Swim Goggle Types, Lenses and Fit
Swim goggles differ by shape (racing, comfort, open water, mask) and lens (clear, mirrored, tinted, polarized); a good fit gives suction without the strap.
By Adolph GreenContributing writer.
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The short answer
Pick swim goggles in two steps. First the shape, which depends on how you swim. Then the lens, which depends on the light where you swim. Clear lenses suit dim indoor pools, mirrored and dark tints suit bright light, and polarized lenses cut glare from water outdoors.
Goggle shapes
arena sorts its goggles into four groups, and most brands use similar ones:
| Type | Built for | What sets it apart |
|---|---|---|
| Racing | Competition and hard training | Compact, sits close to the eye, streamlined |
| Comfort or fitness | Lap swimming and leisure | Softer seals, wider lenses |
| Open water and triathlon | Lakes and the sea | Mirror or polarized lens options, stable fit |
| Junior | Children | Made for smaller faces |
Masks are a fifth style: a wider frame with a larger field of view. Speedo and arena also make women's goggles with smaller seals for smaller faces.
Mirrored vs tinted goggles
Speedo's lens guide describes each lens like this:
| Lens | Best light | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Clear | Low light, dim pools | Lets in the most light; has UV coating but does not cut glare |
| Mirrored | Bright pools, sunny open water | Reflects light away from the eyes; can be too dark for dim pools |
| Smoke (dark tint) | Bright pools and sun | Darkens the view; not for low light or murky water |
| Polarized | Outdoors and bright pools | Filters glare reflected off flat water; also fine on cloudy days |
| Blue | Bright light, indoors or out | All-round lens that cuts some glare |
| Orange | All light | Raises contrast |
| Pink | Low light | Contrast against green and blue |
| Purple | Bright light | Cuts glare |
So the difference between mirrored and tinted goggles: a mirror coating bounces light off the outside of the lens, while a tint darkens the lens itself. Both reduce brightness, and Speedo says polarized lenses filter glare better than mirrored ones outdoors.
How should swim goggles fit
Speedo's test: hold the goggles to your eyes without the strap. If they stay on for a moment with slight suction and the pressure around each eye feels even, the fit is right. The parts that matter most are the eye sockets and the bridge over the nose. Some goggles have swappable nose bridges, others use soft seals that shape to the face.
To put them on, hold the lenses in place over your eyes, then pull the strap back and adjust. Speedo warns that goggles too large for your face will let water in.
If you wear glasses, prescription goggles exist. Speedo sells them in powers from -1.5 to -8.0 and says to check with your optician first.
What does anti-fog mean on goggles
Goggles fog when warm, damp air from your face condenses on the cooler lens. Anti-fog is a treatment that makes it harder for that moisture to cling to the lens. Speedo uses two kinds: a spray-on coating on its hard lenses, and a solution built into its flexible lenses during manufacture, which it says lasts longer. arena markets a Swipe anti-fog on several models.
Coatings wear off. To keep them working, Speedo advises:
- Do not rub or touch the inside of the lenses.
- Rinse in lukewarm water after each swim, with no soap or detergent.
- Let the goggles air-dry flat and store them in a case, out of the sun.
Old goggles that fog may have outlived their coating.
How we count
The chart counts goggles listed on Wiki Shopping on October 26, 2026, from a read-only query of our page data, for the five brands that have their own brand page. Our goggle listings under sports and outdoors, 113 in all, include both swim and snow goggles.