Triathlon goggles (aka open-water swimming goggles) are an essential piece of gear. But unlike just any pool goggles, the best goggles for triathlon are designed to improve visibility, hydrodynamics (speed), comfort, and protection against the sun.
Of course, how they look is an important consideration in finding a pair you’ll truly love. Fortunately, several of the top brands make some cool-looking high-performance triathlon goggles that are worth checking out.
What to Look for in Triathlon Goggles?
Unlike any swim goggles, triathlon goggles are specially engineered for better visibility, comfort, and fit. When looking for the best pair of triathlon goggles, there are several factors to consider.
- Size: Consider the size of the goggles and how they fit your face, particularly around the eyes and nose. Some goggles are designed for smaller faces, while others are better for larger faces. Some options even come with multiple nose bridges to accommodate different face shapes.
- Fit: Parallel to size, the most important factor when finding a pair of triathlon goggles is ensuring that they fit well and do not leak. The eye gaskets should feel secure and comfortable on your face, which may take some trial and error to find the right pair.
- Sun Protection: A high priority for open-water swimming goggles is UV protection. The sun’s harmful rays can have a magnified effect with swim goggles, so you’ll want to ensure UVA and UVB-protected lenses at a minimum.
- Visibility: Look for goggles that offer ample visibility and a wide periphery of sight. Certain triathlon swim goggles are designed with wider lenses and anti-fog coatings to improve visibility.
- Comfort: Consider how comfortable the goggles are to wear, especially if you will be wearing them for an extended period of time. Some goggles have softer silicone or foam padding to reduce pressure around the eyes.
Overall, finding the right pair of triathlon goggles may take some experimentation, but it’s worth taking the time to find a pair that fits well and meets your specific needs. Here are several product recommendations to help narrow your search.
1. THEMAGIC5 Custom Swimming Goggles
THEMAGIC5 is a brand that’s carved a niche in the triathlon community for its custom, perfect-fitting swimming goggles.
THEMAGIC5’s Optimal Fitting Technology uses a simple app to scan and map the dimensions and contours of your face. The outcome is a comfortable, reliable pair of triathlon goggles that’s optimized for fit, visibility, and hydrodynamics.
THEMAGIC5’s custom swim goggles are designed for performance, providing a fog-free, glare-free, and leak-free experience in the water. A layer of clear optical lenses blocks up to 99% of blue light, which can help minimize eye strain, fatigue, and headaches.
They also look great and have high appeal poolside or at the beach. Choose from several lenses and color schemes, custom-fit to your unique facial features.
2. ROKA R1 Swimming Goggles
The ROKA R1 goggles are one of the most innovative options for triathletes. They are peripherally optimized for expanded visibility, enabling swimmers to maintain a more efficient and streamlined position. And they’re mindfully engineered for a secure fit.
Compared to other open-water swimming goggles from ROKA, the R1’s come with RapidSight™ retroscopic lenses with an anti-scratch hard coating. Taking a modern-minimalist look, they’re a sleek upgrade for your next pair of swim goggles, especially the cobalt mirror lens.
3. FORM Smart Swim Goggles
Recognized as the best swim product of 2023 by The Global Triathlon Awards, the Smart Swim Goggles by FORM are the next-gen technology advancement for swimming. Designed with an integrated display, swimmers can see real-time metrics and workout instructions directly from the goggle’s lens.
From pace clock times and swim pace metrics to energy output and session guidance, the FORM Smart Swim Goggles are transformative for triathlon and swim training. When synced with FORM’s app, you can utilize a complete library of coach-guided workouts and comprehensive tracking of your training over time.
4. blueseventy Contour Goggle
Another podium topper FOR best triathlon goggles is the Contour Goggle from blueseventy. These goggles feature superior hydrodynamics with a low-profile lens and soft gasket that is designed to minimize drag. In addition to speed, the Contour Goggles are also well-regarded for their comfort.
The Contour’s have a soft gasket that extends past the temples to create a very low profile fit, along with fluid curved lenses that provide wrap-around vision and a secure fit.
The premium polycarbonate lenses are anti-fog and provide sharp vision above and below the surface. The goggle also includes four interchangeable nose bridges and the lens options come in clear, smoke, and mirrored options for different light conditions.
5. TYR Special Ops 3.0 Polarized Swim Goggles
After TYR’s success with the Special Ops 2.0, the company unveiled the third version of this model in 2018. The Special Ops 3.0 takes much inspiration from its predecessor, returning features like anti-fog and wide peripherals. TYR also brings back the Durafit silicone gaskets to ensure enhanced protection during your performance.
One different feature is the material. The Special Ops 3.0 contains silicone, differing from the second version with polycarbonate and silicone. The Special Ops 3.0 also includes a reusable case and a standard bridge fit.
6. ZONE3 Vapour Triathlon Goggles
The ZONE3 Vapour Triathlon goggles are among the best for indoor and outdoor versatility. If you’re looking for an all-around pair, this option may be the best for you. These goggles feature polarized and photochromic lenses, so you can choose which is more suitable for you. The polarized lens is ideal for reducing sun glare, and the photochromic lens adjusts itself based on outdoor lighting.
The lenses also have a curve, providing a wide field of vision. Besides the lenses, the Vapour goggles have anti-fog protection to maintain eyesight, even on humid days. They also have superb comfort with silicone gaskets.
7. ROKA F1 Swimming Goggles
For a more simplified version from ROKA, the F1 Goggle has a small lens that comes in several incredible mirror choices. The ROKA website has photos of what the lenses look like before and after. Shown above the dark amber mirror.
Not only is the lens sleek and hydrodynamically optimized, but they block 100% of all UVA, UVB, and harmful blue light. They’re also made with ROKA’s highly-comfortable, hypo-allergenic silicone gasket. We like these as more traditionalist open-water swimming goggles with ROKA unique design touches.
8. Speedo Vanquisher 2.0 Mirrored Swim Goggle
Another pair with a sleek design is the Vanquisher 2.0 Mirrored Swim Goggle from Speedo. These goggles are among the best peripherals because they have a broad panoramic view and UV protection for the sunniest days.
The Vanquisher 2.0 is optimal for outdoor use with its dark tint. Plus, Speedo mirrors the lenses to lower the glare coming into your eyes. The silicone seals make the goggles comfortable, and the straps are high-quality and long-lasting. The Vanquisher 2.0 offers four different nosepieces you can choose at your liking. Plus, there are numerous color combinations to pick from.
9. Aquasphere Seal 2.0 Swim Mask
The Aquasphere Seal 2.0 Swim Mask is among the bulkier options on the list, but there’s no compromise with the quality. The Seal 2.0 is the successor to the original swim mask and is among the most popular in the swimming world.
This pair of goggles is best for outdoor conditions in partly cloudy skies. It decreases light transmission by 27% but maintains color saturation during your swim.
The Seal 2.0 features curved lens geometry, giving you a 180-degree view of your surroundings without distortion. The silicone straps make it easy to take the goggles on and off and adjust them during your race. Advanced Fit Technology (AFT) makes the goggles comfortable without leaving marks around your eyes.
10. TYR Special Ops 2.0 Polarized Swim Goggle
The Special Ops 2.0 from TYR is one of the sleekest swim goggles on the market. Each pair comes with speed-adjust technology and anti-fog measures. You’ll be able to swim every lap without worrying about impaired vision.
The Special Ops 2.0 provides excellent vision in your peripherals, allowing you to see others around you easily. Even the brightest sunshine won’t stop you because these goggles block out nearly 100% of the surface glare, saving your eyes from fatigue in a long triathlon. Your eyes also get protection from silicone gaskets, ensuring water doesn’t penetrate the lenses.
11. AqtivAqua DX Wide View Swim Goggles
The DX Wide View goggles from AqtivAqua pride themselves on eye protection and comfort. The silicone seals protect the eyes while providing comfort for long-distance races. The DX Wide View only has a single strap, but it stays on your head throughout any condition. You can dry the goggles quickly when you’ve finished through their protective casing.
The DX Wide View goggles offer flexibility based on your conditions. The clear lens allows maximum brightness inside, so they’re best for indoor pools or low-light conditions outdoors. Untreated pools can become cloudy due to imbalanced pH and chlorine levels. The clear lens provides increased visibility in these conditions.
The shade lens is ideal for indoor and outdoor use. The polarized lens is optimal for outdoor conditions where the sun shines brightly.
Do You Love Your Triathlon Goggles?
Both recreational swimmers and competitive triathletes alike will often go through numerous pairs of swim goggles over their lifetime. Investing in a quality pair from a brand like ROKA, THEMAGIC5, Zone3, or TYR can help keep that number to a minimum.
Do you have a favorite pair of triathlon or open-water swimming goggles that you use? Let us know about it.
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Endurance athlete, professional off-road cyclist, and avid blogger, Tyler Tafelsky participates in long-course multisport and cycling events. Today, Tyler competes in ultra-distance cycling races at the professional level. Since starting Better Triathlete in 2014, he has been the head of content for the site's editorial team. Learn more about Tyler
Jack Shaw
Regular product tester and frequent contributor to Better Triathlete, Jack Shaw is a senior writer for Modded, a men's lifestyle brand focused on fitness, sports training, and overall wellness. Jack specializes in various facets of athletic training, sports nutrition, and recovery, and he enjoys immersing himself in nature via camping and other outdoor activities.