There is nothing like having your ski goggles fog on the ski slopes. It is a bad day any way you look at it. Knowing how to prevent ski goggles from fogging will not only prevent a bad day skiing but it will also mean that your lift ticket doesn’t go to waste while you can’t see.
You have to try these 9 tips if you want to prevent your ski goggles from fogging on the slopes.
1. Knowing Why Ski Goggles Fog
Knowing why ski goggles fog is the first step in preventing them from fogging. Goggles that fog have too much warm and humid air on the inside of the goggles while the outside air is cold. All this humid air gets trapped on the inside of the goggles and leads to that foggy sensation.
Another reason can be worn-out goggles. The built-in hydrophilic coating can wear down after using the goggles for a season or two. Sometimes you just have to go full-on replacement with some new goggles.
If you want to make sure your goggles aren’t fogging, you need to do two things –
- Cut down on the moisture inside your goggles
- Regulate the inside goggle temperate close to the outside temperature
That may sound tough but that’s exactly why goggle manufacturers have thought of adding vents to goggles.
2. Make Sure Your Vents Are Clear and Open
The usual suspect to foggy goggles can sometimes be found on the goggle vents. These are on the top, sides and bottoms of goggles. The vents are crucial to let air flow in and out of the goggles to prevent fogging.
Check for snow or ice buildup around these vents. If you see it, clear it out. It can also be the case that you may have a closed vent or two. More expensive goggles tend to have more and nicer vents than cheaper goggles so keep that in mind when buying ski goggles. It is something you should be looking for.
3. Don’t Put Your Goggles on Your Head
Another way to prevent ski goggles from fogging is simple. Avoid putting your goggles up on top of your head or a beanie. All the steam travels upwards and a hot head with goggles on them translates into foggy goggles.
Personally, I put them up onto my helmet and in the rare case I don’t have a helmet on, I put them around my neck or take them off. Just be mindful of where you are putting your goggles because the last place you should be putting them is onto your sweaty head or a humid beanie.
4. Try Anti-Fog Spray for Your Ski Goggles
You will probably be surprised we saved this tip so far into the list because it is the tip most people need. Carry a small can of anti-fog spray for your ski goggles. I only apply this when I know my goggles are starting to wear out but it can be a lifesaver.
Just spray on a thin coat the night before hitting the slopes and you will see immediate effects the next time you ride. Anti-fog spray can be a lifesaver if you have tried a bunch of other methods and they have all failed. This one rarely does.
5. Have a Spare Pair of Goggles With You
Certainly not cheap but the ultimate fix for foggy goggles is just switching to a new pair. If you carry a hydration pack with storage or a ski backpack then you will likely have room for a second set of goggles.
Having a backup pair of goggles never hurts. It can be an expensive solution but you can set up the second pair for a different visibility level and put them on if need be.
6. Prevent Goggle Fog By Avoiding to Tuck in Your Neck Warmer
We see this way too often in beginners. Tucking in that neck warmer or balaclava into ski goggles is the worst! It means immediate humidity and hot air up into your goggles.
People won’t tell you this but the advice is golden. To properly wear a neck warmer or balaclava, make sure you don’t tuck them up into the lower side of your goggles.
7. Be Careful What You Wipe Them With
Have you ever wiped your goggles with your gloves and only made the situation worse? Everyone does it. The best thing you can use to wipe foggy goggles with is proper goggle wipes built into some gloves.
Select gloves have a chamois built into the thumb area and it makes for the perfect piece of fabric to clear goggle fog. If you don’t have gloves like that and have a cotton bandana or undershirt on then it can often be the next best thing.
8. Be Mindful of What You Wear
Wearing too many layers can even be one of the causes of your goggle fog. If you are putting off way too much heat then it can adversely affect your goggles.
Think about the weather and what you are wearing on the slopes. If you layer up, make sure it is layers that you can take off if you are getting too hot. It’s little things like these that can make for a better ski day.
9. Dry Them Out!
I don’t know what is worse, foggy goggles or soggy goggles. Dry your goggles out from skiing overnight so you don’t start off with wet goggles the next day.
Any of that left water left over in the goggle’s foam can lead to fogging goggles. If you have time, let them dry out naturally. To speed it up, put a light fan on the wet goggles.
Which Goggles Don’t Fog When Skiing?
Buying the right goggles in the first place and knowing what to look for means less fogging when you get to the slopes. Look for goggles that are anti-fog to begin with. This means they will have a special coating on the lens to prevent fogging.
Also, as we mentioned, check how many vents are on the goggles. High-end goggles generally never have an issue with the number of vents but you have to be careful on cheap goggles.
Final Thought on How to Prevent Ski Goggles from Fogging
Preventing ski goggles from fogging is simple in theory. Cut back on the hot moist air inside the goggles. Apply some of the tips and you will be riding fog free on the slopes. If not, you can always opt for a backup pair of goggles or the anti-fog spray to get that clear vision.
See you on the slopes!
Brianna Lee writes for Proper Peaks and lives in Duluth, MN. Her favorite thing about skiing is the glades. Your have to start in the glades if you want to catch a glimpse of Brianna’s pink ski helmet as she dodges the trees.
