5 Swim Goggle Recommendations for Beginners
Olivier Poirier-Leroy
Author, swimmer. Obsessed with helping swimmers level up in the water (and life).
Looking for beginner-friendly swim goggles? Here’s our expert recommendations for new swimmers to hit the pool with confidence.
Swim goggles are one of the essential aids and gear that every beginner swimmers should be using.
Swim goggles improve underwater visibility and protect the eyes from chlorine and other pool chemicals. Additionally, swim goggles offer UV coating that protects the eyes from harmful UV rays when swimming outside.
In this guide, we will look at some of expert recommendations for the top swim goggles for beginners, the key things to look for when shopping around, and address some common questions surrounding swim goggles.
Let’s dive right in.
The Best Swim Goggles for Beginner Swimmers
The top goggles for beginners include:
Next, we’ll examine each goggle in detail and review how to pick the right goggles for starting your journey in the water.
Aegend Swim Goggles
? Best overall goggles for beginners
The Aegend Swim Goggles take the number one spot on this list of the top swim goggle recommendations for beginner swimmers thanks excellent comfort, leak-free fit, and clear vision in indoor and outdoor swim environments.
Aegend is not one of the more popular swim brands with experienced competitive swimmers, but these goggles are perfect for beginners just getting started with their journey in the water.
The extra wide lenses provide excellent field of vision, allowing swimmers the opportunity to see everything ahead (and to the side) of them. The unique head strap clasp (at the back of the goggles) is thin and easy to adjust for optimal goggle snugness.
Aegend offers their swim goggles in a huge range of colors and tints (nearly 20 the last time I looked) and each set comes with a carry case, perfect for protecting the goggle lenses from scratches.
The Aegend Swim Goggles retail for less than $20.
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Aqua Sphere Kayenne Swim Goggles
? Best beginner open water/triathlon swim goggles
The Aqua Sphere Kayenne Swim Goggles are the best option for beginners gearing up to do open water swimming or triathlons.
The Kayennes are an extremely popular open water swim goggle thanks to the extra wide peripheral vision, polarized lens for eliminating glare, and soft, comfortable gasket that sits snugly on the face without causing soreness or deep goggle marks.
While pool and open water swim goggles are largely interchangeable, open water swim goggles stand apart thanks to the larger goggle frame (more field of view), split strap design, side-mounted adjustment buckles, and larger seal.
The Aqua Sphere Kayenne check all those boxes easily, with a nearly 180-degree field of view, quick-adjust buckle for mid-swim goggle tightening, and an extra wide goggle seal to keep water out when swimming.
Additionally, the Aqua Sphere Kayenne doubles as a pool goggle for recreational and beginner swimmers who want maximum vision in the lap pool.
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Sporti S2 Optical Swim Goggles
? Best prescription goggles for beginners
Swimmers who wear glasses on the dry side of the pool have long had difficulty getting a quality swim goggle with corrective lenses at a reasonable price. Not the case anymore.
The Sporti S2 Optical Goggle is the perfect option for beginner swimmers who want a quality goggle with optical lenses, allowing swimmers to leave behind glasses and contacts.
The S2 are one of Sporti’s best-selling overall goggles thanks to a durable polycarbonate lens, diopters of -1.5 to -8.0 for crystal-clear vision, and an almost laughably low-price tag (less than $20).
The Sporti S2 comes in multiple lens tints, with a clear lens (ideal for darker, indoor swim pools) and mirrored lens (perfect for outdoor swims and bright indoor pools).
The 100% silicone head straps won’t tug or yank on your hair, and a built-in anti-fog coating means you can focus on your technique instead of squinting through the mist during swim training.
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Speedo Vanquisher 2.0 Swim Goggles
? Best beginner goggles for hitting the fast lane
The Speedo Vanquisher 2.0 Swim Goggles is one of the rare goggles that is used by swimmers of all levels in the pool.
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From young, age-group swimmers just getting their bearings in the sport to world record holders stepping up on the block at the Olympic Games.
That’s just how good these goggles are. The Speedo Vanquisher 2.0 feature legendary durability—I still have my first set from 2015 and aside from some scratches, work perfectly—leak-free fit, and every color, tint and gasket size you can imagine to help you conquer every swimming environment.
The Speedo Vanquisher 2.0 comes in a junior and women’s size for swimmers with smaller and narrower faces. Each set comes five nose bridges for unrivalled comfort and fit. And the silicone head straps will never fade or crack, no matter how long you spend in the water mastering your strokes.
While some swimmers grow out of their beginner swim goggles, the Speedo Vanquisher 2.0 Goggles will tag along as you progress from the slow lane to the express lane during lap swimming sessions.
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TheMagic5 Swim Goggles
? Best custom-fit swim goggles
TheMagic5 Swim Goggles are more of a premium swimming goggle, but they can be an absolute godsend for beginner swimmers who are fed up with trying to find a swim goggle that doesn’t leak, stays in place when swimming, and looks awesome.
TheMagic5 Goggles accomplishes all of this with a custom-built gasket design that uses a face scan done with a complimentary app on your smartphone.
The app sends the specific measurements of your face to TheMagic5 headquarters and they 3D print a gasket to your face. One or two weeks later, a one-of-one set of goggles that fit your face show up on your doorstep.
Having swum almost daily for the better part of three decades, I can attest to the frustrations of finding swim goggles that are comfortable, don’t leave deep-set marks on the face, and of course, don’t leak when you push off or dive into the water.
TheMagic5 solves this dilemma with a revolutionary manufacturing process that makes them stand apart from other swim goggle brands.
Naturally, this technology and process isn’t as cheap as a set of bargain bin goggles at your local sports shop. TheMagic5 retails them for between $50-75 depending on the tint, but swimmers can save by ordering in bundles.
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The Beginner’s Guide to Choosing the Perfect Swim Goggles
Beginner swimmers should prioritize comfort, fit, and ease of use when choosing a swim goggle. For newer swimmers, the basics are what’s important.
Here are the basics when choosing the right goggles for beginner swimmers:
Type of swim goggles – There are numerous types of swim goggles, including pool, open water, optical, customized, smart goggles, kids’, and swim masks. The type of goggle should match the swimming you plan on doing.
Comfort and Fit—Look for swim goggles with soft silicone gaskets around the lenses. These gaskets provide cushioning from the lens frame, making it more comfortable while also suctioning gently against the skin and creating a waterproof seal.
Lens types—Choose a swim goggle with lenses that match the environment. For a darker, dimly lit pool, opt for a clear or lightly colored goggle lens. Beginners swimming outdoors should use a smoke or mirrored lens to reduce eye strain. Swimmers who struggle with glare when swimming outside should look for polarized lenses, which almost completely eliminate glare.
Field of view—Beginners who are new to lap swimming or swimming in open water should opt for swim goggles with excellent peripheral vision. Newer swimmers aren’t always confident about navigating the lane or pool, and an excellent range of view is critical.
Adjustability – Whether a beginner or more advanced swimmer, adjustability with your swim goggles is crucial. Tailoring the fit of the swim goggles reduces annoying google leaks and raccoon eyes from extended wear. Look for goggles with multiple nose bridges and adjustable head straps.
Price – Swim goggles for beginners are inexpensive, especially compared to some premium racing swim goggles and smart swim goggles, which can retail for over $200. The Speedo Vanquisher 2.0, Aegend Swim Goggles, and Sporti S2 Optical Goggles are all excellent quality and don’t cost more than $20.
Do beginners need swim goggles?
Beginner swimmers should use swim goggles as it allows them to see clearly underwater. Not only does this help swimmers see where they are going when swimming, but it’s also a safety aid.
Goggles allow you to properly assess distance to the wall or bulkhead, other swimmers, and keeps irritating pool chemicals out of the eyes.
What gear do beginner swimmers need?
Beginner swimmers need a well-fitting swimsuit and goggles to get started in the water.
Other equipment and gear beginner swimmers should consider include a swim cap, which keeps hair out of your face and out of the pool. Training aids like kickboards and pull buoys can help swimmers isolate the lower and upper body to accelerate skill development.
As you progress in the pool, other gear for faster swimming to incorporate include paddles, swim snorkel, fins, drag chutes, and so on.
What’s the difference between goggles for beginners and more advanced swimmers?
Beginner and advanced swimmers are alike in that keep water out of the eyes, helping swimmers see.
Beginner swim goggles tend to have a simpler design, offering a comfortable and leak-free fit and basic protection from chlorine and water. They prioritize comfort and affordability.
Advanced swim goggles take those base features and build upon them with an eye towards performance, with specialized designs that include things like a slim gasket design, real-time data tracking (as with smart swim goggles like the FORM 2 Swim Goggles), advanced anti-fog, and hydrodynamic features like side arms.
Wrapping Things Up
Swim goggles are one of the truly vital things beginner swimmers need to start seeing (ha, pun!) success in the water.
Goggles reduce eye discomfort so you can focus on learning to swim with better technique, get a handle on all that swimming lingo, and work on getting better in the water day by day.
Choose the beginner-friendly swimming goggles that match your goals, type of swimming, and price range, and happy swimming!