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Muc-Off Helmet Polish

7
£6.00

VERDICT:

7
10
Effective polish but only suitable for glossy helmets
Weight: 
302g
Contact: 
www.muc-off.com

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Muc-Off Helmet Polish is part of their rider care range aimed at cyclists and motorcyclists. By my reckoning it represents best value if you have an assortment of helmet types to look after, including moto lids.

Helmets are exposed to extremes of temperature, atmospheric pollution, jaded by rain, trail spatter and similar everyday wear 'n' tear. Beeswax furniture polish blow-overs restore that factory sheen within seconds but their solvent carriers have unknown consequences for long-term structural integrity.

Muc-off say their helmet cleaner is an advanced formula derived from natural, renewable sources and is fully biodegradable. Reputedly safe on composites, fibreglass, polycarbonate and carbon fibre, it sounds pretty universal but is actually limited to use on glossy factory finishes. Accidental encounters with matt and satin surfaces left behind oily blotches.

Muc-off recommends priming surfaces to be polished with a liberal helping of their helmet and visor cleaner to remove light film, bugs, dirt, tar etc. In practice, a few squirts of citrus-based bike wash dried off with a clean towel worked just fine.

While less efficient than butane fuelled aerosols, the pump spray delivers a fine, consistent mist. Two or three brief shots are more than sufficient for traditional road/cross country helmets, though downhill and similar full face need an extra shot. Work it into the surface using a microfibre cloth until it's fully evaporated.

Achieving mirror shines is refreshingly effortless; 30 seconds for a cosseted road model, nearer a minute for those that see harder service. In common with any other protectant, the slippery coating provides an invisible barrier that resists dirt, dust, persuading rainwater to bead away, and enabling what's left to be dismissed with a very quick towel wipe.

Staying power will depend on riding style and conditions. Our guinea pigs have only needed a single application this month, though mountain bikers, 'cross racers and those commuting through congested city centres may need to use it fortnightly, and more frequently in winter. However, it's very economical. Even with a big collection, you'd be hard pressed to exhaust the contents in a year, so clean, shiny helmets are going to cost you just 50p a month.

Verdict

Effective polish but only suitable for glossy helmets.

road.cc test report

Make and model: Muc-Off Helmet Polish

Size tested: 250ml

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

"Muc-Off's Helmet Polish contains the ideal ingredients to buff your lid to a high gloss, wet look shine in seconds. This advanced formula is derived from natural, renewable sources and is fully biodegradable. It's completely safe to use on polycarbonate, fibreglass, composite and carbon fibre helmets. Watch water bead again and again as the polish's protective layer ensures your helmet stays pristine and your painted colours are enhanced with a deep, rich lustre!". No quibble here and a little seems to go a very long way.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

250ml pump spray, made from "Natural Renewable Sources"

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
7/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
7/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
7/10
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
7/10
Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Overall, Muc-off helmet polish appears to rejuvenate tired looking gloss lids, providing a long lasting, super slippery water repellent sheen.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Does exactly what it says on the tin.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Nothing.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? Quite possibly.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes, for the most part.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 40  Height: 1m 81  Weight: 70 kilos

I usually ride: Rough Stuff Tourer Based around 4130 Univega mtb Frameset  My best bike is: 1955 Holdsworth Road Path and several others including cross & traditional road

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo cross, commuting, touring, fixed/singlespeed, mtb,

 

Shaun Audane is a freelance writer/product tester with over twenty-eight years riding experience, the last twelve (120,000 miles) spent putting bikes and kit through their paces for a variety of publications. Previous generations of his family worked at manufacturing's sharp end, thus Shaun can weld, has a sound understanding of frame building practice and a preference for steel or titanium framesets.
Citing Richard Ballantine and an Au pair as his earliest cycling influences, he is presently writing a cycling book with particular focus upon women, families and disabled audiences (Having been a registered care manager and coached children at Herne Hill Velodrome in earlier careers)

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14 comments

Avatar
Northernbike | 10 years ago
0 likes

brings up a shine on the wearer's halo a treat too I shouldn't wonder

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Skidz | 10 years ago
0 likes

I wish I'd known about this product. After my wife told me my helmet stank I was advised to dip it in bicarbonate of soda! Never been quite the same again since...  39

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spence129 | 10 years ago
0 likes

I just get the missus to spit on it.

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seanboy | 10 years ago
0 likes

I have just polished my helmet,very nice it was too

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notfastenough | 10 years ago
0 likes

If I wore white cycling shoes, they would get filthy, and I would see value in keeping them smart. However, I wear a white helmet, and it's never dirty. Even if it was, a damp cloth would be fine.

Then again, muc-off's specs cleaner is 3 times the price of the similar product in the motor spares shop down the road, so I shouldn't be surprised. I also note that car shampoo worked a treat on cleaning the frame.

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Zermattjohn | 10 years ago
0 likes

Rapha missed a trick with this - could have charged £45 easily.

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Bob's Bikes | 10 years ago
0 likes

I saw the headline and thought the comments would be a little Frankie Howardish and I wasn't disappointed.  41

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stuartanderson | 10 years ago
0 likes

Durex make a good helmet lube as well............

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ashfanman | 10 years ago
0 likes

Helmet polish? Really?

Isn't this article 30 days late?

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Some Fella | 10 years ago
0 likes

I think i will file this next to the wearable lactate threshold sensor in my folder named
"Ridiculous Products We Never Knew We Needed Until Someone Invented It And Stuck A Price Ticket On It"

ps - if you *really* do need a shiny helmet (which seems rather ridiculous to me to be honest) just use a baby wipe to polish it you numbskulls.

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allez neg | 10 years ago
0 likes

Autoglym Vinyl and Rubber care spray is cool too.

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dreamlx10 | 10 years ago
0 likes
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allez neg replied to dreamlx10 | 10 years ago
0 likes
dreamlx10 wrote:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Muc-Off-MOX-207-Muc-Off-Helmet/dp/B003FVIYRW/ref...

Read the second review.

I had to read that carefully, as it's easy to take it the wrong way.

Avatar
bikebot | 10 years ago
0 likes

Everyone, stop that sniggering!

 24

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