When you are flying down the road on your motorcycle, the very most important thing is safety. It is impossible to be safe if your vision is impaired, which is why having some kind of anti-fogging strategy is so vital. The lens on your helmet can fog up for many different reason, but essentially it is always because of water droplets forming on the glass. There are just as many ways to prevent or remove fogging as there are ways the fog can form in the first place. Learn how your motorcycle riding gear fogs up in the first place, and what you can do about it.
How Anti-Fogging Works
There are essentially two ways for motorcycle helmets to deal with fogging. The most common option is ventilation. It is most effective to heat a surface to remove the fog, but this is not easy to achieve in a motorcycle helmet. Allowing air to pass over the visor has a very similar effect, even if it is not quite as good as heat. Any motorcycle helmet that is worth using will have vents built in, which helps you stay cool and comfortable while riding. In many helmets, the vents can be opened and closed. If your visor is fogging up, check if your vents are closed. It can be inconvenient in the winter to open them up and let the warm air out, but it is much better than not being able to see. Another option is to crack open the visor a tiny amount to get better ventilation. Keep in mind that this method will only work for fogging on the inside of the helmet, although this is by far the most common kind. If the outside of your visor fogs up, it is probably because you are riding in the rain or a very humid environment. You can find anti-fog motorcycle helmets online. Aside from ventilation, another method of anti-fogging is to prevent water droplets from forming in the first place. There are actually many different options that employ this strategy.
Other Options
- Face Mask – Most of the time, the inside of the visor fogs up due to your breath. Wearing a face mask under your helmet can direct your breath away from the visor, which prevents fogging altogether. Make sure you are comfortable with your mask and that it does not accidentally direct your breath toward the visor.
- Inserts – Some helmet inserts can block the water vapor entirely. Not all helmets have the pinholes needed to attach an insert, however. If this is the strategy you hope for, look for a helmet that is marked as “Pinlock-ready.”
- External Products – Did you ever do the science experiment of putting soap on your mirror before taking a shower? The soap keeps water droplets from grouping together and the mirror does not fog up. The same principle can be used with your helmet. There are products you can spray or rub on your visor to keep it clear.
Before you start riding, make sure you have all the dual sport riding gear and accessories you need to stay safe.
To read more on topics like this, check out the DIY category.
