After running a swimming club for years, I've seen countless swimmers, from five-year-olds to masters athletes, struggle through sessions with leaking goggles, fogged lenses, or frames that leave red marks for hours. The truth is, the right pair of goggles can transform your swimming experience, while the wrong ones can make every length feel like a battle.
I still remember a parent who came to me frustrated after her daughter had gone through three pairs of goggles in as many months. None of them worked. The child was refusing to put her face in the water, and lessons had become a struggle. We spent ten minutes talking through what was going wrong, tried on a few different styles, and found a pair that actually fit her face shape. The next week, her mum told me her daughter had stayed underwater for the first time without panicking. That's when I realised just how much difference the right goggles make, not just to performance, but to confidence and enjoyment.
How should swim goggles fit?
Swim goggles should create a gentle seal around your eye sockets without needing the strap to hold them in place. When you press the goggles against your face without putting the strap over your head, they should stay there for a few seconds through suction alone. If they fall off immediately, they're not the right shape for your face. If they feel uncomfortably tight or leave deep marks around your eyes, they're either too small or the wrong profile for your bone structure.
The gasket, which is the soft rubber or silicone part that touches your skin, should rest comfortably on the bone around your eye socket, not on your eyelids or cheekbones. You shouldn't feel pressure on your eyeballs that's a sign they're too tight or too small.
One of the most common mistakes I see is swimmers over-tightening the straps to compensate for a poor fit. If your goggles are leaking, your first instinct might be to crank the strap tighter, but that usually makes things worse. You end up with headaches and goggles that still leak because the seal isn't right to begin with. The strap should be firm enough to keep the goggles in place during turns and dives, but it's the gasket that does the real work.
Face shapes vary enormously, which is why one pair of goggles can be perfect for one swimmer and terrible for another. Children generally need smaller frames with softer gaskets, while adults have more variety in terms of face width and nose bridge height.
How do I stop my swim goggles from leaking?
The most common reason swim goggles leak is that they simply don't fit your face shape properly. If the seal isn't sitting evenly around both eyes, water will find its way in no matter how tight you make the strap.
Before you blame the goggles entirely, check how you're putting them on. Place the goggles on your face first, make sure the seal feels good, and then pull the strap into place without disturbing that seal. Hair trapped under the gasket is another surprisingly common cause of leaks, even a few strands can create a gap.
Over time, goggle gaskets lose their flexibility and the seal becomes less reliable. Chlorine, sunlight, and general wear all degrade the materials. At the club, I generally tell swimmers that if they're training two or three times a week, they should expect to replace their goggles every six to twelve months.
What swim goggles are best for kids?
The best swim goggles for kids are ones with a smaller frame, a softer gasket, and a simple adjustment system that doesn't require adult help every time. Children's faces have less pronounced bone structure around the eyes, which means they need a gentler seal that doesn't put pressure on delicate areas.
When I recommend goggles for younger swimmers at the club, I always look for something comfortable enough that they'll actually want to wear it. The Sprite Anti-Fog Junior Goggle has been a favourite at our club, it's designed specifically for junior swimmers with a smaller frame that actually fits children's faces, and the anti-fog lenses mean they can see clearly without constantly stopping.
I also think it's important that kids can adjust their own goggles. The strap system needs to be straightforward enough that a seven-year-old can manage it without getting frustrated. At the early stages, you don't need racing goggles or anything high-tech. What you need is something comfortable, reliable, and designed for a child's face.
How do I choose swim goggles for my child?
Choosing swim goggles for your child starts with understanding what kind of swimming they're doing. If they're just starting lessons, you need goggles that feel secure. If they're already swimming confidently and joining a club, you might look at something with a bit more performance focus.
The biggest challenge is that children's faces change quickly. I always suggest buying goggles that fit well now rather than trying to buy bigger ones they'll grow into, because uncomfortable goggles will put them off swimming altogether.
Pay attention to whether the goggles are actually marketed as junior or adult goggles. Adult goggles, even small ones, are designed for adult facial proportions and won't seal properly on a child's face. Let your child try them on if possible. Have them press the goggles to their face without the strap to test the suction. If your child says they're uncomfortable, listen to them.
What are the best swim goggles for club swimming?
The best swim goggles for club swimming are ones that are comfortable enough for regular sessions, reliable enough to stay sealed through turns and sprints, and durable enough to withstand frequent use. Club swimmers train multiple times a week, so their goggles need to hold up to chlorine exposure and constant adjustment.
For adult club swimmers, I usually recommend something that feels secure at pace but is still comfortable enough for long sets. The Sonic Mirror Goggles are a strong choice for regular club training because they’ve got that more performance-focused, streamlined feel without being uncomfortable for day-to-day sessions. If you do find your pool lighting particularly bright, or you’re someone who swims outside now and then, the Maru Groove Polarised Mirror Adult Goggles are worth considering too, the polarised mirrored lenses are designed to cut glare, and the anti-fog coating holds up well with frequent use.
For junior club swimmers training regularly but not yet competing seriously, the Sprite Anti-Fog Junior Goggle works well, it's comfortable for hour-long sessions but also secure enough for diving starts and flip turns.
Once swimmers get more serious and start chasing speed, they often prefer a more streamlined fit. The Pulse Mirror Goggles are a great step up for committed club swimmers who want a more performance-focused feel in training.
Are mirrored swim goggles better for indoor swimming?
Mirrored swim goggles aren't strictly necessary for indoor swimming, but they do offer some advantages. The main benefit is that they reduce glare from overhead lights, which can be surprisingly harsh in some pools, especially during early morning or evening sessions. I've trained in pools where the reflection off the water is distracting enough that I'd rather have mirrored lenses.
That said, mirrored goggles are more about preference than necessity indoors. Some swimmers find them more comfortable because they cut down on brightness and visual distraction, while others don't notice much difference.
One thing to be aware of is that mirrored lenses are often paired with darker tints, which can make the pool feel dimmer. Clear or lightly tinted lenses, like those on the Magna Goggles, give you clear vision without the mirror coating, and they're a good all-round option if you're not sure what you prefer.
What's the difference between training goggles and racing goggles?
Training goggles are designed for comfort over long sessions, while racing goggles are built for speed and minimal drag. Training goggles usually have a larger, softer gasket that creates a comfortable seal you can wear for an hour or more. Racing goggles have a much smaller gasket and sit closer to your face with a more streamlined shape.
I see a lot of younger swimmers who want to wear racing goggles for every session because they think it will make them faster. The reality is that racing goggles can be uncomfortable for long training sessions. They tend to put more pressure on the eye sockets, and after forty-five minutes, that pressure becomes noticeable. Racing goggles are brilliant for competitions where you're wearing them for a few minutes, but for daily training, most swimmers are better off with something designed for comfort.
If you're competing regularly, it's worth having two pairs of goggles, one for training and one for racing. That way you can train comfortably through the week and still have the performance edge when it matters at competitions.
Do anti-fog swim goggles really work?
Anti-fog goggles do work, but the coating isn’t permanent and from what I see poolside, most “my goggles don’t work anymore” moments are simply that layer wearing down faster because the inside of the lenses has been rubbed, rinsed in hot water, or left to bake in a kit bag (Maru explain the causes and best fixes clearly in their fogging guide).
Why do swimming clubs recommend certain goggles?
Swimming clubs recommend certain goggles because we see what works and what doesn't across hundreds of swimmers over many years. We're not recommending products based on marketing claims; we're recommending them based on real-world performance in our pool with our members.
At our club, we stock Maru goggles because we've found they offer a good range of options for different ages and abilities, and the quality is consistent. By stocking a curated range we trust, we can guide people towards goggles that are appropriate for their level without them having to wade through hundreds of options online.
How long should swim goggles last?
In real club training, a well-made pair of goggles can last a long time often a year or more, and longer if they’re rotated with a second pair and looked after properly. The parts that usually show wear first are the strap and the gasket, because they’re doing the hard work every session and they take the brunt of chlorine, stretching, and being shoved into kit bags.
The biggest factor is still how you treat them: rinse in cool water after swimming, let them air dry, keep them out of heat and direct sunlight, and store them in a case so the lenses don’t get scratched. With kids, goggles tend to have a shorter life simply because they’re handled more roughly (and faces change quickly), but for most regular swimmers, good care makes a noticeable difference to how long a pair stays comfortable, seals well, and keeps clear vision.
If you're ready to find a pair of goggles that actually work for you or your child, take a look at the Maru swimming goggles range. There's something there for everyone, from juniors just starting out to committed club swimmers training several times a week.
About the author: Jamie Reid runs a swimming club and has years of poolside experience helping swimmers of all ages choose kit that works in real training conditions.
