When it comes to open water or triathlon swimming, one question pops up every season:
"Do I need special goggles for open water?"
The short answer?
Not necessarily. But you do need goggles with features that make long-distance, unpredictable-condition swimming more comfortable and clear.
Let’s break it down—with real recommendations from a shop that swims and races (and doesn’t just push whatever’s trending in the magazines).
🧠 What Actually Makes a Goggle "Good for Open Water"?
Forget the hype—here are the features that actually matter when choosing goggles for triathlon and open water:
✅ Wider Lenses & Better Visibility
Peripheral vision is critical in open water. You need to sight buoys, swimmers, and chop—often all at once.
✅ UV Protection & Glare Reduction
Especially on bright race mornings or midday training swims, UV filters and polarized or photochromatic (transition) lenses help reduce eye strain and glare off the water.
✅ Long-Wear Comfort
Open water races last longer than your average pool set. Look for softer gaskets and ergonomic fits—not the “racing” style goggles from swim clubs.
✅ Reliable Anti-Fog
Not all anti-fog is created equal. You’ll want something durable that doesn't disappear after three uses or something that starts out fine but a few hundred meters into your two kilometre open water swim, becomes foggy. You can fix it with anti-fog drops when you are on the pool deck but out in open water, you have no access to a quick fix.
🏅 Our Top Open Water & Triathlon Goggles for 2024
These are shop-tested, triathlete-approved picks. We’ve left out anything that feels gimmicky or uncomfortable for long efforts.
🥇 Arena Air Bold Swipe
The gold standard in comfort, clarity, and anti-fog performance.
- Soft, "air seal" gaskets that adapt to your face with no pressure points
- Swipe Anti-Fog Technology—works longer than traditional coatings (just swipe the inside lens to refresh)
- Sleek profile, excellent for racing or long training swims
- This one is my pick for all my training. I love it so much I call it 'My Favorite Goggle Of All Time' —this is the goggle I wear myself! There are so many reasons to love this one.
👓 Arena The One Mask
A mask-style option with huge comfort and visibility benefits.
- Panoramic lenses for open water awareness
- Ideal for swimmers who struggle with goggle fit—super forgiving
- Lightweight feel with secure sealing
Perfect for beginners or anyone prone to goggle leaks or discomfort.
Elise's note: This goggle fits a medium to larger face size.
🏁 Arena Cobra Tri Swipe
High-performance meets real-world comfort.
- Streamlined, race-ready design
- Swipe Anti-Fog tech included
- Great visibility with curved lenses
- Excellent bridge between elite racing and open water practicality
🕶 Form Goggles with SwimStraight Tech
Tech meets training—especially great for sighting.
- Display metrics directly in the goggle (when paired with GPS devices)
- SwimStraight tech helps you stay on course in open water
- Universal fit with customizable nose bridges
- On the pricier side, but unbeatable for data-driven athletes
📦 In stock now—ask for a demo or sizing support in-store.
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🥽 Swim Secure FotoFlex Plus Goggles
- Photochromatic lenses automatically adjust tint based on light conditions—clear in low light and darker in bright sun
- Extra wide-angle lenses provide a panoramic field of vision, ideal for sighting buoys and navigating open water
- Ultra-flexible ‘x-flex’ nose bridge ensures a comfortable fit across various face shapes—one size truly fits all
- Anti-fog, UV-coated, and scratch-resistant lenses for clear, durable vision across multiple seasons
- Soft silicone gaskets create a secure, leak-free seal without compromising comfort
- Easy-adjust straps with large buttons, designed for quick adjustments even with cold fingers
- Includes a robust, reusable storage case to protect your goggles between swims
These goggles are designed to adapt seamlessly to changing light conditions, making them an excellent choice for open water swimmers who encounter varying environments.
⏳ Coming Soon: Orca Killa 180
- Wide-view, curved lens design
- Strong anti-fog and UV protection
- Ergonomic fit made for endurance
- We expect these mid-June!
🚫 What We Don’t Recommend
Some goggles often promoted by big-name swim brands or featured in magazine lists (like the Speedo Speedsocket) are great for short pool sprints—but not ideal for triathletes or open water swimmers.
Why?
They tend to:
- Be too narrow or tight for long wear
- Lack wide visibility
- Offer basic or no UV/polarization features
When comfort and sightlines matter, skip the swim-club styles unless that's your background. If you have a swim club background, of course it's fine to stick with what you know but try to find a model that offers some level of sun protection. After all, back when triathlon was in its infancy, there weren't any other options and we all managed to do triathons just fine with whatever gear we had.
Final Thoughts: Fit > Brand
Remember: many goggles—even across different brands—come from the same factories. What matters most is fit, comfort, and visibility, not the logo, the packaging or a particular brand's marketing message. On the positive side, more goggle manufacturers have responded to the needs to triathletes and open water swimmers so we have more suitable options now. Look for features and fit for best performance for your next open water swim.
If you’re unsure what fits best, come in and try a few pairs on. We’re happy to guide you based on your face shape, race goals, and budget.