Wear & Care – Ski or snowboard goggles

The question of repairing goggles is one that comes up frequently. We all know that goggles can cost a lot of money, so taking care of them is really important. Luckily, goggles are made to last these days, and have flexible frames and are made from high-impact rated materials. But that doesn’t mean they can’t get beaten up all the same. So whether it’s a frayed strap, a snapped buckle, or just a scratched up lens, we’ve put together the best advice for making your goggles feel brand new all over again.

Cleaning and Caring For Your Goggles

When it comes to caring for your goggles, we have some super simple tips. Most goggles these days are supplied with a bag and cloth, or at least a microfibre bag which is also a cloth. How handy is that?

Keeping your goggles in the supplied goggle bag is essential to keeping them in prime condition. Normal fabrics like cottons may create micro-scratches on your goggles, so it’s always important to use the supplied cleaning cloth or bag to wipe your goggles off.

There are many products available to ‘clean’ your goggles. These solutions may work, but as most ski goggles are hydrophobic and oleophobic, too. This ultra-smooth outer layer prevents water, oil, and dirt from embedding in the surface. As such, no cleaning solution is needed. Just use the microfibre cleaning cloth/bag, and gently massage away any fingerprints, smudges, or water droplets.

Scratched Lenses: Dispelling The Myth

Okay, so the most common occurrence is a scratched lens. It happens to the best of us, despite our best efforts. And if you search online for how to fix a scratched lens, you’ll find a host of articles recommending specific abrasive products that work pretty much the same as car scratch removers do by applying an ‘oily’ sort of mixture that smooths out the scratch and decreases its visibility. Or heck, even toothpaste!

But let’s be honest here. Nothing will remove a scratch. Because a scratch itself is a gouge in the surface, and there’s nothing that can add that back to the goggles.

Any specific product will just be an aesthetic fix, and may make the scratch look smaller, but won’t restore any loss of UV protection or glare reduction. And similarly, rubbing toothpaste on the lens of your goggles is only going to damage it further. So, what can you actually do about a scratched lens?

Fixing a scratched lens

Often, a scratch will be pretty superficial. A lot of light scratches won’t affect performance generally. So in these cases, you may be tempted to try something like ‘scratch removing polish’. But honestly, if you’ve got an expensive pair of goggles, do you really want to be rubbing polish all over the delicate and high-tech lens? No, we don’t, either. So how can you fix it?

Well, you can’t. The simplest answer is just to live with it, and then in time, replace the whole lens. Owning several lenses is always a good idea, anyway! We recommend having a low light lens for overcast days, an ‘everyday’ lens for mixed conditions (red usually works really well!), and then a dark lens for bright days. It’s pretty inevitable that you’ll scratch a lens at some point, so try not to worry too much about it!

At least if you have a few spare lenses, if you get a big scratch right in your eyeline, you can just switch lenses and keep on riding!

For the accident-prone among you, who scratch lenses constantly, prevention is the best protection. Always keep your goggle bag in your pocket for easy access. Store your goggles separately. Or, go for a cheaper goggle, the replacement lenses for which are more affordable, too.

But as for applying quick miracle fixes or massaging toothpaste onto your goggle lenses. Just don’t. It won’t do what you want it to, and you’ll risk damaging your lenses further!

Repairing frames

Most goggle frames are made from a high-impact rated, flexible, injected TPU, or thermoplastic polyurethane, an extremely durable type of plastic. Many goggles will have a natural flex to them to improve both fit and durability, and some lenses will also flex. However, magnetic lenses or other stiffer lenses may mean a stiffer frame, too.

So what happens if your frame develops a crack? In a perfect world, we’d say that getting a new one is the safest option. But if that’s not possible, you can use superglue to repair damage, or even an epoxy resin. Epoxy is a type of reactive adhesive which bonds with the material at a more basic level for a stronger bond. Super glue is simpler to work with and will often provide a good quick fix until you’re able to source a replacement.

Glue can also be used to reattach any loose padding, too!

Repairing straps

If your stap has frayed or bobbles, then a good way to fix it is with a razor or sharp knife. Running the blade over the fabric carefully can often remove any unsightly bobbles and make a strap look like new.

If you’ve got a damaged buckle or connector, then it may be time to get a new strap! Most goggles have removable straps, and most brands supply replacement straps for their goggles. Replacement straps are often pretty reasonably priced, and can totally change the look of your goggles, too!

Snow Goggle FAQ

How can I stop snow goggles from fogging?

This might be one of the most commonly asked questions about snow goggles. It is almost impossible to completely avoid snow goggle fogging but we put together a handy guide with 10 tips to stop your ski goggles from fogging.

Can I change my goggle lens?

Simple answer, yes. Unfortunately, goggle brands use different lens exchange systems. There are magnetic lens system, click systems, slide systems, ...

Luckily, we use the same click system for all our Dope & Montec goggles. If you own a pair of Dope or Montec goggles, follow this link to check out our quick video tutorial on how to change lenses on Dope goggles.

Conclusion

While there are a few ways to fix your goggles, it’s always better to prevent damage than try to repair it! The lens is often the most fragile and most expensive part to replace, so take care of your goggles where possible. Keep them in the carry bag, use the right cloths to clean them off, and keep toothpaste on your toothbrush, where it belongs! Other than that, keep spare lenses on hand to swap in a pinch, and try to avoid crashing into trees where possible. That’s a sure-fire way to scratch up your goggles… Trust me!