A good pair of snow goggles is one of the best investments you can make when it comes to your winter adventure gear. They protect your eyes from the elements and you wear them for a LONG time so you want to make sure they’re comfy. After you’ve invested in a nice pair of ski goggles, you’ll want to make sure they are well maintained. High quality snow goggles will last you multiple seasons as long as you care for them correctly. Quality and care is the combination for having amazing goggles for years.
Step 1 Carefully Clean:
Shake off any excess snow and gently clean off the front lens with a soft, microfiber cloth. Many sets of snow and ski goggles come with these cloths or a microfiber storage bag you can use for this purpose.
DO NOT try to scrape off any ice. If your snow goggles have ice on them from a long day of skiing, bring them inside to warm them up. Once they’ve spent some time warming up on a table, you will be able to shake the ice off the lens. As tempting as it may be, never wipe off your lens with your glove. This could scratch the lens and even remove some of the coating that protects your eyes from the bright sun reflecting off the snow. Rubbing your gloves against your lens can even drive particles of dirt into it from the snow which could damage the lens and just make it dirtier than when you started. Your best option is to let it drip dry and then gently clean it with your microfiber cloth.
Step 2 Avoid the Inner Lens:
Leave the inner lens ALONE as much as you can. Most snow goggles have anti fog coating inside that can be wiped off if you clean the inner lens incorrectly. However there will be times, like in the event of a crash, when you may get some snow in the inner lens. If this happens to you, start by giving it a shake to get the snow out. You can do this by gently tapping the goggles against the palm of your hand and then placing them in the chest pocket of your ski jacket to warm them up before carefully blotting them dry. The less you mess with the inner lens the longer the anti-fog coating will last you. Trust me, you’ll be grateful. If you feel like you absolutely must do something more to get your inner lens clean be sure to BLOT, not wipe the inner lens.
Step 3 Keep your microfiber storage bag clean:
Treat it like a pair of socks or underwear. If you have any doubt in your mind at all about whether or not it’s clean, WASH IT. Why? Because you use it to store and wipe off your lens! That means any built up debris on the storage bag could end up scratching your shiny lens! Which would be a bummer after all the other precautions you took to protect it.
Step 4 Store Correctly:
If your snow goggles came in a storage bag then you already have the perfect place to safely store them away! If they didn’t come with a storage bag, it doesn’t cost much to purchase one online and during the interim you can use a ski sock to prevent the lens from getting scratched. Once in the storage bag, some people choose to store their goggles in their helmet or one of their boots. However the safest storage option is to pack them into a protective case or their own compartment of a ski boot bag. A ski boot bag is designed to keep your gear safe so you can use it for multiple seasons in a row. Whatever works best for you and helps keep them safe is your best option.
Make sure your goggles are completely dry before putting them away in their microfiber bag. Ski goggles (like any other piece of gear) will deteriorate faster if they are slightly damp when they get stored away. Leaving the strap on the outside of the microfiber back will also help extend the life of your goggles by preventing potential scratching. Store them at a reasonable temperature. You may think it doesn’t matter if they live in your car year-round but exposure to extreme temperatures (both heat and cold) for extended periods of time will age your goggles much quicker than when they’re stored at room temperature while not in use.
When you care properly for your snow goggles, they can provide you with a great skiing (or any other winter sport you enjoy) experience for multiple seasons before a replacement is needed. Take good care of them and they’ll take good care of you!
