Fogging goggles on a POW day can really put a downer on your day and spoil an otherwise epic day on the hill with your friends. There are many wives tales on how you can avoid goggle fog but what really works? Saliva and anti-fogging agents provide brief respite, but for a long term solution to fog prevention, try the below tips.
Lets start with why and how goggle fog happens
Goggles fog is caused when warmer and damper air is between your face and the inside of your goggles compared to the outside temperature. When you get this combination your have created a perfect environment for goggle fog to flourish!
3 Steps To Avoid Goggle Fog
Wear a helmet – Helmets not only help prevent head injuries when you fall, but they can also help prevent your goggles from fogging and you possibly running into something or someone from lack of vision. How does this work? It is difficult for snow to stick to your helmet, unlike the common beanie. This is especially relevant to the area above your goggles, a common area for snow to stick to your beanie and melt due to your body temperature. As the snow melts it runs down and leaks into the inside of your goggles increasing the humidity of the air and due to it being warmer fog is produced.
Don’t Overdress – Overdressing is a major contributor to your goggles fogging up. Even during winter sports you can sweet and perspire, when this occurs your face will perspire and change the air temperature and humidity of the air inside your goggles.
Place Your Goggles In The Fridge – After a long day on the hill skiing and snowboarding powder the foam in your goggles will become damp, even when using the above methods. Placing your goggles in the fridge will help dry out the foam without the use of heat. Take the lense out of your frame and place them both in the fridge, if you have to take a beer or two out to make room, it is a sacrifice you will have to make. Leave them for a few hours or overnight but don’t let them freeze if your fridge is really cold. The cold dry air will dry out the foam in your goggles so they are ready to go again.
I hope these 3 methods help you to avoid goggle fog as they have been the most effective when skiing super deep snow in places like Niseko Japan for me.