The Truth About MAXL Ceramic Spray – What the Hype Doesn’t Tell You
MAXL’s new ceramic spray touts a proprietary “Triphene” coating system that bonds instantly, beads aggressively, and darkens paint like a pro-grade coating. But when we tested it side by side with Tough As Shell, the story looked very different.
What MAXL Claims
- ⚡ Instantly bonds to paint
- 💧 Beads water aggressively from the first spray
- 🛡️ Lasts for months with no prep needed
- ✨ Uses “Triphene technology” to create a richer, jetting effect on surfaces
What We Actually Found
- ❌ Durability issues – Beading faded within 2–3 washes under real-world conditions
- ❌ Uneven darkening – Darkens some panels more than others, especially trim
- ❌ No slickness – Paint felt grabby, not smooth, even after full cure time
- ❌ Overpriced for performance – Comparable cost to Tough As Shell, but with half the real-world life
What Is “Triphene Technology” Anyway?
MAXL never actually defines what Triphene is. There’s no chemical spec sheet. No test data. Just buzzwords.
In contrast, Tough As Shell uses a known, proven ceramic polymer base that bonds properly to prep-cleaned surfaces.
Real User Reviews of MAXL
“Not the product it was marketed as. A ton more work than stated… still left patchy swirl marks. Wasted my money.”
– Scott R. (Google)
“Guess you’re not legit. I just got ripped off for $62. Lesson learned.”
– Betty W. (Google)
“Smears and does not work if there is even dust on the vehicle.”
– Marlene E. (Google)
How It Compares to Tough As Shell
| Feature | MAXL Ceramic | Tough As Shell |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of Use | Inconsistent wipe off, patchy | Spray, wipe, done. No streaks |
| Gloss | Artificial darkening (can smear) | Deep, natural gloss on all surfaces |
| Durability | 2–3 washes before fading | 8–12 weeks of real protection |
| Slickness | Minimal | Extremely slick immediately |
| Surface Compatibility | Paint only | Paint, trim, glass, wheels, PPF |
The Verdict: Big Promises, Small Results
MAXL might look good on camera, but in the real world, it underdelivers. If you want reliable, proven ceramic performance without marketing fluff—Tough As Shell is the smarter pick every time.
