Properly maintaining your ski goggles doesn’t just protect your investment, it ensures your view of the mountain remains free of fog and scratches. Learn everything you need to know to keep your goggle lenses in great shape with this detailed guide.
You can have the best skis, boots, and clothes, but if you can’t see where you are going, what’s the point? Goggle lens maintenance is not often talked about, but it is crucial for success on any given ski day. Apart from seeing clearly, properly maintaining your goggle lenses is really important for the longevity of your goggles, so you can get the most out of your purchase.
The first, and arguably the most important, reason to take care of your goggles is scratches. All it takes is one big scratch right across the middle of the lens to have you thinking about buying new goggles. Scratched lenses just don’t seem clear and crisp and can be distracting. Another major reason to be careful with your goggles is to prevent the lenses from fogging up. Improper care can damage the protective film on the inner lens, which leads to increased fogging. Essentially, proper lens maintenance will drastically extend the life of your goggles, which saves you money and will keep your vision crisp and clear so you can ski or ride to your full potential. Below are recommendations on how to properly maintain your goggles, from cleaning to storage.
It is inevitable that snow, ice, water, or anything in between will get in or on your goggle lenses. Knowing how to properly clean goggle lenses is essential for the longevity of goggles and lenses. When cleaning your goggles, it is important to treat the outer lens and inner lens differently. If you are out skiing and snow or ice gets on the outer lens, try your best to let it air dry. Wiping your lens when it is wet and cold can cause scratches from the ice crystals or the dirt in the snow. If you have to wipe the outer lens, try to let it dry and warm up a bit. You can then use a microfiber cloth or the cloth case that came with the goggles. It is very important to only use a microfiber cloth or the case, not your shirt or gloves. Clothes and gloves may seem soft, but they are not made to touch goggle lenses and will likely scratch the lens if used for wiping.
For the inner lens, less is more. If you get snow or water inside the goggles, do your best to live with it and let it dry. Most companies put an anti-fog coating on the inner lens, and wiping it will rub it away over time, causing your goggles to fog up more often.
Excess fogging of your goggles can easily ruin your day. Unfortunately, we don’t live in a world where there are truly fog-free goggles, but with a few tips and best practices, you can greatly limit the fogging of your ski goggles.
The first, and arguably the most important, way to prevent your goggles from fogging is to take care of the anti-fog coating on the interior of the goggle lens. To do this, it is best to leave the inside of the goggles alone as much as possible. If there is a smudge on the inside that must be wiped away, be gentle, and try and dab at it instead of wiping. Excess cleaning of the interior can wipe away the anti-fog coating, causing your goggles to fog up more.
Another important way to prevent your goggles from fogging is proper overnight storage. It is common for goggles to be wet after a day on the slopes, so make sure you store them in a well ventilated area, and that the goggles are not in any protective case. This allows the goggles to completely dry out and be ready for the next day. If you store your goggles wet, moisture will be trapped in the lens, and the entire next day will be a foggy one—no matter what you do.
Lastly, how you dress is an important way to reduce goggle fogging. Goggles fog because they get hot compared to the surrounding temperature, and how you dress determines how hot you are. If you overdress, your goggles are more likely to fog. If you wear a face mask while skiing, that also increases the chances that your goggles will fog. That’s not to say you have to be cold to have clear goggles, but think about your goggles when dressing for the day. Allow good airflow to the face region, clear any snow that gets on top of the goggles, and try not to wear a face mask that goes near the goggles. If you find yourself overheating, that would be a good time to take the goggles off for a minute to give them some air.
In order to have a long life, it is important to store your goggles carefully. On top of longevity, proper storage ensures you won't unnecessarily scratch your goggles or make them waterlogged. Before we get into goggles cases and storage bags, it should be noted that when storing goggles overnight or longer, make sure they are dry! This applies to all storage cases and is especially important if you plan to use the goggles the next day.
Most goggles come with a soft goggle bag. Use it! These soft bags are made from a microfiber-like material that won’t damage the lens with contact. If you are traveling, or just driving home from the slopes, these soft bags are great for transporting your goggles without scratching the lenses. It is wise to carry this bag with you at all times, even when skiing, so if you need to put the goggles away, you can do so without scratching them.
It is possible that your goggles came with a hard case. A hard case has all the benefits of the soft goggle bag, but adds increased protection against heavy objects such as skis and boots. A hard shell case is optimal for air travel when you have to place the goggles next to other objects.
When storing your goggles overnight or for the summer, it is important to think about where you are storing them. It is best for your goggles to store them inside, in a room that is not too hot or cold (average room temperature), and maintains a relatively consistent temperature. Large changes in temperature can harm the goggles if they are exposed for too long, so make sure you don’t store them in a car or an outside shed.
Traveling for a ski vacation can be hard work. There is a lot of gear involved with skiing, and transporting it carefully can be a balancing act. Luckily, transporting your goggles is not complicated and should not take long to set up.
If you are flying to your ski destination, make sure your goggles are dry and stored in the soft goggle bag that came with the goggles. In order to prevent them from being damaged while inside your luggage, try to wrap the goggles in a shirt or jacket. Another option is to lodge the goggles into a ski boot. Typically, goggles will fit inside of a ski boot, which ensures that they are safely inside of something and will not be hit by moving objects. Of course, if you happen to have a hard shell goggle case, you could place your goggles almost anywhere in your luggage and they will come away unscathed.