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Protect their eyes with effective and comfortable pairs for their next dip in the pool or sea
We were looking for a leak and fog free experience
As one of the world’s most reputable swimming brands, Speedo was born on Bondi Beach, Australia in 1928. The brand appreciates how important a trusty pair of goggles is to swimmers of all ages. Instantly, our seven-year-old tester commented on the larger field of vision, desperate to go underwater to see what she could discover. The visibility was great for indoor pools too, with large clear lenses aimed at indoor swimming.
Founded by elite triathlete and world championship winner James Lock, Zone 3 is a British brand dedicated to swimming and triathlons. And while none of our tester’s show star potential in the swimming category (yet!), we could see the appeal with the kids version of the brand’s popular adult “attack” swimming goggles, as the aquahero goggles oozed quality.
Our teenage tester is keen to improve her swimming, and we found these spirit 500 kids goggles are helping her build confidence underwater. Wearing them for over an hour for each swimming session, she commented on the comfort and pristine vision thanks to the anti-fogging technology.
Zoggs is a brand many of us associate with goggles. Set up over 30 years ago, the brand has more than three decades of swimming expertise under its belt, and you can tell just unpackaging a pair of its goggles. Our youngest tester put the phantom kids mask through its paces, looking like an adorable young scuba diver with these wider-style goggles.
Our youngest tester wasn’t considering the technical features of these goggles when she made a beeline for them – it was purely based on purple being her favourite colour. The soft 100 kids goggles from sporting giants Decathlon are part of its impressive range of swimming paraphernalia, which are all reasonably priced.
For those starting out on their swimming career, the Speedo biofuse mask goggles are totally geared to young swimmers. From the Velcro side adjustments to the soft neoprene straps and wide vision single lens, these make a great introduction to the concept of goggles. While they’re at the upper end of the price scale, the quality is undeniable. The lenses didn’t fog up, and no pesky water seeped through either, and because they’re clear they’re perfect for indoor swimming.
When products come as a two-pack, we’re often dubious about the quality, questioning whether one pair is simply a backup. Fortunately, we didn’t find this to be the case with Zabert’s K20 goggles. The clear lenses give a wide view offering 180 degree visibility and benefit from UV 400 protection, while we also found these to be reliable on the fog front, only steaming up a handful of times over the testing period.
Naturally we questioned whether these kids goggles from Bling20 were purely a novelty item, and while we can’t deny these goggles bring the fun factor to swimming, with its comical lashes and sparkly frame, how would they fare under the water?
JoJo Maman Bébé is a parent’s best friend when it comes to kitting out babies, toddlers and younger children, and these swimming goggles are no exception. Once we adjusted the silicone straps – you’ll need to alter both the top and bottom, which did feel a little taxing – these no-thrills goggles were ready for action.
Whether you’re panic-packing for your summer holiday with little ones in tow, or your child is embarking into the world of swimming lessons, to avoid tears and maximise your child’s swimming experience from an early age, you’ll need a trusty pair of goggles.
Many of us can recall having chlorine-aggravated eyes because our goggles didn’t fit right or were poorly designed so that just as much water seeped in as was kept out. Thankfully, goggles have come a long way since then, particularly in terms of child-friendly designs.
The good news is that, generally speaking, goggles are inexpensive, fluctuating from around £5 to £20. However, if your child is having regular lessons, it’s worth spending a few extra pounds and opting for a comfortable pair, as with the right care they can last years.
The right pair of goggles should feel like a second skin, with no rubbing complaints or grumbles of the straps digging in. As with learning any new hobby, it’s particularly important to choose the right swimming sidekick when children are learning the basics, that way they’ve had the best possible start.
Goggles tend to come in two sizes, from preschool age to six-years-old (kids’ goggles) or for ages six to 14 (junior goggles). Naturally, fit and comfort are paramount for a good pair of goggles, but you also want a leak-free experience. Most goggles now come with anti-fog technology and UV protection, but you also want to consider lens size, and strap adjustability is key. Our roundup dives in with the best options on the market.
Our four-year-old, seven-year-old and 13-year-old testers tried out these goggles in our local swimming pool over the course of two weeks. With mixed abilities and needs, we put a range of goggles to the test, and these are the ones that really made a splash.
Swimmers of mixed abilities put the goggles through their paces
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As one of the world’s most reputable swimming brands, Speedo was born on Bondi Beach, Australia in 1928. The brand appreciates how important a trusty pair of goggles is to swimmers of all ages. Instantly, our seven-year-old tester commented on the larger field of vision, desperate to go underwater to see what she could discover. The visibility was great for indoor pools too, with large clear lenses aimed at indoor swimming.
Adjusting the straps were straightforward enough, and while they were thin side clasps it didn’t feel like they were going to snap. We found these fit our tester’s face like a second skin, we didn’t experience any fog issues and leaks were kept at bay too. At £11 these Speedo futura goggles are a great all-rounder.
Founded by elite triathlete and world championship winner James Lock, Zone 3 is a British brand dedicated to swimming and triathlons. And while none of our tester’s show star potential in the swimming category (yet!), we could see the appeal with the kids version of the brand’s popular adult “attack” swimming goggles, as the aquahero goggles oozed quality.
The wide, flexible silicone frame meant that they could comfortably fit all three of our testers, but seemed the best fit for our seven-year-old who loved the clear blue lenses. The lenses have built-in anti-fog which did give exceptional viewing quality, and would lend themselves well to indoor and outdoor swimming. The silicone gaskets felt super soft on the skin and offered plenty of flex, as did the strap itself. While these may not offer any illustrations, or fancy colourways we highly rate the useability of these goggles.
Our teenage tester is keen to improve her swimming, and we found these spirit 500 kids goggles are helping her build confidence underwater. Wearing them for over an hour for each swimming session, she commented on the comfort and pristine vision thanks to the anti-fogging technology.
These goggles have a wild field of vision, and adjustability was a doddle using the side adjustment. Being a self-conscious teen, coming out of the pool with no ring marks gained top marks too. The soft suction follows the shape of the face well, keeping the water out and any marks or irritation at bay. One thing we did notice is you need to take extra care with the mirrored lenses as they can easily scratch on hard surfaces.
Zoggs is a brand many of us associate with goggles. Set up over 30 years ago, the brand has more than three decades of swimming expertise under its belt, and you can tell just unpackaging a pair of its goggles. Our youngest tester put the phantom kids mask through its paces, looking like an adorable young scuba diver with these wider-style goggles.
The mask style is rather smart when swimmers are new to the water, as they don’t restrict their vision. We also had no leaks, or fog problems, and adults will appreciate the “quick adjust” as you pinch the sides to alter them. The soft-Seal frame moulded to our tester’s little face well and there were no complaints on the comfort front either.
Our youngest tester wasn’t considering the technical features of these goggles when she made a beeline for them – it was purely based on purple being her favourite colour. The soft 100 kids goggles from sporting giants Decathlon are part of its impressive range of swimming paraphernalia, which are all reasonably priced.
It was easy to adjust these for both our younger testers using the notched strap on the back of the goggles, although our preferred method is using a button to the sides. The four-year-old tester didn’t want to take these off, applauding the clarity. They offer a wide field of vision, and the smoked lenses reduced the bright lights of our local indoor pool without darkening it too much. This would be handy for holiday swims too. The goggles feel super soft and our mini testers gave them a thumbs up for comfort.
For those starting out on their swimming career, the Speedo biofuse mask goggles are totally geared to young swimmers. From the Velcro side adjustments to the soft neoprene straps and wide vision single lens, these make a great introduction to the concept of goggles. While they’re at the upper end of the price scale, the quality is undeniable. The lenses didn’t fog up, and no pesky water seeped through either, and because they’re clear they’re perfect for indoor swimming.
When products come as a two-pack, we’re often dubious about the quality, questioning whether one pair is simply a backup. Fortunately, we didn’t find this to be the case with Zabert’s K20 goggles. The clear lenses give a wide view offering 180 degree visibility and benefit from UV 400 protection, while we also found these to be reliable on the fog front, only steaming up a handful of times over the testing period.
These goggles fit all three of our testers, and adjusting is a straightforward process simply feeding the band through the clips at the side of the frame. Comfort was praised too, as the silicone moulds to your child’s face without rubbing. We did find the silicone particularly stretchy, which could lead to a snapping after prolonged use or if the goggles weren’t well looked after. The goggles come in a zipped bag which has been a godsend for mad dashes to swimming lessons.
Naturally we questioned whether these kids goggles from Bling20 were purely a novelty item, and while we can’t deny these goggles bring the fun factor to swimming, with its comical lashes and sparkly frame, how would they fare under the water?
They’re latex-free, offer UV protection and an anti-fog coating, plus there’s an adjustable silicone nose piece for extra comfort and snug fit. The chunkier strap at the back seemed to offer comfort to our tester, but if your child has thick hair it could be a sticking point without the split strap. While these focus on the fun, our young testers found them very wearable, but it’s worth bearing in mind the shelf life.
JoJo Maman Bébé is a parent’s best friend when it comes to kitting out babies, toddlers and younger children, and these swimming goggles are no exception. Once we adjusted the silicone straps – you’ll need to alter both the top and bottom, which did feel a little taxing – these no-thrills goggles were ready for action.
The result? They may not offer a lot of the fancy technical features, but there were no complaints from our four-year-old tester making them a smart choice for occasional swimming trips. For the price, these goggles were comfy, had UV protection and we didn’t experience any leaking or fogging during testing. The smaller lenses do lend themselves to pre-schoolers, although we did find the adjustable strap quite long (if not a little flappy), so there’s room to grow.
Speedo is a brand synonymous with swimming, and its junior futura classic goggles are just the ticket for a reliable pair. The vision was superb for our young tester giving added confidence, while the comfy fit meant she stayed in the water for longer. Lastly, at £11 they’re very affordable, too. We also highly commend Zone 3 with its aquahero goggles, a strong option if both outdoor and indoor swimming is on the cards.
While they’re having fun in the sun, make sure your child’s sensitive skin is protected with the best kids’ sunscreens
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