Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Road Cycling
Reload this Page >

Sweat on Glasses

Search
Notices
Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

Sweat on Glasses

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 11-18-12 | 04:11 PM
  #1  
mwandaw's Avatar
Thread Starter
Half Fast
 
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 687
Likes: 7
From: Southern California

Bikes: A road bike and a tandem road bike

Sweat on Glasses

I have a Halo sweat band and a Sweat Vac skull cap. Either one of them does a pretty good job of keeping sweat out of my eyes and off of my glasses for a while, but by the time I get to 15 or 20 miles my glasses are so obscured that I have to take them off.

Is there something else that I can do? Is there some other product?

If I remember, the Halo worked better when it was new. Has anyone else had the experience that they don't work as well after a lot of use?

Thanks!
mwandaw is offline  
Reply
Old 11-18-12 | 04:47 PM
  #2  
Lexi01's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 659
Likes: 0
From: Geelong, Australia

Bikes: Cannondale Supersix Hi-Mod / Scott Spark 930 / Scott Sportster 20 / Jamis Allegro 2.0

I don't wear anything on my head (except a helmet of course).

But I take my sunnies off with one hand and wipe my brow every few minutes...I don't even realise I'm doing it most the time.

Sweat is just something you have to deal with.
Lexi01 is offline  
Reply
Old 11-18-12 | 04:49 PM
  #3  
surgeonstone's Avatar
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,222
Likes: 30
From: South Bend IN

Bikes: 1976 FRESCHI, 2004 Crumpton.

Loosen up the strap and let the glasses ride further from your eyes, this should solve the problem. Same thing happens with me, by the end of a 30-40 mile ride encrusted sweat pretty much eliminates seeing. By doing the above the problem is much reduced. If you don't use a strap then get one and ride loose as stated.
surgeonstone is offline  
Reply
Old 11-20-12 | 05:35 PM
  #4  
"Fred"'s Avatar
Got Hills, I do!
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 765
Likes: 9
From: Northern Michigan

Bikes: Trek Domane SLR 9.9 - Trek Supercaliber 9.9.

Originally Posted by Lexi01
I don't wear anything on my head (except a helmet of course).

But I take my sunnies off with one hand and wipe my brow every few minutes...I don't even realise I'm doing it most the time.

Sweat is just something you have to deal with.
I always wear a cap or headband to help with sweat but I also wipe sweat from my forehead like above.

I hate sweat on my glasses!!!
"Fred" is offline  
Reply
Old 11-20-12 | 06:11 PM
  #5  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 85
Likes: 0
The only 100% solution for me is to wear my contacts. I wore my glasses on a summer training ride once. Once.
OldManRiley is offline  
Reply
Old 11-20-12 | 11:36 PM
  #6  
adclark's Avatar
What's a bike?
 
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 611
Likes: 1
From: USA

Bikes: Bianchi Veloce

Originally Posted by surgeonstone
Loosen up the strap and let the glasses ride further from your eyes, this should solve the problem. Same thing happens with me, by the end of a 30-40 mile ride encrusted sweat pretty much eliminates seeing. By doing the above the problem is much reduced. If you don't use a strap then get one and ride loose as stated.
This + wiping forehead with the back of your gloves should keep most sweat off of your glasses. If you have particular problems with a certain climb or something, wipe them off at the next stop sign or light.
adclark is offline  
Reply
Old 11-21-12 | 12:03 AM
  #7  
One legged rider
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,390
Likes: 1
From: Moraga, CA

Bikes: Kuota Kharma, Surly LHT, CAAD9, Bianchi fg/ss

Originally Posted by surgeonstone
Loosen up the strap and let the glasses ride further from your eyes, this should solve the problem. Same thing happens with me, by the end of a 30-40 mile ride encrusted sweat pretty much eliminates seeing. By doing the above the problem is much reduced. If you don't use a strap then get one and ride loose as stated.
+1 this. The only real solution is to keep the lenses far enough away from your eyebrows that sweat falls between your glasses and eyes.
That, or go fast enough that it gets blown away by the wind. And in reality, this may be the key. Main reason for glasses is to keep bugs and things from gettin in your eyes. Less of a problem at low speeds, and when going slow, when the sweat dripping is the worst, take the glasses off.
benajah is offline  
Reply
Old 11-21-12 | 08:41 AM
  #8  
Senior Member
Titanium Club Membership
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 15,410
Likes: 188
From: Tariffville, CT

Bikes: Tsunami road bikes, Dolan DF4 track

I've given up the sweat on glasses battle. What I find works is to put RainX or a similar thing on the glasses. When the glasses start getting wet/dirty I just dump some water on them. They bead up well and turning my head sideways (or shaking it) will clear most of it off.

Since I can't see more than about 8 inches without glasses (I can't see the red of a stop sign from about 30 yards away) taking the glasses off is not an option.

My Halos work as well now as when new. I've had the older one for about 3 or 4 years. During the summer I'm usually racing 2 of the 3-4 hours I ride weekly so I'm usually riding hard, sweating a lot, and I really want to be able to see well.
carpediemracing is offline  
Reply
Old 11-21-12 | 09:00 AM
  #9  
big john's Avatar
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Active Streak: 30 Days
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 29,431
Likes: 13,457
From: In the foothills of Los Angeles County
Originally Posted by surgeonstone
Loosen up the strap and let the glasses ride further from your eyes, this should solve the problem. Same thing happens with me, by the end of a 30-40 mile ride encrusted sweat pretty much eliminates seeing. By doing the above the problem is much reduced. If you don't use a strap then get one and ride loose as stated.
The sweat beads on my eyelashes and when I blink they flick it onto the glasses and it forms a roost pattern. When climbing, I sweat buckets and glasses are useless.
big john is online now  
Reply
Old 11-21-12 | 09:28 AM
  #10  
Will G's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 714
Likes: 73
From: Granbury, Texas
Apply Rain-X to the inside and outside of your glasses. You also need some airflow between you and the glasses. Mine will fog if I stop moving.
Will G is offline  
Reply
Old 11-21-12 | 01:54 PM
  #11  
JamieElenbaas's Avatar
enthusiast
 
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 509
Likes: 0
From: Southern Mississippi for the time being.

Bikes: 2010 BMC SL 01 Roadracer, 2012 Davidson Tandem

I get sweat on the inside of my glasses until winter arrives; then it's rain and crud on the outside. No one said life was fair.
JamieElenbaas is offline  
Reply
Old 11-21-12 | 05:27 PM
  #12  
MinnMan's Avatar
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
Community Builder
Community Influencer
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 6,760
Likes: 5,377
From: Minneapolis

Bikes: 2022 Salsa Beargrease Carbon Deore 11, 2020 Salsa Warbird GRX 600, 2020 Canyon Ultimate CF SLX disc 9.0 Di2, 2020 Catrike Eola, 2016 Masi cxgr, 2011, Felt F3 Ltd, 2010 Trek 2.1, 2009 KHS Flite 220

This was not a major problem when I simply wore my regular prescription (non-shaded) glasses. Maybe a little problem. But I finally decided that it was time to get real cycling shades, with the justification that all that riding without sun glasses was going to lead to cataracts (I'm old enough to worry about such things). So I sprang for a pair of Rudy Project shades with prescription inserts, and now issues with sweat/fogging are much worse! Frustrating. I may have to start wearing something on my forehead. Wearing the glasses further down my nose is not an option - the corrective lenses will be in the wrong position.
MinnMan is online now  
Reply
Old 11-21-12 | 06:51 PM
  #13  
Dux_Helm's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 130
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver,BC

Bikes: Cannondale six-13, LarryvsHarry Bullitt (Cargo bike)

I have the same issue with my prescription glasses..
Started just using contacts with *my* helmet (see the signature), and issue is gone.
Though I don't really like contact lenses.
May get the laser surgery one of these days...
Dux_Helm is offline  
Reply
Old 11-22-12 | 05:21 AM
  #14  
Fox Farm's Avatar
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,785
Likes: 63
From: Prague, Czech Republic

Bikes: Time ADH01, Merlin Extra Light, Orbea Orca, Ritchey Outback,Tomac Revolver Mountain Bike, Cannondale Crit 3.0 now used for time trials.

Originally Posted by Will G
Apply Rain-X to the inside and outside of your glasses. You also need some airflow between you and the glasses. Mine will fog if I stop moving.
rain-X sounds like a great idea! Never thought of that.
Fox Farm is offline  
Reply
Old 11-22-12 | 05:54 AM
  #15  
surgeonstone's Avatar
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,222
Likes: 30
From: South Bend IN

Bikes: 1976 FRESCHI, 2004 Crumpton.

Jamie
If you were a real man then you would find just as much of a problem with sweat in the winter as in the summer. HTFU man, HTFU.

Last edited by surgeonstone; 11-22-12 at 05:59 AM.
surgeonstone is offline  
Reply
Old 11-22-12 | 07:35 AM
  #16  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 354
Likes: 0
I had this problem from time to time, normally because I had my glasses jammed tight up against my face. letting them rest slightly lower on my nose so there was a small gap between the tops of the them and my face allowed the wind to get in there and clear out the fog. also kept the sweat off them.
RoadMike is offline  
Reply
Old 11-22-12 | 09:45 AM
  #17  
Senior Member
Sheldon Brown Memorial - Titanium
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 4,243
Likes: 49
Originally Posted by Will G
Apply Rain-X to the inside and outside of your glasses. You also need some airflow between you and the glasses. Mine will fog if I stop moving.
This!
jdon is offline  
Reply
Old 11-22-12 | 10:37 AM
  #18  
ZippyThePinhead's Avatar
Slacker
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,297
Likes: 7
From: North Orange County, in Southern California

Bikes: 1987 Trek 560 Pro, 1983 SR Semi Pro, 2010 Motobecane Le Champion Titanium, 2011 Trek Fuel EX8

Some designs are better for getting the lenses away from your face than others. For example, my Oakley Radar Paths stay cleaner than my Split Jackets when riding. Maybe if you had some prescription lenses installed on a pair of favorite sunglasses?

Too, I use a regular old cotton bandana when riding, and though it isn't totally high-tech, it is pretty effective at soaking up sweat. The only time sweat gets by the bandana is occasionally when I am riding slowly uphill on my MTB. On the road, where the speeds are a little higher, there is enough air passing over my face that the bandana is highly effective.
ZippyThePinhead is offline  
Reply
Old 11-22-12 | 11:38 AM
  #19  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
From: North Port, FL
Goggles?
yosarian9 is offline  
Reply
Old 11-22-12 | 12:57 PM
  #20  
Juan Foote's Avatar
LBKA (formerly punkncat)
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 4,324
Likes: 1,016
From: Jawja

Bikes: Spec Roubaix SL4, GT Traffic 1.0

Stopping and wringing out the Halo once in a while works pretty well for me. If I am "rushed" for time, I turn my head and press firmly on the front of the helmet to squeeze the excess sweat out of the Halo and helmet foam.
Juan Foote is offline  
Reply
Old 11-22-12 | 02:46 PM
  #21  
MPress's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 157
Likes: 0
Love the Halo band, but they do stretch with use and allow more sweat to run down as they get saturated. I have thought about Rain-X, but have never tried it.
MPress is offline  
Reply
Old 11-23-12 | 10:18 AM
  #22  
Garfield Cat's Avatar
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,125
Likes: 111
From: Huntington Beach, CA

Bikes: Cervelo Prodigy

Go to your optometrist and get the glasses adjusted for your sport. You can adjust the nose pads and pad arms to get the proper distance for viewing and for some of the sweat issues.

It may not be the total and complete answer but it just might help.
Garfield Cat is offline  
Reply
Old 11-23-12 | 08:52 PM
  #23  
Cactuskid's Avatar
Ride on!
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 398
Likes: 0
From: Mesa AZ

Bikes: 2013 TARMAC Expert, 2011 specialized roubaix SL3, 2012 Raleigh Rush hour FIXIE

glad to see I am not the only one with this affliction SWEATHEAD
Cactuskid is offline  
Reply
Old 11-23-12 | 11:14 PM
  #24  
mwandaw's Avatar
Thread Starter
Half Fast
 
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 687
Likes: 7
From: Southern California

Bikes: A road bike and a tandem road bike

Wow... I was away for a couple of days and had no idea there were so many responses. Thanks!

I'm going to try repositioning my glasses and wiping my brow and Rain-X.

Originally Posted by Cactuskid
glad to see I am not the only one with this affliction SWEATHEAD
It's not "Sweathead". It's actually a high capacity cooling system.

Thanks again.

Last edited by mwandaw; 11-25-12 at 12:02 AM.
mwandaw is offline  
Reply
Old 11-23-12 | 11:38 PM
  #25  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
My Oakley glasses are just awesome for this....they have two upper vents in each lens to prevent fogging....and the sweat beads off the lenses without leaving any marks...just ride harder to get the wind to blow it off!
Taipei325 is offline  
Reply


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.