Also read it on DiscoveryParts.com here.
“ ‘Cause this is thriller… thriller night….” When fog surrounds zombie MJ, it’s pretty spooky… but when the fog is in your helmet visor or on your windshield obstructing your view of the track, it surpasses thriller and becomes just plain scary for you and everyone on track with you. Thankfully, DiscoveryParts is about to hook you up with some tips to keep your visor crystal clear this Spooktober.
SHAVING CREAM OR DANDRUFF SHAMPOO
Shaving cream and dandruff shampoo are both hydrophilic, meaning that the molecules are soluble in water. In stead of repelling water, which is what most people assume is happening, the molecule attaches itself to the water molecule and disables it from joining with other molecules to bead up and cause what we know as fog. This science makes hydrophilic compounds an excellent solution for defogging helmet visors.
For flawless application: first, remove the visor from the helmet because you’re going to need to submerge the lens in lukewarm water and lightly wipe it clean with a microfiber cloth. Next, wipe the visor completely dry with a dry microfiber or lens-safe cloth. Once your visor is dry, massage a dollop of shaving cream or Head & Shoulders onto the outside and inside of the visor, covering all of the lens. About now, the lens will appear solidly white with foam – let it set in this state for 5 to 7 minutes. After the time is up, take another dry lens-safe cloth and buff the solution into the lens, not wiping it off but rubbing it into the visor in circular motions until the lens is clear again. Voilà! FOG FREE.
INCREASED VENTILATION
If you’re smart, you purchased a helmet that has some type of ventilation feature. Look around the exterior of your helmet. See any holes with metal mesh or fabric covering? Some of these vents have covers that drivers are unaware of. This past weekend at a Chin Track Day, a customer stopped by with his brand new Bell M.8 Carbon helmet inquiring about fog – He was part of the inspiration for this article. The M.8 comes well ventilated, but discretely. The little vents on the exterior of the shell can be opened or closed by clear plastic covers. If your helmet has vents, make sure they’re in the open position to eliminate fog.
If your helmet doesn’t have exterior vents, move your visor to a slight open position. It’s dangerous to drive or ride on track with a completely open visor. If you’re in a wreck on track and you have an airbag, it will smash right into your helmet, if you don’t have an airbag, you’re bound to smash your exposed face into your steering wheel or dash – either way, it’s a lose, lose situation that can be easily avoided by wearing your visor down. But if you lack ventilation, crack your visor open slightly where the bottom of the visor still sets below the end of your nose. This will let just enough air in to eliminate fog and still protect that pretty face of yours.
DiscoveryParts’ favorite helmet brand to sell is Stilo, and while you can’t use serums or solutions on Stilo’s specially designed visors, Stilo helmets come with the coolest shield locking system that offers the first ever half-lock position for extra ventilation. This is truly the safest way to wear your visor partially opened and the best anti-fogging solution on the market.
FACTORY FOG-FREE VISORS & INSERTS
Anti-fog inserts are films that are meant to stick to your visor to prevent fogging. They usually run anywhere from $20-50 bucks and last for weeks at a time. Most customer reviews I’ve come across are pretty good, the only complaint being that they don’t last forever. Check out our Bell-specific inserts here.
The breath deflector is another insert that will cost you around $20. The deflector covers the bottom half of your face, re-directing your breath to the base of your helmet in stead of your shield. This is another affective, low cost application to keep your shield from fogging. Get the Bell Helmet Breath Deflector here.
Many brands offer dual-lens visors or anti-fog visors that you can purchase and install on your helmet. This option costs a little more but might save you some cash in the long run because they stay anti-fog forever. Higher-end brands such as Stilo and Schuberth have intricate, detailed visors that rarely fog, saving you time and the money you would otherwise spend on solutions or new inserts.
MOLECULE ANTI FOG SPRAY & RAIN REPEL
Thank you, Molecule, for creating every solution a racer could dream of, including Anti-fog Spray and Rain Repel. This stuff is great for the racer on the go, packaged in condensed little spray bottles for easy travel and perfect application.
Step 1) Anti-fog Spray: spray solution on the inside of the visor to create a haze, let sit for a few minutes and apply second coat. Wipe away final haze with a dry cloth. Reapply as needed.
Step 2) Rain Repel: Spray the outside of the visor to create a haze as mentioned above. Follow same steps. Reapply as needed.
Both of these 4oz. bottles last an incredibly long time running around $6.95 each.
*Warning: only Stilo branded products should be used on Stilo helmets and visors because of ammoniate sensitivities. Do not use Molecule on any Stilo visor: purchase Stilo Specific Serums Here.*
OMW! 