There is nothing more irritating than your goggles fogging up all the time during a training session and if they fog up in a race, it could be the difference between victory and defeat. The first thing we all do when our goggles start to fog up is wipe the inside of the goggles with our fingers. First mistake! The oils from your skin lift the anti-coating on the inside of the goggles and they’ll never be the same again.
Let’s take a look at why your goggles are fogging up in the first place, what to do to prevent them from fogging up and which are the best anti-fog sprays for goggles on the market at the moment.
There is nothing more irritating than your goggles fogging up all the time.
Why Are Your Swimming Goggles Fogging Up?
The culprit behind foggy goggles is condensation. The area around your eyes heats up due to your body rising from your increased heart rate from swimming, but the goggles remain cool from the water. The combination of body heat and cooler goggles causes water droplets to form on the inside of your goggles which creates fog. The harder you swim, the foggier your goggles get.
Condensation can form on the inside lens of goggles for several reasons:
1. No Anti-Fog Film
Most goggles today are equipped with a thin layer of anti-fog protection on the inside lens. It is spread evenly across the surface of the lens and is made up of components that help to absorb water and reduce the formation of fog. This thin film of anti-fog protection should prevent condensation from forming into water droplets large enough to see. Goggles without the anti-fog protection feature tend to fog up from the first use.
2. Wear and Tear
Goggles are the one piece of swim gear you will use every single time you swim, so they will experience wear and tear. The built-in anti-fog protection is not permanent and can degrade over time even if you are careful with your goggles.
The best way to keep the anti-fog protection as long as possible is to never touch the inside lens with your fingers or clean them with a towel as this will leave the anti-fog protection off the lens. Always rinse your goggles with fresh water after every swim and hang them up to air dry. This will help the built-in anti-fog protection to last as long as possible.
The best way to keep the anti-fog protection as long as possible is to never touch the inside lens with your fingers.
How Can You Prevent Your Swimming Goggles Fogging Up?
Seeing clearly through your goggles while you are swimming is crucial, not only for seeing where you are going and enjoying your swim but for safety reasons, too. If you are sharing a lane with someone or swimming in the open water, it’s important to be aware of your surroundings at all times.
Here are some ways to keep your swim goggles from fogging up:
1. Anti-Fog Spray
Your best bet for keeping your goggles fog-free is to use an anti-fog spray. There are a variety of anti-fog sprays on the market, and they come in a small bottle that you can keep inside your swim bag. The spray works by reducing surface tension, which makes it more difficult for water droplets to condense on your goggles.
Application is easy – simply spray the inside of your goggles with the anti-fog spray and rinse them off with fresh or pool water before putting them on. Don’t touch the inside lens at all as this will defeat the purpose of the spray.
2. Johnson’s Baby Shampoo
Johnson’s Baby Shampoo is one of the best ways to keep your goggles from fogging up and I swear by this method! Its special formula is designed for babies and doesn’t make your eyes water if they come into contact with the shampoo and your goggles stay fog-free for your entire swim! Simply mix a tiny bit of shampoo with water (1:10 ratio) in a small spray bottle, shake well and spray the mixture into each goggle. Rinse off with fresh or pool water and you are good to go!
3. Proper Care
Proper care of your goggles is the first line of defense against the lens fogging up and the goggles becoming annoying to wear. Never use your finger to clean the inside lens of the goggles – if they start to fog up while you are swimming, slip them off, rinse them in the pool, and try them again. The oil from your skin will lift and remove the anti-fog layer on the lens and they will then begin to deteriorate quickly. You also run the risk of scratching the lens with your fingernail.
Rinse your goggles with fresh water after every swim and hang them up to air dry. This will prevent mildew and mold growth and help the built-in anti-fog protection to last as long as possible. Once they are dry, store them in a protective case to prevent them from getting scratched in your swim bag.
4. Wet Your Face Before Putting the Goggles On
Condensation forms due to the reaction between the body heat around your eyes and the cold pool water, so you can prevent your goggles from fogging up due to condensation by wetting your face before you put your goggles on. This solution will only be temporary, however, as when you begin to exert yourself and your heart rate rises, so will your body temperature and condensation will begin to form.
5. Spit into Your Goggles
This is an age-old method used by both swimmers and divers for keeping fog at bay and spitting into each lens is an effective way to keep your goggles fog-free. The saliva forms a thin layer of moisture on the lenses, which deters condensation. This, however, is also a temporary method because as soon as the layer of moisture had dried up, the condensation will begin to form again.
Johnson’s Baby Shampoo is one of the best ways to keep your goggles from fogging up.
The Best Anti-Fog Sprays for Swim Goggles
Let’s take a look at some of the best anti-fog spray for goggles on the market:
BEST OVERALL: Johnson’s Baby Shampoo
The world-renowned yellow shampoo designed for babies that promises “no more tears” is the best anti-fog solution for keeping your goggles clear from fog. While it’s not sold specifically as an anti-fog spray for goggles, the homemade solution has been keeping swimmers’ goggles fog-free for decades.
The anti-spray solution is simple: mix a small amount of shampoo with water (1:10 ratio) in a small spray bottle and shake well. Spray the solution into each of the goggles, rinse before putting them on and enjoy your swim with fog-free goggles.
Pros
- Budget-friendly and long-lasting
- Doesn’t irritate the eyes
- Keeps lenses fog-free and super clean
- Made with all-natural, eco-friendly ingredients
No products found.
Speedo Anti-Fog Goggle Solution
Speedo Anti-Fog Goggle Solution comes in a neat little 2.6-ounce bottle and can be used on various lenses in swimming and diving goggles. The fluid is made with natural ingredients and is environmentally friendly. It cleans the lenses and de-fogs them, however, the effect is not long-lasting. It is also a bit tricky to use as the bottle doesn’t have a spray nozzle.
Pros
- Convenient travel-size bottle
- Made from all-natural, environmentally-friendly ingredients
- Cleans and de-mists the lenses
- Quick-drying formula
- Six-month warranty
Cons
- Difficult to apply without a spray nozzle
- Doesn’t have a long-lasting effect
No products found.
Just Add Water JAWS Quick Spit Antifog Spray
Developed by Just Add Water Solutions (JAWS), Just Add Water Jaws Quick Spit Antifog Spray is an environmentally-friendly anti-fog solution that is long-lasting and works well. The non-toxic solution is made from all-natural ingredients and works on various lens types, including glass and plastic.
Pros
- Made from all-natural, environmentally-friendly ingredients
- Compatible with various kinds of lenses including glass and plastic
- 200+ pumps per bottle – great value for money
- Long-lasting anti-fogging effect
Cons
- Not suitable for prescription goggles as it may damages the lenses
No products found.
Optix 55 Anti-Fog Spray
Optix 55 Anti-Fog Spray is a great product made by famous eyewear brand, Optix 55. This liquid can be used on a variety of lens types, including glass, plastic, polycarbonate, iridium, polarized and photochromic lenses, and Lexan. It can also be used on prescription goggles.
This anti-fog spray is made with natural hypoallergenic ingredients which reduce the chance of the eye membrane or the skin around the eyes becoming irritated. The anti-fog spray is available in three sizes and has an easy-to-use spray nozzle.
Pros
- Compatible with a variety of lens types
- Made with natural hypoallergenic ingredients
- Available in three sizes
- Quick-drying, stainless formula
Cons
- Hot water reduces the anti-fogging effect
No products found.
TYR Anti-Fog Spray
TYR Anti-Fog Spray is made from natural hypoallergenic ingredients and does a good job of de-fogging your goggles, although the effect isn’t very long-lasting. It doesn’t irritate the eyes or the skin and is available in a small, convenient bottle that fits neatly into any swim bag.
Pros
- Made with natural hypoallergenic ingredients
- Cleans and de-mists the lenses
- Compatible with a variety of lens types
Cons
- The bottle has quite a small volume of liquid
No products found.
Cressi Anti-Fog Drops
Produced by leading water sports equipment and accessories company, Cressi, Cressi Anti-Fog Drops do a great job of keeping goggles mist-free. The fluid is made from eco-friendly, non-allergenic, and non-toxic components so it doesn’t irritate the eyes or the skin, and the anti-fog effect lasts several hours while swimming or diving. Cressi Anti-Fog Drops can only be used on dry lenses though.
Pros
- Made from eco-friendly, non-allergenic, and non-toxic components
- Ample volume of fluid in the bottle
- Great value for money
Cons
- Can only be used on dry lenses
- Does not work on prescription lenses
- No spray nozzle makes it awkward to use
No products found.
Arena Anti-Fog Spray
The Arena Anti-Fog Spray is a great product and can be used also for prescription goggles, as well as other lens types. It is made from hypoallergenic components and water and is available in a one fluid ounce volume. The solution needs to be sprayed directly onto dry lenses, and it dries instantly without staining. It leaves the goggles crystal clear and clean by reactivating the anti-fog coating on the lens.
Pros
- Reactivates the goggles anti-fog coating to leave lenses clear and clean
- Quick-drying formula
- Doesn’t stain the lenses
- Can be used on a variety of lens types, including prescription goggles
- Made with natural hypoallergenic ingredients and water
Cons
- Quite expensive for the amount of fluid
No products found.
Hendlex Anti-fog Spray
Hendlex Anti-fog Spray is manufactured by a company that specializes in the development of anti-fogging agents and surface cleansers using advanced technologies. This fluid is highly effective on a variety of surfaces from glass to plastic and is made from environmentally friendly, non-allergenic, and natural components so it doesn’t irritate the eyes or skin. This product comes in a large bottle with a convenient spray nozzle and lasts for ages.
Pros
- Large volume in a bottle with a convenient spray pump
- Made from eco-friendly, non-allergenic, and non-toxic components
- Compatible with a variety of lens types
- Leaves no stains
- Quick-drying formula
Cons
- Fairly expensive
No products found.
Scott Sports NoFog Cleaner Spray
Scott Sports NoFog Cleaner Spray is made by winter sportswear specialist, Scott Sports and is a universal 2-in-1 spray that works well when it comes to preventing your goggles from fogging up when swimming. The liquid cleans and defogs in one spray and is made from eco-friendly, non-allergenic, and non-toxic ingredients. Once the liquid has been sprayed onto the goggles, be sure to wipe the remaining liquid off the lenses with a lint-free cloth to avoid scratching the lens.
Pros
- Innovative 2-in-1 spray that cleans and defogs
- Made from eco-friendly, non-allergenic, and non-toxic ingredients
- Quick-drying formula
- Doesn’t stain the lenses
Cons
- A lint-free cloth is needed to wipe the remains of the solution from the lenses
No products found.
How to Choose the Right Anti-Fog Spray?
It may seem overwhelming when it comes to deciding on which brand of anti-fog spray to buy. There are a variety of brands, all of which seem to do the same thing, but there are a few elements that you should keep in mind when making your choice.
1. Lens Type
Make sure the anti-fog spray you get is compatible with the type of lenses you have in your goggle, particularly if they are prescription goggles. Some anti-misting sprays for such goggles can leave lenses stained and damaged so be sure to check the solution type on the bottle.
2. Easy to Apply
A bottle with a nozzle is much easier to use for applying anti-spray fog to your goggles than a squeeze or dropper bottle.
3. Durability
The longer-lasting the anti-fogging effect on your goggles, the better. While you may pay slightly more for an anti-fog spray that lasts longer, it will make your swim that much more enjoyable if you aren’t having to reapply the spray all the time due to misting.
4. Ingredients
The ingredients in anti-fog sprays are very important, particularly if you suffer from allergies. Go for a spray that is made from eco-friendly, hypoallergenic, and environmentally-friendly ingredients to avoid your eyes or your skin becoming irritated.
5. Swim Environment
Some anti-fog sprays do not work very well when there is a large temperature difference as in cold water swimming. The greater the temperature difference, the more condensation is likely to occur, so double-check that your solution can handle cold water temperatures.
6. Volume
Try smaller bottles if you haven’t yet found the anti-fog spray that works for you. When you have found one that works, buying in bulk may be more cost-effective. An anti-fog spray solution like Johnson’s Baby Shampoo is cheap to buy and lasts forever as you have to use so little of it for each application.
7. Brand
It is recommended to buy an anti-fogger from a trusted swimming or scuba-diving brands such as Speedo, Arena, TYR, or Cressi. A renowned brand is trustworthy when it comes to ingredients and manufacturing processes, and you generally have some recourse if there is a defect with the product.
Happy Swimming!
Mia Russell is currently the head swim coach at Aquasharks Swimming Academy in South Africa. She has worked as the head swim guide at SwimQuest Open Water Swimming Holidays in London and was previously a Swim Coach at Cybersmart Aquatics. She has a AIDA International Level 3 Freediving Certification, PADI Open Water Advanced Certificate, SSI Level 1 Free Diver Certificate and RYA Beach Lifeguard Certificate.