One of the most common problems regular swimmers report is their goggles fogging up during the swim.
After all, as soon as those lenses steam up you lose most of your visibility, which makes swimming – whether in the pool or outdoors – much harder.
In open water and when racing or taking part in swim events this can be an even bigger problem, as fogging stops you being able to see where other swimmers are or where the marker buoys on the course are. It’s not only frustrating, but will also cost you time.
Plus, we get to swim in some amazing places as open-water swimmers and triathletes, and the last thing you want is to be denied taking in your surroundings!
Why do my goggles fog up even though they say anti-fog?
So what causes goggles to fog up? Put simply, the condensation that forms on the inside of the lenses is the same as any other condensation. It's a reaction caused by water evaporating as its exposed to heat.
So when you start swimming, your face will heat up and will also be warmer than the cooler water you're submerged in.
This creates moisture – whether water that has seeped in or sweat from your face – to condense on the lenses and create that annoying fogging.
Many goggles will already have an anti fog coating on them when you buy them, but this can be easily damaged and stop working with time and use.
How do you stop this happening? It’s best practise to always avoid touching the inside of your goggles lenses, as this can disturb the coating.
Also, get into the habit of rinsing your goggles in clean water after every use and then leaving them to dry naturally before storing them back in their case (though many goggles come with breathable cases or little bags that should allow them to dry in storage).
No anti-fog spray or film will last forever though, so if you have a faithful pair of goggles that are otherwise in good condition and are still serving you well, then you may want to look at other options, such as an anti-fog spray.
What can I do to stop my goggles fogging up?
There are hacks you can try. Many swimmers swear by (and apologies to those who find this gross!) rubbing a little bit of spit on the inside of their lenses before swimming. Saliva can do a reasonable job of stopping fogging.
Other swimmers swear by a little baby shampoo or toothpaste foam. Just remember to apply the product sparingly and then give the goggles a good rinse afterwards, to only leave a slight film afterwards to prevent the fogging.
Remember that anything you put on the lenses will then be close to your eyes, so definitely do not use anything that can cause damage.
If you want a more reliable solution, though, then an anti-fog spray is the way to go.
These replace the original film on your lenses with a similar product and are usually much more low-cost than buying a new pair of goggles (as well as being more eco-friendly, given most goggles are made from plastic/rubber).
Just remember to read the instructions on your chosen product carefully and follow them. With most products on the market you'll need to apply and then rinse your goggles again before use to avoid getting the product in your eyes.
So here are some of the best anti-fog sprays you can buy at the moment. All the sprays and products included here are chosen from brands that we know and trust.
Best anti-fog sprays for goggles
Zoggs Ecofog Lens Cleaner & Anti-fog Spray
Zoggs is a leading, reliable brand in swim kit, so this anti-fog spray would be one of our top picks. It’s eco-friendly too, with a formula created from natural plant-based derivatives.
This dual action anti-fog and lens cleaner is suitable for all types of lenses and optics and the small 15ml bottle contains over 100 applications, so should last you a fair while!
This product is also 100% alcohol free, does not contain hazardous ingredients and is safe for the environment and aquatic organisms – important if you are concerned about protecting the place you swim.
Arena Instant Anti-Fog
Another established swim brand, Arena offers this Instant Anti-Fog spray, which has a ‘spray and swim’ application technique that reportedly does not need rinsing, so you can reactivate your anti-fog coating on the go without having to wait.
Arena says this is quicker, more effective and more practical than the traditional anti-fog sprays.
Cressi Premium Anti-Fog
Sold by Cressi, a brand known for diving products, this spray is equally applicable to swimming goggles as well as diving goggles.
This formula is spread on dry lenses before being rinsed. The 60ml volume offers a good-value quantity and is also available from some retailers as a value twin-pack.
Muc-Off Premium Anti-Fog Treatment
You might think bikes when you think Muc-off, but this anti-fog treatment is available for use on helmet visors, goggles and glasses.
The 32ml spray bottle will offer many treatments and Muc-off say it will last up to five days. As with all the sprays included here, make sure you follow the individual application advice.
Nabaiji Anti-fog Re-activator
From Decathlon’s in-house brand, this anti-fog re-activator offers a slightly different product option to the others included here.
For this one, you apply it to the lenses much like a pen, leave it to dry for one minute and then rinse to spread the product.
Decathlon states you should re-apply on average every one to three sessions, but if your goggles fog up during the session, dip them in the water again and a protective film will reform.
The product gives you 400 applications on average.
SBF Foggies Anti-Fog Wipe
Handy if you just want an emergency back-up in case your goggles start fogging on race day, we like the idea of having one of these anti-fog wipes in our triathlon kit bag just in case, as they're a product that cleans your goggles at the same time as replacing the anti-fog properties.
The instructions tell us you can simply wipe the Foggie onto the inside and outside of your goggles and then let them dry, which takes around one minute.
They might not be as eco-friendly as a spray, which can be used many times, but if you keep the wipe in an air-tight container then it can be reused.
Top image credit: Getty Images
