Dennis in NH
Member
I got this late Fall this year. I had a hard time figuring out from all the reviews and photos what it really is so here's my description:
Basically, you get a new visor that has pin locks installed on the ends; this visor replaces your current visor. You also get a pin lock insert -- this is a flexible plastic shield that has slots on the ends that fit the position of the pin locks on the new visor. This plastic shield has soft silicone lines on its perimeter such that when installed onto the pin locks and mounted on the inside of the new visor (silicone touching the back of the visor), it forms a seal on the visor. This seal traps in air in the shape of the plastic shield -- the theory is that this trapped air insulates the shield and prevents the fogging. There are different visors to fit different helmets -- mine is for Shoei RF-1000.
The clear shield with pin locks is about $36
The pin lock anti fog insert costs about $27
Total is about $63 plus $7 shipping = $70 (pricey but a clear shield is valuable right?)
So, do they work? I've had this thing for a few months now. I've tested it in various temperatures all below 50F. It seems to work well. However, at lower temperatures, it does not work as well. I tried it at temperatures near 30F and it tends to leak. I.e., it seems that the seals don't quite seal that well and air gets in. As a result, condensation builds and fogs up the helmet (that's right fogs up this anti fog product!). The problem with this situation is that if it fogs up enough, there is no way to clear it unless you stop, remove the insert and wipe it. Lucky for me, the condensation formed outside of my line of sight. At 17F, the situation got worse and a lot of vision was blocked enough to shorten the ride. I wonder if I installed the insert correctly.
Can you use it at night? I was not happy that it said "For Daytime Use Only" -- it did not say that in the advertisement. Well, I bought it because cold nights are not so good when your face is cold because you keep having to open the visor to clear the fog. I've used this product at night many times and find it ok. You get reflections on the helmet towards the edges of the visor but you adjust and learn to ignore those. Once you get used to that, I find night use acceptable.
Maintenance? I remove the visor and insert and clean them separately using soap, water, and a soft towel. I dry gently by blotting and waving them around (to avoid scratching) to get the water off. I let them sit for an hour to dry. If you don't, moisture is trapped in the trapped air; when exposed to cold air, it fogs and you cannot see.
Durability? Seems durable and I only worry about scratching the fog insert -- I think I have a few tiny scratches but you don't notice when using it. I'm wondering if the silicone lining is just wearing and may ask about a warranty on this and may consider buying a new one next Winter. I'm a little annoyed that it wore out this fast. However, I'm wondering if I just need to adjust the fit onto the back of the visor for a better seal.
Worth it? fog has not been a problem since I got this. Even with fog on the helmet it is still out of my line of site so it is somewhat acceptable although annoying. Before, it was a constant battle fighting the fog and now it is only a minimal battle at worst. I think it's worth about $45 and not $70 and so my conclusion is it is overpriced. But with this device, I can ride in cold temperatures and keep a warm face so that's a big plus.
Below is a picture of what my helmet looked like when I came in after a 20F one hour ride. The half circle of condensation is between the back of the visor and the anti-fog insert. I could still see fine but it was annoying to not be able to clear the fog.
Dennis
Basically, you get a new visor that has pin locks installed on the ends; this visor replaces your current visor. You also get a pin lock insert -- this is a flexible plastic shield that has slots on the ends that fit the position of the pin locks on the new visor. This plastic shield has soft silicone lines on its perimeter such that when installed onto the pin locks and mounted on the inside of the new visor (silicone touching the back of the visor), it forms a seal on the visor. This seal traps in air in the shape of the plastic shield -- the theory is that this trapped air insulates the shield and prevents the fogging. There are different visors to fit different helmets -- mine is for Shoei RF-1000.
The clear shield with pin locks is about $36
The pin lock anti fog insert costs about $27
Total is about $63 plus $7 shipping = $70 (pricey but a clear shield is valuable right?)
So, do they work? I've had this thing for a few months now. I've tested it in various temperatures all below 50F. It seems to work well. However, at lower temperatures, it does not work as well. I tried it at temperatures near 30F and it tends to leak. I.e., it seems that the seals don't quite seal that well and air gets in. As a result, condensation builds and fogs up the helmet (that's right fogs up this anti fog product!). The problem with this situation is that if it fogs up enough, there is no way to clear it unless you stop, remove the insert and wipe it. Lucky for me, the condensation formed outside of my line of sight. At 17F, the situation got worse and a lot of vision was blocked enough to shorten the ride. I wonder if I installed the insert correctly.
Can you use it at night? I was not happy that it said "For Daytime Use Only" -- it did not say that in the advertisement. Well, I bought it because cold nights are not so good when your face is cold because you keep having to open the visor to clear the fog. I've used this product at night many times and find it ok. You get reflections on the helmet towards the edges of the visor but you adjust and learn to ignore those. Once you get used to that, I find night use acceptable.
Maintenance? I remove the visor and insert and clean them separately using soap, water, and a soft towel. I dry gently by blotting and waving them around (to avoid scratching) to get the water off. I let them sit for an hour to dry. If you don't, moisture is trapped in the trapped air; when exposed to cold air, it fogs and you cannot see.
Durability? Seems durable and I only worry about scratching the fog insert -- I think I have a few tiny scratches but you don't notice when using it. I'm wondering if the silicone lining is just wearing and may ask about a warranty on this and may consider buying a new one next Winter. I'm a little annoyed that it wore out this fast. However, I'm wondering if I just need to adjust the fit onto the back of the visor for a better seal.
Worth it? fog has not been a problem since I got this. Even with fog on the helmet it is still out of my line of site so it is somewhat acceptable although annoying. Before, it was a constant battle fighting the fog and now it is only a minimal battle at worst. I think it's worth about $45 and not $70 and so my conclusion is it is overpriced. But with this device, I can ride in cold temperatures and keep a warm face so that's a big plus.
Below is a picture of what my helmet looked like when I came in after a 20F one hour ride. The half circle of condensation is between the back of the visor and the anti-fog insert. I could still see fine but it was annoying to not be able to clear the fog.
Dennis