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Sep 24, 2023

The Very Best Windshield Wiper Blades for Your Car

Every product is carefully selected by our editors. If you buy from a

Every product is carefully selected by our editors. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission.

Windshield wipers may be the biggest afterthought on your car — but among the most important safety features.

Wiper blades may be the biggest afterthought on your car. No one buys a car because it has a great set of windshield wipers; indeed, you may not think about them for months or years...until that freak winter snow storm makes them your car's most crucial piece of safety tech. And while you typically don't think about replacing wiper blades until you see a telltale piece of rubber hanging off or hear the horrific sound of them squeaking or scoring your windshield, manufacturers may tell you to replace them every few months (taking care of it before winter hits is not a bad idea).

Wiper blades are also an item you can source for yourself without going to a specialist auto parts store; you can order them on Amazon with ease. Self-installation can be some of the easiest car maintenance to do yourself; you don't need any tools beyond opposable thumbs. However, manufacturer instructions when adapters get involved can get confusing for newbies.

Most often found on older cars, have a metal frame attached to a rubber blade. They are the cheapest option and can save you money. But they are less durable than other wiper types, which can mean you'll be changing them out more often.

Made from a solid piece of rubber, tend to be the most expensive; on the flip side, they are more flexible, better performing, better for snow and ice, and more durable.

A hybrid option between the two — typically with rubber covering the metal frame for a sleeker look and better protection and aerodynamic performance.

Consider where you live. If you reside in Palm Springs, having the optimal set of wiper blades probably won't matter so much. If you live somewhere rainy like Louisiana, you may want better ones. If you’re preparing for winter up in Minnesota, you’ll probably want wipers that are optimized for cold weather.

Different cars have different sizes of blades; indeed, the two wipers on your windshield can be different sizes, as well. Luckily, you can find that information easily enough in your car's owner's manual or on the Internet. You can also input your car model on sites like Amazon and view a list of all compatible wipers.

Gear Patrol staffers are continually testing new wiper blades on their personal vehicles. We install them ourselves using manufacturer adapters and instructions. And we assess both their water-clearing performance and quietness in a range of weather conditions as circumstances allow.

Bosch's Icon is the German performance car of wiper blades. The company says its patented rubber compound is 40 percent more durable than other premium wipers. Tension spring-arcing technology offers a customized windshield fit. It also uses an aerodynamic spoiler to distribute uniform downforce across the blade.

Our tester has had these Bosch blades on his Volkswagen for more than a year, testing them in Michigan winter weather and the occasional summer downpour. They stay glued to the windshield, clear prodigious amounts of rain and snow without leaving streaks and operate quietly. Our tester does not notice them.

Installation would have taken minutes had our tester not gouged his thumb trying to force off the stock wipers too forcefully.

Our tester has used RainX wipers in the past and had mixed feelings toward them — She appreciates their wiping power and clarity but found them much trickier to install than the included paper instructions or video tutorial make it seem. The team's tip of using a quarter to pop open the clasp on the new blade is actually pretty darn useful, but be aware if you have J-hook wiper attachments (large or small) you need to make sure you fully insert the hook into the blade before you can click the clasp shut.

The RainX blades do their job well, but our tester thinks the shorter blade she received had a defect — there was a slight gap in the middle of the blade that doesn't touch the windshield glass, resulting in an annoying stripe of water that she can't get rid of.

Overall, our tester found the RainX wiper blades to be quiet. They didn't rub or squeak along the windshield. And they effortlessly removed water and additional minor build-up on her windshield.

Goodyear doesn't just make tires. The company also sells wipers and these Assurance WeatherReady blades undergo Goodyear's one million wipe test to guarantee quality performance over time.

Our tester found these Goodyear blades to be wider and sturdier than previous blades she has used. And the blades have delivered a smooth and steady wipe when used in fall weather. Installation with the universal adapter system was easy once figured out, but our tester found the instructions provided confusing to follow.

The Rain-X Silicone Eudra is a more premium offering from Rain-X, incorporating Silicone blades rather than natural rubber, which the manufacturer claims will last twice as long and perform better in harsh temperatures at either end of the thermometer. They also include easy switch-out adapters and a QR code link to instruction videos for first-time installers.

The ANCO 31-Series wiper blade is a solid, conventional replacement blade. Its main value is delivering reasonable durability and performance with its low price point under $20. It features a "KwikConnect" system for easy installation and a "DuraKlear" rubber compound to provide a clear, consistent wipe.

Piaa uses silicone wiper blades, which the brand says will last twice as long as conventional rubber ones. The blades leave a water-repelling silicone coating on the windshield. The silicone blades themselves are also refillable, so you don't need to replace the entire wiper. The cover has an aero pass-through which helps reduce lift and keep the blade planted to the windshield.

The main drawback is the price point. Piaa blades can be expensive up front, even compared to high-end beam blades.

Piaa's Super Silicone blades are a more affordable option compared to the Aero Vogue. They still offer the durability benefits of silicone blades, the water-repellent windshield coating and the refillable silicone blades. But the trade-off is the conventional frame structure which is not as sleek and aerodynamic as the Aero Vogue.

Aero's Voyager wipers are another great affordable wiper blade option. They are low cost up front in two packs and come with additional blade refills when the first ones run out. The rubber blades have a Teflon coating for streak-free functionality and their temperature tolerance — 158ºF to -40ºF — is higher than yours. One drawback is the Aero Voyager blades don't come with an adapter. They are only compatible with J-Hook wiper arms.