How to Keep Electric Goggles From Fogging

Snowboarder wearing goggles

Imagine rushing down the side of a mountain without seeing where you are going. Scary thought isn't it? This can become reality in the world of snowboarding. This extreme sport is like skateboarding, except that you ride a snowboard down a high snow covered hill or mountain. It can be dangerous without certain equipment to help with visibility during a run. Snowboarders rely on electric goggles to keep them safe. Electric goggles are vital for being able to see. Goggles that are fogged up during use can cause serious injury, so knowing how to prevent fogging is essential.

Things You'll Need

• Microfiber cloth

Instructions

1. Invest in higher end electric goggles with layered lenses.These goggles usually are pretreated with a chemical anti-fog coating. They also have special venting to help keep them clear. These goggles still fog up, but not as fast as others do.

2. Put your goggles on inside the warm lodge or building and then go outside with them already on. This keeps the goggles from being cold immediately upon putting them on. Putting them on outside can cause them to fog sooner.

3. Avoid overdressing. Even in a winter sport you can perspire and become too warm if overdressed. This causes perspiration to form on your face, therefore causing your goggles to fog, especially if you have a habit of pushing them up on your forehead. Avoid pushing your goggles up repeatedly. Remove your goggles and put them in your pocket during breaks instead of wearing on your forehead.

4. Do not pull your sweater or jacket up over your chin or mouth. This causes moisture from your breath to rise upwards, causing the goggles to fog. If you wear a face mask, tuck the material under your goggles and tighten the fit to keep your breath from getting into the goggles.

5. Dry the goggles before putting them away. Never store them wet after a run as this traps moisture in between the lens, causing them to fog badly on the next run. Dry completely with a microfiber cloth and keep the goggles in a dry place. Also dry the cloth in between uses.

6. Be aware that some electric goggles come with an anti-fog coating. Never use chemicals or window cleaners on these as they strip away the anti-fog coating.

7. Keep in mind that goggles do, in spite of your best efforts, sometimes fog. If this happens, remove your goggles and set them on your leg foam down, or somewhere safe, and allow them to defog naturally as much as possible first. With the already coated goggles the coating will absorb the moisture and clear the lenses. If there is still moisture and fogging or if you have goggles that do not have the chemical coating, move to the next step.

8. Blot the lens with a microfiber cloth. You can get these free at an optometrist's office or for low cost at most department stores. Only use blotting motions on your goggles. Never wipe them because this damages the lenses with scratches, especially the chemical coated ones. If you don't have a cloth, use a soft paper napkin or tissue but again only blot.

Tips & Warnings

• Snowboarders often use the blow dryer in the restroom to defog their goggles.

• Do not use chemicals on your electric goggles. Never wipe or rub on the lens.

Resources

• Snowboarding Forums