Fog-Free Skiing - How To Prevent Ski Goggles From Fogging Up

Young man in ski goggles outdoors
James Shaffer
By James Shaffer
Last updated on February 22, 2021
Table of Contents

Simple Tricks For Fog-Free Skiing

Ask almost any skier out there, and they’re almost sure to tell you that skiing is one of the most liberating, breathtaking experiences they know.

Some might even go so far as to compare their time on the mountain to a religious experience. 

In fact, world-famous Norwegian explorer and ski enthusiast, Fridtjof Nansen, once said that “it’s better to go skiing and to think of God than it is to go to church, and to think of skiing.”

However, as fun and exhilarating as skiing can be, there is no quicker way to have your good time ruined than by being faced with the ever-dreaded fogged up ski goggles! 

Obviously, fogged-up goggles aren’t necessarily the biggest inconvenience in the world. 

But, not being able to see properly while heading downhill can be dangerous, potentially leading to serious accidents and injury. 

This is exactly why it’s important to make sure that you know these 4 simple tips on preventing your ski goggles from fogging up.

But first, let’s take a quick look at why your goggles fog up from time to time. 

And then, we’ll dive into my 4 quick tips for a fog-free skiing experience. 

Why Do Ski Goggles Fog Up?

The first step to preventing your google from fogging up and ruining your time on the hill is to actually understand the basic science that causes them to fog up in the first place. 

Essentially, fogging happens when the warm moist air inside your googles meets up with goggle, which is exposed to freezing cold air on the outside. In turn, this causes condensation on the inside of the lens.
 
So when it comes down to a science, there’s really only one way to stop your goggles from fogging up, which is by reducing the moisture and humidity inside your googles. This is exactly why most modern ski goggles are equipped with vents, which allow fresh air to circulate inside your goggles. 

Additionally, many of today’s modern ski goggles are designed with an anti-fog coating on the lens to prevent condensation. However, even with this special coating, goggles are still prone to fogging up, especially if they’ve gotten wet. 

And that brings us to our first tip: ensuring that your goggle vents are open. 

1. Make Sure Your Vents Are Open

While not all ski goggles are equipped with ventilation, most mid-range goggles will have vents that are specifically designed to prevent fog. And, some of today’s top-of-the-line ski goggles are even designed with built-in fans to make moisture can’t build up inside.

With that said, if you ever find yourself heading down the slope and your goggles start fogging up, start by making sure that your vents are, in fact, opened, and not closed.   

When your\ vents closed, your body temperature will cause the air inside your goggles to heat up. And because that warm, moist air won’t have anywhere to go, it will form condensation on the inside of the goggle. 

2. Avoid Wearing Your Goggles When You’re Not Skiing

Man taking a break from skiing on a mountain

Whether you’re waiting at the bottom of the hill for your friend, or you’re riding up the mountain on the lift, if you’re experiencing a lot of annoying fog, you might want to take your goggles off for a minute or two.

You don’t necessarily need to remove them completely. However, it can help to simply lift them off your face for a few seconds. Just be careful when doing this that you don’t end up getting any snow or water on your lenses, which will only make things worse. 

Try to always keep your goggles as dry as possible. Whether it’s from your own sweat, or from snow or ice. By keeping your goggles dry, there won’t be any way that condensation can form. 

If you find that your goggles have gotten wet, the best thing you can do is to try and dry them out completely before wearing them down the hill. 

3. Make Sure The Vents Are Blocked

No matter how good a skier you are, sometimes, accidents happen. 

So whether you’ve accidentally dropped your goggles in the snow, or you’ve wiped out on the hill, sometimes your goggles might end up getting covered in ice and snow. 

Not a big deal, but just make sure that there’s no snow or ice buildup around the goggle’s air vents before wearing them down the hill again. 

Also, sometimes if you haven’t stored your goggles properly over the off-season, make sure to check that your air vents haven’t gotten clogged up with any sort of dirt or lint. 

As soon as your air vents are cleared, and you’re able to get the air moving inside your goggles once again, you’ll be back to fog-free carving in no time.   

4. Invest In A Good Pair Of Goggles

Although most of today’s modern ski goggles come equipped with vents and/or an anti-fog coating, that doesn’t mean that all ski goggles are built the same. 

For instance, high-quality ski goggles are often made with patented fabrics and materials, designed to wick moisture and prevent this type of inconvenience. 

So, while there’s nothing wrong with using a cheaper pair of ski goggles, especially if you’re just getting into the sport, it’s still important to understand that better quality goggles are less prone to fogging.  

Therefore, one of the best pieces of advice I can give you is to make sure that you’re using a good quality pair of ski goggles. 

Of course, I’m not saying to go out and buy the most expensive pair of goggles you can find. 

But by buying a decent pair of ski goggles, you’re guaranteed to find a pair of ski goggles that will have better ventilation systems, use better fabrics and materials, and come with better anti-fogging features.

Wrapping It Up

Group of friends taking a selfie on a ski lift

As a skier, it’s inevitable that you’re going to experience fogged up goggles from time to time, especially on those long, exhilarating days on the mountainsides. 

But by understanding the reasons why your goggles get fogged up, you’ll easily be able to prevent the problem, or quickly reverse it when it does occur. 

In the end, preventing moisture inside your goggles is the key to a fun, fog-free skiing experience. 

So make sure to invest in a decent quality pair of ski goggles that are designed with air vents, always store them properly, keep them clean, and dry, and you’re guaranteed to have a better time out on the hill!

James Shaffer

James Shaffer

James is a veteran snowboarder and skier. His passion for snow sport dates back to his early life growing up in Colorado. He spent his early adulthood as a ski instructor around popular locations in Europe but is now back in Colorado.
Published July 6, 2020
Last updated February 22, 2021
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