If water racing up your nose ruins every backstroke set, a nose clip fixes it in seconds. For most swimmers, the Speedo Competition Nose Clip is the pick worth starting with: it’s the clear best seller in the category on Amazon UK with 900+ bought in the past month, it costs around £13, and its bendable metal frame lets you set the pinch pressure to your own nose shape. Synchro swimmers and beginners have better-suited options further down.
Nose clips split into three broad styles. Bridge clips sit over the outside of the nose and pinch the nostrils shut. Plug-style clips push soft cups into the nostrils themselves. Strap and cord versions add a retaining line so the clip does not sink to the bottom of the pool.
One thing applies to nearly every clip on this list: they all leave a faint red mark on the bridge of your nose after a long session, and they all need a rinse in fresh water after chlorine. Only the departures from that get a mention per product.
Have a browse through the rest of our swim accessories coverage once you’ve picked your clip, and pair it with goggles that actually seal.
Quick picks:
- Best overall: Speedo Competition Nose Clip, bendable metal frame
- Best budget: Adjustable Swim Nose Clips 6 Pack, around £1.60
- Best for beginners: Zoggs Silicone Swimming Nose Clip with Case
- Best plug style: Sinus Saver Water Sports Nose Clip
1) Sinus Saver Water Sports Nose Clip
This one sits inside your nostrils instead of over them, which changes everything about how it feels. Two soft cups made from medical-grade silicone slot into each nostril, joined by a thin band that rests on the bridge.
The seal is the strongest of any style here. Nothing gets past those cups, so it suits surfing, diving and rough water where a bridge clip would be knocked loose.
It comes in XS, M and L, and getting the size right takes a bit of trial and error. Too small and it works loose; too large and your nostrils ache after twenty minutes.
Worth noting: because it sits inside the nose, it looks almost invisible from a distance.
2) Speedo Liquid Comfort Nose Clip
Soft thermoplastic rubber pads on a flexible nylon frame make this the gentlest bridge clip for long sets. The frame flexes with your nose rather than fighting it, so pressure spreads across a wider patch of skin.
It weighs about 0.64 oz and ships with a hard plastic storage case, which keeps the frame from getting crushed at the bottom of a kit bag.
The clip floats if it slips off mid-length, and the bright colour options make it easy to spot in the water. One size fits all, which works for most adult noses but leaves very narrow bridges with a loose fit.
Expect to pay roughly £12 to £21 depending on the retailer.
3) Arena Nose Clip Pro
Arena’s Pro pairs a polycarbonate frame with silicone pads, giving it a firmer bite than the softer nylon designs. At 0.16 oz it’s barely noticeable once it’s on.
The polycarbonate holds its shape through months of chlorine exposure, so the tension you set in week one is still there in month six. Swimmers who hate re-adjusting kit mid-session tend to get on well with it.
Arena also sells a strap version of the Pro for anyone who keeps losing clips. Both are one size.
The stiffer frame is less forgiving on sensitive skin, so if you already find bridge clips pinch, start with the Liquid Comfort instead.
4) Speedo Competition Nose Clip
The metal frame is what sets this apart. You bend it once to match your nose, and it stays bent, which is why it’s the standard choice for synchronised swimmers who need an absolute seal while upside down.
Thermoplastic pads cushion the contact points, and the whole thing weighs around 0.8 oz. It’s the category best seller on Amazon UK and sits near £13.
Bend it too far and the frame weakens, so adjust in small increments and test in the shower before a session.
A version with a retaining cord exists for anyone doing repeated dives or racing starts.
5) TYR Ergo Swim Clip
TYR’s Ergo weighs just 0.16 oz and uses a hypoallergenic thermoplastic rubber pad, which makes it the sensible choice if other clips leave your skin irritated.
The polyurethane frame has a flexible bridge that gives slightly when you push off a wall. That flex is the reason it pairs so well with a front-mounted snorkel during technique work.
Take it into a set of swimming drills and it stays put through flip turns, which is more than some softer clips manage.
It’s the cheapest of the branded options here, and the low profile means it barely shows in photos.
6) FINIS Nose Clip
FINIS builds this one on a nylon frame for pressure retention, meaning it keeps squeezing at the same strength after hundreds of uses. Silicone pads handle the contact.
The anatomic shape follows the curve of the nose closely, and a carrying case comes in the box. It weighs around 0.8 oz and floats when it comes off.
It only comes in one colour and one size, so a narrow nose may find it works loose after a few minutes. Snorkellers rate it highly because the shape clears a front snorkel mount.
FINIS also makes the Tempo Trainer Pro if you’re building out a training kit.
7) Zoggs Silicone Swimming Nose Clip with Case
At about £5.60 with a case included, this is the easiest first clip to buy. Zoggs uses soft silicone throughout, so there’s no hard frame digging into the bridge while you get used to the sensation.
The listing shows 200+ bought in the past month on Amazon UK, and it’s stocked widely across British swim retailers.
Soft silicone flexes more than metal or polycarbonate, which means a slightly looser seal on fast tumble turns. For lane swimming, aqua fitness or learning backstroke, that trade is fine.
The blue and clear finish is hard to see once it’s on your face.
8) Cressi Aqua Kit Ear Plugs and Nose Clip
Water in the ears bothers some swimmers more than water up the nose, and this set handles both for around £8. You get a moulded nose clip plus a pair of ear plugs in one case.
Cressi built it for adults doing recreational swimming and snorkelling in the sea, so it holds up well in saltwater. The nose clip weighs roughly 0.6 oz.
Buying the pair together costs less than sourcing each separately, which is the main reason to choose it over a standalone clip.
It’s one size, and swimmers prone to ear infections after saltwater swimming get the most out of it.
9) Arena Unisex Nose Clip
Arena’s standard unisex clip is the simple, no-fuss option, and Amazon UK lists it with 100+ bought in the past month. It strips out the case and the strap and just gives you the clip.
Silicone pads over a light frame keep it comfortable for a 45-minute session. There’s no colour coding beyond the basic range, so mark yours if you swim with a club.
Because it costs less than the Pro version, it works well as a spare to leave permanently in your kit bag.
Anyone training seriously will find the Pro’s firmer frame holds better, but for club sessions and lane swimming this does the job.
10) Adjustable Swim Nose Clips Non-Slip Silicone Plugs 6 Pack
Six clips for about £1.60 makes this the obvious choice for families, swim schools and anyone who loses kit. Each one uses non-slip silicone with an anti-choke pressure band.
They’re sized for both children and adults, which in practice means they fit small and medium noses best. Amazon UK also runs a save 15% offer on any two packs.
Build quality sits below the branded clips: the silicone softens faster in chlorine and the grip loosens after a few months. At this price you replace them instead of repairing them.
For a child learning to swim who might drop one in the changing room, that’s the right trade.
How to Choose a Swimming Nose Clip
Pick your style first, then worry about brand. Plug-style clips seal hardest, metal-frame bridge clips adjust most precisely, and soft silicone clips feel kindest on new skin.
| Clip | Frame material | Weight | Case or strap | Approx. price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sinus Saver | Medical silicone plugs | 0.2 oz | No | Varies |
| Speedo Liquid Comfort | Flexible nylon | 0.64 oz | Case | £12–£21 |
| Arena Nose Clip Pro | Polycarbonate | 0.16 oz | Strap version sold | Varies |
| Speedo Competition | Bendable metal | 0.8 oz | Cord version sold | ~£13 |
| TYR Ergo | Polyurethane | 0.16 oz | No | Low |
| FINIS | Nylon | 0.8 oz | Case | Varies |
| Zoggs Silicone | Soft silicone | Light | Case | ~£5.60 |
| Cressi Aqua Kit | Moulded, with ear plugs | 0.6 oz | Case | ~£8 |
| Arena Unisex | Light frame, silicone pads | Light | No | Varies |
| 6 Pack Adjustable | Non-slip silicone | Light | No | ~£1.60 |
Which nose-clip style is most comfortable?
Soft silicone bridge clips feel the most comfortable for first-time users because there’s no rigid frame pressing on cartilage. Plug-style clips like the Sinus Saver feel odd for the first few swims, then disappear entirely once your nostrils adjust.
Weight plays a part too. Anything at 0.16 oz, such as the TYR Ergo or Arena Pro, is light enough that you forget it’s there mid-length.
How tight should a swimming nose clip feel?
It should hold firm through a push-off without pinching hard enough to hurt after ten minutes. Shake your head sharply on the poolside before you get in: if the clip shifts, tighten it a touch.
A clip that leaves a deep white dent rather than a light pink mark is too tight, and that pressure will give you a headache by the end of a long set.
Is a metal or plastic frame better for synchronised swimming?
Metal wins for synchro. You bend a metal frame to match your exact nose shape and it holds that shape upside down, under pressure, through a full routine, which is why the Speedo Competition clip dominates poolside at synchro sessions.
Plastic frames rely on their moulded tension, and that tension drops the moment you’re inverted for thirty seconds.
Should beginners choose a clip with a retaining strap or case?
Start with a case, add a strap later. A hard case stops the frame bending out of shape in your bag, which is the most common way a clip loses its grip.
Straps matter once you’re doing dives, racing starts or open water swims where a lost clip sinks. For steady lane swimming you rarely need one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should you wear a nose clip when swimming?
Wear one if water going up your nose stops you relaxing, especially on backstroke or during flip turns. Clips also help swimmers prone to sinus irritation after long sessions in chlorinated pools.
You don’t need one to swim well, and plenty of swimmers simply breathe out gently through the nose instead.
What is the most comfortable nose clip for swimming?
The Speedo Liquid Comfort is the most comfortable bridge clip thanks to soft thermoplastic rubber pads on a flexible nylon frame that moves with your nose. Its 0.64 oz weight sits low on the face.
If the bridge of your nose is sensitive to any clip, the plug-style Sinus Saver removes the pressure point entirely.
What is the best nose clip for a beginner swimmer?
The Zoggs Silicone Swimming Nose Clip at around £5.60 is the best starting point because the soft silicone is forgiving and the case keeps it in shape. Losing it costs very little.
Beginners working on breathing will find a gentle clip less distracting than a firm competition frame.
Are nose clips suitable for children learning to swim?
Yes, provided the clip is sized for a child’s nose and supervised in use. The 6-pack adjustable silicone clips suit swim lessons well because they’re cheap enough to replace when one goes missing.
Check the fit each session, as a loose clip that keeps falling off distracts more than it helps.
How do you stop a swimming nose clip from slipping off?
Dry the bridge of your nose before fitting the clip, since skin oils and pool water both reduce grip. Re-bend a metal frame in small steps until it grips without pain.
For dives and open water, choose a version with a retaining cord like the strap edition of the Arena Pro.
Can you use a nose clip for synchronised swimming?
Yes, and synchro effectively requires one. The bendable metal Speedo Competition Nose Clip is the common choice because it holds a custom shape through inverted positions and long underwater sequences.
Carry a spare in your bag; synchro routines put more strain on a clip than any other discipline.
