It’s been over a year since my initial review of 22ple VG1 Perfect Vision Window Coat, so I figured it was about time I provided some more feedback.
If you aren’t familiar with this product, 22ple VG1 is a hydrophobic coating that is applied to your windshield and other exterior glass to help keep the glass cleaner and to increase visibility during poor weather. This product is advertised with an approximate 6 month durability.
Since my initial review, I have used VG1 on my personal cars, as well as vehicles belonging to customers, friends, and family members so that I can receive feedback on how the product performs. I have also done side-by-side testing of VG1 against some competitive products to see how it compares to other products on the market.
Hydrophobic Properties
The performance of this product really shines when it comes to repelling water. In my side-by-side comparison with a popular competitor, 22ple VG1 was leaps and bounds better when it came to how quickly the water was shed from the windshield while driving. In a rain storm, the water droplets slid off of the glass quicker on the 22ple coated area. Once the rain had finished, the 22ple coated section dried much quicker as well.
Application
I have found 22ple VG1 to be one of the quickest and easiest windshield coatings to use. Once the glass is cleaned, it takes me about 5 minutes to apply one coat to the windshield. After a few uses, I became quite familiar with the product and was able to reduce the amount of time spent wiping. I simply mist some product onto the glass, spread with a CarPro applicator block with suede cloth wrapped around it, and then wipe away with a clean microfiber towel. The best part is, if you happen to let the product sit on the surface too long and it is difficult to wipe, all you need to do is simply mist a little more product onto that area and then immediately wipe. It is very user friendly.
Durability
In my opinion, the sole purpose of a windshield coating is to repel water, so for the sake of this article I will directly correlate durability with the longevity of hydrophobic behavior, which isn’t necessarily an accurate assessment with other coating products.
Depending on the weather, 22ple VG1 may very well provide the advertised 6 months of life, however I have found this area to be somewhat over exaggerated by almost every product in this glass coating market. If wipers are used somewhat regularly, say once per week, I would recommend reapplying this product every 3-4 months to keep it performing as new. Even windshield coatings that are marketed as having 2+ years of life have shown greatly diminished performance in my tests after just a month or two of repeated use, so to me this is not necessarily a downfall of VG1, but rather a variable that is hard to judge since environmental conditions play a big role in the overall results.
Again, I recommend reapplying more regularly for optimal performance if you are in an area that receives regular rainfall. It is worth noting that I do not always go through the entire process of polishing the glass before application, but I will ensure the glass is very clean. I make it a point to lightly polish the windshield on a yearly basis though. You might also consider using a product like Optimum Opti-Glass Clean and Protect to help boost the durability of the coating by adding additional protection on top of it after regular washes.
Value
At just over $10/oz ($0.35/mL), this product certainly isn’t cheap, but it is considerably less expensive than many competitors. With some products from other brands coming in at nearly 5 times the cost by volume, VG1 is a great value for a glass coating… especially considering its great performance.
It is also important to mention how little product is used per application with these types of coatings. One 115 mL bottle of VG1 will coat your windshield many, many, many times! I’ve used the same bottle to coat my windshield 5 times now, and have around 80% remaining.
Conclusion
If you are seeking a water resistant coating to help provide better visibility while driving, 22ple VG1 is a great option. The value, ease of use, and performance make it an easy choice for me. While durability claims may seem less impressive than some of the competition, I find they are much more realistic as even those claiming 1-2 years often miss that mark, or need toppers added for optimal performance. I’ve been very pleased with this product and will continue to use it regularly.