You’re supposed to be shredding down the mountain, not constantly thinking about where to stop so you can clean your goggles for the fifth time that day! We know that foggy goggles are the ultimate annoyance on the slopes. While fog on your goggles is evident at some point when you’re skiing or snowboarding, there are ways you can mitigate the fog yourself. For advice on how to prevent your snow goggles from fogging up, look no further. These tips will help you keep the fog out for extended periods of time.
Do Anti-Fog Goggles or Spray Help Prevent Goggles from Fogging Up?
Anti-fog goggles or spray only help to an extent. While they’re effective short-term, they’re unhelpful long-term. Due to extreme temperatures, while skiing and snowboarding, your goggles are bound to fog up at some point during their lifespan. To prevent your goggles from fogging up long-term, you’ll need to take matters into your own hands and care for your gear on a regular basis.
Why Do Snow Goggles Fog Up?
Understanding why your goggles fog up is essential for future prevention. That way, you can become an expert in recognizing the behaviors that may cause it. So, whenever your goggles are foggy on the slopes, you know what to look for and how to fix the issue.
Fogging occurs when moisture meets your goggles’ cold surface. The humid air condenses into water that builds up on your lens. To prevent this occurrence, reduce the amount of moisture by keeping the temperature inside your goggles as close to the outside temperature as possible. Now, how do you do that? Check out the tips below.
Tips to Prevent Fogging
Don’t Tuck Your Ski Mask into Your Goggles
While it may be tempting to tuck your ski mask, gaiter, or balaclava into your goggles and completely protect your face from the wind chill, doing so can cause your goggles to get foggy. Since your breath is warm and carries moisture, that heat will stay trapped under your base layers. Always leave your nose exposed; a small space between your goggles and ski mask can go a long way to prevent fog.
Check Your Goggle’s Vents for Snow & Moisture
The vents or padding of your goggles could have moisture and snow already on them if it’s an extra snowy day or if you’ve taken a mean fall. While your first instinct may be to wipe the snow off with your gloves or fingers, doing so could rub the snow in, which only prolongs the fog. We recommend tapping your goggles against a hard surface to ensure that all the snow falls off. However, if you do rub the snow into your goggles’ padding, be sure to leave your goggles out at night in a well-ventilated area to dry naturally.
Don’t Wear too Many Layers of Clothing
While yes, you need to stay warm on the slopes, if you’re too warm, your goggles can get foggy. The more you sweat, the more moisture your body produces. The moisture that stays trapped in your goggles is what causes fog. Only dress as needed for the day.
Let Air in While You’re on the Lifts
Be sure to keep the temperature inside your goggles as close to the outside temperature as possible. While you’re waiting on the ski lift, simply raise your goggles off your face slightly to let some air in. All you need is a few seconds, so there’s no need to hold them open for the entire lift ride!
How to Pick Your Next Pair of Snow Goggles
Now that you know the best ways to prevent your snow goggles from fogging up, it’s time to pick out your next pair! Need help picking your next pair of snow goggles? Check out this video that our in-store experts made to answer all your questions.
For more tips like if Lens Color Matters in Ski and Snowboard Goggles, be sure to check out our Adventure Resource Guide. There, you can find all sorts of information to help you prepare for your next adventure. Or, if you’re looking for a new set of goggles before the season, be sure to stop by your local Sun & Ski Sports or shop Snow Goggles from the comfort of your home on our website for the best deals on top brands.