Today I’m going to share with you what I believe to be the best rain repellent for windshields. I’ll also show you a very simple alternative, which you probably already have in your detailed library!
Rain protection products are very useful when used on vehicle glass. They make the surface more hydrophobic, causing water to bead up (like wax on paint). Her greatest claim to fame is on the highway, where the rain slides off the windshield so fast that you don’t have to use the wipers. In my experience, this is true. But the problem also arises:
Why are we so obsessed with not having to use windshield wipers?
I mean, I can see that if we don’t have wipers, rain will be a big problem. In this case, these products would be necessities. But all our cars have wipers. So why not use them as expected?
Clear glass and treated glass
There are two different schools of thought on this issue. Some people swear by rain products, others never let them near their vehicles. I can understand both sides of the argument. However, not all of these products are created equal. Just because you had a poor experience with one of the cheaper options doesn’t necessarily mean they’re all bad.
Untreated glass will work fine in most cases as long as the windshield and wipers are kept clean. The only time you might have a problem is during heavy rain when the wipers can’t handle it.
The most common reason people don’t use a coating on their windshield is because they don’t like the way it affects wiper performance. Many low-end products allow you to use less wipers, but using them can have some side effects. When the coating finally wears off, it becomes unsightly…
Some coatings make the windshield prone to fogging, and the wipers leave streaks or haze. In my experience, this is more common with cheaper products than higher quality ones.
It’s easy to tell which windshields have been treated with a raincoat once they get wet. Water forms tight, small beads on coated glass, whereas when uncoated, water forms larger droplets. This makes it easier to see areas that cannot be reached by wipers. This also means that these products are ideal for side and rear windows as well as sunroof glass.
The raincoat can even extend the life of the wipers. You won’t use them as often as you would with bare glass. When using them, there is less friction on the surface.
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Different products, different results
There are a variety of raincoats. RainX and Aquapel are the most popular. Many companies specializing in ceramic color coatings also offer products for your glass, such as Gtechniq, Optimum and Gyeon. Most of them are easy to apply – just swipe and wipe off.
Rain X
RainX is an entry-level product that is readily available at major local department stores. It’s an inexpensive way to repel water from your windshield. RainX has a huge following and has even expanded its product line to include washer fluid and wiper blades. These designs are consistent with their original coatings. RainX works well but is not as durable as other available products.
Aquarius
I can’t say I’ve tried Aquapel, but I’ve heard a lot of people talking about it. As far as I can tell, it’s somewhere in the market between RainX and high-end paints. It’s a bit hard to come by and seems to be mostly sold as an upgrade by auto glass stores and dealers. Users report that Aquapel lasts longer than RainX in most cases.
Since writing this article, I have had the opportunity to try Aquapel. I use it on my daily driving car. Even though I thoroughly cleaned and dried the glass, using the Aquapel was a nightmare. The product shimmers too fast and dries to a mist almost immediately. It was very difficult to remove and I ended up having to take drastic measures to do it. I was able to remove most of it with glass cleaner and heavy scrubbing, but that eventually made the coating unusable.
Honestly, I don’t blame Aquapel for the issues I’m having. You see, I applied it outdoors on a very wet day. Aquapel clearly states, “Do not use in temperatures below 50ºF or above 90ºF, or in conditions that are too humid.” Indeed, it was my fault for not following the instructions.
The problem is that other products don’t have these limitations in the first place. Unfortunately, this is still a blow to Aquapel. This product seems to be common in car dealerships, auto glass shops and beauty shops, which makes sense – they can control the indoor climate.
Outdoor use as a hobbyist or mobile groomer doesn’t seem to get much mention. Is this a moisture issue? possible. I have one more application so I will try again later with the same car. If you do this under the right conditions, hopefully there will be better results. Until then, I’ll stick with the other options mentioned in this article.
Nanocoating Company
Gtechniq, Optimum and Gyeon products are probably the best performing and most durable options out there. They will also be at a premium. These companies specialize in coatings that combine chemically with various surfaces, so they have a scientific basis. Most of these are available at any beauty store, and unlike some of their color coats, they are sold to the public.