How to stop my glasses from fogging up when I ski?
February 29, 2008 3:45 PM Subscribe
Eyeglasses (worn under goggles) fogging up during skiing. Any suggestions/tips?
I started wearing glasses while skiing a year or two ago, and it has really helped me skiing (I can finally see the ski slope clearly!). Unfortunately, the glasses tend to fog up sometimes... particularly if I'm skiing more aggressively and then stop for a moment. It then takes quite a while for them to unfog... far from ideal.
To clarify-- the goggles are never fogging up... just my glasses underneath.
Does anyone have tips on ways I could fix this? Should I buy new goggles? Is there a specifc certain kind of goggles maybe? I've never been able to wear contacts, so that option is out.
I started wearing glasses while skiing a year or two ago, and it has really helped me skiing (I can finally see the ski slope clearly!). Unfortunately, the glasses tend to fog up sometimes... particularly if I'm skiing more aggressively and then stop for a moment. It then takes quite a while for them to unfog... far from ideal.
To clarify-- the goggles are never fogging up... just my glasses underneath.
Does anyone have tips on ways I could fix this? Should I buy new goggles? Is there a specifc certain kind of goggles maybe? I've never been able to wear contacts, so that option is out.
They make anti-fog spray/cleaner for glasses. (lots more links with a google search) I can't vouch it for it, but it seems like what you're looking for.
posted by chrisamiller at 3:54 PM on February 29, 2008
posted by chrisamiller at 3:54 PM on February 29, 2008
I had the same problem and the anti-fog cloths they sell in most ski-related shops actually worked quite well for my glasses. I don't remember the brand or anything though.
posted by Nelsormensch at 3:58 PM on February 29, 2008
posted by Nelsormensch at 3:58 PM on February 29, 2008
Sure, there are goggles that are designed to be worn over glasses. There's even the Smith Turbo Fan goggle, which has a little fan that continuously blows outside air over your glasses, reducing the amount of humidity inside the goggles and therefore fogging. I haven't tried them, but I've heard they work really well (despite being on the dorky side, IMO).
However, personally I have found the best solution to be contacts. Yeah, yeah, I hate contacts too, but to be honest the daily-wear soft disposables don't really bother me in the cold -- your eyes tear enough in response to the cold that "dry eye" isn't a problem for me. And being able to wear whatever sunglasses (or goggles) I want over the contacts is worth any residual hassle. So if it's at all possible for you to wear contacts, I would give that a try.
posted by harkin banks at 4:12 PM on February 29, 2008
However, personally I have found the best solution to be contacts. Yeah, yeah, I hate contacts too, but to be honest the daily-wear soft disposables don't really bother me in the cold -- your eyes tear enough in response to the cold that "dry eye" isn't a problem for me. And being able to wear whatever sunglasses (or goggles) I want over the contacts is worth any residual hassle. So if it's at all possible for you to wear contacts, I would give that a try.
posted by harkin banks at 4:12 PM on February 29, 2008
The Smith goggles also have a slot inside for custom optical inserts that you can get made into your prescription. This way you dont have the arms of your glasses pressing into the side of your head. It might be a good addition to the smith turbo fan previously mentioned.
posted by Spurious Packets at 4:23 PM on February 29, 2008
posted by Spurious Packets at 4:23 PM on February 29, 2008
Another user of daily disposable contacts when skiing here
posted by arcticseal at 4:29 PM on February 29, 2008
posted by arcticseal at 4:29 PM on February 29, 2008
The anti-fog cloths are good, as others have said, so start there.
The turbo fan goggle is total overkill, as are custom lenses. Save your money.
When things do fog up, simple solution: pull your goggles away from your face a few inches and let the cool air in. Should defog you right quick. If that doesn't work, put your goggles on your forehead and ski without them for a couple minutes (assuming its not supernova-bright out and you are confident/proficient enough not to fall disastrously for a couple minutes).
posted by hihowareyou at 4:41 PM on February 29, 2008
The turbo fan goggle is total overkill, as are custom lenses. Save your money.
When things do fog up, simple solution: pull your goggles away from your face a few inches and let the cool air in. Should defog you right quick. If that doesn't work, put your goggles on your forehead and ski without them for a couple minutes (assuming its not supernova-bright out and you are confident/proficient enough not to fall disastrously for a couple minutes).
posted by hihowareyou at 4:41 PM on February 29, 2008
Get prescription goggles. They're very affordable these days. When I was an optometrist's assistant, we regularly fitted people for prescription goggles for all kinds of activities (skiing, swimming, motorcycle riding, etc.) Ask your optometrist, or google for online retailers.
posted by amyms at 4:46 PM on February 29, 2008
posted by amyms at 4:46 PM on February 29, 2008
Seconding the Cat Crap suggestion, although some of the other suggestions are reasonable, too.
posted by TedW at 5:29 PM on February 29, 2008
posted by TedW at 5:29 PM on February 29, 2008
Also, baby shampoo works great as an anti-fog solution. I play airsoft (similar to paintball) and wear glasses under my mask. When I use the baby shampoo on both the goggles and glasses, neither fog up.
posted by DMan at 6:21 PM on February 29, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by DMan at 6:21 PM on February 29, 2008 [1 favorite]
I wear glasses under Oakley A-Frames. The only times I have problems with fog is when I'm standing still. They key is to move. I find that they fog up most when I'm doing up my snowboard bindings. When that happens I just lift off the goggles, wait for my specs to clear, drop the goggles, and go.
posted by unSane at 9:02 PM on February 29, 2008
posted by unSane at 9:02 PM on February 29, 2008
Contacts are great in the cold and spit works surprisingly well for avoiding fog if those aren't an option. A friend of mine cut some small channels in the foam of his goggles to let his glasses' frames poke through more cleanly, that solved his fogging problems.
posted by Skorgu at 9:45 PM on February 29, 2008
posted by Skorgu at 9:45 PM on February 29, 2008
Get some Zeal RX goggles with an insert (brown thing on the left). Zeal goggles and glasses are pretty awesome.
posted by fleeba at 11:18 PM on February 29, 2008
posted by fleeba at 11:18 PM on February 29, 2008
I used to be a thorougbred racehorse jockey, and to keep our goggles from fogging up during a race we woud spray the inside surface with pledge (yup, the furniture polish) and then buff it until they were clear again (takes a bit of rubbing) that always worked.
posted by caveat empress at 1:45 PM on March 1, 2008
posted by caveat empress at 1:45 PM on March 1, 2008
I used to play paintball wearing glasses underneath a mask, and I had the same problem. Surprisingly enough, rubbing soap on the glasses, then rubbing it in with a towel until I could see through them worked very well. You can just use ordinary bar soap.
posted by pravit at 5:21 PM on March 1, 2008
posted by pravit at 5:21 PM on March 1, 2008
I have used Cat Crap with limited success. It works pretty well, but requires frequent reapplication.
posted by qvtqht at 6:31 PM on March 4, 2008
posted by qvtqht at 6:31 PM on March 4, 2008
I looked around, and I can't figure out what kind of batteries the Smith Turbo Fan goggles use. Does anyone know?
posted by qvtqht at 6:34 PM on March 4, 2008
posted by qvtqht at 6:34 PM on March 4, 2008
This thread is closed to new comments.
And there are probably goggles designed specifically for wear with glasses, though (I don't know much about skiing) that might have more to do with the shape of the frame and lens than with any anti-fog properties.
posted by box at 3:53 PM on February 29, 2008