Clean and dry your goggles as their manufacturer directs, then put them in their own protective pouch or rigid case before placing them in a gear bag. Keep hard objects away from the lens, and check that the case cannot be crushed under heavier items. This small packing routine is more reliable than dropping uncovered goggles into a crowded bag and hoping the lens coating survives.
Start with the lens, not the bag
Do not pack grit against the lens. Follow the cleaning card for your exact goggle model. ESS's official care FAQ, for example, says to use its supplied microfiber cloth or warm water and to avoid household sprays, alcohol and solvents on its eye protection. Other brands may specify different approved cleaners. Do not assume a cleaning product that works on ordinary glasses is safe for a coated protective lens.
Allow moisture to dry in a clean place before long-term storage. A damp cloth trapped against a lens is not a cleaning method. If the strap, gasket or frame is damaged, packing it carefully will not repair it. Inspect the whole unit, not just the clear surface. A Bollé Safety maintenance sheet recommends keeping that product in a microfiber pouch or rigid case after use and calls for replacement when its lens is pitted, scratched or damaged. Apply the instructions for the model you own.
Give the goggles a protected zone
Put a clean microfiber pouch around the goggles if the manufacturer supplies or recommends one. A rigid case adds crush protection in a bag that also contains heavy footwear, bottles or tools. Close the case fully, but do not force oversized goggles into a container that bends the frame or pinches the strap across the lens. If you use only a soft pouch, place it in an upper compartment where other objects cannot rub or press on it.
In an r/airsoft backup-eye-protection discussion, players described keeping spare eye protection in hard cases and noted that gear can be stepped on or forgotten. An Airsoft Forums UK discussion also mentions keeping goggles in a case between sessions. Those are practical experiences, not impact-certification evidence, but they support the habit of protecting the lens during transport.
Unpack with the same care
At the field, open the case on a clean surface rather than placing the lens face-down on a bench. Inspect for scratches, cracks, dirt and loose parts before the safety briefing. If a new scratch blocks vision, do not try to polish it away at the field; use a field-approved backup or ask staff for direction. OSHA notes that scratched lenses can obscure vision. Do the check in a designated safe area, never by lifting goggles in live play. When the session ends, clean, dry and repack them instead of leaving them loose in the bag until next weekend.