When windshield wipers function as they should, effectively clearing rain, snow, ice and dirt from your windscreen, the odds are you hardly notice them. When you do notice your windshield wipers, it’s usually because they’re no longer doing their job.
Old, worn out wipers, or those that were never very good to begin with, can make driving in wet and winter weather dangerous. With most windshield wipers having a lifespan of between six to 18 months, experts recommend you replace your wipers at least once a year.
Thankfully, it’s possible to find good windshield wipers without having to spend a lot of money. But first it’s important to understand your options and ascertain what type of wiper blade is right for you.
Traditional or bracket blades
Traditional windshield wipers, also known as bracket blades, feature a bracket of branching arms that connect the wiper. These are typically more affordable than many of the newer model blades. And while bracket blades do okay in rain, the problem is that snow and ice can collect on the brackets. This leads to streaking, smearing, or failure to clear the windscreen properly.
Beam blades
Unlike bracket blades, with their cumbersome apparatuses, beam blades feature a curved metal bar built into the wiper that disperses pressure across the length of the blade. Beam blades are more expensive but perform better in rain and snow, as the enclosed design makes them less susceptible to icy build-up. Beam blades are standard equipment on many new models, meaning cheaper bracket blades may not even fit. Typically priced between $15 to $19 each, beam blades are slightly pricier than traditional blades.
Silicone wiper blades
While silicone blades are no better than rubber blades in the rain, tests have revealed they’re better at clearing grime, dirt and mud away, along with moisture. In addition to being saturated with silicone, silicone blades often come with a silicone wipe to treat your windscreen with. These are the preferred blades of off-roaders and rally race drivers. Everyday drivers also appreciate them for the sleek, silent manner in which they operate. However at between $20 and $40 for a single blade, they don’t come cheap.
In order to identify the best windshield wipers under $20, we’ve conducted a survey of expert and user reviews from across the web.
After studying several options for affordable windshield wipers, and taking into account factors like affordability, effectiveness, versatility and durability, we determined that the best windshield wipers under $20 are Rain-X Latitude wiper blades.
Rain-X wipers feature a beam design with a curved steel rod encased in rubber that helps facilitate ease of motion and prevent ice build-up. Typically available for around $18, Rain-X Latitude was one of the only wipers we encountered in our research to maintain a rating of “Very Good” after six months of usage.
Similar in design to the more expensive Bosch Icon wiper, Rain-X Latitude performed well in expert tests and maintains its high level of performance for longer than other models, even those that were more expensive.
According to a Consumer Reports study, Rain-X Latitude wipers did particularly well in snow and ice, where the beam design enabled the blade to better maintain its performance.
Without the exposed metal apparatus of traditional bracket blades, Rain-X wipers were subject to minimal to no build-up and provided better visibility in snow, rain and sleet.
The blades are also coated in graphite to make them run quieter and more smoothly, and the blade body features a spoiler on it to reduce wind resistance, lift, and noise when traveling at high speeds.
Rain-X wipers are easy to install and come with an assortment of brackets to fit an array of wiper blade arms.
Rain-X Latitude wipers maintain their favorable rating over a longer period of time than even some of the more expensive competing brands.
Rain-X Latitude wipers offer no warranty. Also user reviews indicate that in some instances, the contoured design of the blade failed to conform to the curve of the windscreen; resulting in streaking or an uneven clearance of moisture from the glass.
It seems that in some instances, the pressure dispersal recedes at the ends of the wiper, resulting a partial wipe that leaves vision-impairing raindrops and moisture on the windscreen.
There are also indications that the wiper’s backstroke leaves streaks of moisture in its wake.
When buying anything on a budget, you have to make some concessions. Priced affordably at around $18 each, Rain-X Latitude wipers are an affordable option if you’re looking for a sleek, modern beam blade that will maintain its effectiveness in rain and snow over an extended period of time.
While they may not always clear the windscreen as completely and effectively as more expensive models, the Rain-X Latitude offers just the right combination of effectiveness, durability, and versatility to make it our choice for the best windshield wiper under $20.
The Rain-X Latitude wiper also received favorable reviews from TheSweetHome.com and CarBibles.com.
