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Fogging is a concern for anybody who engages in snow sports. Regardless of how advanced or anti-fog goggles you have, you’ll get the lens fogged because you can’t compete with nature. While it is impossible to eliminate all fogging, these 14 methods will provide you the greatest chance of reducing it.
Table of Contents
#1. Understand the Science Behind Fogging
Understanding the reason behind fogging is perhaps an essential step to prevent it. Understanding allows you to identify actions that may be causing it.
Fogging happens when the hot and steamy air inside your goggle comes into contact with the cold lens. This hot air converts into water droplets, which accumulate on the surface of your lens.
To reduce fogging, you can try to:
- Lower the moisture level inside goggles.
- Maintain the goggle’s inner temperature as near to the ambient temperature as feasible.
The Anti-fog treatments used on advanced goggles can only absorb limited moisture. So, it’s up to you that how you manage to reduce it.
#2. Allow Air to Enter on the Lifts
Because the lifts travel slowly, the vents may not work properly due to the limited air. In this case, raise the goggles slightly off your face and allow some air in. If you do this for just a few seconds, it’ll help balance the cold air inside and outside your goggles.
If you have snow on your gloves, take special care to keep your goggle’s ventilation system clean from moisture or snow. This might aggravate the situation.
#3. Keep Moving
Most advanced goggles nowadays have some kind of ventilation features. Some may even feature built-in fans that are driven by batteries. These filtration systems aim to allow cold air in and forcing hot air out.
Constantly moving is the greatest method to avoid fogging and let the air flowing.
If your goggles are foggy after the lift ride, try descending the slope a short distance at a moderate pace. You don’t want to go down with your eyesight compromised, so make sure you have a clear vision ahead before jumping to a track you could struggle with.
#4. Wear a Visor-Mounted Helmet
A well-placed visor helmet can help you a lot during snowfall because it will protect your goggle’s top area from getting moisture. When choosing a helmet with a visor, keep in mind that there should be some space between the visor and the vents on your goggle’s top portion. This will limit the effectiveness of the vents if they are blocked.
#5. Periodically Clean the Goggle Vents
If it is snowing heavily or you just tumble while skiing, there is a good chance that your goggle’s padding and vents are full of snow and moisture. This could result in increased humidity, and you should clean them for better airflow.
However, use caution while wiping it off with gloves or your fingers. You may rub the snow in. Rather, smack your goggles on a solid surface to remove the snow.
If the padding is already wet, the only solution may be to let them air dry.
#6. Dry Your Goggles Properly
After skiing for the day, you should place your goggles somewhere and let them completely dry. Some even suggest using a hairdryer; however, this might cause problems in the long run. Simply be cautious.
#7. Don’t Keep Goggles On Your Head
Most people keep their goggles on a helmet, and some wear it on the head. By doing this, the body’s hot air will enter the goggles. It’s better not to take your goggles off during the runs except if necessary.
#8. Keep a Spare Goggle
It takes time to dry goggles. There are times when the interior paddings get soaked and nothing you can do except waiting. In this case, a spare goggle comes in handy.
You don’t need high-priced goggles. As far as they feature dual-pane lenses and vents, even goggles under $20 are rather excellent. Skiing with inexpensive dry goggles is preferable to skiing without goggles at all!
#9. Wear a Ventilation Supported Ski Mask
Even if there is considerable space between your goggles and ski mask, warm air might still come up when you breathe because of the mask. Ski masks have two types of ventilation.
- Airholes for your breath out.
- A ski mask made of mesh material that is good for air intake.
#10. Don’t Tuck Neck Warmer
On a chilly day, you may want to cover your face with a neck gaiter or balaclava completely. This is not a good idea.
When you ski hard wearing a multi-layer ski suit, you may be sweating inside, and your breath becomes more warm and moist. If it has a narrow connection to your eyewear, things will get fogged up rapidly.
The ideal thing to do is leave a tiny gap between your neck warmer and goggles, slightly exposing your nose.
#11. What to Wipe With?
Don’t use your gloves to wipe the moisture off your lenses. You’re probably just going to pour water into the goggles’ foam. Worse yet, you may wind up damaging the lenses and losing part of the anti-fog coating.
Instead, have a soft cotton towel on hand for situations. If necessary, use it to wipe your goggles properly.
#12. Don’t Dress Multi-Layers
It may be cold outside, but don’t overdress. Simply put on proper clothing for the time. Open vents in your outerwear and taking off layering can help avoid fogging. Your body will produce more heat and moisture as you sweat more. That moisture needs to go someplace, and because of the body heat, most of it will go out through the neck.
#13. Time to Upgrade
If you have an outdated set of ski goggles, you miss out on today’s advanced anti-fog technologies. At the absolute minimum, your goggles should include the following features:
- Vents around the rim help in maintaining constant air inside out.
- Dual-pane lenses accomplish the same effect by allowing the flow of air between two lenses.
- Goggles with hydrophilic coating on them help absorb the moisture and help minimize the fogging.
Almost every modern goggle, including the less expensive ones, should include these qualities.
Do you want to know more? Please have a look at our detailed guide: Best OTG Ski Goggles to Wear with Glasses
#14. Invest in a Best Quality Goggles
If you have already bought a pair of goggles, this point may not appeal to you as much. But the truth is, some advanced goggles are custom-made to avoid fogging, and they are practical too. While others just claim to be anti-fog, they are of no use to the fogging issue.
I know this from personal experience; I’ve used both inexpensive and premium ski goggles, and yes, there is a clear difference. Not all low-cost ski goggles are terrible, but many lack effective anti-fog coatings and adequate vents.
When purchasing goggles, your best chance is to read the reviews and search for the following important features:
Spherical lenses are bigger, giving you a wider field of vision, and there is also a gap between your face and lens, due to which there is less chance of fogging up.
Dual-Pane lenses: Some low-cost goggles feature a single layer lens rather than a dual lens, which functions as a heat barrier and a solid anti-fog system.
Ventilation: Goggles with adequate ventilation are best when it comes to anti-fog systems because the warm air can quickly exit, and the goggle’s inside temperature remain stable. This constant airflow helps eliminate the chance of fog.
Anti-fog Coatings: While most brands claim to be anti-fog, not all of them achieve. Mid-range goggles feature superior coatings that assist prevent moisture from developing. Sadly, due to no anti-fog ratings available, you can’t choose a goggle based on its anti-fog ratings.
Our Recommended: Best Anti-Fog Ski Goggle
Closure:
It is doable to ski all day without fogging up, as long as you try to minimize the body heat, keep a soft cloth for wiping, and follow the point that I’ve mentioned above.
You might also be interested in Best Ski Goggles for Flat Light.
Good luck, and have a fog-free day!