Snow foam cannons or lances have become a staple of the car detailing community. Applying a snow foam mixture to your car before a contact wash helps to remove more dirt, or at the very least start to lift the dirt from the paintwork. This makes detailing your car far easier, and quicker too. There are a number of different snow foam cannons on the market, so it can be tough to know which are good and which aren’t. Here, I’m testing the MTM Hydro PF22.2 snow foam cannon, which boasts some impressive features But what’s it like to use? Read on for our review.
How I Tested The MTM Hydro PF22.2
Just as with the other snow foam cannons I’ve tested, I used the MTM Hydro PF22.2 during one of my regular car detailing sessions at home. I filled it up with my favorite snow foam and observed how well it performed, on top of how easy it was to use. I’m looking for lots of foam to be produced, as well as any nice features that make detailing easier. I’ll also be judging the quality of the lance too, as well as its design and how easy it is to fill the bottle with snow foam.
MTM Hydro PF22.2 RRP: $84.99, buy now. £85.91, buy now.
First Impressions
I had incredibly high hopes for the MTM Hydro PF22.2 snow foam lance. Its on-paper first impressions are very impressive and it packs a load of features. It should tick all the boxes. But getting it out of the box I was immediately disappointed with how incredibly cheap the bottle felt.
The actual spray assembly feels very solid, though, and everything is very well designed. The action of all the parts is very satisfying, especially the adjuster knob, which has lovely soft clicks when you turn it. I had very high hopes that this would be my new favourite snow foam cannon.
MTM Hydro PF22.2 Features
The MTM Hydro PF22.2 features both horizontal and vertical adjustment, which is what I would expect to see at this price point. The design of the bottle is, for the most part, really good. It has a nice wide base for stability and a narrower, textured section that makes it easy to grip.
It also has the best measuring scale of any snow foam cannon I’ve tried, with 50ml increments. This allows for very accurate measuring without the need for separate beakers.
What’s It Like To Use The MTM Hydro PF22.2
Unfortunately, the MTM Hydro PF22.2 is disappointing and frustrating to use. First of all, you’ve got that narrow neck. This makes filling the bottle difficult and often messy. There’s no pick-up hose filter, which is disappointing at this price point. One plus, though, is the nozzle.
It has the best action of any snow foam cannon I’ve used. The switch from horizontal to vertical is lovely and smooth and the nozzle clicks into place. And the spray pattern adjustment features a little indicator to show you which way to turn it for a narrower or wider spray, as well as horizontal or vertical. This is a really clever little touch that makes it easier to use.
The biggest problem, though, is the actual spray pattern. It’s incredibly narrow, and even on its widest setting gives far too little coverage. This means you need a lot more effort to coat your car in snow foam than with any other snow foam cannon.
MTM Hydro PF22.2 Verdict
The MTM Hydro PF22.2 is a very frustrating snow foam cannon. Some things about it are great. I love the nozzle action, the measuring scale and the bottle shape.
But I hate the narrow neck and the narrow spray pattern range. Meanwhile, the lack of a pick-up hose filter and the cheap-feeling bottle really let it down compared to its rivals. The final nail in the coffin is the price. I could forgive some of these flaws if it was a bargain, but it’s very expensive, and just plain overpriced for what you get. A very disappointing snow foam cannon overall.
RRP: $84.99, buy now. £85.91, buy now.
Looking to know which foam cannon we think is best in 2023? Check out our guide to the best snow foam lances.
