Swimming goggles - how to stop them misting up

[Otins]

I bought some new goggles about a year ago. First of all they were excellent. I could swim for lengths and lengths without them misting up.

Now though, they get foggy within 25m.

I dry them with a quick dry towel after I have used them. I need to dry them as if not, I can’t see through them as the water leaves a mark on them. i’m wondering if I have wiped off some sort of finish on them?

any ideas how I can make them mist-free again?

Thank you.

Buy an anti-fogging spray, I used https://amzn.eu/d/eVSaheS

We use Zoggs anti fog

Fantastic. Thank you. Don’t know these products existed. (I had thought about using windowlene but didn’t want any residue to get in my eyes!)

Anti-fog solution as others have said. However, before you apply it, I suggest very gently washing the inside lens of the goggles with water & washing up liquid. It gets rid of any buildup of oil and other crap and seems to help the anti-fog work better.

If you’re already swimming and the goggles fog, a swish around in the pool can help, especially if a tiny amount of water remains on the inside lens (not enough to cause irritation) as it stops the fog forming.

Having said all of that, I do think the anti-fog on goggles only works for so long, and eventually you need a new pair. I’ve had some beloved goggles that I gave the washing-up liquid & anti-fog treatment to regularly, but after a while even that wasn’t enough to stop the fogging. Depending on how often you swim, a year is probably actually pretty good going for a pair.

Also, be very careful when drying them! I don’t use a towel to dry mine, especially not the inside lens. I shake the excess water off and leave them to air dry.

Anti fog spray is ok for a while but sometimes you just need new goggles. When DS swam regularly he got new goggles at least every 6 months with the older ones relegated to spares.

If you’re in a pinch, spit works. It’s also what scuba divers tend to do in their masks. Works in the same way as anti-fogging spray so if you run out and need a quick fix, a bit of saliva works wonders.

I’ve always just put a bit of saliva in, works a treat.

Thank you . I do swimming in fits and starts. Sometimes 2-3 times a week, sometimes nothing for weeks on end! I use them outdoors a lot in lidos in the summer. So I have probably used them around 40 times. I’ll try the sprays/spit and hope they work for a bit. My previous ones were over 20 years old. If I have to replace them, I’ll be buying much cheaper ones, as nearly £1 per use is ridiculous! (They were life changing to start with…I thought they were worth every penny etc, but not if they don’t last) I have also contacted the manufacturer (zone3) to see what they recommend.

Lick them , works a treat

I was also going to say saliva. I scuba-dive and that’s what everyone does. Rub a bit of saliva around the lens and then a quick rinse in the pool/sea.

I use a little bit of baby shampoo on mine, have to do it every 2 weeks or so but I do swim 3 times a week every week

suggest very gently washing the inside lens of the goggles with water & washing up liquid

I tried that. I did my best to rinse thoroughly. Ended up stinging the hell out of my eyes when I tried to wear them in pool. I have enormous faith in my inability to do what other people find easy. So not trying that again.

Not so keen on saliva too, isn't that a way to get an eye infection? And nobody wants me to spit while in the pool.

Does the anti-fog spray hurt the eyes, too? I could try it as long as everyone promises that the anti-fog spray never hurts. This story makes me think antiFog solution is no safer than washing up liquid, and I know how unsafe that is for me.

I have eternal challenge of getting goggles to not leak, esp. on my right eye. Once I get a not-leaking fit on my face in a specific session, no way I want to remove the goggles again until the fit starts to hurt, because I'll struggle to get a no-leaks fit again when I put them back over my eyes. And if I rinse the goggles in the pool, there will definitely be droplets left behind inside the goggles that get in my eyes even if no leaks due to fit... so not a way to avoid chlorine in eyes either.

I mostly just accept I can't hardly see when swimming. I swim with right eye closed usually because I REALLY hate water in my eyes, in case you couldn't tell.

@lljkk Have you ever looked for goggles designed specifically for the female face? Women often have smaller faces than men as well as differences such as the brow ridge. Meaning that seemingly ‘universal’ goggles may not fit well, which may be the case for you if you persistently find issues. Speedo and TYR do female-fit goggles, and Zoggs offer some styles in a ‘Small’ size. Other people have found success with wearing Junior goggles.

Another option may be to look for goggles that have a changeable nose bridge, so you can try different widths and see if one offers a better fit.

Spit

My husband swims daily. He has always used anti fog spray but when he ran out he tried washing them with washing up liquid. It works just as well as the spray.

Spit, rub with half a raw potato or a v.small amount of washing up liquid . ( rinse before using!)

thanks for trying FlySwimmer.

I actually may have a big face. I wear a very large hat size for instance, large forehead I suppose. Definitely need large not small.

I find "women's" cycle seats very unsuitable too, funny enough.