Glasses with thermal face mask
 

Had to start wearing glasses this past spring, and this morning’s chilly ride reminded me of a concern that I have. In the past winter seasons I learned pretty quickly that sun glasses were not really an option when wearing my thermal face mask. My breath would cause them to fog, so I just didn’t wear sun glasses.
This winter I prefer to wear my glasses, my vision has started to suck, but I don’t know how to keep my glasses from fogging.

Anybody have some advice on this issue? I’m considering goggles but if there is a better option I am all for it.

A few years ago I started cleaning my glasses regularly with just soap and water. I noticed that winter that they fogged up less and "defogged" quicker. If I stopped they fogged, but if I started riding again they defogged.

Also, I switched from a heavy-ish face warmer, to a thin nylon belaclava, just enough to keep the cold air off my face...that also helped.

I do have a thinner bachlava, but I have never worn it, I have always just worn the same one. I was my glasses with soap and water too, but they still fog pretty bad when I have to wear a regular face mask at work.

I would imagine it depends on the face mask style. Something like the below allows breathing out the mouth and shouldn't fog your glasses. I assume your glasses are covering part of the mask and the hot air is partly escaping up under the glasses?

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9baac75fad.jpg

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a25997fe6.jpeg
it’s is what I wear. I think my lips would hurt with the above picture.

I found that if I adjusted my balaclava in a certain way, the fogging of my glasses did not happen while I was moving.. sometimes it fogged up when I stopped if it was exceptionally cold, but found I was generally good. I got one of these or something very close to it by this company.

https://www.amazon.com/ROCK-BROS-Bal...4521704&sr=8-2

do you need your mouth/nose covered? Never need that and ever have a fogging issue. Now when I use it as a mask the nI go into a store then I get fogging.

I cycle outside all winter, last year the lowest was 15 degrees American. With the mask on my sun glasses would fog, especially the harder that I breath.

I’ll check this out thanks.

I have only gotten to about 25 but never covered my mouth, when it is that cold I use two of them a thin one and my normal one then I would breath through the thin one.

Thats a thought.

My lips get crazy chapped in the winter even with the mask on, that’s why I havnt considered one with a hole in the mouth.

But this might be the only option.

I read somewhere that you could use snow boarding goggles over your glasses, but didn’t know if anyone here had tried that or if it was even practical.

it was a really thing one I got at a local bike shop. really too thin to do much. but layering does great and it was much easier to breath through.

Do the companies make full face MTB helmets with the flip down front? That would take the mask out of the equation.

sounds heavy.

No flip front, but probably would be warmer.

https://www.bellhelmets.com/bike/c/m...-bike-helmets/

Here's an option. Also. Some of the companies such as Giro make winter helmets.

https://bikerumor.com/2016/02/12/pro...th-the-visorx/

Here's an option. Also, some of the companies such as Giro make winter helmets.

https://bikerumor.com/2016/02/12/pro...th-the-visorx/

Having to wear my glasses and masks for Covid has been really frustrating due to fogging. Especially for work when I have to wear safety glasses. My optometrist recommended Fogaway: https://www.amazon.com/Spray-Glasses...ef_=ast_sto_dp

It's not perfect, but it reduces fogging better than any other product I've tried.

Mark

That’s pretty sweet. I would be willing to try that.

This is an option as well, but I have a feeling they will still fog up at some point and that could be a disaster.

Prescription googles and these really work! And good for swimming too. I would wear them over the bachlava and a little loose.


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...688a74d78a.jpg

https://www.otg-goggles.com/top-5-pr...-swim-goggles/

In my experience, I don't need my mouth covered at +15 °F. If chapping is a problem, I recommend Carmex or similar.

I ride down to -10 °F and am generally comfortable down to 0*F. Probably I'd be wearing something that covered my mouth below 10 °F.
With that said, I can ride without steaming my glasses UNTIL I stop (say, at a red light). Then there are problems.

Contacts. 🙂

"Chilly" might mean something different for you than it does for me, but for sub 20F I've found ski goggles or mountain biking goggles work well. Goggles with double-walled lenses prevent fogging very well and as the bottom is sealed work well with something covering your nose and mouth. I have a cheap pair of low profile enduro goggles and they are effective never fogging and with comfort on really cold (sub 20F) days. I have to admit I rarely use them as regular glasses with a hat under the helmet is more comfortable most of the time. Also, I personally don't like riding with something covering my mouth.

One tip: make sure the googles work with your helmet before buying. Also, don't buy ski helmets for cycling as they're way too hot.

I presume eye protection would still be wanted, but I thought the same, in combo with an aero+shield helmet like the Giro Vanquish

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6f8bfdb2e0.jpg