Here in Calgary we’re well into our second week of sub-minus 20s temperatures and minus 30s windchill, with nary a chinook in sight. To protect my face from frostbite when shoveling and being outside, I wear a scarf or neoprene face mask to cover my mouth and nose. Unfortunately I also have to wear glasses. I have tried all kinds of ways to prevent my glasses from fogging up with condensation from my breath coming up under my glasses through the face cover. I tried ski goggles, multiple applications of anti-fog spray, all to no avail.
Is there a trick, or a device I can use that will let me both keep my face warm and my glasses clear?
This would be of great value to us, as our family is getting into show-shoeing this Christmas, and both my wife and I wear glasses.
Are ski goggles ventilated? I don’t wear glasses, but I’ve used regular ventilated safety goggles just to cover my eyes when I’m out in subzero weather. Like these (I don’t know anything about this company; just found this when looking for a photo). Anyway, they let in enough air to avoid fogging, while protecting my eyes from the wind and they seal against your face enough to keep your breath from leaking into them from under your scarf. They’re cheap enough to try wearing them over your glasses; you should be able to find them at any hardware store if you don’t already have a set. You should have some anyway; always wear safety glasses/goggles/face shield whenever using any tools!!
I find the trick is a) to spit into your glasses and rub it around with your finger - it’s the same kind of trick that snorkelers use to keep the sweat from condensing on the lens. b) make sure your glasses aren’t pushed all the way up - that way, the warm, moist air from your face has a chance to rise past your glasses. c) If you have a scarf across your mouth, the condensation from your breath can freeze to the scarf and not rise to freeze against your glasses. Please remember to take the scarf off last, as it will be frozen to your beard - perhaps not a concern for you, but here in Toronto today, I had beard icicles just from filling a dumper bin for 4~5 hours. d) When possible, exhale down to make sure it hits the scarf.
Also, just saying from my experience as a SCUBA diver - I have been known to use a (very) light coating of a clear silicone lubricant to prevent fogging. The ol’ “spit in the mask” thing never worked for me, for some reason.
