When rain or snow hits while you’re on the road, you expect the windshield wipers just to do their job and keep your vision clear. Unfortunately, old or low-quality wiper blades often fail at this critical job, leaving you looking through a streaky windshield or dealing with squeaking as they struggle to whisk away the water and snow.
When it’s time to replace those blades, don’t go straight for the cheap blades, as you may end up in the same situation quicker than you’d expect. Instead, opt for one of the best windshield wipers on the market — you won’t regret it.
To help you choose the right blades for your vehicle, we outlined the 11 best windshield wipers on the market today.
What Makes a Great Windshield Wiper
Before diving into the 11 best windshield wipers, it's important to understand the factors determining their quality. Here are a few key considerations:
- Durability: the best windshield wipers should be made from high-quality materials that can withstand harsh conditions and frequent use.
- Performance: The wipers should effectively remove water, snow, and debris without streaking or leaving residue behind.
- Noise: Nobody wants to drive with annoying squeaky wipers. Look for wipers that operate quietly.
- Compatibility and installation: Ensure your chosen wipers are compatible with your vehicle's make and model. Wipers are generally fairly easy to install, but some can get a little complex for a novice.
As for wiper durability, it's important to consider the materials used to construct the wiper blades. High-quality rubber blades are known for their longevity and ability to withstand extreme weather conditions. Plus, some wipers include a protective coating that prevents them from deteriorating due to exposure to sunlight and harsh chemicals.
Performance is another crucial factor to consider. A good windshield wiper should effectively clear water, snow, and debris from your windshield in a single swipe. It should also have a smooth, streak-free operation, ensuring that your windshield always remains clear. Look for wipers that have been tested and proven to provide excellent performance in various weather conditions.
Noisy wipers can be a major annoyance when focusing on the road ahead. The constant squeaking sound can distract you from the road and make your driving experience less enjoyable. Fortunately, many manufacturers now offer wipers that operate quietly, thanks to advancements in design and technology. So, you can enjoy a peaceful and quiet drive even during heavy rain.
Lastly, compatibility and ease of installation are essential to ensure that the windshield wipers you choose are a perfect fit for your vehicle and you can install them with little experience. Different vehicles have different wiper arm designs and lengths, so checking the compatibility before making a purchase is crucial. Many wiper manufacturers provide compatibility charts or online tools to help you find the right wipers for your specific make and model. Some wipers are direct fit, making them a breeze to click into place, but others are for a wide range of vehicles and include a handful of adapters and connectors you must rummage through to find the one that matches your vehicle.
Now that you know what to look for in the best windshield wipers, let’s dive right into our list of the best wipers for your vehicle.
The 11 Best Windshield Wipers
When rain or snow hits, the last thing you need is streaky, noisy wipers. You want high-quality wipers that keep your windshield clean and your view of the road clear. These 11 wiper blades are some of the best in the business.
Rain-X Latitude Water Repellency
Rain-X is a household name in rain repellent, as it started as an additive for washer fluid that made water bead up and roll off your windshield. Rain-X has expanded its reach with a full lineup of hydrophobic wiper blades.
The Rain-X Latitude Water Repellency blades are coated in a hydrophobic chemical that not only helps the wiper push water off your windshield but also leaves behind the same coating on the glass. This makes the water bead up and flows off your windshield. It works so well that you may not even need wipers in a light drizzle.
The only notable downside to these wipers is the clasp, which is very tight and makes installing and uninstalling them tough without a screwdriver. However, this also means it’s firmly attached, so you never have to worry about a blade flying off.
Rain-X Silicone Endura
Look at that; Rain-X comes in back to back on our list of the best windshield wiper blades. This time around it's the Rain-X Silicone Endura blade. Instead of being made from rubber, this blade is made from silicone, which gives it up to twice the usable life of most other wiper blades.
These wiper blades are notably quiet — even on a dry windshield — and leave behind no streaks. Plus, their locking clasp ensures the blade remains firmly in place.
The only downside to these blades is they are significantly more expensive than any other on our list.
Goodyear Assurance
The Goodyear Assurance wiper blade delivers a good, noise-free wipe, making it a quality blade. This is plenty for most buyers, but it also stands out in another way. It has numerous adapters and connectors that are easy to swap out. This means chances are great it has the exact adapter for your vehicle, ensuring a quick, easy, and reliable install — especially if you have a vehicle with an unusual wiper arm.
Unfortunately, besides the installation process, these blades blend in with the crowd, offering very little to set them apart from other beam blades.
Trico Platinum
The Trico Platinum wiper blade works well at all speeds, delivering a clean, noise-free wipe. It also stands out as one of the few wiper blades that comes in a pair pack, making it a more reasonable purchase. Unfortunately, it lacks any of the high-tech features as some of the other wiper blades on our list, leaving a little to be desired.
Bosch Evolution
The Bosch Evolution is a wonderful wiper blade — once installed. And therein lies the issue, as these are some of the trickier blades on the market to install. Even on a traditional J-hook wiper arm, you can spend 15 to 20 minutes mumbling to yourself as you struggle to snap these blades into place.
However, once they are in place, these wipers are wonderful. They deliver a quiet, streak-free wipe. This makes the reward nearly worth the struggle of putting these beam-style wipers on.
PIAA 95055 Super Silicone
The PIAA 95055 Super Silicone is one of the few old-school open-frame wiper blades to make our list, but they deserve a spot. Their silicone wiper blade has a longer lifespan than traditional rubber compounds, especially in harsher conditions. Plus, it wipes the windshield well without chattering or streaking. It also includes a water repellent to enhance its wiping abilities.
The one big downside is its traditional design and metal frame, which makes the installation a little trickier as you must hunt down the right adapter.
Aero Premium All-Season
Unlike many other blades you pick up at the auto parts store, the Aero Premium All-Season blades are direct original-equipment manufacturer (OEM) replacement wiper blades. This means they fit and function just like the blades that came with your vehicle from the factory, ensuring an easy install and quality wipe. They even come with a six-month warranty. When was the last time you saw a set of wipers with a warranty?
However, they showed some issues when substances other than water got on the windshield. Instead of wiping the substance off, they tended to ride over top of the substance, causing streaking and smearing.
Bosch Icon
The Bosch Icon wiper blade delivered better performance than most in simulated winter weather, easily wiping away simulated snow and ice, making it a great winter wiper option. Its beam design also ensures consistent contact with the windshield for a clean and even wipe every time. Plus, the integrated spoiler promoted great windshield contact at high speeds.
The only downside to this premium wiper is that it tended to ride over thicker substances, such as tree sap, leaving behind streaks.
Aero Avenger
The Aero Avenger is a high-quality beam-style wiper blade with an aerodynamic design and very simple installation. It delivers a clear, streak-free wipe and is great in all seasons, making it a solid option for Canada’s snowy winter climate. It also has a special rubber compound with a Teflon coating to enhance longevity.
Michelin Stealth Ultra
The Micheline Stealth Ultra is a hybrid wiper blade, meaning it has the consistent contact of a beam-style blade with a hidden metal frame that increases its durability. Its hinge-type design ensures it delivers maximum pressure on the windshield, but this hinge is also covered, protecting it from snow and ice buildup.
While this blade typically performs well, reports indicate it’s not consistent in all applications, and its installation can be frustrating.
Valeo 900221B Frameless
The Valeo 900221B Frameless has been a favourite wiper blade of automotive enthusiasts for many years. Plus, it’s the OEM blade for many automakers — that’s got to mean something, right?
These wiper blades feature an upgraded rubber compound to increase their lifespan and have an integrated spoiler to ensure they deliver consistent windshield contact at highway speeds.
They are also one of the more economical blades on the list, making them a great option for someone not looking to break the bank.
The Valeo 900221B Frameless blades had no notable drawbacks, but they also don’t stand out with any special features like some others on our list of the best windshield wipers. They are just simple, high-quality wipers.
Improve Your Driving Experience With the Best Windshield Wipers
High-quality windshield wipers can make all the difference in your daily commute, guaranteeing a clear view of the road ahead. This is why opting for one of the 11 best windshield wipers listed above is so important. Sure, you can save cash going with cheaper blades, but you’ll likely regret your decision as they age and start making noise or streaking.
At Clutch, Canada’s premier online automotive retailer, we put all our vehicles through a thorough 210-point quality inspection before offering them for sale. This process includes testing the wiper blades and replacing them, if needed. So, you get a high-quality used car from Clutch and a clear windshield in rainy or snowy conditions.
Check out our full inventory of high-quality used cars, choose one that suits your needs, and complete your purchase 100% online. We’ll even deliver the vehicle to you and pick up your trade-in vehicle, if applicable. Plus, you get a 10-day or 750-km test-own period. If you don’t love your Clutch vehicle during this time, you can return it or exchange it for another one — no questions asked.
