Cycling cap for summer. Yay or nay?

Another vote for Halo for outdoors. People saying “No drips, ever.” vs “Yeah, they drip.” , it’s just speed + temp + humidity + intensity.

I find at mid-high intensity, around 15 km / h = 10 mph or over, up to 32 C = 90 F, about 60 - 70% humidity, I stay drip free. Evaporates fast enough. Which I find pretty impressive, and vastly outperforms anything else I’ve ever tried.

Go above that combo line in any of those variables and ya, you’re going to get drips / pouring down. Just can’t evap fast enough. But nothing could.

I ride full aero most of the time, so these sweat gutters could never work. I have toyed w the idea of supergluing a thin tube to one so it could drain from the middle, down the front of my nose, tucked into my jersey… hmmmm… :laughing:

I have tried high performance evaporative full cover skull caps, I can’t stand them, the heat retention is really quite huge, especially if you have hair. It’s just a giant heat bag.

[For indoors I just keep a stack of cheap terrycloth headbands beside me and swap them as they saturate. Works amazing. Usually use 2 - 4 in a WO.]

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I wear a Castelli summer cap because I really like to have a visor to shade my face and help keep the sun out of my eyes. Unfortunately they have discontinued it. It was the only cap I could find that had a hole for a ponytail. Seriously, why is it so hard to find caps with holes for ponytails? Helmets now have ponytail holes. Why can’t more caps??

Oh boy. I have a lot to think about. Thanks for all of the suggestions

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With my bald head I definitely need sun protection and avoid helmet tan lines.

I wear a Buff head thingy

https://www.buff.com/gb/coolnet-uvr-neckwear-buff-eon-blue-blue-128436707.html?size=16675

There’s a few ways of wearing it. I think I go with what they say looks like a pirate. I fold it over my head and some of it hangs down at the back of my neck (a bit more sun protection)

I think there’s a version with a headband as well?

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Outside, I use a Pearl lightweight cap with a bill. Sweat travels to the end of the bill/visor and drips there, instead of my eyes. And, the extra material on the bill lets it hold more liquid, too.

I was wondering for several years why nobody was making a Halo type headband but with a bill/visor, because I like the visor for sun and dripline, and I assumed the headband style (as opposed to full cap) would breathe better and be cooler. I found one from Halo in the last year.

Inside I have a Nike runner’s visor (super light weight) that works great to pick up the sweat.

Problem is always that, particularly with the helmet on, the airflow is cut off across the forehead, but I wear Rx glasses and really salty sweat, so rips on my lenses and in my eyes are worse.

Yes, it diverts the sweat away and help protect my thinning top. I tried Halo (and derivatives), Gutr, skull caps, and old fashion tennis headbands but they all have shortcomings. I sweat too much and they just cannot prevent my sweat from getting into my eyes. For me, the humble cycling cap works more consistently. I use it on every ride, indoors and outdoors, in the heat of summer and the dead of winter. Yes, still sweating just as heavily during northern CA winters which are not that cold but cold enough when everything under the jacket is completely soaked (and the primary reason I hate winters).

I struggle with

  • sweat in eyes (very high salt concentration which makes it a nasty experience)
  • glare in eyes at dawn or dusk
  • tired/strained eyes after long summer days on saddle (this is strictly psychological. The moment my eyes are tired, it makes the whole experience a struggle.)

have used the Halo band.

  • very effective
  • perfect for commute. but it did leave a dorky line across my forehead when i got to work.

I don’t use it for long summer rides because it doesn’t cover my bald patch at all.
I can’t use a skull cap for the reasons above. I really need a bill.

My go-to summer cap is a DHB one that is cotton and perforated. Will look at the Giro cap as alternative.

Once I had a wasp that went through my helmet vent and stung me on the scalp. I thought I was shot by a bbgun. It was a sudden sharp excruciating pain. Luckily I had no anaphylactic reaction. THat occurred before I started wearing a cap.

Ha! And it lasts FOREVER!

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I bought a couple when I found them on sale locally, have had to clean my sunglasses 90% less than normal from sweat.

There are adjustable ones too next time you are buying

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Nay

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I’ve been tackling this heatwave by cycling and sweating buckets too. I totally get where you’re coming from with the sweat-in-the-eyes situation – not fun at all! I’ve been eyeing those Giro Peloton cycling caps. They’re not just breathable but also wicked stylish, and from what I’ve heard, they handle sweat like a champ. Plus, they’re pretty popular among riders for their comfort. I f you’re into customization and all, maybe consider looking into custom fitted hats? They might be a bit pricier, but the fit would be spot-on, and you can bet they’ll be breathable too.

Never. I only wear a cap/beanie during the winter months.