If there is anything you must have as you drive your snowmobile through wintery conditions, it is a clear view. If you are unable to see due to snow or fog, you may put the lives of yourself and others at risk and turn a day of fun into a tragedy. Fortunately, there are several things you can do to prevent such accidents. Read below for tips on how to ensure your vision is clear when snowmobiling.
How Your Eyesight Can Become Impaired
Before we look at ways to improve your vision while snowmobiling, it’s important to know what can impair it. Some things you can encounter from Mother Nature herself, such as snow, ice, or even tree branches that you may accidentally collide with as you drive past. But one of the biggest problems for many snowmobilers is the fog that can build up inside their helmets as they ride.
Although it may be cold outdoors, your body will become very warm as you engage in this physical activity. This creates an imbalance between the cold air outside and the warmth inside of your helmet. When your breath hits the visor, it will cause it to fog up. We’ll discuss how to mitigate this below.
Check Your Windshield
One area where you can better ensure that you maintain a clear view is on your snowmobile. Look at your vehicle’s windshield and see if it is tall enough that it will send the air and snow up and over your helmet.
If it is too short, it may send both right into your face, obstructing your view. It is better to have a windshield that is the right height so that your vision stays as clear as possible.
Get a Helmet With the Right Features
Picking the right helmet is also key to ensuring you stay safe in the snow. Before you buy a new helmet, look for several features that can help enhance your vision on your snowmobile adventure.
Find a Good Fit
One of the features to look for in a helmet is the right fit. It should not be too big so that it falls off your head in the event of an accident, but it should also not be too tight. If it is too tight, it will make it easier for warm air to stay inside and fog up your visor.
Consider a Heated Helmet
Buying a heated helmet is another good way to ensure your vision is clear while snowmobiling. If you buy a helmet with heated goggles or a heated face shield, it will lower the amount of fogging you experience while out in the cold.
A heated helmet will also cut down on the humidity you experience. After all, you don’t need any water droplets blocking your view.
Buy One With an Anti-Fog Visor
A helmet with an anti-fog visor can also help keep your view clear. Manufacturers make these visors with a coating that will stop fogging so you can relax and continue enjoying your ride. That will prevent you from having to stop and try to clean your visor off.
Double Your Safety With a Dual-Pane Visor
Why not double the level of protection in your helmet by picking up one with a dual-pane visor? This type of helmet comes with a visor that gives you two layers of protection so that you experience much less fogging. Although you may find it more costly, it can make you feel more secure.
Keep the Air Flowing With Vents
You can even find helmets with interior vents that will cut down on the fog. These vents will allow the cool air to help remove the warmth that your body creates as you ride. A helmet with a vent can also help you redirect your breath so it does not cloud up your visor.
Pick Up a Pair of Prescription Goggles
Goggles can be a useful tool to ensure you can see well on the slopes. Some goggles offer users a 210-degree field of view, allowing them to better enjoy the landscapes as they ride. But goggles can also help keep the snow and other debris out of your eyes.
If you have an eye condition, you can buy goggles with prescription lenses that will keep your vision crystal clear. You can even get ones with tinted lenses so that you can better cope with the harsh rays of the sun and keep that glare from blinding you as you ride.
Mask Up to Cut Down on the Fog
There is another product that goes over your head that can help you with your vision, but it is much softer than a helmet. Consider buying an anti-fog mask or balaclava that will fit over your face comfortably and protect you from the frigid temperatures of the outdoors.
Although you will likely have to still wear goggles over the mask, it can send your breath downward. That directs the air out by going underneath the fabric of your mask so that your helmet visor or goggles stay clear and fog-free.
Things You Can Do with Your Helmet
Do not fret if you have already purchased your helmet. There are things you can still do to help keep your sight clear when you hit the slopes. For example, you can try treating the visor of your helmet at home with an anti-fog spray or gel that will prevent it from getting cloudy.
Another strategy that can help is cleaning off your visor before you set out on each of your adventures. If you leave grime on the visor, it can work against you. The dirt can catch the moisture that builds up inside your helmet and make it hard for you to see.
With these tips, you can better ensure that you will avoid accidents or collisions when riding on your snowmobile. If you are looking for CKX helmet dealers who can provide products that will help you stay safe, contact Peakboys. We have helmets that can keep you warm and circulate air so you can see clearly and enjoy your outings in the snow.