How to prevent your motorcycle helmet from fogging up
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Our editorial content is reader-supported. If you click on some of our links, we may earn a small commission. Learn more here.Due to number of reasons, fogging of motorcycle visor is common, however, an excess of fog can hinder the field of vision which may prove fatal. This scenario is common in cold as well as rainy seasons and is a major safety concern among motorcyclists. In many modern day motorcycle helmets, you may come across an anti-fog technology, which may be effective some times, but there is no guarantee that it will completely eliminate the mist. Most of the time, in fact, manufacturers rely on ventilation to quickly dispose of the air that accumulates on the inside of the chin guard, this however may leave condensation as a by-product. In today’s blog, we will discuss effective solutions and techniques that will completely eliminate the build-up of fog inside your helmet visor. Keep on reading further to know how.
Why does the helmet visor fog up?
Fogging of helmet visor is a phenomenon mainly linked to the temperature difference that is created between the inside of the helmet and the outside. This is particularly common in cold weather or during rainy season when the difference between the environmental temperature and the temperature inside a closed helmet is considerable. Â As a result, small droplets of condensation inside the helmet visor are noticeable. Often times you may also observe the visor getting fogged up from outside, this normally happens when the humidity in the air is high as compared to the inside of your helmet. In both cases, however, the solution to eliminate the condensation is same.
Consequence of foggy visor
There have been thousands and thousands of accidents that are reported every year caused due to the rider’s inability to see clearly from their helmet. Moreover, these kinds of accidents are usually blamed on the riders and may even lead to a jail sentence in case the accident involved tragic death.
It is quite surprising how having a fogged visor can result in huge problems and could negatively impact your life for many years to come. It is therefore important, that this problem should not be taken lightly. There are many countries where a fogged visor is considered to be a traffic violation and is a punishable offence. Furthermore, riding with a foggy visor creates distraction, which further aggravates the already daunting experience.
Things to do if your motorcycle helmet fogs up
Winters are harsh; you need specialized motorcycle gear and equipment to keep you warm during your ride. But often times we neglect the most important gear amongst all. Your helmet not only protects your head in case you crash, but also keeps it warm during winters. But due to obvious challenges, we see many riders winterizing their motorcycle and preserving it for the next riding season. But wouldn’t it be nice if you could ride your motorcycle all through the year without worrying about your visor getting fogged up? After rigorous trials and tests we have finally come up with techniques that can help prevent your helmet from fogging up. These are as follows:
1. Wearing balaclavas under the helmet
No matter what type of helmet you wear, balaclavas (click to buy) should always accompany you on your motorcycle rides in winter. However, a key aspect that should in no way be underestimated is their functional design. We recommend models with high quality material to always guarantee good breathability, since they are worn under the motorcycle helmet for long duration. At the same time, they should be capable of absorbing any type of condensation so that they can be used during the cold weather.
Advice: Balaclava made by blending wool & cotton are ideal for such cases.
2. Pinlock inserts
The Pinlock inserts consists of two pins which allow you to fix an additional anti-fog lens under it. This double layer prevents the visor from fogging up thanks to the air seals between the two glasses.
But in case your helmet visor does not have pin inserts, you can either buy a new Pinlock visor (click to buy), which comes equipped with anti-fog lens, or you can modify the visor by drilling two holes over it. These two holes must be drilled in the original visor on the left and right, in which the anti-fog visor is inserted with two pins. According to our research, this technique is the best way to prevent the helmet from fogging in the long term. However, since the inner visor is not of the same size as the outer one, some fog can still build up near the edges of the visor. But any chances of obstruction in the field of vision are rare.
3. Anti-fog films
Many motorcyclists rely on a transparent film to prevent the accumulation of fog inside their visors, which is actually a brilliant idea. The inner pane of the visor can be coated with an anti-fog film (click to buy), that can prevent the helmet visor from condensing.
If your safety helmet does not have anti-fog film, you can simply order it online and apply it to the inside of the visor with your hands. It is important that you work patiently and carefully here, as no air bubbles should be trapped between the outer shield and the anti-fog film.
4. Breath deflectors
As you know, hot air rises up. With an integrated breath deflector, you can simply direct your breath down and away from your visor. Such deflectors are usually integrated in latest motorcycle helmets, and in case they are not, you can fit them yourself. Of course you will have to find an ideal size depending on your helmet, so visiting a specialized store would be a good idea (Look for the one that can easily fix near the chin).
5. Anti-fog spray
In our research, we also found the functionality of an anti-fog spray a good and cheap way to protect the visor from fogging. Since it might not be possible for air deflectors to completely prevent your visor from condensing, a combination of anti-fog spray with air deflectors might prove to be a perfect solution to this problem.
Good anti-fog sprays, for instance Muc-Off Anti-Fog (click to buy), are available for less than $15 online. The functionality of these sprays ensures that the condensation is spread over a wide area of the glass, guaranteeing minimum obstruction in the rider’s field of vision.
Advice: Make sure that you clean the inside of the visor with a soft cotton cloth before using the anti-fog spray.
6. Household products
Commercial market is full of expensive products when it comes to motorcycle accessories. But if you want to save some money, there are many products that are readily available in every household cabinet that can prevent the visor from fogging. Fabric detergent, for example, which we use while washing clothes, creates a transparent film on the visor that makes it water repellent. So the water droplets that accumulate on the visor will slide off giving you a crystal clear vision.
Rubbing a sliced potato gently on the visor creates a similar effect as the previous one, and it usually lasts longer. But be extra careful while doing it, an excessive rub can make the visor milky and further blur your vision.
Advice: Avoid cleaning the visor with your hands, even while wearing gloves; this only leaves annoying trails of condensation which are far worse than fog. If you really can’t do without rubbing with your hands, it’s best to stop and use a simple paper towel.
Bottom Line
With the right set of accessories, you can enjoy your ride even in the winters. Just remember to wear a balaclava; this will keep your head warm in winters as well as absorb excessive condensation. Secondly, make sure you purchase Pinlock inserts that will make extra sure you do not ride with a foggy glass. And remember if everything else fails, just let in some air by opening your glass a bit! Â
We hope that with this post we have been able to shed some light on visor condensation and hope that our proposed solutions will prevent your helmet visor from fogging up. You are welcome to tell us your techniques on how to make an anti-fog spray yourself. We are already looking forward to your answer.
Ride Safe!
