My wife and I have lived in central Florida for over 25 years.
On our past cars we have just purchased the cheapest wiper blades we could find because most don't last long in the Florida sun.

We purchased a 2024 Mazda CX5 back in the end of 2023 and it looks like it is time for new blades.
This time instead of looking for the cheapest I am looking for quality that might last as long as the factory blades.
For those who say buy the factory blades, the dealership is almost an hour from our house so I was looking at either buying them locally(auto parts store) or on Amazon.

Thanks

You can order OEM factory inserts online from a reputable Mazda dealer way cheaper than over the counter. Many dealers have eBay storefronts. They’ll last the longest and perform the best, since you’re keeping the original wiper arm which was engineered to fit the curvature of your windshield.

For my Toyotas and Lexuses (Lexi?) I have tried several of the top models from most of the major manufacturers available in parts stores - but I keep going back to Toyota OEM. Those are the ones that work best for me, and last the longest.

Bosch Icon is my go to [no longer carried at WalMart]
RainX are a decent #2 [and are available in store at most WalMart]

If OEM makes a refill, I'd stick with those.

ICON wipers by Bosch. The first thing I do to a new vehicle.

The ones on my current truck have been on it for over 2 years and are still working perfect.

I like the Rain-X. They last well in Florida and do a good job for a long time. Plus, they are cheaper than Bosch by a fair bit. I usually order them from Amazon.

Whatever blade type is on sale and Rain-X additive in the washer tank

Light rain and sprinkles just bead up and roll off, don't need to run the wipers

I use Bosch Icons on my CX-5. 24OE and 18OE. (Be sure to get the OE and not A models, as only the OE comes with the adapter you need for your CX-5.)

Also note that Bosch only offers a basic non-Icon blade for the rear wiper, model H352. No adapter needed there.

I had tried Rain-X Latitudes, which is what I had been using one other vehicles, but the Boschs work better on my CX-5.

I use the Michelin Stealth Ultra. They wipe well, last longer, no chatter. I apply rain-x on the window as well.

One pair will last me about 3 years. I have used it on 4 cars. Only thing is that they are a little harder to find.

I think Bosch was okay too. Did not like factory blades - they chatter and don't make it through 1 season.

quote:

Originally posted by P250UA5:
Bosch Icon is my go to [no longer carried at WalMart]
RainX are a decent #2 [and are available in store at most WalMart]

I recently bought a set of RainX Silicone Endura at WalMart. RainX Silicone Endura is more expensive than the Rain-X Latitude. So far, so good.
Pretty comparable to the Bosch Icon, IMO.

Dealership brand. Genesis now, but Hyundai was good too.

I buy cheap and use lots of orange rainx. I can get about 2 years out of a pair. Basically, I got in the habit of washing windshield at beginning and end of day of driving and have had much longer wiper life.

ymmv

Costco, Michelin wiper blades, $7.95 each, plenty of selection, good blades that are not stupid priced. Get them in the store...

https://www.costco.com/micheli...duct.4000179786.html

I use the RainX beam type ones on my Mazda and they are pretty good. I never buy the very cheapest nor the most expensive wiper blades but always go right in the middle range.

OEM are a PITA as you are usually replacing an insert and not the entire assembly which is just easier.

I buy the OEM insert refills. I buy and replace every year just before the monsoon season. Left, right and rear costs total of $23.00. It's easy enough for me to do.

I think it's more effective and cost efficient than any other alternative.

Bosch Icon. On both Silverados and Frontiers, I have gotten multiple years out of them in Houston, Calgary (Can-eh-duh), and Anchorage (Alaska). To be fair, they have an easy life in Houston since they don't experience winter and it's a garage kept vehicle (park in middle level of parking garage at work too). The hardest thing on them is I put up the silver windshield reflector when I park in a parking lot. When I lived in Alaska and Can-eh-duh, my practice of not being a lazy slacker and cleaning off my windshield fully in the winter rather than using the wipers to do it.

IME, not all Bosch wipers are created equal. A few years ago, Dad and I were driving in 40 degree rain in his car and the wipers were chattering like crazy. We stopped at a big box store about an hour into the 2.5 hour drive where purchased and installed some non-Icon Bosch (can't remember the model name, but were much cheaper even though they looked similar to the Icon). Bastards chattered almost as bad as the worn out ones we'd thrown away. The next day, Dad returned the wipers, bought some Icons, and zero chattering.

If I’m not mistaken… Project Farm, YouTuber did a test / review.

I know many here are fans, as am I.

For people buying OEMs, are you buying from dealership or on-line? If on-line, which site (Amazon or manufacturer specific such as allthingsnissan.com)?

PIAA silicone from The Tire Rack. They last longer and work better.