These Leak-Proof Kids’ Swim Goggles Provide Protection During Dives, Handstands, and Flips (2024)

Whether your child swims competitively or just loves jumping into the pool for occasional summer fun, goggles can help protect their eyes from chlorine, UV rays, and more. Finding a pair of goggles your child loves can also help them feel more confident and excited about swimming.

Goggles that leak can ruin water play time and, as ophthalmologist Stephanie Marioneaux, MD, points out, “if they aren’t sealed properly, you won’t get [kids] to wear them." The goggles shouldn’t be so tight that the child complains, but they should be tight enough to make a watertight seal. In addition, Dr. Marioneaux says that parents should look for goggles with polycarbonate lenses and UV protection.

To find the best swim goggles for kids, we consulted several experts on what features to look for and tested 16 options with our kids, ages 3.5 to 11. We assessed children’s swim goggles on several attributes, including comfort, leak resistance, adjustability, performance, durability, and value. A board-certified family physician on our Review Board also reviewed this article for accuracy.

Our Favorite Swim Goggles for Kids

• Easiest to Use: Seago Swim Goggles
• Best Leak-Proof: Arena One Youth Goggles
• Best Anti-Fog: Speedo Kids Skoogles Goggle
• Best Large Lens: AquaSphere Kayenne Junior Swim Goggles
• Best Budget: EverSport Kids Swim Goggles
• Most Secure: Speedo Jr. Hydrospex Classic Goggle
• Best for Sensitive Scalps: Frogglez Anti-Fog Swimming Goggles
• Best Prescription: Speedo Jr. Vanquisher 2.0 Optical
• Best for Playing: Super Smalls Mermaid In Training Goggles

How to Use Swim Goggles Safely

Between pool chemicals, debris in the ocean or lake, and the sun’s rays, it’s vital to protect a child’s eyes while they swim. Here are a few tips:

• Look for kids’ swim goggles with UV protection. Water is highly reflective, and kids’ goggles with a UV coating protect their eyes from sunburn and the sun’s rays.
• Goggles should securely fit around a child’s eyes to prevent leaking and fogging, but not so tight that it hurts or leaves marks (though minor redness is to be expected with a good seal). If children open their eyes underwater without goggles, they risk getting bacteria or chemicals in them, potentially causing pain or infection.
• Children who wear contact lenses should remove them before swimming. There is a high risk of infection if they wear them in the water.

Easiest to Use: Seago Swim Goggles

Why We Like It

These Seago Swim Goggles make a splash for easy adjustability, panoramic view, and comfortable fit. A watertight seal keeps water out, thanks to a silicone frame around the UV-treated and anti-fog lenses. We love how the straps feel smooth when tightening and don’t pull on kids’ hair. A click-open clasp in the back is a unique feature both kids and parents appreciate. Even after taking them on and off several times, two sisters, ages 6 and 10, could get their pairs back on by themselves during testing.

But Take Note

We noticed slight marks on the kids’ faces after wearing the goggles, but they didn’t complain of discomfort or pain.

The Details:

• Age range: 3 to 15 years
• Lenses: Polycarbonate
• Anti-fog: Yes
• UV protection: Yes
• Accessories: Ear plugs, nose plugs, and storage bag

Best Leak-Proof: Arena One Youth Goggle

Why We Like It

Swimming isn’t much fun when your goggles constantly fill with water, but this pick from Arena eliminates that problem. In our testing, a 4.5-year-old wore these goggles to swimming lessons and experienced zero leakage. We noticed some condensation inside the lenses, but they didn’t stop our tiny swimmer from learning new moves in the pool. The goggles also stayed in place through his whole practice without slipping.

The company says its youth swimming goggles are one size fits all. There are two buckles on both sides of the goggles, which are a breeze to adjust. Plus, the nose bridge self-adjusts, meaning it conforms to your child’s nose without any adjusting on your part.

But Take Note

The biggest drawback of the Arena One Youth Goggles is that the lenses are smaller. We didn’t experience any issues with a 4.5-year-old—minus a few facial marks that disappeared quickly—but older kids may want a larger field of view.

The Details:

• Age range: One size fits all
• Lenses: Polycarbonate
• Anti-fog: Yes
• UV protection: Not listed
• Accessories: None

Best Anti-Fog: Speedo Kids Skoogles Goggles

Why We Like It

Whether your child is in the pool for a swim lesson or playing with friends, these goggles won’t slow them down, thanks to a special anti-fog coating and soft, latex-free frame. In our test, a 3.5-year-old wore these goggles to swim lessons and never complained about visibility or leakage in the water. We were so impressed with these goggles that our kiddo’s dad briefly tried them on and confirmed zero issues. The goggles don’t leave any marks or indentations around the eyes or bridge of the nose.

But Take Note

We had trouble adjusting the straps. To loosen them, you have to move the buckle down and back up once you’ve reached your desired fit. It’s a similar process to tighten the straps. “It’s not that hard, but it’s also not as easy as just pulling on a tab,” said one parent.

The Details:

• Age range: 3 to 8 years
• Lenses: Polycarbonate
• Anti-fog: Yes
• UV protection: Yes
• Accessories: None

Best Large Lens: AquaSphere Kayenne Junior Swim Goggles

Why We Like It

Our kids loved these AquaSphere swim goggles for their large anti-fog lenses and comfortable yet secure fit. Kids reported no water leaking into the lenses, which feature anti-scratch, anti-fog, and UV protection coatings. We love how the goggles curve around the eyes, allowing kids to find their diving toys underwater easily. The goggles survived rambunctious pool games, being tossed next to the pool, and thrown into luggage. We enjoyed the clip design, which makes changing the strap size easier—a feature most goggles don’t have.

But Take Note

There are clips on the side of the goggles to adjust the strap, but it’s more straightforward to make adjustments if you take the goggles off first.

The Details:

• Age range: 6 to 15 years
• Lenses: Plexisol
• Anti-fog: Yes
• UV protection: Yes
• Accessories: None

Best Budget: EverSport Kids Swim Goggles

Why We Like It

At under $20 for two pairs and available in multiple color options, you can’t go wrong with the EverSport Kids Swim Goggles. This is a great pick for siblings—to eliminate arguing on who gets what pair since they’re the same style—or to have a pair as a backup for one child. Our favorite feature of the goggles is a parent-friendly clasp in the back. While some kids struggled to clasp the clip independently, parents had zero issues. Our kids also had to press slightly harder for the suction to seal to their faces, but they experienced zero leaking.

But Take Note

Despite the anti-fog lens coating, our kids experienced some fogging.

The Details:

• Age range: 4 to 16 years
• Lenses: Not listed
• Anti-fog: Yes
• UV protection: Yes
• Accessories: Mesh bags, ear plugs, and nose plugs

Most Secure: Speedo Jr. Hydrospex Classic Goggle

Why We Like It

Swim goggles must be able to handle dives, back flips, handstands, and more, which is why we love the Speedo Jr. Hydrospex Classics. In our testing, the thick, double elastic bands ensured a secure, no-slip fit, even around an 11-year-old’s ponytail. The soft silicone straps don’t pull on hair, whether putting them on or taking them off. We appreciate the lack of marks or indentations on small faces, assuring us of a comfortable fit. The UV-protected lenses boast an anti-fog coating that works, and the solid seal prevents water from leaking inside.

But Take Note

Adjusting the swimming goggles is intuitive, with a buckle system on each side. You can’t adjust the nose bridge, but we didn’t feel like we had to. Kids only needed a little help putting a ponytail through the double straps at the back of their heads.

The Details:

• Age range: 6 to 14 years
• Lenses: Not listed
• Anti-fog: Yes
• UV protection: Yes
• Accessories: None

Best for Sensitive Scalps: Frogglez Anti-Fog Swimming Goggles

Why We Like It

Whether your kid is playing in the ocean waves or splashing in the shallow end, the Frogglez swim goggles stay put with a secure neoprene head strap. They're great for kids who complain that goggles hurt their heads or pull their hair because our testing confirmed these don’t do either. Plus, our kids could put these goggles on and remove them without help. We didn’t notice any fogging, and our kids didn’t complain about water leaking into the goggles. A bonus? These goggles float in case you drop them in the pool.

But Take Note

While we love the neoprene strap, it did make for a somewhat awkward fit on a 4.5-year-old, and they don’t adjust much. They didn’t sit flush with the child’s head. However, this didn’t prevent the goggles from staying in place or providing a comfy fit.

The Details:

• Age range: 3 to 10 years
• Lenses: Polycarbonate
• Anti-fog: Yes
• UV protection: Yes
• Accessories: None

Best Prescription: Speedo Jr. Vanquisher 2.0 Optical

Why We Like It

Prescription swim goggles eliminate the need for kids to wear their glasses in the pool (and subsequently damage or lose them). You can select from a range of vision corrections (-1.5 to -8) to ensure optimal vision while swimming laps or competing in a swim meet. In testing, we found these goggles fairly easy to adjust to create the proper size for kids. Testers were impressed with how the goggles didn’t leak or fog up, even with deep dives to the bottom of the pool and cannonballs.

But Take Note

Adjusting these goggles is a challenge. To adjust the straps, you must pull them through an oval-shaped buckle, which is tricky when dry and nearly impossible when wet. While we didn’t experience any damage with the straps or buckle, they feel lower quality.

The Details:

• Age range: 6 to 14 years
• Lenses: Polycarbonate
• Anti-fog: Yes
• UV protection: Yes
• Accessories: Nose pieces

Best for Playing: Super Smalls Mermaid In Training Goggles

Why We Like It

These blinged-out goggles make a statement at the pool. Kids love the bejeweled frame with colored lenses that don’t leak or fog while playing in the water. The soft straps are a breeze to tighten, giving kids the best fit for their face type without leaving painful pressure marks. Mermaids need UV protection (and no fog) while splashing in the waves—two features the Super Smalls swimming goggles offer.

But Take Note

The jeweled frame came off while our 10-year-old tester was putting on these goggles, but we were able to snap it back on.

The Details:

• Age range: Not listed
• Lenses: Not listed
• Anti-fog: Yes
• UV protection: Yes
• Accessories: None

Other Notable Swim Goggles for Kids

• TYR Kids’ Swimple Goggles: An affordable price tag, zero fogging, and no visible wear and tear are a few reasons why we like the TYR Kids’ Swimple Goggles. They’re also easy to adjust via clips on both sides. However, they didn’t feel as comfortable as other options and sometimes leaked.
• Speedo Jr. Vanquisher 2.0 Goggle: These goggles are a standard option that is simple to adjust and doesn’t fog or leak. Unfortunately, they slightly dig into the head and leave behind marks, the straps feel low quality, and the nose pieces are not intuitive to use.

Our Testing Process

Before selecting the best swim goggles for kids, we spoke with several experts about what features to look for and how to keep children’s eyes safe in the water. The best goggles have anti-fog, anti-scratch, and UV protection in the lenses; reflective lenses are also a plus. We loved goggles with easy push-button release mechanisms so kids can take them off independently and painlessly.

We also asked seven testers to have their children, ages 3.5 to 11, wear 16 different goggles to find the best ones. Kids sported these swim goggles at least four to five times per week over an initial two weeks. Parents and their children evaluated the swim goggles on the following attributes:

• Fit and Comfort: Parents had their children try on the goggles to see how easily they could create a snug but comfortable fit. We ensured goggles sat evenly around the eyes without being too tight or loose. If children experienced any discomfort, pressure, or marks on the skin after use, we made note of that and if any additional adjustments were needed.
• Adjustability: We asked parents to describe the process of adjusting the straps, noting the number of straps and any design details to help keep them in place. We also wanted to know if it was uncomplicated to adjust the nose bridge.
• Leak Resistance and Performance: While kids swam in a pool, we checked to see if any water entered their goggles. If the goggles leaked, parents detailed how frequently the leaks occurred and whether they were able to solve the issue by adjusting the fit or if they had to stop using the goggles. Moreover, we checked the goggles for fog during use and whether it affected a child’s visibility in the water.
• Durability: After our initial two-week test, we examined each pair of goggles to see how they held up to regular use. We looked for scratches and other damage to the lenses and if the straps or other adjustment mechanisms stretched over time.
• Value: The swim goggles we tested were priced between $10 and $29, with a median price of $18. We asked testers if they thought the product was a good value and if they would use them regularly.

Our Experts

To find out what to look for in swim goggles for young swimmers, we spoke with an ophthalmologist and three swim coaches:

• Stephanie Marioneaux, MD, clinical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO)
• Mike Koleber, owner/head coach of Nitro Swimming in Austin, Texas, and board chair for the American Swim Coaches Association
• Morgan Harkness, assistant coach for the men's and women's swim and dive programs at Fordham University
• Trevor Miele, head coach of New York University men's and women's swimming and diving programs

What Types of Lenses Are Best for Swimming?

Consider your child's needs and where they’ll be swimming when selecting which lenses will work best.

• Polycarbonate: This option is best because it's typically more robust than glass or plastic, so it won’t shatter upon impact. They’re also more comfortable and lightweight.
• Mirrored: This lens type is great for blocking sunlight because it has a darker tint. Mirrored lenses are ideal for bright, sunny days, so your child’s eyes are protected while they splash in an outdoor pool.
• Prescription: Children who wear glasses and aren’t ready for contacts will appreciate lenses made with a prescription. While you have to order them customized, they’re great for kids who want to swim without their glasses.

Other Factors to Consider When Buying Swim Goggles for Kids

• Fit: A comfortable fit is a must, especially for children still getting used to goggles. Check the manufacturer's age recommendation and guidelines to get the best fit. Goggles should fit snugly but comfortably, keeping water out without feeling like suction cups. Straps should go across the center of the back of the head. The right-sized nose-bridge piece will also help the goggles form a "seal" on the eye socket.
• Competitive Swim Training/Sports: The right pair of goggles can make a big difference for kids who participate in swim training or sports. Competitive swimmers should own more than one high-quality pair. Key features to look for are two straps to ensure the goggles stay on when diving, good suction to prevent leaks, and mirrored lenses to block out the sun.
• Recreational Swimming: Dr. Marioneaux says swim goggles are not a requirement for young kids who are still learning to swim or aren't swimming competitively. Still, they can help them feel more comfortable and confident in the water. Early introduction to goggles will help prepare kids to wear them more regularly should they pursue competitive swimming or another sport requiring protective eyewear.

How Old Should a Child Be Before Wearing Swim Goggles?

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends children be at least 1 year old before beginning swimming lessons. However, most manufacturers design swim goggles for children ages 3 and up. Although younger swimmers may not need a pair of goggles, it doesn’t hurt to introduce them to a pair if they feel comfortable wearing them.

How Should Swim Goggles Fit?

Many elements make for the perfect fit. A correctly sized nose piece allows the goggles to form a "seal" on the eye socket. Goggle straps should come across the center of the back of the head for better performance and comfort. A double strap is important in competitive swimming as that extra strap helps keep the goggles in place.

Do Goggles Come in Prescription Lenses?

Yes, many brands are available for those who need glasses outside the water. Often, you’ll have to custom-order prescription goggles, but they make a big difference in your child’s ability to see while swimming.

Who We Are

Ambrosia V. Brody is a California-based editor, journalist, and mother to three. She has worked as a professional journalist for more than 16 years. When she isn't writing, you can find her at the library, Starbucks, or the park with her kids.

Additional reporting by:

Katrina Cossey is a commerce writer, enthusiastic shopper, and devoted mom. She spent several years in broadcast journalism but found her true passion in writing about the best products for families, pregnant people, and kids of all ages. She’s researched thousands of baby products, toys, gifts, and more and personally tested many of them. In her spare time, you’ll likely find her in the beautiful outdoors of Oklahoma with her husband and 4-year-old son. Katrina’s son doesn’t wear goggles yet, but she plans to use swimming goggles with a wide view, easy adjustability, and nose pieces.