How to clean snowboard goggles and prevent fogging

Before you clean snowboard goggles, know what you’re protecting. Most snow goggle lenses have an anti-fog treatment on the inner surface, and many have mirror or other coatings outside. These can be scratched or stripped by:

• wiping the inside while it’s wet or packed with snow;
• using gloves, paper towels, tissues or clothing on the lens;
• household glass cleaners, alcohol or other solvents;
• carrying goggles loose in a bag with keys, tools or other hard objects.

Once the coating is damaged the lens fogs more easily and may need replacing.

On the mountain

1. If snow gets inside, take the goggles off and gently shake it out.
2. Dab away moisture with the microfiber bag or cloth. Smith recommends its lens cloth or a microfiber cloth to dab away moisture.
3. If the lens is soaked or fogged, head inside and let it dry before cleaning further.

The outer lens

Once dry, wipe the outside gently with a clean microfiber cloth. If grit or salt is stuck on, rinse it off first so you don’t drag it across the surface. Whether you can wash snowboard goggles with mild soap depends on the lens, so follow your maker’s instructions.

The inside of the goggles

Let the inner lens dry completely, then touch it as little as possible. Dab or very lightly wipe a mark with a clean, dry microfiber cloth. Skip cleaning sprays unless your goggle maker recommends one for that lens.

Wash the microfiber bag itself now and then; grit trapped in the fabric scratches lenses.

Goggles fog when warm, moist air inside meets a cold lens. These habits help:

• Keep them off your forehead. Smith says parking goggles on your forehead traps heat and moisture inside; wear them on your helmet or carry them.
• Get a good seal. Smith’s first tip is a goggle that forms a tight seal on your face, tried on with your helmet. Our goggle fit and lens guide explains how to check.
• Keep the vents clear. Brush snow off the vents, and don’t cover them with a hat or face mask. A well-fitted helmet that sits flush with the frame helps air flow.
• Manage body heat. Open jacket vents on warm days and don’t pull a face covering up so your breath goes into the goggles.
• Start dry. Make sure the goggles are fully dry before each day.

Smith says its goggles come with a factory anti-fog coating, so extra sprays aren’t needed. If you’re thinking about an anti-fog product for another brand, check first that the maker approves it for your lens.

How to defog goggles on the slope

Stop at the side of the run, take the goggles off and let air flow through them, or ride slowly for a moment so moving air clears the lens. Don’t wipe the inside.

1. Take the goggles out of your pocket or pack as soon as you’re back.
2. Let them air-dry. Smith recommends storing goggles in a dry, warm, well-ventilated place and letting them dry fully between uses.
3. Keep them off radiators, away from fires and out of strong direct sun, which can damage the lens, foam and frame.
4. Once dry, store them in their microfiber bag or a case, away from sharp or heavy objects.

Your helmet, gloves and jackets need drying too; our guide to snowboard clothing and protective gear links to the care guide for each.

Not reliably. Scratches can’t usually be polished out without damaging the coatings, and home remedies such as toothpaste or abrasive polish tend to make things worse. Small marks outside may barely affect your view, but deep scratches or a damaged inner coating can distort vision and increase fogging.

Replace the lens when:

• scratches get in the way of your view, especially in flat light;
• the anti-fog coating has worn off and the lens fogs constantly;
• the lens is cracked or chipped.

Many goggles take replacement lenses from the maker, which usually costs less than new goggles. Use a lens made for your model. For the rest of your equipment, see our board tuning and maintenance guide.