Chamois Test - Synthetic

Want a chamois champ to give your car a sparkling finish? Here are our top wipes

Auto Express Car Reviews

January 2006

You can choose from sprays, blades and water filters, but none has come close to replacing the humble chamois when it comes to drying your motor after washing. These alternatives are either more expensive, or simply not as good at leaving a streak and water mark-free finish.

If you don't spend a few minutes with a 'chammy' you might as well not get the wash bucket out, as minerals in tap water and left-over soap leave residue when dry.

Of course, leathering is hard work, so it makes sense to use a chamois that keeps the effort required to a minimum. We tried 16 to find which is the best labour saver.

Verdict

Leather or synthetic? Our test had no doubt - the genuine article still has the edge in the chamois market. The arrival of PVAs makes man-made versions better than ever, but they still leave a thin film of water that's hard to shift.

Top skin was the huge Kent, followed by the great value offering from A1. Size matters with leathers, so also look out for the big Halfords and CarPlan.

Of the synthetics the hefty Halfords was the most effective, beating the Kent, which sneaks second spot on price from the Metro.