Tired of foggy swim goggles disrupting your vision in the pool? Or have you simply grown used to this nuisance and accepted it as part of the everyday life swimming grind?
Personally, I find the vision disruption caused by foggy swim goggles really annoying. It makes it hard to spot your turns perfectly, swim in a perfectly straight line, keep an eye on competitors and rival teammates (if you have one), and just to have a general understanding of what is happening around you in the pool.
Luckily, for you, it doesn’t have to be that way. In today’s article, we’ll be discussing a few awesome and effective tips to stop your swimming goggles from fogging up.
Stop Your Swimming Goggles from Fogging Up!
Here are 6 proven tips to stop your swimming goggles from fogging up-
- Swim with anti-fog swimming goggles.
- Use an anti-fog spray to stop your swimming goggles from fogging up.
- Apply toothpaste to your goggle lenses to prevent fogging.
- Spit in your swimming goggles to stop fog from forming.
- Apply baby-shampoo to your goggle lenses for a fog-free experience.
- Splash your face to cool down and prevent fog from forming on your goggles.
1. Use Anti-Fog Swimming Goggles
Swimming goggles are an essential part of any swimmer’s arsenal. Whether you swim for pleasure or competitively, having the right goggles will protect your eyes. For example, swimming goggles protect your eyes from aggravations such as salt water, chlorine, and even the sun when swimming backstroke on those warm summer days. Not only that. You will also be able to see clearly underwater.
The right swimming goggles should have an antifog coating, this is one of the easiest and simplest methods to stop your swimming goggles from fogging up right off the bat. That way you’ll never have to worry about missing a turn or jamming your hand into the lane line due to foggy swim goggles.
This factory-applied antifog film prevents the goggles from fogging up. Without the antifog treatment, you risk losing your visibility and maybe even your race, if you are in competition.
So, how does the antifog coating on swimming goggles prevent fogging? The antifog coating contains hydrophilic components. Also referred to as “water-loving” components, this coating spreads the water molecules on the coated surface.
And just like that, it keeps the water molecules from becoming big enough to form fog and disrupt your vision while swimming.
Some of the best anti-fog swimming goggles include the Arena Cobra Ultra Swipe goggles and the Sporti Antifog S2 Mirrored swim goggles.
With that said, let’s take a look at why these swimming goggles are an excellent option for preventing fog while swimming, both in training and competition.
The Arena Cobra Ultra Swipe Goggles
If you are looking for the perfect swimming goggles with anti-fog technology, then the Arena Cobra Ultra Swipe goggles are for you. These goggles are like the king of all anti-fog goggles, thanks to its design being centered all around this common issue.
Top-of-the-line racing goggles favored by competitive swimmers. The low-profile, hydrodynamic blade design enhances speed, while side stabilizers ensure a secure fit. These goggles are durable, have state-of-the-art anti-fog, and come with adjustable features for comfort.
First off, it features swipe anti-fog technology. This revolutionary technology means you can perform a finger swipe to reactivate your googles. Tests carried out by the manufacturer show that the anti-fog technology lasts ten times longer than that of other common swimming goggles.
This is because the company used a durable and innovative reactivation design and bespoke chemical composition on the goggle lenses. Standard goggles get damaged easily, especially the anti-fog coating. Even a little scratch can erode the protective layer.
But when it comes to the Arena Cobra Ultra Swipe goggles, you don’t have to worry about this. Why you may ask? Well, the Cobra Swipe technology regenerates anti-fog lens protection after every finger swipe. Simply swipe the inside of the goggle lenses with your fingertips while they are in the water when they become a bit foggy to enjoy a fog-free swimming experience.
With all that said, it is also well-known that the Arena Cobra Ultra goggles are high-quality premium swim goggles designed for both racing and training. Unfortunately, this means that they come at a slightly higher price, but in my opinion, it’s well worth it. You can check them out on SwimOutlet by clicking here.
The Sporti Antifog S2 Mirrored Swim Goggles
Next is the Sporti Antifog S2 Mirrored goggles. As a modern swimming goggle, it comes with amazing features. These include enhanced peripheral vision, UV shield technology, double silicone straps, and a 90-degree locking system for a secured fit.
Other features include the dynamic cuts to help you slice through the water, a back buckle to distribute pressure evenly and off-course a generous anti-fog coating on the lenses. This will help to prevent fogging on the lenses. As such, there will be no disruption to your vision and will allow for a great swim experience.
What you need to keep in mind with these goggles, however, is not to rub the lenses with a lot of pressure like you would with the Arena Cobra Ultra Swipe goggles since this will damage the anti-fog coating performance.
Another thing I really like about the Sporti Antifog S2 goggles is their super-low price point and stylish look.
How to Preserve the Anti-Coating Fog on Your Swimming Goggles
Now that you know one of the simplest methods to stop your swimming goggles from fogging up, there are a couple of mistakes to avoid. The golden rule to prevent damaging the anti-fog coating on the majority of modern swimming goggles is to avoid touching the lenses with your fingers. This means no scrubbing or rubbing. If you do so, you’ll scratch off or wear out the anti-fog coating. (Obviously, this doesn’t apply to the Cobra Ultra Swipe goggles).
Another effective way to ensure your swimming goggles last is to rinse them out with cold water after use. Leave them to dry but not in the direct sunlight. If you follow these rules, you will preserve the anti-fog coating, and there will be no need to defog the goggles frequently.
Also, remember to store away your swimming goggles properly after use.
2. Use an Anti-Fog Spray to Stop Your Swimming Goggles from Fogging Up
Anti-fog sprays or agents are chemicals that help to prevent the condensation of water on the surface of the lenses. Basically, the chemicals create a hydrophilic surface, which makes it difficult for fogging to occur.
The store-bought anti-fog spray is specially formulated, ensuring a clear vision for the duration of your swim session. As such, it helps to prevent your swimming goggles from fogging up and disrupting your vision in the water.
To use the anti-fog spray, simply spray the contents on the insides of the lenses. Then rinse the lenses out with some water before putting them on and crushing your swimming workout. For those of you who prefer an even cheaper option and that like little DIY projects, you can also easily make your own anti-fog goggle spray.
How to Make Your Own Anti-Fog Goggle Spray
Creating your own anti-fog coating or spray for your swimming goggles really is quite simple and easy, it may not be as effective as the manufactured anti-fog sprays, but nonetheless it’s a fun and easy way to stop your swimming goggles from fogging up, here’s what you need-
- 2 ounces of white vinegar
- 1 quart of hot water
How to make the anti-fog spray/ coating:
Start by pouring the white vinegar in a medium-sized bowl and then add the hot water. After that, you can dip a clean microfiber cloth into the mixture. Lightly wring out the microfiber cloth and wipe the inside of your swimming goggle lenses. Then allow the goggles to dry before putting them on and cranking out some laps.
You can also try keeping your DIY anti-fog spray in an old little spray bottle and then carrying it around with you to the pool for when you need to get some fog of your goggle lenses.
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3. Apply Toothpaste to Your Goggle Lenses to Stop Them from Fogging Up
Toothpaste is commonly used for dental hygiene. Brushing your teeth after every meal helps to prevent numerous dental problems. That includes bad breath, gingivitis, and others. That, however, isn’t important right now. But rather what might surprise you is that toothpaste can actually help to prevent your swimming goggles from fogging up.
How you may ask? Well, the active ingredients in your toothpaste help to remove the fine protective film created during the manufacturing of the lens. Simply put, the toothpaste acts as a type of sandpaper that erodes the film both inside and outside of the lens. Whereafter, the toothpaste will remain to keep the goggles clean and to stop any fog from forming.
The active ingredients in toothpaste include fluoride, glycerol, sorbitol, and calcium carbonate.
To remove the thin film, rub toothpaste inside and outside the lenses. Do not apply too much pressure because the lenses may get damaged or even break completely. Then clear out the toothpaste and wash the lenses. The reason why you have to clean the lenses is two-fold.
First, it improves your visibility. Secondly, active ingredients such as peppermint in toothpaste will irritate your eyes. Remember, the majority of swimming goggles have a thin coating. So, if you rub the lenses with too much pressure, you will rub off the coating.
4. Spit in Your Swimming Goggles to Stop Them from Fogging Up
Swimming goggles fog up when the inside temperature of the lens is below the dew point of the air. The drop in temperature forms tiny droplets leading to fogging. What you need to know is that the lenses of swimming goggles have microscopic depressions.
Moisture is typically attracted to the uneven surface, causing fogging. The only way to prevent fogging is to create a moisture film and decrease the surface tension of the tiny water droplets.
One of the best solutions that can defog your swimming goggles is saliva. Saliva acts as a surfactant. As such, it lowers the surface tension of water droplets and prevents fogging. Since the tiny droplets will not fog the lenses, they will roll away, giving you a clear and undisrupted vision while swimming.
A lot of people have found this method to be the easiest and simplest. This is because human spit does not contain any harmful chemicals that may irritate your eyes or skin. And not to mention that it’s completely free!
5. Apply Baby Shampoo to Your Goggle Lenses for a Fog-Free Swimming Experience
If you hate the idea of spitting in your goggles to prevent fogging, you can also use some baby shampoo. Baby shampoo is a surfactant. Surfactants refer to compounds that help to lower the surface tension between two liquids.
Basically, they break the intermolecular forces between water molecules. When this happens, the surface tension decreases and fog won’t form as a result. To prevent fogging, gently apply baby shampoo to coat the lenses.
The thin layer of baby shampoo prevents the lenses from fogging up. Before wearing the goggles again it is important to give them a good wash. The reason why baby shampoo is highly preferred is that it’s unlikely to cause any allergic reaction or irritate the eyes.
However, excessive use of the baby shampoo will inevitably irritate the eyes. Remember, use the goggles 15 minutes after washing away the baby shampoo or hair conditioner for optimal results.
6. Splash Your Face to Cool Down and Prevent Fog from Forming in Your Swim Goggles
Apart from all of the other methods listed so far, another simple and easy trick to stop swimming goggles from fogging up is to splash your face with cool water. Based on research, fogging when swimming occurs when body heat meets the cooler temperature of the water.
When you splash water on your face before putting on your goggles, you can cool down the surface of your skin. Splash cold water over your face four to five times before putting your goggles on and dishing out some laps.
Remember, you may need to cool down your temperature from time to time. This will stop the goggles from fogging at a faster rate and will allow you to train uninterruptedly.
Use These Expert Tips to Stop Your Swimming Goggles from Fogging Up
Foggy swim goggles can be a real nuance when swimming. That said, implementing the methods discussed in this article will help to prevent your goggles from fogging up helping you to focus on your swimming to become a better and fitter athlete in the pool.