Effortless Swimming Goggles Fogging Up? How to Keep Them Clear

Comparison chart: FOG OFF! anti-fog patch vs factory anti-fog coating, spray, spit and baby shampoo

Effortless Swimming is best known for coaching, and its goggles bring a big promise with them: NanoClear lenses with anti-fog that's built in rather than sprayed on. If you've bought a pair, you're probably expecting to never think about fog again.

If your goggles ever do start to fog, here's what's likely going on, what to check first, and how a clear peel-and-stick anti-fog patch keeps them clear. We've tested FOG OFF! on NanoClear goggles ourselves.

What NanoClear is (and what Effortless Swimming claims)

As Slowtwitch reported, Effortless Swimming describes NanoClear as an advanced nano-embedding process that creates permanent, structural anti-fog rather than a fragile film. Founder Brenton Ford's position is that while some goggles lose their anti-fog over time, NanoClear is designed not to.

That's a smart approach to the biggest problem in swim goggles, and many swimmers are happy with theirs. It's worth knowing that the "permanent" claim comes from the brand itself, and that fog doesn't only come from a worn-out coating.

What reviewers say about NanoClear and fog

Effortless Swimming's reviews are strong overall: 4.8 out of 5 from 409 reviews on Trustpilot at the time of writing, and plenty of swimmers say their goggles don't fog. But not everyone has had the same experience:

  • A 3-star reviewer (September 2026): "Within about a month, the Strike was fogging regularly."
  • A 2-star reviewer (October 2026) said some pairs only had an anti-fog effect "for a couple of weeks or so".
  • A 5-star reviewer (October 2026): "Had the goggles start fogging up after about 5 months."
  • A 3-star reviewer (October 2026): "Good fit. Still very foggy."

So if your NanoClear pair has started to fog, you're not alone, and it doesn't mean the goggles are finished.

Why any goggle can still fog

  • Water getting in: a wet lens interior fogs faster, whatever it's made of. Fit and seal come first.
  • Residue on the lens: sunscreen, moisturiser, skin oils, shampoo and spit can all leave a film.
  • Touching the inside of the lens: fingers, towels and swim caps leave marks and can wear any surface.
  • Big temperature differences: cold open water or a cold pool on a warm day push more condensation onto the lens.
  • Storage: goggles left damp and squashed in a kitbag age faster.

Check these first

  1. Rinse the goggles in fresh, clean water after every swim and let them air dry.
  2. Stop wiping the inside of the lens. If something's on it, rinse it off instead.
  3. Check the fit. If water's getting in, adjust the strap and nose piece before anything else.
  4. Keep sunscreen and moisturiser off your hands when you put your goggles on.

We tested FOG OFF! on NanoClear goggles

We put FOG OFF! on a pair of Effortless Swimming NanoClear goggles to see whether the patch would stick to the lens and keep it clear. It does, and it lasts as long as it does on any other goggle: 3+ months of fog-free swims (based on 3+ swims a week).

The prep is the same as any goggle, with one bonus: because NanoClear isn't a coating, there's no factory film to strip off first. Just make sure the lens is clean and dry.

FOG OFF! anti-fog lens patches stick inside each lens, and one size fits any swim goggle.

How to apply FOG OFF! to NanoClear goggles

  1. Prep the lens. Wash the inside of each lens with a little detergent and a clean microfibre cloth, rinse, and dry thoroughly. No coating removal needed on NanoClear lenses.
  2. Apply. Peel the RED tab, position the patch with the BLACK tab (nose side first), press firmly from the nose edge outward, then peel off the BLACK tab.
  3. Activate before each swim. Dip in water and gently rub the film. It reaches full strength over your first 2 to 3 swims.

Watch the full process in our how to apply video.

Keep the goggles you love

If your goggles fit and seal well, fog shouldn't be the reason you replace them. Broken strap, leaking seal or cracked lens? Time for a new pair. Fog isn't.

FOG OFF! isn't affiliated with or endorsed by Effortless Swimming. Effortless Swimming and NanoClear are used here only to describe the goggles we tested our patches on.

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