I live in a family of fish. My mother-in-law claims my husband could swim before he could walk. I’m not sure if that is entirely true, but he definitely spent a lot of time at the pool as a kid (as in every day during the summer). My kids love spending time in the water–whether it’s at the pool, the beach, or on a boat.
I am not a fish. My parents put me in swim lessons and I learned to swim, but it isn’t something I love to do. Could I swim if my life or someone else’s life depended on it? Yes. Do I choose to go swim laps? Absolutely not.
All of my kids are great swimmers. We started them in water as infants in life jackets or pool floats. They all started lessons when they were very young, and they all swim on our local swim team.
When my kids started swimming, they came out of the pool with irritated, red eyes from the chlorine. I felt terrible that I hadn’t even thought about getting them goggles. It just wasn’t something I had ever really needed so I didn’t think about it.
16 Best Swim Goggles for Kids
There are so many options out there for swim goggles for kids. Below are the ten we feel perform best and will give you a good bang for your buck!
| Model | Features |
|---|---|
Splaqua Goggles Read Review | |
Aegend Swim Goggles Read Review | |
Speedo Kids Skoogles Read Review | |
TYR Youth Tie Die Swimple Read Review | |
Frogglez Explorerz Jr Read Review | |
OutdoorMaster Swim Goggles Read Review | |
Finis DragonFlys Kids Swim Goggles Read Review | |
Aqua Sphere Seal Read Review | |
Speedo Kids Goggles Read Review | |
COOLOO Kids Goggles Read Review | |
Splash Swim Goggles Read Review | |
OMID Kids Goggles Read Review | |
Seago Swim Goggles Read Review | |
| Careula Kids' Goggles Read Review | |
EverSport Goggles Read Review | |
findway Kids' Swim Goggles Read Review |
What to Look for in Swimming Goggles
It might seem that goggles are all the same and there isn’t much of a difference, but there is. Here are the things you want to look for when choosing a good pair of swim goggles:
- Leak-proof, comfortable frames. Kids won’t wear uncomfortable goggles, and if they leak they are pointless.
- Easy adjusting straps. You want your kiddo to be able to adjust the straps without help, if possible. Straps that are hard to adjust aren’t only annoying, they also can be painful on the head and hair.
- Anti-fog coating. Foggy lenses are never good during swimming. Anti-fog coating keeps lenses clear.
- Non-irritating material. If your child has a sensitivity to silicone or latex, make sure you don’t whatever you choose doesn’t contain those materials. Otherwise, they can be a great choice.
- UV protection. Sunburned eyes are no fun, so look for an option with UV protection.
- Clear, tinted, or mirrored lenses. If your child will be doing casual swimming, clear lenses are fine. For swim team and racing, you might want tinted or mirrored lenses, which help your eyes focus better in sunlight.
Splaqua Kids Swim Goggles
For goggles that keep water out and are fun and easy to use, Splaqua Kids Swim Goggles are great. They are well-priced and excellent quality; you can be sure they will last. These goggles won’t fog up, and they have UV protection to keep young eyes safe.
Kids love the bright colors, and parents love that the straps are easy to adjust. The silicone frames provide a good seal without leaving red marks around the eyes. We recommend the Splaquas for kids ages 2-10. They work well for casual swimming or for competition. These are definitely one of the front runners in goggles for young kids.
Aegend Swim Goggles
This are a fantastic affordable option. The comfortable silicone frames keep the water out. The lenses come with an anti-fog coating to help ensure great vision in the water.
An easy-to-use clip on the back of the straps allows you to remove them without pulling them over your head, which prevents hair pulling that often happens when removing goggles. The straps themselves are very easy to adjust.
The lenses are shatterproof and are coated with UV protection, which is great for pool or lake swimming. The Aegend comes with a case and a 12-month guarantee. With multiple colors and options of mirrored or clear lenses, there is sure to be something your swimmer will love.
The Aegend is great for both casual swimming and swim team. One size fits all (children and adults). *These are made of silicone and should not be used by anyone who is allergic or sensitive to silicone.
Speedo Kids Skoogles
The Speedo Kids Skoogles are comfortable and cute. Skoogles have soft frames that are latex free. The lenses come with anti-fog and UV protective coatings.
The gaskets which rest around the eyes are not constricting, as they are on some other brands. Even so, the Skoogles still keep water from coming in. The clips on the sides are used to adjust the straps.
The Skoogles have a middle eye feature that allows for a good fit on a variety of face sizes and shapes. The Skoogles fit most kids ages 3-8. They come in four different colors and are good for casual swimming or swim team competition.
TYR Youth Tie Dye Swimple Goggles
The TYR Youth Tie Dye Swimples are my kids’ favorite. The polycarbonate lenses are UV and anti-fog coated, but the lenses are clear, not mirrored. The silicone frames keep the water out very well without leaving “raccoon eyes” after they are taken off.
The Swimples come in four different tie dye patterns. The straps, frame, and gaskets are made of silicone. They are recommended for kids ages 3-10.
The Swimples are great for both casual swimming and racing. My only complaint with these goggles is that the straps are a little hard to adjust. My kids have to take the goggles off in order to adjust the straps.
*The TYR Youth Tie Dye Swimple Goggles are made of silicone and should not be used by anyone who is allergic or sensitive to silicone.
Frogglez Explorerz Jr.
This looks different than any other option out there. The neoprene strap on the Frogglez Explorerz Jr. does two things: it holds the goggles in place and it keeps the ears and hair from being pinched or pulled when taking the goggles off.
The strap is very comfortable and easy to wear. The goggles themselves are 100% UVA and UVB protected. The frames keep water out and do not fog up.
Frogglez says the Frogglez Explorerz Jr. is great for kids ages 3-8, but we would recommend it only for kids 3-6. It doesn’t fit the older kids very well, as the strap is not adjustable.
If you have a kid age 3-6, the Frogglez Explorerz Jr. is a great selection. There is a 100% money back guarantee with Frogglez.
Outdoor Master Kids Swim Goggles
In addition to having a cute, fishy design, these goggles get the job done! Kids affirm they are comfortable and stay put as they play. These OutdoorMaster goggles also have anti-fog and UV protective features, both of which are crucial to having safe fun in the water free of sun damage or clouded lenses.
And parents will appreciate how easy it is to adjust the straps; simply pull to tighten and push the button to loosen. These goggles are a great value since they come in a 2-pack for less than $15. But the best part is that they come with a lifetime warranty!
Finis DragonFlys Kids Swim Goggles
The Finis DragonFlys Kids Swim Goggles are extremely comfortable and won’t get caught in children’s hair. These swim goggles are perfect for children ages 4-12. The fabric strap goes around the ears and head of the child, which makes for a comfortable swimming experience.
The buoyancy of these goggles means that the goggles won’t sink if they fall in water, they will swim. Bright colors will also help to easily find goggles if dropped in the pool. These goggles won’t break if they fall because they are impact-resistant, anti-fogging, and they offer UV protection.
Aqua Sphere Seal
These goggles offer something none of the others on this list have: curved lenses which allow you to see 180 degrees. Additionally, the lenses are considerably larger than any of the other options on this list. They are between the size of normal goggles and a swim mask. The lenses are also distortion free and scratch resistant. Anti-fog coating is another plus with this option.
Because of the larger lenses, the frames of the Aqua Sphere Seal Kid 2 sit on the cheekbones, rather than inside the eye sockets. That means a more comfortable fit without raccoon eyes. The adjustable buckles on the sides make it easy for kids to adjust the straps themselves.
These goggles come in 8 different frame colors and two lens colors. Overall, the Aqua Sphere Seal Kid 2 is an excellent choice for kids ages 3 and up. However, they are better suited for casual swimming than for racing.
Speedo Kids Swim Goggles
Speedo has a fantastic pair of kids goggles, and they come in a 3 pack! These goggles come in several fun colors and prints, and some of the lenses have exciting holograms on them (which are see-through an don’t affect vision while swimming). While most kid goggle sets are inexpensive and low quality, these are some of the best goggles for kids available.
The Speedo Kids Swim Goggles don’t leak, and the silicone straps are easy to adjust. You don’t have to worry about leaking or fog, and UV protection will keep your kiddo’s eyes safe. These are great for kids ages 3-8 and work well for casual swimming or competition.
COOLOO Kids Goggles
You not only get 2 pairs of googles for a reasonable price, but there are several different colors to choose from. They are latex and PVC-free, which is recommended for children. These googles are anti-fog and offer a 180 degree wide view. They have these awesome quick-fit buttons that make adjusting the straps super easy.
The silicone around the eye sockets reduce the pressure around the eyes, not only making them comfortable but also ensuring they are leak-proof. But the thing I like the best about these is that they come with nose bridge replacements in different sizes (S/M/L) which makes it easy to fit to your kid’s face. And they come with earplugs and a net pouch for storage.
COOLOO stands behind their googles; they offer a 90-day guarantee. If there is any problems, they promise to respond and make it right – impressive!
Splash Swim Goggles
OMID Kids Swim Goggles
These googles might be more expensive than other ones, but they are worth it. For example, these polarized lenses will block 99% of the glare from the sun. And they not only have a non-slip silicone strap but also a flexible nose bridge which helps them fit any face. In fact, the ergonomic design of these googles ensures a perfect, non-leak fit. They are also anti-fog, 100% UV protective, and have a 180 degree wide field of vision.
There are so many reasons your kids 6-14 will love these googles . . . and many reasons you will love them! They work great both in indoor pools and outdoor pools. The polarized lenses reduces eyestrain.
These goggles are incredibly soft and comfortable. They have a simple one-touch release clip making strap adjustment super easy. And since drying googles out between uses extends their life, they come with a mesh storage bag. In my opinion, these googles are well worth the money.
Seago Swim Goggles
These googles have it all; they are anti-fog, anti-UV, and leak-proof. They are made for kids 3-15, but that really depends on the size of the head (we have big heads in our family – thanks to my husband’s side. I, however, can wear these because I have a small head). They are probably best for kids 3-10. These goggles comes in a set of 2 for a very low price.
They work well both indoors and outdoors since they block UVA and UVB rays, the lenses are clear under and above the water, and the fit is great thanks to the silicone cushioned frames. Win, win, win!
The 2 things that I think all kids will like about these googles is that they are more of a mask fit which offers a 180 degree peripheral view, and it’s easy to adjust the strap. They have an adjustment clip in the back of the head that makes it easy to tighten and loosen the strap. You just press a button and release or tighten – easy as pie! Which really helps with the whole hair issue! In fact, it’s so easy that kids can put them on and take them off by themselves.
Careula Kids’ Goggles
The Careula kids’ goggles are a great pair of goggles for any kids that want to swim like a fish in the water. They come in many colors, so kids can choose their favorite bright, fun colors. The frame of the goggles is soft silicone and the lenses are impact-resistant. The lenses are also coated with anti-fogging and protect against the sun’s rays. Swimming with these goggles will allow your children to swim with no issues.
The soft straps attach with a small button in the back, holding the goggles in place so they don’t slip away. Children’s hair won’t get caught in the straps. These goggles are comfortable to wear and adjust smoothly to your child’s head. They also come with a goggle case that will keep your goggles safe from getting lost or stolen.
EverSport Swim Goggles
If you are looking for a very inexpensive option, the EverSport Swim Goggles come in a 2 pack. You can choose from either clear or mirrored lenses. There is a clasp on the back of the strap with a button, making it easy to put these goggles on and take them off again. To adjust the straps, pull on them at the back near the clasp.
The lenses on the EverSport are larger than on most kid goggles, which provides better visibility. While the manufacturer claims these are anti-fog, they do tend to fog up a bit. They do have UV protection and a 12 month warranty.
Unfortunately, these goggles are too big for young kids and are better for ages 6-10. The lenses tend to be a bit darker than most, making these better for outdoors than for indoor pools.
These are decent goggles, but if you are looking for something that will work well and last, I would recommend spending a little more and going with one of the other options on this list.
findway Kids’ Swim Goggles
The Findway kids’ swim goggles are for kids ages 3-14. These goggles are extremely safe and will protect your children’s eyes when they are swimming in the water. They have a hypoallergenic silicone strap and shatterproof lenses. The lenses are also coated in an anti-fog proof technology which makes swimming in the water quick and efficient. In addition, the lenses are also UV400 rated, so little kids’ eyes will be well protected when swimming around.
The straps on these swimming goggles are extremely soft and durable and have a double seal design which creates a perfect seal. These goggles don’t leak water into children’s eyes and won’t make their eyes red when swimming for long periods of time.
How to Properly Fit Swim Goggles to Your Kids
Why Cheap Goggles Don’t Work
Goggles from the dollar store didn’t work. We learned that the hard way. They were worse than having none at all because they filled up with water and then the kids would have to stop swimming, get to the side of the pool, empty out the water, and try to get the goggles back in place.
I decided we better ask someone who knew more than I did so we asked my mother-in-law (who, at sixty-something still swims laps every day) as well as my kids’ swim coach which kind they would recommend.
After doing some of my own research, we bought some of the best budget goggles. My kids are now enjoying clear vision with no water leaks while they swim.
That isn’t to say we haven’t had to buy several pairs of goggles for each kid the past few years, but that isn’t because the goggles haven’t been good. My kids just have a knack for losing them…Thankfully, when you buy quality, inexpensive goggles, it isn’t the end of the world if your kids do lose them.
Summary
Do your child (and yourself) a favor by investing in a pair of good affordable swim goggles that are comfortable and functional. You will both be happier for it. While all of the options on this list are good, we have some recommendations.
We recommend the Splaqua and the TYR Youth Tie Dye Swimple for kids 3-10. For kids 8 and older we recommend the Aegend. Casual swimmers of all ages will do well with the Aqua Sphere Seal Kid 2.
FAQs
Why are goggles important for kids?
Goggles are key to helping kids feel comfortable underwater, a vital part of learning how to swim. Since goggles keep water out of kids’ eyes, they give kids confidence to submerge under the water. Additionally, goggles protect kids’ eyes from all the chemicals and irritants in the water, such as chlorine or debris.
How can you be sure goggles won’t leak?
Talk to swim coaches, swim teachers, and life guards about what type of goggles they recommend (or just check out the list we’ve put together here). Investing in quality, well-made goggles ensures you will get some that don’t leak and provide clear, underwater vision.
Do goggles have UV protection?
Many goggles are made with UV protection to prevent sunburn. When shopping for goggles, make sure they have UV protective coating to keep your children’s eyes safe from sun damage. This list presents several excellent options for goggles with UV protection.
