Mist opportunity | Best anti-fog products for your motorcycle helmet visor

Riding in wet conditions or exerting yourself at slow speed off-road can lead to your motorbike helmet‘s visor or goggles steaming up – which is where anti-fog products come into play.

Arguably the most effective anti-fog product is the Pinlock insert – which was a game changer when it arrived on the market. Fitting one to the inside of a crash helmet’s visor helps prevent the build-up of condensation in the form of misting or fog, thus keeping the rider’s vision as clear as possible.

The Pinlock works by absorbing moisture as well as insulating the inner surface from the cold outer visor, much like double glazing. However, Pinlock inserts aren’t available for every helmet and what can you do about a drop-down sun visor, many of which suffer from misting problems? What about glasses for spectacles-wearers inside a helmet? What anti-fog products are available for them?

Here is a selection of anti-fog products that are available now.

How to stop your visor from fogging on a motorcycle

You can generally help reduce or remove misting by opening a vent – usually the chin – or, in the worst-case scenario, the visor itself slightly. However, misting tends to be more common in damp or cold ambient conditions and hence when you probably least want to open the visor.

There are lots of old tips and tricks out there for keeping your visor clear from installing a membrane of masking tape across your nose to polishing the inside of you visor with washing up liquid. But anti-fog products are the designed to work and are crucially tested on motorcycle visors so you know you wan’t do any harm.

How anti-fog products work?

They generally seem to work by reducing the surface tension of the moisture so that instead of forming numerous tiny droplets, a single layer is formed which is transparent and, being close to the eyes, generally you can see ‘through’ it as you do with moisture on the outside.

About the author: After qualifying as a mechanical engineer, Jim Blackstock began working on magazines in the early 1990s. He remains passionate about product testing to ensure readers know what products offer good value and why. He relishes torrential rain to see if riding kit keeps water out and an hour or two to tinker on a project bike in his workshop.

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