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Colder weather - glasses fog up issue.

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Colder weather - glasses fog up issue.

Old 10-08-19, 09:10 AM
  #1  
crazyravr
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Colder weather - glasses fog up issue.

How do you guys deal with this?
Its ok when moving, but when stopped things get foggy real fast. I can wear contacts to solve this issue, but then I like to have protection from the wind, dirt, dust etc.
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Old 10-08-19, 09:16 AM
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Least expensive solution:
1. Put a drop of dish soap on each lense.
2. Smear it around real good with your fingers.
3. Wipe clear. (use a dry rag)

Depending on how long your commute is, you might have to do this before every ride, or every few days.

There are other antifog solutions that last longer, made specifically for glasses, that cost more:

https://www.amazon.com/Eyeglass-Clea.../dp/B0143RD3OK

https://www.ebay.com/i/112963700666?...iABEgJiFvD_BwE

The one I use on my motorcycles (for both my glasses and my visor) that works well for both fog, and helps rain bead off the outside:

https://www.nikwax.com/en-gb/product...-1&fabricid=-1
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Old 10-08-19, 09:17 AM
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Put a glasses "leash" (like Croakies sp?). on your glasses. Set the thing,that allows you to tighten them up just loose enough so you can pull your glasses down a little to vent them. When you stop pull them down a little and put them back up when you get moving.
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Old 10-08-19, 09:28 AM
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Originally Posted by 2manybikes
Put a glasses "leash" (like Croakies sp?). on your glasses. Set the thing,that allows you to tighten them up just loose enough so you can pull your glasses down a little to vent them. When you stop pull them down a little and put them back up when you get moving.
I used wire rim glasses (not goggle-like sport glasses) in my winter riding days. I'd pull them a little down my nose at lights. Also practiced breathing away from my glasses, directing my breath down (usually - wind could be a factor). With the glasses pulled down, I could see (sorta) when the light turned green even if they did fog.

These are old memories. I haven't winter commuted in snow country for 40 years but when I did, it was Ann Arbor and Boston and I didn't own or drive a car.

Ben
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Old 10-08-19, 09:39 AM
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Originally Posted by crazyravr
How do you guys deal with this?
Its ok when moving, but when stopped things get foggy real fast. I can wear contacts to solve this issue, but then I like to have protection from the wind, dirt, dust etc.
I've never found anything that is 100% effective. I've never even found something that is 10% effective. Look at the construction of the glasses. You don't want them too close to your face. I use Rudy Project Kerosenes and they clear pretty quickly after I start moving again. I have the nose pieces moved so that the air flows over them better and they have vents at the top of the lenses to get air to flow in behind the lens. I also pull them away from my nose when I come to a stop to avoid as much fogging as I can. You might also try blowing your breath out of your mouth and down away from your face.
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Old 10-08-19, 09:52 AM
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Originally Posted by 79pmooney
I used wire rim glasses (not goggle-like sport glasses) in my winter riding days. I'd pull them a little down my nose at lights. Also practiced breathing away from my glasses, directing my breath down (usually - wind could be a factor). With the glasses pulled down, I could see (sorta) when the light turned green even if they did fog.

These are old memories. I haven't winter commuted in snow country for 40 years but when I did, it was Ann Arbor and Boston and I didn't own or drive a car.

Ben
I forgot about breathing away from the glasses, good point. Also if I am wearing something over my face, I find if I breath normally when it's over my nose I get fogging. I use a fleece neck gaiter because I can pull it down below my mouth when I am stopped. Then aim you breathing down and away from your face. With the fleece over my mouth If I breath down and away I can sometimes prevent fogging that way.
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Old 10-09-19, 07:39 AM
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Originally Posted by Notso_fastLane
Least expensive solution:
1. Put a drop of dish soap on each lense.
2. Smear it around real good with your fingers.
3. Wipe clear. (use a dry rag)

Depending on how long your commute is, you might have to do this before every ride, or every few days.

There are other antifog solutions that last longer, made specifically for glasses, that cost more:

https://www.amazon.com/Eyeglass-Clea.../dp/B0143RD3OK

https://www.ebay.com/i/112963700666?...iABEgJiFvD_BwE

The one I use on my motorcycles (for both my glasses and my visor) that works well for both fog, and helps rain bead off the outside:

https://www.nikwax.com/en-gb/product...-1&fabricid=-1
I use this right now. Its not that they fog up when I am moving. But breathing at the stop lights, especially with scarf over mouth, will cause foggy picture. Again, once moving it all goes away.
Seems like I will have to pull the mask down when stopped and put up once moving is the only good solution.
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Old 10-09-19, 07:50 AM
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Since the fog goes away almost instantly when I start moving again, I don't find this an issue. I don't wear anything over my mouth though, perhaps the fogging up is way worse that way.
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Old 10-09-19, 06:29 PM
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Swimmers spit in their goggles to keep them from fogging up. I wonder if this would work on bicycle goggles that are not underwater.
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Old 10-10-19, 05:39 AM
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When it's cold I'll put on a cheap pair of ski goggles. This pretty much works 100% of the time. As far as glasses goes, I haven't found a solution that is effective yet. Besides, goggles give the ski area around your eyes protection as well. Even with a balaclava covering my nose it's not a problem.
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Old 10-10-19, 10:41 AM
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It does not have to be cold for glasses to fog up when stopped. I live in Florida and it happens here too. If my glasses are not fogging up, then they are subject to dripping perspiration, which does not clear up without wiping the glasses dry. At least fogging clears up as soon as I start moving again. I wear a sweat band to capture the perspiration just above the brow and I bring a sweat rag to wipe my forehead when I stop, which works okay. Unfortunately, I have not found a great solution for either issue.
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Old 10-10-19, 09:43 PM
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I don't even bother this time of year. I just go commando and hope for the best.
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Old 10-11-19, 09:22 PM
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I go a little slower so I'm not breathing hard. It's actually not an issue on my non-snow season route, I only have to stop 3-4 times. In snow/ice season, I'm usually going slow enough, and/or pull my balaclava down.
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Old 10-12-19, 03:43 AM
  #14  
Jim from Boston
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Colder weather - glasses fog up issue.
Originally Posted by crazyravr
How do you guys deal with this?

Its ok when moving, but when stopped things get foggy real fast. I can wear contacts to solve this issue, but then I like to have protection from the wind, dirt, dust etc.
Originally Posted by cyccommute
I've never found anything that is 100% effective. I've never even found something that is 10% effective.
I perenially post my approach to the problem, most recently on the Winter Cycling Forum.
Originally Posted by Jim from Boston
I perennially post about my winter eyewear for my 14 mile year-round commute, from about 35° down to as low as 0°.

I must wear my prescription eyeglasses, and fogging is one of the worst dangers of winter riding. I am entirely satisfied with my system:
Follow the link for further information, and
Originally Posted by Jim from Boston
IME, and from reading numerous posts on the subject, there are three basic methods for preventing fogging, caused by exhaled moist air onto the cold surface of the eyeglasses and goggles:
Considering how frequently this question arises I have also frequently posted:
Originally Posted by Jim from Boston
(from a now-closed thread)…In the past I have offered IMO several useful suggestions about cycling, particularly for winter and urban cycling, to multiple repetitive threads.

They are usually lost in the morass of often scores of replies, both in agreement and dispute with mine.
including a dispute with the dishsoap / spit solution.

I favor:
Originally Posted by mcours2006
When it's cold I'll put on a cheap pair of ski goggles. This pretty much works 100% of the time. As far as glasses goes, I haven't found a solution that is effective yet.

Besides, goggles give the ski area around your eyes protection as well. Even with a balaclava covering my nose it's not a problem.
And I look forward to trying this newly-posted solution:
Originally Posted by scoatw
I use an old Iditarod trick I saw back in 09 of Jay Petervary,a veteran rider of the 1000 mi trip to Nome. In addition to wearing a balaclava, I cover my nose and cheeks with a fleece headband. This gives my breath an opening to escape without going up my goggles when covered with the balaclava.

This is my 11th winter of daily commuting. I always had fogging problems below 10'f. I used it at 0'f and it worked great.

Last edited by Jim from Boston; 10-12-19 at 03:50 AM.
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Old 10-30-19, 01:48 AM
  #15  
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I’ve used “Scott Lens Cleaner & Anti-Fog” for years with good results with my motorcycle riding. You want to put three to four coatings on.

https://www.cyclegear.com/accessorie...eaner-anti-fog
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Old 11-25-19, 08:53 PM
  #16  
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Originally Posted by cyccommute
I've never found anything that is 100% effective. I've never even found something that is 10% effective. .
This has been my experience. Those sprays aren't worth the effort. I just slide the glasses down my nose at stops.
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Old 01-04-20, 06:09 PM
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As a long time(39+ year) cross country skiier, I can tell you that your glasses will always fog up when you stop moving, so just don't stop. There is no magic solution for this, just keep moving, air will circulate and your lenses will stay clear. If you stop, remove your glasses. Replace them when you start moving again
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Old 01-05-20, 03:58 PM
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Originally Posted by alcjphil
As a long time(39+ year) cross country skiier, I can tell you that your glasses will always fog up when you stop moving, so just don't stop. There is no magic solution for this, just keep moving, air will circulate and your lenses will stay clear. If you stop, remove your glasses. Replace them when you start moving again
i agree keep the glasses off your head if you stop. Sometimes it is awkward but when you start moving again they clear pretty quick. I find single lenses stay clearer than lenses with prescription inserts.
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Old 01-16-20, 09:06 PM
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If there's a military surplus store near you or you find on online, then you might be able to buy some anti-dimming compound used on the lenses of gars mask to prevent fogging.

Cheers
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