The Complete SPY+ Guide: How to Clean Your Snow Goggles
Boarding in great weather with your favorite crew pretty much guarantees an epic day in the pow — but sometimes it’s the basic things, like having a pair of squeaky-clean snow goggles (or a kit full of clean lenses ready to pop into frames) that make your day A+++.
But nothing ruins a bluebird day like a dirty pair of goggles. Wondering how to remove grime from goggle face foam or the best way to banish that annoying smudge on your lens? Check out our tips to quickly restore clarity to your FOV and keep your SPY+ specs in great shape.
When Should You Clean Your Ski and Snowboard Goggles?
The key to cleaning snow goggles is timing. You might want to do it while you’re on the go or riding the chair, but when goggles are encrusted with snow and ice, you could damage them if you clean ‘em too soon.
A better approach is to make cleaning a regular part of your post-boarding routine. Waiting gives your goggles time to dry out so you can do things properly (with tunes cranked and a beer cracked). And once they’re cleaned, you’ll be in good shape for the next time you head for the hill at the crack of dawn.
The Dos and Don’ts of Goggle Care
Snow goggles are sensitive pieces of tech that deserve to be babied. The outer lens often has a reflective mirror finish that’s prone to fingerprints and watermarks, while the inner lens has an anti-fog coating that could get wet if you beef it on the slopes. Both of these finishes could rub off or scratch if you use the wrong products or methods to clean them — and once they’re scratched, there’s not a whole lot you can do about it.
To protect your goggles, never use harsh chemical sprays or solvents, or clean either side of the lens when wet. You also want to avoid using your t-shirt, towels, or a random rag, as they could damage the lens or leave behind pieces of lint that obscure your view. Instead, wait until your goggles are totally dry and use the microfiber pouch your goggles came in or a high-quality microfiber cloth to clean both the inside and outside of the lens.
SPY+ tip: Tap it off. You can’t always be meticulous in the white room, but it’s best to remove your goggles and tap off (rather than rub off) snow and ice. Icy gloves are often the culprit behind scratches, so don’t let a casual gesture of wiping away the elements result in unnecessary damage to your lens. Those little ice crystals are sharp!
Goggle 101: Cleaning Your Snow Goggles
Proper snow and ski goggle care isn’t just about keeping them in peak condition or making the most of our proprietary lens technology — it’s also essential for safe boarding. Let’s make sure you clean your goggles the right way so they last for the long haul.
Step 1: Clean the Outside of the Lens
Let your goggles air dry before you clean them, then use a microfiber cloth or the microfiber bag your goggles came in to gently wipe smears and spots off the outside lens.
Step 2: Clean the Inside of the Lens
The inside of the lens is treated with an anti-fog coating, so the less you touch it, the better. If you do need to clean it, gently blot spots with a microfiber cloth — don’t vigorously wipe!
Step 3: Clean the Foam
To clean the face foam, use a non-abrasive rag (not your microfiber cloth), warm water, and a small amount of gentle liquid detergent to gently wipe away dirt. Let the foam air dry before storing your goggles.
Does your extra lens (or lenses) need cleaning? We’ve found cleaning them easier when they’re secured in place. Just pop spares in your frame and repeat steps 1 and 2.
How to Store Snow Goggles
Après-ski, it’s tempting to hang your ski goggles on your bedpost or the pegboard in your garage — because they do look very cool on display, and they’re an instant reminder of all those good times shredding. But don’t give in to temptation!
Treat your goggles like you’d treat any other precious object. Keep them stored safely inside the soft bag they came in or a storage case. Don’t leave them wrapped around your helmet, which could degrade the elastic band over time, and try not to throw them in your trunk until your next trip. Stow them in a cool, dry environment during the off-season.
When to Replace Your Snow Goggles
Your SPY+ snowboard goggles are designed to last a long time — but sometimes, after a lot of years and many great rides, good things come to an end. One of the biggest reasons to spring for a new pair is a lens that’s full of scratches, a loose strap, or face foam that’s starting to get crackly. We’re all for getting a ton of use out of our gear, but when goggles no longer function as designed, your safety could be at risk, and it’s time to replace them with a fresh pair.
But there’s a legitimate case to be made for owning two pairs of goggles. In addition to having multiple options for different situations, stashing two pairs in your go bag gives frames, foam, and straps more time to dry out if you’re boarding on back-to-back days when it’s dumping — and dry goggles means less risk of frostbite and a more comfortable shred sesh.
Like any chore, snow goggle cleaning is easy to blow off. But a little bit of effort and consistency yields big rewards. A clean lens means you’ll get the most out of our technology with enhanced clarity, razor-sharp focus, and kick-ass depth perception. When you look after your snow goggles, the benefits are easy to see.
Have fun out there!
- SPY+