Pinlock 30 vs 70 vs 120 vs 200: Which Anti Fog Insert Is Right for You?
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by Eagle Leather
10 min reading time
A fogged motorcycle shield is more than an annoyance. It can force you to crack the visor open in rain, cold air, or traffic precisely when you want the shield closed. Pinlock inserts are designed to prevent that problem, but the numbers on the package can be confusing.
Pinlock currently divides its road going anti fog inserts into four performance levels: Pinlock 30, Pinlock 70, Pinlock 120, and the newly released Pinlock 200. They use the same basic anti fog principles, but they do not offer the same moisture capacity or performance in demanding conditions.
The short answer: Pinlock 30 is the entry level option, Pinlock 70 is the everyday choice for most street riders, Pinlock 120 is built for serious cold and wet weather, and Pinlock 200 is the new maximum performance level for the harshest conditions.
Pinlock 30 vs 70 vs 120 vs 200 at a Glance
Insert
Best for
Anti fog level
Typical technology
Pinlock 30
Occasional riding, shorter city trips, and milder conditions
Essential
Compact universal style design on supported shields
Pinlock 70
Everyday street riding, commuting, and normal seasonal weather
Reliable
Usually visor specific and commonly MaxVision
Pinlock 120 or 120XLT
Year round commuters, touring riders, cold rain, and high humidity
Advanced
Visor specific, MaxVision, with XLT on compatible premium versions
Pinlock 200
The most demanding weather, extended wet weather use, racing, and riders who want the highest available performance
Maximum
Visor specific, MaxVision, XLT, and a new deeper moisture absorbing nanostructure
The numbers identify relative fog resistance levels. They are not temperatures, thickness measurements, or the number of hours an insert will remain clear. Actual performance still depends on humidity, temperature, ventilation, the quality of the seal, and how long the lens has been exposed to moisture.
How Does a Pinlock Insert Prevent Fog?
A Pinlock insert works in two ways at the same time.
The insert absorbs moisture. Its moisture absorbing surface attracts and stores water molecules before they can form the tiny droplets that make a shield look foggy.
The silicone seal creates an insulating air pocket. The sealed chamber between the insert and the outer shield acts as a thermal barrier, similar in principle to double pane glass.
Both parts matter. Even the best insert will underperform if the silicone bead does not seal completely against the shield. That is why Pinlock pins are eccentric and adjustable. Rotating them changes the tension on the insert so the seal can make full contact.
Pinlock 30: Essential Anti Fog Protection
Pinlock 30 is the entry point. It uses Pinlock's core moisture absorbing and sealed air pocket technology, but the insert is smaller and has less moisture absorbing capacity than the higher levels.
It makes the most sense for an occasional rider, short city trips, or a helmet used mainly in mild weather. It is a meaningful improvement over a bare untreated shield, but it is not the level we would choose for regular cold weather commuting in Western Washington.
Choose Pinlock 30 when:
You ride occasionally rather than every day
Your trips are generally short
You rarely ride in sustained cold rain or heavy humidity
It is the only Pinlock level made for your exact shield
Pinlock 70: The Everyday Street Riding Choice
Pinlock 70 is the practical middle ground and the right choice for many riders. It provides more moisture capacity and more consistent anti fog performance than Pinlock 30 without moving all the way to the premium levels.
Pinlock 70 inserts are visor specific and are commonly offered in the MaxVision format. A MaxVision insert sits in a recessed area of a compatible shield, allowing a larger fog free viewing area while keeping the edge of the insert farther out of the rider's main line of sight.
Choose Pinlock 70 when:
You commute or ride regularly in mixed conditions
You want dependable performance for typical street use
You ride during cool mornings or occasional rain
You want the best balance of performance and price
Pinlock 120 and 120XLT: Advanced All Weather Performance
Pinlock 120 is designed for demanding and unpredictable weather. It has greater anti fog endurance than Pinlock 70, making it a better fit for year round commuters, touring riders, and anyone who regularly deals with cold temperatures, steady rain, or long periods of high humidity.
You may see both Pinlock 120 and Pinlock 120XLT. The 120 identifies the anti fog performance tier. XLT is an additional optical technology, not a separate fog resistance level. Pinlock says its XLT material improves light transmission so colors appear brighter and more natural. Clear XLT lenses are intended to remain suitable for both daytime and nighttime use when installed in the approved application.
Choose Pinlock 120 when:
You ride through the colder and wetter months
Your commute includes stop and go traffic where airflow is limited
You take long trips through changing elevations and temperatures
You have already overwhelmed a lower level insert in your normal riding conditions
What Is New About Pinlock 200?
Pinlock 200 is the company's new top anti fog performance level. It is not simply a renamed Pinlock 120. Pinlock says the new material formula allows an optimized etching process that creates a deeper, more open moisture absorbing nanostructure. That structure can attract and store more water molecules before the lens reaches its limit. When humidity drops, the stored moisture evaporates and restores capacity.
Pinlock 200 also incorporates XLT technology for high light transmission and uses a visor specific MaxVision design. Pinlock reports that the new lens has been tested in MotoGP, where speed, temperature changes, physical exertion, and limited tolerance for impaired vision make anti fog performance especially demanding.
Choose Pinlock 200 when:
You want the highest anti fog performance currently offered by Pinlock
You ride for extended periods in cold, wet, or extremely humid weather
You race or ride in conditions where even brief fogging is unacceptable
Your exact helmet shield is specifically designed to accept a Pinlock 200 insert
Does Pinlock 200 Use More Cotton?
No official Pinlock information we found describes Pinlock 200 as containing more cotton. Pinlock attributes the improvement to a new moisture absorbing material composition and a deeper etching process. Describing it as “more cotton” may be an attempt to simplify the idea of added moisture capacity, but it is not the technically accurate explanation provided by Pinlock.
Where Can You Find Pinlock 200?
Pinlock 200 is new, so compatibility is still limited to specific helmet and shield combinations. One of the first premium helmets using it is the Cardo BEYOND GTS. The more affordable BEYOND GT uses a Pinlock 120XLT instead, which gives riders a useful real world example of how manufacturers are positioning the two levels.
MaxVision and XLT Are Not Additional Performance Levels
The names printed alongside the number can make the lineup look more complicated than it is.
MaxVision describes the insert's shape and integration with the shield. It provides a larger fog free viewing area and is designed to sit neatly inside a recessed section of a compatible visor.
XLT describes improved light transmission and optical clarity. It can be paired with a performance tier such as Pinlock 120 or Pinlock 200.
The number is what identifies the relative anti fog performance level.
Can You Upgrade Any Helmet to Pinlock 200?
No. Pinlock inserts are not universal. Each lens is shaped for specific helmet shields and pin locations, often identified by a DKS product number. A Pinlock 200 insert made for one shield will not necessarily fit another helmet, even if that helmet currently uses a Pinlock 70 or 120.
Before ordering, confirm all three of the following:
Your exact helmet model
The exact shield model installed on that helmet
The matching Pinlock or DKS part number
Also pay attention to the wording used on helmet listings. Pinlock ready usually means the shield has the required pins but the insert is sold separately. Pinlock included means the insert should be in the box. A helmet can also have a Pinlock ready shield without being compatible with every Pinlock performance level.
Which Pinlock Should You Buy?
Buy the highest level that makes sense for your riding conditions and is actually made for your shield.
Occasional fair weather rider: Pinlock 30 can be enough.
Typical street rider or commuter: Pinlock 70 is usually the value sweet spot.
Year round Pacific Northwest rider or long distance tourer: Pinlock 120 or 120XLT is the safer recommendation.
Maximum performance rider with a compatible shield: Pinlock 200 is the new benchmark.
Do not buy only by the number. A correctly fitted Pinlock 70 with a complete seal will work better than a loose or incompatible Pinlock 120. Fitment comes first.
Installation and Care Matter
Most Pinlock problems come from an incomplete seal, fingerprints, scratches, or aggressive cleaning. Follow the helmet and Pinlock instructions for your exact shield.
Remove the shield from the helmet before installing or removing the insert
Avoid touching the moisture absorbing surface
Make sure the silicone seal contacts the shield all the way around
Adjust the eccentric pins only with the insert removed
Rinse with mineral water and use only a clean wet microfiber cloth when needed
Never use abrasive cleaners or products containing ammonia or alcohol
Let the shield and insert air dry naturally before reassembly
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a higher Pinlock number always better?
It provides more anti fog capability, but only if the higher level is available for your exact shield. A casual summer rider may never use the additional capacity of a Pinlock 120 or 200.
Will a Pinlock insert last forever?
No. The soft moisture absorbing surface can scratch, the lens can shrink over time, and the silicone seal can lose contact. If adjustment no longer restores a complete seal or the lens is damaged, replace it.
Why is my Pinlock still fogging?
The most common causes are a broken seal, insufficient pin tension, dirt between the insert and shield, an incorrectly installed lens, or conditions that exceed the insert's moisture capacity. Check the seal in natural light before assuming the lens itself has failed.
Can I use a tinted Pinlock insert at night?
Use a clear insert for night riding unless the manufacturer specifically approves that lens for nighttime use. Smoke and other tinted inserts reduce available light even though they may still provide anti fog performance.
Get the Correct Insert the First Time
The best Pinlock is not simply the one with the biggest number. It is the highest appropriate performance level that fits your exact shield and riding conditions.
Technical information in this guide was reviewed against Pinlock's official performance, technology, installation, and maintenance materials available in August 2026.
