How to Keep Binoculars from Fogging Up?

If you do outdoor activities, you might have come across the problem of binoculars getting foggy. It is very frustrating as you have to stop and clean the binoculars every time. Whether you’re birdwatching, hiking, or hunting, fogging can ruin your view and make it difficult to see what you’re looking at.

However, we have done complete research to find some solution that will help you see the target clearly and stop your binoculars from getting foggy. I have personally used these effective tips to my binoculars and their fogging percentage has gone significantly low.

Why do binoculars fog? The major reason for binoculars getting foggier is the change or difference in temperature. When you keep your binoculars from a warmer environment to colder, then you suddenly observe a small water droplet on the lens which appears as fog on the lens. 

There are certain ways and tips that can help you to reduce the fogging of binoculars. Let’s wait no more time and dive deeper into the main part of the article.

Also Read: Why Do Binoculars Have Red Lenses?

Causes of fogging of binoculars’ lenses

Before going deep to give you a solution, it is important to know the reason that actually causes problems for the lenses of binoculars. Look, when you bring binoculars from a warmer environment to the colder one, then the sudden change in the temperature gives to the condensation process. 

As a result of condensation, then the moisture present in the air settles on the binoculars, but the effect of this moisture is visible on the lenses and you get a blurry image when you see through the binoculars having fog on the lenses. This fog is actually a very small water droplet or moisture which settles on your binoculars

There are a few other reasons as well but the difference in the temperature is the most important cause which is to bring fog or small droplets to the lens of binoculars. Below is the list of potential reasons that cause the fogging of binoculars;

• High humidity levels
• Sudden changes in air pressure
• Binos’ materials that are more prone to fogging, such as rubber and plastic
• Poor ventilation inside the binoculars can cause moisture to build up
• Improper storage or handling, such as storing binoculars in a damp or humid place

So, now, you have a better idea of what causes the fog on the lenses of binoculars. It is an ideal time for me to tell you about how to keep binoculars from fogging up.

How to prevent binoculars from fogging up?

There is no one answer to this question and you’ll have to follow some guidelines to ensure that your binoculars remain in perfect shape. I have tried to give you the maximum ways to prevent fogging of binoculars which are listed below;

1- Use binoculars on a consistent temperature

You know the reason for fogging. Alright! So, the difference in temperature leads to the condensation process which causes the moisture to settle on your binoculars. So, you should try to use binoculars at a consistent temperature. If you take binoculars inside the room where the temperature is low and then come out where the temperature is too low, that’s going to bring condensation. So, what you do is keep binoculars in a colder environment and don’t bring them to a lower temperature. If you’re a hunter, keep your binoculars outside and bring them in their box when your hunt is over. This will certainly help in reducing the fogging of lenses.

2- Store your binoculars properly to keep them dry and moisture-free

One of the most common things that I have noticed among outdoor enthusiasts is that they don’t worry about storing the binoculars in the right place. Keep in mind that if you put your optics in a damp or wet box, chances are high that the moisture will go inside your binoculars and cause problems for you. It is recommended to store your binoculars in a dry environment and keep them away from moisture to ensure that the lenses of binoculars don’t fog up.

3- Use anti-fogging solutions

There are many anti-fogging solutions and sprays out there in the market and using them on the lenses of binoculars also reduces the fog to a significant extent. Some examples of anti-fogging sprays include Foggy Window and  Optix 55 Anti-Fog. I have personally used the anti-fogging solution to the lenses of binoculars and they work fine. However, you should not expect anti-fogging spray as the lone solution as they don’t work 100%.

4- Cleaning the binoculars more often

Cleaning the binoculars works wonders and you will be using binoculars even in extreme weather. Whenever you feel that the lenses have fogged up, immediately use a microfiber cloth and wipe all the fog and start using binoculars easily. However, don’t have a harsh approach while wiping the fog from the lenses as harshly removing the fog can cause scratches on the lenses.

What is Internal fogging and how to prevent it?

Previously I have guided you about the external fogging of lenses and the body of binoculars. But do you know that moisture can even go inside your binoculars and cause serious problems? You can even see your binoculars getting out of order as a result of internal fogging.

As the result of condensation, when the moisture goes inside the binoculars, then it is called internal fogging of binoculars and there are a few ways to remove this moisture. However, we have some preventive measures that could help you from getting into trouble. 

• Buy water and fog proof binoculars

Binos which are equipped with nitrogen or argon gas purging are very good and they don’t allow moisture to go inside them. So, your binoculars remain safe from the attack of moisture. Optics that have such nitrogen or argon gas purging as slightly more expensive.

• Put binoculars on dry places

Most of the time the users don’t care and store their binoculars and damp or wet places which indirectly causes the internal fogging of binoculars. It is ideal to put binoculars in dry places so that your optics remain safe for future use. 

• Usage Guidelines

If your binoculars are not water and fog-proof then don’t use them in wet places or in places where you expect a rapid change of temperature. Binos that don’t have water and fog proofing are only made for the dry environment and they should not be used in rain or extreme weather conditions.

Frequently Asked Question

Conclusion

No doubt binoculars are expensive tools, and you should take special care to ensure that your optics don’t get foggy. Keeping your binoculars away from moisture and using them in dry places help in protecting them from getting foggy. We have added the FAQs to ensure that no question of yours remains unturned.