that in mind, it’s worth noting that two fits are available (regular and small).

Once on and properly adjusted, though, I was impressed by the superb clarity of vision offered, especially on changeable weather days in the lake where the sun kept briefly appearing.

They are very comfortable – even on longer swims – and feel appreciatively light on the face. Side clips makes adjusting them extremely easy.

Speedo Futura Biofuse Flexiseal

• £24 / $33.12

The Futura from Speedo last appeared here in 2015, when we had the smaller women’s size on test.

In that review I struggled with fit but this year we have the standard unisex size, which is a lot better, creating a strong seal with little water ingress.

Visibility wasn’t bad, either, thanks to the wide curved lenses, although the blue gasket was visible when looking to the side or down.

The Futuras were comfortable thanks to the very soft gaskets and a flexible bridge, while the double strap was secure.

I did find the covered side buttons a little fiddly, though. Blue lenses were bright, but I’d have liked more protection on sunny days and they lacked the polarised clarity of others here.

For £24 and with a hard case included though, they’re decent value.

Verdict: Comfy but bright tint not ideal for open water.

Score: 78%

Aquasphere Kayenne

• £27 / $34.99

If you like a bigger goggle without going full mask, then these larger Kayennes (smaller design also available) could be just the job.

They initially felt quite large on my face, but once swimming they were comfy and gave a wide range of unobstructed vision like nothing else in this test.

The polarised lenses coped well with a day of sunshine and showers (although lacking the underwater clarity of the Rokas), plus they stayed free of fogging on longer swims and left no goggle marks, while the double strap felt secure and was a cinch to adjust with the two side buttons.

My only caveat with big goggles is that they lend themselves to being knocked in the race-day swim, but these are just about low enough that they should be fine.

Huub Aphotic

• £49.99 / $60

We’ve had the Aphotics on test before and the fact that they remain unchanged reflects the popularity of this stylish google.

You get a hard clamshell case, and the overall feel of these chunky goggles is solid and good quality.

In the water they gave excellent clarity of vision, and the photochromatic lenses adapted quickly to changes in light from almost clear on a dull day to fully smoked when the sun came out – ideal if you only want to buy one pair for racing.

The adjuster buttons are easy to operate with cold, numb hands and the wide strap is comfortable – plus you get a spare one in the box, which is a neat touch.

Our female tester found these a little heavy on the face in longer swims, but the gaskets are soft and comfortable. Four colourways are available, all designed to match Huub’s range of wetsuits.

Verdict: Now a tri classic and a good-looking, versatile goggle, if a little on the chunky side.

Score: 84%

Zoggs Predator Titanium

• £35

The classic Predator Flex has appeared in 220 reviews many times and is a stone-cold triathlon classic (appearing in this piece as the ‘versatile’ option on p53).

Here though we have the Predator (not Flex) which has a wiro frame and different strap design.

These feel a little more like a classic racing goggle, with adjustment via one straightforward central clip.

As we’ve come to expect from Zoggs the gaskets are wide and comfortable, while the width of vision through the large curved lenses is superb.

We also liked the Titanium lenses here (Zoggs’ version of mirrored) that did a superb job of cutting glare.

These are also available in a range of colours and tints and helpfully come in both small and regular fit, with a special online face scanner at findyourgogglefit.com to advise you on which to buy.

Verdict: Great-looking goggle with excellent lenses and choice of fits.

Score: 92%

Zone3 Vapour

• £37.50 / $55

First up, there’s no avoiding the fact that these goggles are almost identical in design to the Huub Aphotic goggles.

Frame size, shape and gasket feel is the same, meaning you enjoy the same great peripheral vision and comfortable feel (though again, these are bulky and can feel a little heavy on the face).

There’s only a couple of pounds in it, so a lot will come down to the small differences. Here, you don’t get a case – which seems stingy – but they’re a couple of quid cheaper (a case can be ordered for an extra £10, ouch).

We arguably prefer the finish of the Huub goggles with that silver edging, too.

If you’re not keen on photochromatic, though, it’s worth noting that the Vapours also come in three other colourways and with polarised lenses for £35, with the pair including a mirrored finish being our preference.

Verdict: So similar to the Huub’s it boils down to brand preference. scoring less here as no hard case.

Score: 80%

Huub Varga II Gold Mirror

• £29.99 / $35

Named after and developed with Richard Varga, one of the fastest swimmers in tri and often first out of the water, it should come as no surprise that this goggle is one of the fastest and sleekest looking on test.

That translates in the water too, as these sat just within the eye socket and will make pool swimmers used to smaller, low-profile goggles feel right at home.

Here we have the gold-mirror version on test (silver-mirror available online) and we liked the tint in brighter conditions which felt like it protected our eyes from harsh glare but still allowed the yellow buoys to stand out.

Adjustment is via a single clip and the double strap kep them in place well which, alongside the soft frame and gasket gave a very comfortable fit.

Great race goggles for those swimmers who prefer a smaller option.

Verdict: Smaller goggle will suit pool swimmers; dark tint good for bright sunlight.

Score: 88%

Blueseventy Hydra Vision

• Buy now from Blueseventy ($28.00)

• $28

Like others on test these come from an established tri brand. Yet, to be honest, for a specialist open-water goggle we found ourselves a bit underwhelmed.

The overall look and feel of these is a bit cheap and the gaskets didn’t feel as comfortable as we would like.

We also had some problems with fogging, although the tint on the lenses was nice and a mirrored finish is always welcome on race day for psyching out your rivals.

You get a wide double strap, which is appreciated, and adjustment is via a button on each side under the rubber of the frames.

A neat idea, but in practise we found them tricky to operate and, with cold, wet hands, it was hard to sense if you’d found or depressed the button.

They do sit quite close to the face (low-profile), which may reduce the chance of them getting knocked off mid-swim.

Verdict: Decent looks and lenses, though we had some fogging issues and the materials felt a bit cheap.

Score: 70%

Lomo Vigour

• £16.99

We last saw the Vigours from budget brand Lomo in issue 381 and though they’ve increased in price a little by then (by a very minor £1.99) they still put a mark in the sand as being a superb budget option.

The shape and design is very similar to the Zone 3 Vapour and the established Huub Aphotics and although we’ve remarked on this in the past along with the fact they feel less sturdy, this has never affected them in use.

The curved lenses offer good visibility, while the gaskets are soft and comfortable.

A split strap keeps them in place well, while the two little buttons make adjusting them on the fly easy.

The grey tint and polarised lenses do a nice job in most conditions and you even get a nice quality case with these too – which just adds to the feeling of getting a good deal for that entry-level price tag

Verdict: Solid budget option, if not the flashiest – but a solid performance.

Score: 72%

Speedo Futura Biofuse Flexiseal Triathlon Goggle

• £40 / $55.20

Using the same gasket technology as the impressive mask from the same range, oddly we didn’t find it as easy to get a perfect seal with these – just goes to show that different goggles suit different folks!

The Futura is a classic in the Speedo range now, first appearing in 220’s reviews in 2017 and maybe because of that it looks a little dated now.

The tinted and polarised lenses did a good job, although we did find them amongst the smaller and least curved on test, which did affect the range of vision.

You get a split strap though which was good to see and a hard case included.

These also come in ‘female fit’ as well as a smaller junior option and different colourways, with a clear lens option starting from £24.

We have a feeling these will be a long-time favourite for some swimmers, just not this tester.

Verdict: Cool looks in an affordable goggle, but some minor fitting issues.

Score: 80%

Aquasphere Kaiman Exo

• From £23 / $29.99

We’ve had good experiences in the past with Aquasphere’s range of goggles but sadly these fell short of the mark for both our testers.

These are the unisex ‘compact fit’ version and their looks are pretty uninspiring compared to others on test.

The main problem was we struggled to get a good seal on the face, with both swimmers reporting water leaking in and impairing visibility.

The straps were also a fiddle to sort out and the adjustment clips on each side were a bit small and tricky, especially with cold, wet hands.

On the plus side, we did like the curved lenses and the tint brightened up a dull day in the lake and gave good clarity.

It would be interesting to try the larger version of these, to see if they gave a better experience. For our money, though, the Aquasphere Kayenne remains a triathlon classic that we’d stick with over these.

Verdict: Poor visibility and fiddly to use. There are much better from Aquasphere’s open-water range.

Score: 63%

Lomo Vista

• Buy now from Lomo (£12.50)

• £12.50

We can’t ignore the fact that many of us are competing with a squeezed budget this year, so the fact that for just over 10 quid, including a hard case and mirrored lenses, these Lomo goggles are likely to be the best value out there. But how did they perform?

Well, the one-piece flexible design felt sturdy, although this tester did find the overall fit a little large. And though relatively soft, the gaskets weren’t as comfortable as the Huub or Orcas here.

Adjustment is via a set of unusual clips, but they actually worked very effectively. The mid-grey tint worked well on sunny days but wasn’t too dark when the sun went in.

And although we didn’t have any fogging, we did struggle to get a really good seal (though again, face shape will have an impact here).

Verdict: Solid goggle at a bargain price pint; decent performer.

Score: 75%

Yonda Hydro Glides

• Buy now from Yonda (£34.99)

• £34.99 / $45

Yonda have set 220’s reviews pages alight lately with their range of wetsuits, winning our women’s mid-range and men’s top-end grouptests in issue 391.

The brand’s goggles offer fine features, too, with polarised lenses at a penny under £30 keeping our eyes happy in mixed weather conditions.

They were a little darker in tint than some of the others here, though, so may not be our first choice for a murkier British race day.

The lens size is a good compromise between the larger (Aquasphere) and smaller (Roka) goggles on test, and the gaskets gave a good, comfortable seal.

The small adjuster buttons reminded us of Vorgee goggles tested previously and were easy to adjust, even with cold, wet hands.

Verdict: Solid set of goggles at a good price.

Score: 85%

Roka R1 Goggle

• Buy now from Roka (£37)

• £37 / $35

Winner of our 2020 grouptest, the R1s are back, this time in a vermilion mirror tint designed for direct sun.

As such these excelled in our lake-training venue, partly down to the tint and partly due to the lens shape that’s small but curved to maximise range of vision when lifting to sight.

Personally, we prefer smaller goggles for racing and these sat comfortably in our eye socket without leaving marks – so much so that we also found ourselves reaching for them for pool sessions where they worked equally well in the brightly-lit conditions.

Adjustment is via a simple back clip so they can’t be adjusted on the fly, but once in place they stayed secure. We would like a hard case included, though, if anyone from Roka is listening!

Verdict: Second year on and these are still top class.

Score: 90%

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How we tested

All of the goggles featured here have been tested extensively by 220 Triathlon editor and open-water swimming coach Helen Webster.

Helen has been testing triathlon and swimming gear for over a decade, and has used many of the goggles featured here over multiple seasons.

When deciding which were the best swimming goggles for pool training, open-water and triathlon, Helen took a range of criteria into consideration.

This included comfort, field of vision, quality, value, resistance to fogging, whether or not they leak and how suitable the lenses are to the conditions the goggles are intended to be used in.

Any goggle that scores over 90% is nearing perfection, while those scoring between 80-90% are also fantastic products that come highly recommended.

Scores between 70-80% typically represent a decent pair of goggles with areas that could be improved, while anything below 70% may do the job, but doesn’t impress us all that much.

How to choose the best swimming goggles for you

Swimming goggles can often be a bit of an afterthought for triathletes. But with a wide range now available, which offer different features for pool or open water – as well as elements to suit different swimmers’ face shapes and preferences – it’s definitely worth spending a bit of time choosing the right ones for you.

After all, find the right ones and you will have a better swim experience (leaky goggles are every swimmer’s pet hate).

Plus, if you’re racing triathlon, the right goggles can help you sight better and get round the course more easily – and who doesn’t want that?

Whether you’re looking for pool or open-water goggles, there are a few things that will apply to both.

Goggle size

Firstly, think about your face shape and which kind of goggles you find comfortable. Some swimmers prefer smaller goggles that fit more closely within the eye socket, while other swimmers like larger goggles that sit further away from the eyes, more on the edges of the cheek and brow bone.

Gasket choice

Different seals are available, too – the gaskets (the silicone or rubber bit that sits on your face and gives suction) are designed differently and fit differently depending on which model you choose.

It’s worth shopping around if you generally find swim goggles quite uncomfortable and if so, a softer, larger gasket may be for you.

At the other end of the spectrum, though, are ‘Swedish goggles’, which don’t have a gasket at all! These are traditionally used more within pool competition swimming, though.

Lens choice

Next, think about how big you want your lenses to be, as this will have a bearing on visibility, as well as the type of lens tint you are looking for (more on this later on). This will be based upon the type of water you’ll be swimming in, as well as the weather conditions for open-water goggles.

Staps

The next feature to look at is the type of strap. Double or ‘split’ straps are handy for security, plus swimmers who have a bun or ponytail tucked into their swim cap will find the strap sits either side of the hair.

Think too about how easily you would like your goggles to be to adjust as well. Most swimmers will just adjust the goggles and leave them, but if you do like to tweak the fit mid-session, then easily moved clips will be a good idea!

Finally, a note on fit. A set of goggles that fit you well should suction to your face without needing to use the head strap at all (that is there for added security), so when shopping around, try and attach the goggles to your face without the strap and see if you can achieve a good seal! See our guide on how goggles should fit for more on that.

What to look for in pool swimming goggles

Pool swimming goggles are often more simple in terms of the technology. Your pool goggles will usually be smaller and fit more into the eye socket for better streamlining and less drag in short swim competitions, as well as having less complicated lens designs.

The main reason for this is that in pool swimming or competition, we don’t need to look around to see a course – we only need to see the black line at the bottom of the pool or, at a push if racing masters, where the person in the next lane is!

The tint on your pool goggles will usually be one that’s appropriate for bright indoor lighting. They may be clear or have a light grey or blue tint. Mirrored lenses offer eye protection, too – and also (in our humble opinion) look pretty cool!

What to look for in open-water goggles

Open-water goggles differ from pool goggles in that they are usually larger to improve the field of visibility in open water. Some brands will offer curved lenses, while others will ‘zone’ the lenses, with facets offering better visibility to the front when sighting, or to the side when looking to see who, or what, is around you in the water.

There is a wider choice of lenses in open-water goggles too, as water and weather conditions vary so much.

Choosing the right pair for your race day can make a huge amount of difference to how well you can see, but all should offer eye protection from sunlight.

Think about the type of water you will be swimming in (for example, visibility in a clear ocean is very different to a peaty lake) and whether you would like your lenses to block light and/or improve clarity.

Budget of course plays a part, but if you can afford to spend a little more, polarised lenses would always be our choice for open water as they improve clarity.

We also like photochromatic lenses, which change colour (much like the same lenses in sunglasses) in bright sunlight. Perfect if you may be swimming in changeable or unpredictable conditions!

Finally, prescription goggles are available from several brands and are worth exploring if you struggle when swimming. Either made to your prescription, or off-the-shelf in a range of standard lenses.

What are the best brands for swim goggles?

There are many great brands offering swim goggles for both pool and open-water swimming and you’ll find many of them in the reviews above.

Popular swim brands include Zoggs, Aquasphere, Maru and Speedo. Many triathlon brands also offer goggles, such as Orca, Zone3, Huub, Lomo and 2XU.

You can also get customised goggles designed to suit your face from TheMagic5, with multiple lenses available to choose from.

Getting the right pair of goggles can boost your confidence and drastically improve your swim. For extensive advice on getting your goggles on point, have a look at our guide to the best swimming goggles to buy for triathlon.