If you're heading to the beach or the pool, you're going to need some essential items: sunscreen, a sun hat, some water shoes, toys, and of course, the right pair of goggles.
It’s important to find the right pair of swimming goggles for your child because comfort and safety play a huge role, especially if he's just now learning to swim.
Optimal visibility is also essential. Your child should never have blurry vision or discomfort due to tight or loose goggles, as this might put him or her in danger while underwater. The best kids’ swimming goggles demonstrate a number of qualities, including excellent lenses and a comfortable fit.
Keep in mind that your child’s goggle needs will evolve as his or her abilities increase.
For instance, since more advanced children swimmers often toss or throw their goggles up onto the edge of the pool while getting a breath, good swimming goggles should be durable and stand the test of contact.
The best goggles for children are sturdy, safe, and comfortable. Having style doesn’t hurt, either. Here we review the best children’s goggles of today’s market!
Quick comparison: Best goggles for children
Goggles | Features we love | Rating | Buy it now |
|---|---|---|---|
Speedo Kids' | - Great introductory goggle | ||
Aqua Sphere Vista Junior Swim Goggle | - Scratch-resistant lens | ||
COMFORTABLE Swimming Goggles for Kids | - Super comfy strap | ||
HiCool Anti-Fog Swim Goggle for Kids | - Perfect for kids ages 4 to 12 | ||
Aguaphile Junior Swimming Goggles | - Made with strong, |
Keep reading for the nitty gritty details on our favorite models.
Speedo Kids' Skoogles Swim Goggle
These goggles are designed for ages 3 through 6, although smaller children over the age limit may also fit into them.
They fit snugly and so leakage is not a problem.
Tinted lenses protect your child’s eyes from the sun, but are not too dark for indoor swimming.
Color schemes include blue, neon green and black, purple, and pink/orange.
In addition to UV protection, these goggles provide anti-fog protection, enabling crystal clear vision for your child. The combination of this anti-fog protection and a snug fit means that your child can swim for hours on end without having to adjust the goggles. This is a perfect baseline for quality goggles: proper visibility and comfort.
Speedo has created a custom goggle for a specific age group here; the child within this age bracket will enjoy a comfortable and durable pair of goggles that will last for a long time, or at least until he or she grows out of them.
These are versatile swimming goggles that protect your child and look good while doing so.
Pros
- Snug fit
- UV and anti-fog protection
- Vibrant color schemes
Cons
- Difficult to adjust
- Too small for some children
- Can be abrasive if worn too tightly
Why these goggles stand out
UV and anti-fog protection from Speedo make for supreme vision wearing these goggles. Your child can have fun for hours without having to make adjustments. Having to constantly readjust the strap or let out intruding water from the lens valves are experiences your child can avoid by wearing proper goggles such as these.
Aqua Sphere Vista Junior Swim Goggle
Made in Italy, these goggles are full of modern features imported from overseas.
To start, patented curved lenses create four-point expanded vision, which allows for an expansive scope for your child swimmer. In other words, the lenses create a wide and clear underwater landscape for your child, not to mention the fact that these same lightweight plexisol lenses are replete with UVB and UVA protection.
The lenses are also anti-fog, scratch resistant, and customizable. Aqua Sphere offers the clear lens option for dark conditions or indoor pool environments, whereas the company offers the blue lens for glare protection in brighter, outdoor environments.
These children’s swimming goggles are appropriate for open water or pool activity.
They feature a low profile frame that is constructed with durable but soft Softeril material. Softeril is a hypoallergenic, synthetic material that ages well because it is not affected by temperature change.
Pros
- Four-point expanded vision
- Easily adjustable
- Anti-fog and scratch resistant
Cons
- Expensive
- Lacks simplicity in design
Why these goggles stand out
Children’s swimming goggles vary in lens type, but it’s difficult to one-up Aqua Sphere in this category. These goggles have patented curved lenses that feature anti-fog, UVB, and UVA protection. The lens is also lightweight and can be customized (clear or blue) according to the environment.
COMFORTABLE Swimming Goggles for Kids
These goggles feature a large, Y-shaped strap that differs from your average strap, offering extra support. Rather than enwrapping the back of the head, this strap is design to leave that area open. Oftentimes, goggles straps will stick to hair in this region or become painful to adjust. This strap’s design avoids these issues.
Solar protective lenses protect your child’s eyes, and the strap is removable (you can use it for other goggles). These goggles are designed for age 8 or younger.
They come in six different color schemes, including blue, pink, purple, and other polka dot designs.
Pros
- Solar protective lenses
- Do not pinch hair
- Strap is removable
Cons
- The goggles are not as quality as the strap
- Velcro prone to fraying
Why these goggles stand out
Any answer besides the custom strap would be silly here. What separates these goggles on the list of best goggles for children is the unique, Y-shaped strap. Considering that this strap is removable, it can be made to work with other goggles, which in turn might lead to even more innovative possibilities for your child.
HiCool Anti-Fog Swim Goggle for Kids and Early Teens
These goggles from HiCool feature anti-fog and ultra clear lenses with wide peripheral capabilities.
The waterproof gaskets (made of soft silicone) are comfortable on most face shapes and will prevent any leakage, guaranteed.
The Quick-Fit strap—also made of silicone—makes the goggles easily adjustable and keeps hair snag-free. The nosepiece is symmetrical and sturdy, meaning there is no right side up for the goggles.
These are excellent goggles for a beginner swimmer because of their visibility. When your child is learning to swim, it is even more vital that the goggles provide as perfect visibility as possible.
Once your child is more comfortable swimming and perhaps moves on to more advanced pool games, goggles with emphases on other features may come into play. But for a beginner, safety and vision are most important. These goggles from HiCool provide that.
Pros
- Clear lenses
- Prevent leakage
- Inexpensive
Cons
- Strap easily broken
Why these goggles stand out
These goggles stand out because of the clarity of their lenses. The clear/blue hybrid lenses are clearer than average lenses. Combine them with snug gaskets that prevent leakage, and your child’s swimming experience becomes quite comfortable and enjoyable.
Aguaphile Junior Swimming Goggles
These Aquaphile goggles feature a comfortable nose bridge and equally comfortable eyecups, which are both soft and flexible. For this reason these goggles are excellent for swimmers with sensitive skin. Oftentimes swimmer will find the eyecups on their goggles becoming abrasive. This is not the case with these goggles.
The leak-proof design means that salt water will not be able to enter and sting your eyes.
These goggles are more suitable for outdoor use, especially because the lenses feature UV protection, which adds a filter to the lens.
These are designed for older children or young adults, or adults with smaller heads. They offer a snug fit but do not leave an indentation on the face with repeated use.
They come in five color schemes, including blue, pink, white, black, and grey.
Pros
- Comfortable eyecups
- Leakproof
- UV protective lenses
Cons
- Lenses not as clear for indoor use
- Strap is not durable
Why these goggles stand out
The quality silicone that these goggles from Aguaphile are made from truly makes a positive difference in comfort. From the nose bridge to the strap, these goggles almost feel like they aren’t even there. Out of the best goggles for children, you will be hard-pressed to find a more comfortable pair of basic goggles than this design.
Shopping for the right goggles for your child comes down to a few vital factors. Visibility, durability, and comfort are of course the first things that come to mind when one is shopping for a beginner swimmer. As the saying goes, “safety first,” and these words are especially poignant around children experiencing the pool or the ocean for the first time.
Make sure that your child’s first pair of goggles is snug enough that no leakage occurs. Salt water can sting your child’s eyes, and even fresh water entering the eyecups will be uncomfortable and decrease visibility greatly.
Sun protection should also be a priority. Tinted lenses offer UV protection; some goggle manufacturers provide the option to purchase clear or tinted lenses, depending on the environment your child is going to be swimming in.
You want to purchase goggles for your child that are well made, but not overbearing in design complexity or weight. Simple is good, safe is good.
Once your child advances as a swimmer, your shopping priorities for goggles should remain the same at their core, with a few addendums. Always keep vision, longevity, and comfort in mind, but perhaps later you can consider style and function.
Certain goggles look sportier than others, whereas goggles that look simpler and more basic than others might actually have more capabilities or features.
Make sure to check what age bracket your goggles of choice are designed for. Many companies cater a specific goggle to a small age bracket.
Happy swimming!
Featured image: Ben Grey
