The best anti-fog products for your helmet visor | Our buying guide demystifies de-misting
The ability to anti-fog your helmet‘s visor is a very important if you want to ride all year round. Fogging up occurs when there isn’t enough ventilation in your helmet to prevent mist from forming on the inside of your visor, either from condensation or simply by you breathing. This can be because you’ve chosen to shut the vents to keep warm in winter, or occasionally because the design of the lid doesn’t provide ample ventilation.
Best anti-fog visor products at a glance
Apart from being annoying and distracting, a fogged-up visor is just plain dangerous. But there are plenty of anti-fog products on sale to help, meaning you needn’t put up with it.
There are dedicated anti-fog visors, anti-fog visor inserts, Pinlocks, anti-fog wipes, and anti-fog sprays. In cold or rainy conditions these are as essential as helmets, jackets, and other safety gear.
Read on for our in-depth guide as we demystify de-misting!
Jump to:
- The Pinlock
- Anti-fog inserts
- Anti-fog sprays for helmet visors
- Anti-fog wipes for glasses
- Anti-fog products we’ve tested ourselves
- Other anti-fog products to consider
- How MCN tests products
The Pinlock
The Pinlock has become the standard anti-fog solution these days. Most helmets come with either a Pinlock supplied, or the pins at least pre-installed in the visor should you choose to use one in the future.
A Pinlock insert is made from a special hydrophilic material that absorbs moisture from the air. The silicone seal around the edges of the Pinlock keeps an insulating air pocket between the Pinlock and the visor.
This airtight double-glazing-type barrier prevents the rider’s warm breath from hitting the cold visor and fogging it up. Fogging is caused by condensation due to the temperature differences between the cold on the outside of the visor and the warmth on the inside, the Pinlock balances out the two extremes.
Related: How to fit a Pinlock
Anti-fog inserts
Anti-fog inserts are a similar technology to Pinlocks but they stick on to the inside of the visor instead of being held in place by pins. The porous plastic absorbs the condensed water droplets that form when warm air on the inside hits cold air on the outside, otherwise steaming up the visor. My new helmet came with a factory-installed anti-fog insert and no option for installing a Pinlock even if I wanted to. I’ll have to see how this goes.
Anti-fog sprays for helmet visors
Anti fog sprays are probably the simplest and quickest fixes for fogged up visors. The reason visors ‘fog up’ is because moisture droplets on the outside of the visor bind together and form a fog-like layer over the visor that diffuses light and becomes impossible to see through.
The chemicals in an anti-fog spray will scatter the tiny beads of moisture so instead of binding together they spread out into a thin layer on the visor that is invisible and therefore see through.
The chemical coating will wear off over time due to handling, cleaning or exposure to rain which is why you have to keep reapplying fairly regularly.
Anti-fog wipes for glasses
Anti-fog glasses wipes work in a similar way to visor sprays. They contain water-attracting agents that spread the moisture out into a thin, see-through layer on the lens of the glasses. Most wipes are designed for single use, but the one I’ve tested below can be used up to 1000 times.
Related: The best water repellents for visors
Anti-fog products we’ve tested ourselves:
Muc-Off Anti-Fog takes a little effort, but it’s worth its weight in gold, especially on my spectacles, which usually mist up at the merest suggestion of cold weather. Spray on a light coat, then buff out any streaks with a tissue and it keeps them condensation free for about a week. It lasts about as long on the inside of a visor too and is just as effective as a Pinlock. The only downside is that you have to keep reapplying it, but I find nighttime vision is better than with an anti-fog insert which can create off-putting reflections from streetlights and other vehicles.
Pros
- One spray and wipe lasts up to 5 days
- Safe on all plastics and glass
- Small bottle but lasts quite a while
- Just as effective as a Pinlock for some
Cons
- Wipe as soon as you spray otherwise stubborn streaks build up
- Have to keep reapplying every 4 - 5 days
| Item form | Spray |
| Item volume | 32 ml |
| Specified uses | Glass and plastic |
| Scent | Unscented |
- Creates a transparent, micro-thin coating on your goggles to prevent them from misting up
- One application will last for up to 5 days
- Advanced moisture absorption properties
- Safe on all plastics and glass
These Body Doctor wipes apply a transparent micro-thin coating to your glasses to prevent them fogging/steaming up. They are made of a high quality super soft fibre cloth that gives a streak-free finish leaving no scratches. It is alcohol-free and odourless.
I ride through the winter and in the rain and the cloth works like magic on my glasses. I've tried sprays which were hit and miss, but never tried a cloth, so I was a bit dubious at first. You've got to clean your glasses then mist up them up with your breath before you wipe gently with the cloth. The manufacturer says they're reusable up to 1000 times, which is great value for money.
Pros
- Works well - follow the instructions
- Great on glasses
- Repeated applications build up the effectiveness
Cons
- Quite expensive for one cloth but you can use it for up to 1000 times according to the manufacturer
| Material | high quality super soft fibre cloth |
| Contents | 1 cloth can be used up to 1000 times |
| Application | Visor/lens wipe |
| Effectiveness | Lasts up to 48 hours |
- Applies a transparent micro-thin coating to prevent the fogging/steaming up
- Can be applied to all types of coated lenses
- Soft and non-abrasive
- Reusable & long lasting
Other anti-fog products to consider:
This handy little aluminium spray bottle contains 50ml of liquid that works at a molecular level, preventing the fluid droplets from forming on the surface. It won't work on anti-reflective coatings, as this prevents the nano-technology from working but it's good for visors, goggles, spectacles and swimming or diving masks.
Pros
- Sturdy bottle
- Nano technology
- Suitable for various applications
Cons
- Not for reflective lenses
| Temperature ranges | +5°C – +30°C |
| Application | Spray and wipe |
| Size | 50ml |
- Forms an invisible coating on your motorcycle visor to prevent fog from forming
- Works on glasses too
Pros
- Advertised for swimming but works on visors
- Easy application - spray then wipe with a tissue (not a micro-fibre cloth)
- Use for both visor and glasses (if you wear them)
Cons
- Have to keep reapplying
- Wipe soon after spraying otherwise it will leave streaks
| Item volume | 60ml per bottle |
| Scent | Fragrance free |
| Surface recommendations | Glass, plactic |
- Does not contain any organic solvent
- Ideal for fog protection
- Dry application, long-lasting effect
Pros
- Clean as well as anti-fog
- Flat bottle handy
- Well-known name
Cons
- Very expensive
Pros
- Handy-sized bottle
- Fresh mint odour
- Good value
Cons
- None we can think of
How MCN tests products
At MCN, our team of expert journalists have decades of experience gained over hundreds of thousands of miles. We don’t test our kit to destruction; we use it exactly how you do, in the real world and in all conditions. That means we can deliver impartial buying advice you can rely on.
Each of our writers has an in-depth understanding of the needs of today’s biker… because they are one.
If you can’t see a review against some of the anti-fog products on this page, it’s because we’re either testing them at the moment, or we haven’t tested them yet. These items will only be included if we find that they work, or we think they’d benefit our readers. Rest assured that we’ll be bringing you a review of these products as soon as we’ve done the miles.
Our scores explained
When we review a product, we award it a score out of five. In the ratings tab of a given product, you may also find more specific scores for the different aspects of a product’s performance to help you make an informed decision. Here’s a guide to what each number score means:
- 1 star – Poor performance in this category or overall. A product with a single star rating has fallen below the expected standard and should be avoided.
- 2 stars – Basic performance in this area or overall. A product with a two-star rating has managed to perform to a barely acceptable level and there is room for improvement.
- 3 stars – An average performance in this area or overall. A product with a three-star rating has achieved a basic level of performance and is deemed adequate.
- 4 stars – A product has performed over and above the accepted averaged in this category or overall. A product with a four-star rating has surpassed expectation and delivered in a particularly impressive way.
- 5 stars – A product has performed at the highest possible level in a particular category or overall. A product with a five-star rating has delivered to the highest possible level, impressing the tester with its performance. We would happily spend our own money on it.
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Motorcyclists cornering in cold snowy conditions
Body Doctor anti for wipes
Cressi anti fog spray
cressi anti fog spray
Hendlex anti-fog spray for helmet visors
Motorcyclist riding scooter in freezing temperatures with snow bound mountains in the background
Motorcyclist riding in the rain
Muc Off Anti Fog spray
Muc Off Anti Fog spray and glasses cleaner
Nikwax Visor Proof
