Winter Cycling - But...What to wear on your eyes.

So, I generally cycle in the morning. This is my first crack at year long cycling instead of a specific season. MY question....What kind of eyewear? I ride in the dark ALOT. SO anythng I pick up would have to have a clear lens option. Thank for the input.

I'm sure you can pick up some clear lensed ski goggles for when it is really cold.

Otherwise I just use clear lensed plastic glasses I got off Nashbar

I just wear my normal glasses.

Expected temperature range?

WileyX goggles. They keep my eyes warm, and almost never fog up. Sometimes they put too much pressure on the bridge of my nose, though. You can find a ton of them on eBay.

I use ski goggles when it's really cold, otherwise, nothing.

I use clear shop safety glasses. Wrap around to the sides, light, and cheap. Way less than rider $pecialty glasses.

Since I froze my eyeball last year I've had a lot of trouble with it tearing up in subfreezing temps. It's like I'm crying out of one eye. Are there any insulated ski goggles that WON'T fog up?

I have a pair of double lense Carrera goggles that do not fog up. The double lenses have a space between them that creates a termal barrier and virtually eliminates fogging.

Is there a 'secret' to reducing lens fog in the cold?

Is there a 'secret' to reducing lens fog in the cold?

Don't stop. ;)

I'm with Machka. I just wear my regular glasses. My eyes tear up a bit around mile one, and it stops around mile two.

As for the fogging, the secret is: Don't stop.

In my 45 years of wearing glasses I've tried all the remedies--both commercial and home-brew. They all work for a bit, then they don't. Too much fussing for me. I just turn my head to catch whatever breeze is blowing to funnel it behind the lens. They clear up soon enough, usually by the time the light turns green.

I went to a lot of measures to find out how to happily wear glasses in the winter. In the end i learned that the best solution was to wear contact lenses. That is the ONLY reason i got them a few years ago, was for winter cycling.

This was simply the best move i've made in a long, long time. Better vision, no more fogging, and i can cover up every inch of my face except for the eyeballs and stay very warm. That was not an option with glasses.

not cheap at over $125, but you can get goggles with a fan to keep them ventilated. Keep an eye out for them on sale from SaC, REI or wherever you follow such deals. They do work.

Smith: Phenom Turba Fan Goggle
http://mirror.altrec.com/images/shop/detail/swatches/SMI/794.31662_d.jpg

I use cheap ski goggles over my eye glasses. And don't stop.
If you do, just remove the ski goggles. I like to tilt my head back when stopped, it helps prevent vapor condensation.

Is there a 'secret' to reducing lens fog in the cold?

Yep, it's call Cat Crap (really). And if you do stop, take off your glasses, goggles immediately. Just be sure not to breath on them as you do it or they will frost over. Or you could get an motorcycle helmet (not full face) with a flip up visor and flip it up when you stop..(joking).

Find it here:
http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=608&memberId=12500226

Yep, it's call Cat Crap (really). And if you do stop, take off your glasses, goggles immediately. Just be sure not to breath on them as you do it or they will frost over. Or you could get an motorcycle helmet (not full face) with a flip up visor and flip it up when you stop..(joking).

Find it here:
http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=608&memberId=12500226

I tried it a couple of times. It's aptly named...at least the last part;) Didn't work for me and just left my glasses smeary.

I tried it a couple of times. It's aptly named...at least the last part;) Didn't work for me and just left my glasses smeary.

It worked wonders for me, although some fogging still happened at a stop. But apparently people have had very mixed results, potentially due to the different types of precipitation(fog, light rain, heavy rain, mist, varying types of snow, etc)

I don't know if it's the same, but I once tried RainX anti fog stuff in my car. The windows fogged more. Probably my fault.

Only way to prevent fog is to get the air moving. When I stop at a light, I move my glasses to the tip of my nose so my breath isn't anywhere near them. If they do fog, it's usually gone in a few seconds once I get moving.

I bought a pair of Wilson Raquetball Goggles for about $10. The don't fog very much.

WileyX goggles. They keep my eyes warm, and almost never fog up. Sometimes they put too much pressure on the bridge of my nose, though. You can find a ton of them on eBay.

+1

I am pretty happy with mine. I have them with clear and vermillion prescription eyecups. They keep your eyes nice and toasty. I usually wear them with the regular temples, but when it is cold I like having the goggle strap option.

-D

I use clear shop safety glasses. Wrap around to the sides, light, and cheap. Way less than rider $pecialty glasses.


same here.

I ride with Scott ski goggles with amber lenses...

I can see fine day or night, have UV protection, and they don't fog up.

I have had absolutely NO luck with goggles/glasses.With the face mask that I use it's impossible to keep them clear(no matter what kind of anti-fog I try).I'd need some kind of snorkle to redirect the expelled breath away from my face.
So,I just do without.I've ridden when it's -12F/-25C without too much discomfort.Sometimes the salt dust on the road is a nuisance.

This is a topic on the commuting forum as well. I have found the Kroops goggles light and inexpensive. You get very good peripheral vision. They come in sizes that fit over glasses. They have good fog control. Overall, I think they are a great product. The only problem I see is when it gets to about <10 degrees F, the may get cold on the contact surface next to your face. so far at 30 F at 20 mph they seem fine.

http://www.kroop.com/

Above 30F, I wear my regular glasses. Below 30F I wear clear lens ski goggles.

Not sure if this works on biking goggles or whatever, but I used to scuba dive alot and we allways cleaned our mask on the inside of the lense with white toothpaste. Gel will not work, it has to be toothpaste. It cleans off all left over debris left from the manufacturing process that causes it to fog. Worked better then anything you could buy in the store for de-fogging.

I tried it a couple of times. It's aptly named...at least the last part;) Didn't work for me and just left my glasses smeary.

That was my experience as well.

When it gets below 40F I wear Global Vision Big Ben Goggles over my regular vision-correcting glasses.

http://www.amazon.com/Global-Vision-Goggles-Glasses-Touring/dp/B000MT77FU

$32.99

These goggles have vents, they keep my face warm, and, as I said, they fit over my regular every day glasses.

I use CLARITY FOG ELIMINATOR dry cloth applicators on my glasses and on the insides of my goggles.
I get them at the WalMart Optical store.

If I treat my glasses with this waxy cloth once a day, I can ride pretty much fog-free, except on cold, rainy days, which push the Fog Eliminator to its limits.
Otherwise, I've ridden down to -15F without fogging.
Perhaps on cold, rainy days, above freezing, the air holds more moisture/humidity, and this fogs my glasses.
Still, I do well enough with the Fog Eliminators even on the worst days.

And if you get ski goggles, make sure their viewing angle is large enough to you.

Cat Crap will work for mild fogging, I have used it for years. If you use a face mask then try putting tape on the bottom vents in the ski goggles, this sounds strange but seems to work., it prevents your breath from fogging up the googles. If you wear perscription glasses and want to wear googles over them try perscription googles - one less set of lenses to fog. I use a pair from sportrx.com (http://www.sportrx.com/search_results.asp?type=brand&brand=uvex)
The UVEX G120 requires no insert and therefore has one less layer of lens. They work great, all you need to is provide them with your prescription information.

Cat Crap will work for mild fogging, I have used it for years.

That's probably my problem with it. I don't experience mild fogging when I ride. When I stop I look like the moors with a fog rising, i.e. I sweat a lot:eek: My glasses don't fog because of my breath but because of the water vapor coming off my face. Ten to 15 seconds of stopping leaves me blind...except for a tiny little window right next to my nose.

That's probably my problem with it. I don't experience mild fogging when I ride. When I stop I look like the moors with a fog rising, i.e. I sweat a lot:eek: My glasses don't fog because of my breath but because of the water vapor coming off my face. Ten to 15 seconds of stopping leaves me blind...except for a tiny little window right next to my nose.

I have that same problem. The only thing I can do is drop the glasses out further on my nose and look over the top of them till I can get some wind going again.

I ride with Scott ski goggles with amber lenses...

I can see fine day or night, have UV protection, and they don't fog up.

+1

Has anyone tried the toothpaste trick? I am just curious if that would also work on ski googles or bike googles. Fortionately I dont have to buy googles and experiment with em here in Florida.

Which leads me to a question, what does everyone use for temps of ~40-50 at night? I am thinking that a pair of clear saftey glasses would atleast keep my eyeballs from drying up.

Has anyone tried the toothpaste trick? I am just curious if that would also work on ski googles or bike googles. Fortionately I dont have to buy googles and experiment with em here in Florida.

Which leads me to a question, what does everyone use for temps of ~40-50 at night? I am thinking that a pair of clear saftey glasses would atleast keep my eyeballs from drying up.

I use clear lenses in a pair of Rudy Project Kerosenes. But I need Rx glasses and have inserts. I'd suggest against colored lenses of any kind at night. Yellow ones bring out contrast but darken black areas. Vermillion and red lenses make black spots inky:eek: I mean i n k y! They look like holes in a cartoon.

For those of you lucky enough to have functional eyeballs, clear safety glasses are good and cheap.