Rain-X dethroned as top windshield rain repellent choice.

Rain-X Competes Against Top Windshield Repellents; Holds Its Own Among the Elite

Rain-X has become a well-known brand over the years. Since the 1970s, it has been the preferred windshield water repellent for drivers all around, enhancing visibility even in heavy rain. However, Rain-X now encounters significant rivalry.

In a set of evaluations comparing 10 various windshield water repellents, the Project Farm YouTube channel discovers that Rain-X is no longer leading the pack as the top hydrophobic product. However, it remains a strong contender, unlike more than half of the other products examined.

Project Farm conducted tests on eight different brands to determine their ability to maintain hydrophobic properties after being exposed to car wash soap and windshield washer fluid, which are common substances that come into contact with windshields. Out of the eight brands tested, only four – Gtechniq, Aquapel, Gyeon, and Rain-X – were able to retain their hydrophobic properties. The remaining four brands – Adams, Cerakote, Invisible Glass, Chemical Guys, 3D, and Debaishi – showed a significant decrease in effectiveness after being washed with car wash soap.

Out of the top four brands tested, Aquapel and Gyeon demonstrated the fastest water removal from the glass when exposed to a blow dryer, taking only 1 second. This experiment by Project Farm aimed to simulate the wind pressure experienced by a car traveling at approximately 40 mph. On the other hand, Rain-X and Gtechniq both took 3 seconds to achieve the same result, placing them at the bottom of the ranking.

Rain-X’s biggest downfall was during Project Farm’s warm temperature exposure experiment, in which all glass pieces are placed in a dishwasher and subjected to hot water spray for 2.5 hours. This simulates rain on a sweltering summer day. Despite the other three brands maintaining their effectiveness after the test, Rain-X’s performance decreased.

This doesn’t mean Rain-X isn’t still a good choice. Given that it was significantly less expensive than the other products, simple to apply, and maintained its effectiveness throughout most of the tests, we can see why many people would choose to use it on their vehicle. However, if you are looking for the top-performing product, Project Farm suggests that Gtechniq’s G5 water repellent coating is the best option available.