With summer warming up and long hot days baking the riding areas of much of the world, we are all too aware of the fact that dust is still a limiting factor in the amount of fun you can have riding in a group.  While nothing shy of donning a particle mask can keep the airborne granules from going down your lungs or gritting up your teeth, we are pleased to share some of our time-proven tricks for keeping it from messing with your vision.

Tip 1: Never, ever shed your goggles

You may have seen pros pitch their clouded goggles but never is this practice advised.  The general rule of thumb is that if you think your vision is poor with them on, taking them off will only make matters worse.  As for dust’s specific properties, getting sand in the eyes will cause you to instinctively close them tight.  Riding through dusty lenses is difficult; riding with your eyes closed is impossible.

Tip 2: Treat the surface

One of two ways that dust manages to cause you trouble is by sticking to the surface of your goggle lenses.  Fortunately this is an easy remedy so long as you think to do it before you head out.

Several companies offer dust-resistant spray treatments designed for this purpose that can be found at most motorcycle/ ATV dealerships and online at any one of several dozen distributors.

If you want a more immediate (and sometimes cheaper) solution, head to the laundry room.  Anti-static clothing spray (like Static Guard) works just as well.

Just mist the surface of your lens then wipe with a clean to towel insuring that there are no streaks.  Now the dust will simply get carried away by the air zipping around your goggles rather than accumulate.

Tip 3: Seal the spaces

The second way dust wrecks havoc to your ability to see clearly is by finding its way through the soft foam around the goggle’s body.  If your goggles manage to cloud up from within due to dust, you know you’ve got problems!

Once again the fix is fairly cheap and simple and can, more than likely, be done with items you already have in your house.

In the same way that you wouldn’t think of riding in dusty conditions without first oiling up your air filter, the foam on your goggles can become nearly dust-proof with a little moistening as well.  Only rather than sticky air filter oil, baby oil works wonders.  We typically oil up the foam on the top of the goggle and the upper portion of the sides while leaving the bottom untouched to vent air.

If you don’t have access to baby oil, petroleum jelly (Vaseline) works just as well.