Swedish goggles or Arena: how to choose

You choose swim goggles by how they sit on your face. Malmsten Swedish goggles have no gasket and you adjust them by hand; Soft Frame goggles have a soft silicone frame; Arena goggles have soft gaskets and an interchangeable nose bridge. We stock original Malmsten Swedish goggles, BONESWIMMER Soft Frame Swedish goggles and a selection of Arena for adults and younger swimmers.

Swedish goggles: what they are

Swedish goggles have no gasket: the lens sits directly around the eye with a low, clean profile, and the nose bridge is adjustable. They are light and hydrodynamic, which is why so many swimmers wear them for training.

Malmsten, the original Swedish goggles

Malmsten, a Swedish company from Åhus, introduced them in the mid-1970s. Two rigid polycarbonate lenses, a double latex strap and a cotton cord with a silicone tube for the nose bridge; they are World Aquatics (formerly FINA) approved. There are two lines: Swedish Original, in several colours, and Jewel Collection, with mirrored lenses, anti-fog treatment and a UV filter.

Malmsten Swedish goggles

How to assemble them

They arrive in pieces and take a few minutes to put together. Thread the cord through the silicone tube and the eyelets on the nose side of the lenses, then knot it once the lenses are centred on your eyes. The strap goes through the slots on the outer side twice, with one pass higher and one lower on the back of your head. Pull it just tight enough to hold, not more, then tie the knot and trim the excess. After the first few swims, adjust the knot and bridge again: fiddling with them is part of the Swedish goggle ritual.

To take them off, don't pull the lenses away from your face: lift them onto your forehead and slide the strap over your head. The strap is latex, so Malmsten goggles are not suitable if you are allergic to latex.

BONESWIMMER Soft Frame

The bare-bones shape of Swedish goggles with a soft silicone frame, so they sit comfortably and leave fewer marks. Colours run from clear to black, from fuchsia to green; the Mirror version has a Silver, Gold or Blue mirrored lens.

Silicone Swedish goggles

Arena Cobra Ultra Swipe

Low-profile goggles with hard polycarbonate lenses, Japanese TPE gaskets and a double strap. The nose bridge is interchangeable, in 5 sizes, to fit your face; the fit runs small. Swipe anti-fog reactivates when you run a finger across the inside of the lenses, in the water.

They come with clear or mirrored lenses: Mirror Indoors for indoor pools, Mirror Outdoors for outdoor pools and bright light. To change strap colour, or keep a spare in your bag, there is the Silicone Strap Kit Cobra Series, with three silicone straps.

Arena Cobra goggles

Arena Air Speed: honeycomb gaskets

Air Speed goggles have honeycomb Air Seals gaskets that spread the pressure around the eyes; the nose bridge is interchangeable, in 3 sizes, and the strap is double. Mirrored Indoors and Outdoors versions are available here too.

Arena adult goggles

For younger swimmers: Air Junior

Air Junior has Air Seals gaskets that are gentle on the skin, a self-adjusting nose bridge and a split strap that is easy to adjust and comfortable with long hair. It has an anti-fog coating and UV protection, and it is PVC-free. There is also a mirrored version, Air Mirror junior.

Arena junior goggles

Lenses, fogging and spare parts

Clear lenses are the most neutral choice, with no tint between you and the pool; mirrored lenses cut glare and, in the Outdoors versions, are made for bright outdoor light. On Jewel Swedish goggles, don't rub the inside of the lenses or you'll damage the anti-fog treatment; on Arena Swipe, just run a finger across the inside, in the water. After use, rinse your goggles in fresh water and let them dry in the shade.

Spare parts include the nose piece, elastic straps in lots of colours that fit any goggle with a strap slot, and beads and strap charms to customise your strap.

Swim goggle spare parts

Every model is in Swim goggles.