Winter wipers are different than conventional wiper blades, and it all boils down to the construction and design. You might come across a bevy of winter wipers in your online search, but there are two general types. Conventional winter wipers feature a similar framed construction as the all-season variety, but the wiper body has a rubber boot to protect the hinged areas from freezing. Winter wipers also come in a frameless, beam-blade design. They look cool, and the sleek construction presses the blades on the windshield evenly to efficiently wipe away ice and precipitation. With this in mind, you're probably wondering which design to choose, or whether winter wipers are worth it at all.
Wiper blades are made from silicone or rubber. While Silicone wiper blades are not necessarily better than rubber, as both wipe off dirt, moisture, and debris well, silicone blades could last twice as long. Silicone blades are also superior in the cold, owing to their flexible and resilient materials, but they're almost twice or three times the price. If you don't mind paying more, silicone wiper blades are worth the extra dollar. You can think of it as a long-term investment to guarantee clear visibility in all-weather driving. Yet as the onset of icy weather brings new challenges, you might need specialized winter wipers to tackle extreme conditions.
Winter wipers can come with silicone or rubber blades. The latter will typically have a thicker rubber material to survive the winter season without tearing prematurely. Winter wipers are worth it if you live in snowy climates. Otherwise, a decent set of all-weather silicone or rubber wipers will do.