Best swimming goggles 2020: High-performing goggles for all budgets

The best swimming goggles can mean the difference between a comfortable and enjoyable swim and a frustrating slog that’ll have you rubbing your eyes balls relentlessly.

At a basic level, a good pair of leisure swimming goggles will fit well without feeling too tight, keep the water out of your eyes and won’t constantly mist up. The most affordable goggles usually have clear lenses, which are absolutely fine for the casual fitness swimmer. If you pay a little more, you’ll benefit from technologies such as protection from UV rays, glare reduction and lens coatings that adapt to bright light, so you’re not squinting. 

• Keep an eye on your progress with one of the best fitness trackers for swimming
• Or monitor progress overall with one of the best outdoor watches
• Capture wild swimming adventures with one of the best action cameras

Open water and lido swimmers will want to look for features including curved gaskets for a wider peripheral vision and polarised lenses. For competitive swimmers, the best swimming goggles will feature low profile gaskets to help reduce drag, while a mirrored lens adds a physiological advantage.

We think the best swimming goggles right now are Zone3 Attack Swim Goggles. These are a great all-round option, as they fit a wide variety of face shapes and sizes, aren’t too expensive, and are versatile thanks to polarised and photochromatic lens options. Read on for our full ranking of the best swimming goggles right now, for a range of use cases and budgets.

Zone3’s Attack goggles the best swimming goggles right now. These are a reliable all-rounder, serving you well for everything from sea swimming to lunchtime pool laps. They're also a great option if you struggle finding goggles to fit your face. They're the comfiest we tested. The oversized foam gaskets fit like a dream for all face shapes and sizes, staying put once tightened enough with no mid-swim adjustments needed. The field of vision is pretty decent thanks to curved lenses, meaning the goggles can be used for indoor and outdoor swimming, allowing you to easily sight upcoming buoys. What makes the Attack a versatile choice are the lens tints. Go for polarised or photochromatic and you’ll have goggles suited for sunny weather, with glare reduction and UVA/UVB protection to boot.

To create the best premium swimming goggles right now, ROKA has sliced off the top off 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 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.

Get that pro swimmer look with these uber-comfortable, leak-free goggles. Socket Rockets take inspiration from the original Swedish goggle, once popular among competitive swimmers. Best for recreational use and fitness swimming, the Socket Rockets sit snuggly against your face thanks to rubberized gaskets that stay leak-free. Plus, the low-profile design reduces drag to help boost your pace. 

Fans of Socket Rockets rave about the soft the eye gaskets (read: no goggle marks!). Even better, the rubber nose bridge makes the fit of the goggles completely customisable. Though it’s worth noting that the strap is latex, not silicone like most goggles, so although they’re more flexible, they might not last as long as other goggles.

Offering up to 180 degrees of vision, a stabilising nose bridge, UV protection and anti-fog lenses, these swimming goggles are great contenders for those looking to hit the pool or lake as part of their exercise regime. With several lens tints, colourways and gender-specific sizing, we reckon these goggles are a great choice. Kayenne wearers shout about the one-touch buckle adjuster where you simply push the button to achieve a secure fit – no more threading rubber straps through miniature holes. What’s more, as the gaskets are larger than average, pressure is spread around your face and not just in the eye area so they’re incredibly comfy.  

These Zoggs are at the top of their league when it comes to lens functionality. They’re the ideal open water companion thanks to light changing photochromatic technology that reacts to changing weather conditions. Whether it’s dark and muggy or bright and sunny, the transitioning lenses will ensure your eyes remain comfortable at all times. They feature a curved lens to provide swimmers with the best peripheral vision and UV protection which is particularly great if you’re an open water swimmer. Thanks to their 4 Flexpoint Technology frames, these goggles also should also mould to your face, so you won’t have to keep fiddling with them and risk letting in water.

Speedo’s Aquapulse Pro goggle is aimed at those doing serious sessions at the pool. The stylish, frameless, low-profile design and mirrored lenses gives the wearer that pro swimmer look with increased aerodynamics. Speedo says these goggles feature its most 'advanced goggle technology ever', offering a secure fit like no other and making goggle marks a thing of the past. Peripheral vision and clarity are great, thanks to wrap-around lenses, while the sidearm provides better stability and reduces pressure on the head. 

These smart swimming goggles from Form feature an augmented reality display that shows your stats on your eyeline as you swim. The heads-up display shows distance, lengths or calories, adding extra stats as you turn, such as pace or stroke rate. The display is completely customisable in the app. Setup is faff-free and we appreciated the six nose bridges that are included, so you’re bound to find one that fits. Essentially, it's a fitness tracker, but for your face rather than your wrist. Due to their price, these goggles are best suited for triathletes or competitive swimmers. We think it’s worth it for the level of analysis you get, the ability to follow your training plan, and sync your workouts with Strava and Training Peaks.

Whether you’re hitting the pool or heading to the seaside, these goggles are good for both indoor and outdoor conditions. While the mirrored lens helps to reduce glare, their UV protection factor actually makes them the better choice over the V-Class pair if you’re looking for goggles for outdoor use only. They feature four interchangeable nose pieces for an all-round comfortable fit while the low profile design, although not wrap around, should offer 25% more peripheral vision than regular goggles.

Having made his olympic debut way back at the 2000 Sydney olympic games, Phelps has had over 17 years to find the perfect combination of swimming goggle features. From the material used to the fit provided, the XCEED Mirror Goggles should provide the ultimate level of comfort. With the finer details including a hydrodynamic head buckle and an anti-fog and anti-scratch lens coating, these goggles are certainly a good buy for any serious indoor swimmer. 

These racing goggles certainly pack a load of features that make them ideal if you’re starting to get serious about your swimming. From the low-profile lens to the dual strap with racing adjustment, these goggles have been designed to deliver comfort and visibility. Choose from a range of colours and lens styles, including grey for all light conditions, pink for contrasting blue or green environments or yellow lenses for low light conditions.