Internal fogging on double-walled goggles - does any brand do worse or better?

I have had Smith Vice goggles for 7 years now - and I've had numerous problems if the goggles were stored in an unconditioned space and then taken outside, I would get internal fogging between the lenses. I've had these issues with multiple lenses made in different years. One experience was so bad that it left a water spot stain inside the lens (and Smith gave me a code for a free lens as a result of that). It hasn't ever been an issue taking them from a conditioned heated space with drier air and then going outside.

The root of the problem is that I live in the PNW where it is cold rainy and humid for much of the winter, and my gear lives in an unconditioned part of the house, so I assume that the air inside a sealed double-wall goggle lens eventually comes to match the air of the environment. I could try to be extremely strict about where we keep all of our goggles before and after ski trips, but that's not realistic for this household.

Are there any brands that tolerate this kind of thing better than others? I like the optical quality of Smith (and really like the Storm Rose Flash for all weather conditions here from November-April) but I don't want to stick with that brand if they seal all their lenses the same way.

I think you’ve broken the seal on the lens. Or they came from the dealer with the seals broken.

i think you wana bring at least your ski goggles indoors ? I thot I heard shop bro once say that Scott was the biggest goggle maker by a large amount

User error. Do not put goggles in the case and in a ski bag at end of the day for ride home. Leave them out. Hang them from seats etc. once home hang all goggles to dry completely, don’t make excuses and just make it happen. Next day when all are good and dry you can put them away in their locations.
All of your issues are avoided if by just taking a few small steps.
Signed, another INW/PNW dood.


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Originally Posted by 2FUNKY

User error. Do not put goggles in the case and in a ski bag at end of the day for ride home. Leave them out. Hang them from seats etc. once home hang all goggles to dry completely, don’t make excuses and just make it happen. Next day when all are good and dry you can put them away in their locations.
All of your issues are avoided if by just taking a few small steps.
Signed, another INW/PNW dood.


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This is the way.

I find it also helps to pop the lens out of the frame so that moisture on the edges evaporates.

I’m with funky. I mean there prolly are some goggles that are better at this, (your specific issue), but how you gonna test this? I have nooooo issues with my very cool Julbo photochromatic with the very cool pop-out lense feature, that would fix your problem, though.

Do the magnetic lens goggles deal with this better? Being that the lens edge is exposed


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I've had it hapen very ocassionally with both Smith and Oakley when I leave them in a cold, wet pack with my gloves and hat . . . bring them inside where you are - i.e. warm and not very humid - when you aren't using them. (Everyone else is right). If it happens on the mountain and you don't have a spare lens, I've had success with taking the lens out and holding it under a hand dryer edge facing the warm blasting air.

Dual layer lenses are not actually completely sealed, the foam around the perimeter will allow air and moisture to enter/exit (plus Smith lenses normally have a small valve for this purpose somewhere in the corner of the lens). IME magnetic and frameless models are somewhat worse than traditional framed versions.

Fan goggles or bring inside to warm dry room for a day


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I hang my goggles to dry in a conditioned space every time that they are exposed to any kind of moisture.

I don’t think any goggles will work if they don’t have a chance to dry out between uses.

My Scott’s started fogging/freezing between lenses last year. Their 5th or 6th season. I usually dangle them from a Quaker dryer by the wood stove along with my other gear. I also put them in the corner of the front windshield on the way home from skiing so the defrost blasts them. They’ve gone through a few rainstorms. I’ve had much cheaper goggles that have survived many more wet ski days and been generally more abused w/o between lenses fogging/freezing issues. It’s all pretty fucking annoying.


Argh

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Originally Posted by SchralphMacchio

I could try to be extremely strict about where we keep all of our goggles before and after ski trips, but that's not realistic for this household.

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Change your style. Sorry, it's a requirement. 2funky is right.

All truth has been said.

But on a related note-- comparing Oakley and Smith-- Oakley has my favorite optics and are the best at removing fog. But they are also fragile in that you can't touch the inside when they're wet. Kind of a joke, but if I just shake the snow out, they dry out really well just by ventilation over a run or two. Smith have 90% the optics of Oakley but are definitely easier to clean after a wreck. But they don't breathe as well as Oakley. So if my Smith do fog, I just swap goggles.

And damn have top-end goggles gotten expensive. WTF?

Also-- a quiver of goggles for the kids, like 3-4 pair each. "If you can't see, you can't ski." Costco had a Bolle multi-pack that I harvested. They've never had trouble. Spare lenses in the pocket, too.

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Originally Posted by meepmoop24

...it also helps to pop the lens out of the frame so that moisture on the edges evaporates.

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>This is *Muy* Importante imho<
Maybe toss some uncooked rice/silica gel packs in with Goggs when storing.

It makes no sense. It is like asking if I don’t try my gloves, why are my fingers cold the next day?

I would just tell everyone if they want to see thru their goggles its been suggested on-line by this group of dentists

we should all bring our stuff in-doors & try take care of our goggles

The root of the problem isn’t the we PNW, it’s that you aren’t drying out your google. I just gave our staff training and emphasized to the staff that fogging is basically never warranty, it’s the customer not taking care of their goggles. You are introducing moisture between the lenses and then it condenses.

No goggles are better at being misused. Dry them out. Dry out your goggle bag, don’t put them in a wet back pack. Don’t breathe up your balaclava into the goggle. All basic stuff. Save your money and figure out how to dry them.

So, let’s just say there was a guy who just might have exhibited similar behaviors to Schlarph, and has a couple I/O mag lenses with now less than perfect clarity, after thoroughly cleaning the exterior of the lenses. What, if anything, can that so dumb guy try to make it better? Anything?


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Just leave those kids in the car

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Originally Posted by Andyski

So, let’s just say there was a guy who just might have exhibited similar behaviors to Schlarph, and has a couple I/O mag lenses with now less than perfect clarity, after thoroughly cleaning the exterior of the lenses. What, if anything, can that so dumb guy try to make it better? Anything?


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Rinse them with warm water. Seriously. Literally rinse both exterior surfaces and set aside to dry.

Pee on them in the shower and set out to dry.


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Laugh all you want but my I/O’s developed a thin coat of salt from my sweat vapor over a season. I was advised here to rinse with warm water. I did. They were like new.


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I rinse my goggles on occasion with water, inside and out.

I’ve always been under the impression that all goggles have that anti fog coating on the inside of the lense, and that one should not rub the inside of the lense when that side is wet or you’ll rub off the coating…

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Originally Posted by bodywhomper

I rinse my goggles on occasion with water, inside and out.

I’ve always been under the impression that all goggles have that anti fog coating on the inside of the lense, and that one should not rub the inside of the lense when that side is wet or you’ll rub off the coating…

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Yeah I try not to rub the inside of goggles, I've heard of folks who ski with a second pair in the pack so they can just do a quick swap if a faceplant gets their goggle all snowed up

Smith goggles don’t use an anti fog treatment on the inside. They use a mechanical anti fog design of mini ridges.

Of course this is user error. I should have a 12V desiccating box that houses my entire family’s goggles and move that box from the basement to the RV or truck as we travel. But I don’t.

The issue here is not that I’m storing them wet, it’s that once dried out, they live in their goggle bag, with all our other shit, *in an unconditioned and somewhat humid space* on the west side of the Oregon Cascades. The air between the lenses will equilibrate to that space. When the goggles go directly from that environment to the ski hill they will fog internally. Once they have been hanging over a heating vent in my RV for a night, I don’t have this problem. And I mostly don’t have this problem with other double wall goggles, just my Smith Vices. They basically seem slower to equalize the internal humidity to atmosphere than other goggles.

I think the main thing is ensuring that they are drying out during transit. The process of specifically laying all of the family’s goggles (and spares) around the dashboard, rear view mirror, before each drive up the hill etc seems like such a pain but I guess I don’t have an alternative.

Another note, popping out lenses to aid drying isn’t practical with the Vice frames. Seems like with the Squad Mag frames it is super easy. But then Greg says that the Mag lenses seem to be even slower to equilibrate …

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Originally Posted by SchralphMacchio

...Another note, popping out lenses to aid drying isn’t practical with the Vice frames…

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Ah. You're fucked then...[emoji52]

(We have non mag Smiths. Currently the pre mag with the side pivot. And some OG ones with tabs on lens that "key" into frames. A bit of a hassle to change lenses, but learn the knack, m'kay?)

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Originally Posted by GoldenBC

Smith goggles don’t use an anti fog treatment on the inside. They use a mechanical anti fog design of mini ridges.

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Is this for specific models? I just bought some Smith Reason OTG and the literature seems to indicate there’s a treatment.
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Smith may warranty those lenses. The lens spacer foam is compromised somewhere, or the pressure equalization filter (if it has one), is toast. Try them, sometimes you need to call.

At one point, Smith made the BEST EVER thermal goggle lens - the Vaporator or some such name. Patented. The inner & outer lenses were all bonded using a robotic silicone seal in Woodinville, WA. BC guides horded them, employees too. Sigh, that is now history, too expensive, production moved to UT using what everyone uses: 3M acrylic bonded foam. It works, it's not fool-proof, but Smith are among the better folks at lenses & QC.

Also, your thermal lenses like warm & dry after a day in the PNW. Heater vents (not too hot, eh) work pretty well since they pump dry(er) warm air. Take care of them, they will take care of you kind of deal. And Smith might take care of you (although Vice has been out of production for a long time now). For your next goggle, go big(er), more air volume means less chance to hit dew point and collect moisture, especially in the PNW.

Good luck.

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Originally Posted by gaijin

Rinse them with warm water. Seriously. Literally rinse both exterior surfaces and set aside to dry.

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This worked like a goddamn charm - only addition is that i put the fuckers on a heat duct in my house to dry. Like new.