There are a growing number of helmet manufacturers now selling their own faceshields with the Pinlock anti-fog system. Utilizing a porous moisture absorbing plastic film that seals onto the inner surface of the faceshield with a silicone bead and is locked into place with an eccentric pin on each side, the Pinlock antifog system has become increasingly popular among the manufacturers. And now Shoei has joined the ranks with its CW-1 and CWF-1 Pinlock shields, made to fit the company’s newer X-Twelve, RF-1100, and Qwest models.
Unlike previous anti-fog stick-on films, the Pinlock stays in place; but probably helping even more in this regard is the Shoei QRSA (Quick Release Self-Adjusting) faceshield pivot base plate system. Because the base plates basically pull the shield tight once in position, the friction and chafing that often occur when trying to achieve a good seal with conventional shield pivot mechanisms is absent. This also allows the upper edge of the Pinlock film to be above the top edge of the helmet’s eyeport, eliminating any vision issues in that area.
The Pinlock insert is easy to install (easy-to-follow instructions are included), and if cared for properly, will often outlast the faceshield itself. The silicone bead allows the insert to be reinstalled numerous times, so if the shield becomes pitted or scratched, the insert can be transferred to a new shield.
We’ve tried a lot of various anti-fogging faceshield systems over the years, but all of them had some sort of downside to their performance. The CW-1/CWF-1 faceshielcd (the CWF-1 is equipped with tear-off posts for racing use) is the first anti-fog setup that doesn’t require constant re-application or cause blurring due to excess moisture buildup on the film surface. It also doesn’t cause excessive “star-bursting” or light distortion at night, a problem we’ve encountered with other anti-fogging treatments or films. In short, basically the best anti-fog faceshield we've tested bar none.
Details
Shoei CW-1/CWF-1 Pinlock faceshield
Retail: $52.99 (faceshield); $34.99 (Pinlock insert)
Shoei
www.shoei-helmets.com
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