Don’t Let Foggy Goggles Rain on Your Triathlon Parade
Just imagine: Race day is here. You’re pumped up—feeling great and ready to go. The race is about to start. You’re ready to swim, but as soon as you hit the water, everything starts to go blurry. The masses of people do make it difficult to see, but the real problem is…your foggy goggles.
Don’t let this be you.
Goggles fog up because of the differing temperatures on either side of the lens. On one side is your face—naturally very warm. On the other side is the water—usually colder than your face. This problem might seem inevitable, but there are ways to avoid foggy goggles. You have bigger, more important things to focus on when you start your triathlon.
Here are some easy methods to avoid foggy goggles and keep your eye on the prize—literally!
Saliva
Grosser things have happened—we promise. A tried and true method to avoid foggy goggles is to spit on the inside of the lens. Let your saliva soak the lens, and then rinse them out. This option is also incredibly safe for your eyes because saliva won’t sting, burn or mess with your vision.
Anti-Fog Spray
A market has developed for anti-fog goggle spray. A number of companies make the product, and it works similarly to the saliva. Simply spray on the inside of the lens, let it sit for a while, and rinse it out. Unlike saliva, this spray is obviously not a natural substance, so make sure you rinse your goggles well! If any extra spray is left in the goggles it could irritate your eyes—which is probably worse than a little fog.
Baby Shampoo
Looking for something a little more accessible than anti-fog spray? Try baby shampoo. Squirt a drop on the inside lens, let it sit for about fifteen minutes, and rinse it out. Again, make sure you rinse it out completely to avoid any eye irritation. The baby shampoo leaves a thin film on the inside of the goggles, which presents the fog from forming.
Toothpaste
An even more accessible item is toothpaste. This works almost the exact same way as baby shampoo and leaves a nice thin, anti-fog film.
Anti-Fog Coated Goggles
A lot of goggles these days have an anti-fog coating on the inside of the lens. This coating is thin, though, and can be rubbed off with your fingers. If you know you have goggles with an anti-fog coating, avoid touching the inside of the lens. You can rub the coating off, which would allow the fog to form again.
You push your body to its limit to train for your triathlon. The last thing you need is equipment trouble on race day. Keep these anti-fog tips in mind, and test them throughout your training to see what works best for you.
What other common equipment issues do you need help overcoming?
