Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

Sweaty helmet

Any recommendations for managing head heat and keeping sweat out of your eyes? I can keep my core sufficiently cool with the right base layer and jersey for the conditions but nothing seems to work for my helmet/head? The resultant deluge of concentrated saline into my eyes is painful and borderline blinding. I wash my helmet pads once a week but it doesn't seem to make any difference - would a traditional cycling cap under the helmet help? It's not just a summer issue for me, perhaps I'm just naturally hot-headed...

If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.

Add new comment

20 comments

Avatar
Spangly Shiny | 6 years ago
0 likes

I use a Gore Universal sweat band. It stopped the sweat-in-eyes problem for me stone dead.

Avatar
antigee | 6 years ago
0 likes

don't live in the persistently warm bit of Aus' but hopefully soon the temperatures will start heading back to the hihg 20's and in summer mid 30's is norm - picked one of these up at local cycle shop having used various buffs - and def' is my go to on hot days, some sort of plastic ridge thing stops sweat running into eyes and it doesn't get soaking seems to evaporate off under my compulsary helmet - quick google gives UK availability - not as cheap a non brand buff but if I lost mine I'd happily pay for another

https://www.haloheadbanduk.com/product/halo-protex-bandana/

 

Avatar
Jem PT | 6 years ago
0 likes

My Kask helmet has a small foam band at forehead level. When that's fully soaked i take off my glasses and press the helmet against my forehead, squashing out the sweat that then trickles down my face. A quick wipe, replace the glasses and we're off again!

Avatar
Ratfink | 6 years ago
0 likes

I suffered with the same thing with various helmets i agree its no fun sweat streaming into your eyes.

A couple of months ago i bought a catlike tako £35 or so,Nothing fancy or too sporty as its mainly for my commute and i wear normal clothes.

I've had no problem at all with sweat running in to my eyes or the helmet getting too sweaty or smelly,Infact i hadn't even thought about the absence of sweaty eyes until i read your post and i wore it all through the heat the other month.

I have remarked though its the first helmet i pretty much forget i'm wearing.

Avatar
asdfqwerty | 6 years ago
0 likes

Caps for me if it's not too warm. I'll sweat regardless so it soaks some up. If it's roasting I use a buff, bunched up like a sweatband. A bit more absorbent than a cap (but doesn't keep the sun out your eyes).

Avatar
madcarew | 6 years ago
0 likes

I rely on bushy eyebrows, but not all have the technical expertise to develop this form of sweat protection  1 Several friends wear a bandana under their (cycling) helmet for this problem. Has the advantage of not covering the whole head so allowing plenty of heat loss in warm conditions.

Avatar
jaysa | 6 years ago
0 likes

On the turbo with fan running, a good quality headband such as https://www.amazon.co.uk/SWOOSH-TENNIS-SQUASH-BADMINTON-HEADBANDS/dp/B00B6CWQCG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1502371896&sr=8-3&keywords=nike+headband works for me. Mine fills with sweat every 30 mins, so I turn it 180 degrees and eventually wring it out. Don't bother with cheap ones, which are thinner and work less well.

Avatar
kil0ran | 6 years ago
1 like

Thanks all, plenty of useful advice. Think I'll try a cap first as that's the cheapest option. Not really looking to replace my helmet at the moment as it's comfy and relatively new. Just a mid range BTwin one. As I'm riding every day whatever I do needs to be relatively cheap and quick to wash. Time to pay Prendas a visit  1

Avatar
DoctorFish | 6 years ago
0 likes

Another vote for a buff.  I wear it as a sahariane what ever that is, I had to look it up, but look up Buff sahariane and you will get the jist.  Keeps sweat out of the eyes and sun off the back of the neck and seems to help keep my head cool.

 

Avatar
don simon fbpe | 6 years ago
0 likes

As peted76, I used to use vaseline when rowing to great effect. Not sure how it would work in a head down position.

Otherwise something to absorb sweat (sweat band, Buff, cap, etc.) before it gets to the eyes.

Avatar
Simon E replied to don simon fbpe | 6 years ago
0 likes

don simon wrote:

As peted76, I used to use vaseline when rowing to great effect. Not sure how it would work in a head down position.

It works very well, as I find the sweat drops off the top of my eyebrow (if you've placed the vaseline there) and misses your face. This is when racing in a poorly vented TT helmet with a visor, tucked in close to the tri-bars. Although I use badger balm, not vaseline.

I couldn't wear a cap or helmet liner in warm weather, I'd cook!  Even on cool days my head gets hot after 15-20 minutes when I'm wearing one (though they are brilliant for riding in the rain).

Avatar
VeloUSA | 6 years ago
0 likes

What make/model helmet are you wearing? Helmets that do not vent well will make your head warm and sweaty. Adding a cap or liner under your helmet only makes your head warmer. If you're thinking of replacing your helmet gives a price range so we can recommend some to you.

Avatar
PonteD | 6 years ago
1 like

I wear a cotton cap all year around as I'm a sweaty git and can't get more than a couple of miles before the sweat is puring into my eyes. I have a few planetX caps and they're quite thin and cheap (<£5). Caps can also be thrown in the wash along with the rest of your kit after a ride so they're fresh every ride.

When its really hot I also wear a B'Twin cap that's lightweight like the Walz one, but cost half the price https://www.decathlon.co.uk/cycling-cap-500-black-id_8326918.html

Another reason to wear a cap is to keep the sweat off the soft parts of the helmet (pads, straps). As these can get a bit minging after being left lying aroud full of sweat.

Avatar
kevvjj | 6 years ago
0 likes

This:

https://www.sweathawg.com/helmet-liners/

absolutely brilliant

Avatar
The _Kaner | 6 years ago
0 likes

Walz do a 'lite' technical cap, I find it's less intrusive than a cotton cap, more airy, wicks sweat away as opposed to allowing the sweat to pool in the cap band.

Can be had in either 3 or 4 panel design - I prefer 3 panel as it fits my head shape better (and IMO looks better - no pointy apex...)

 

Avatar
mike the bike | 6 years ago
3 likes

 

Sweaty helmet?  Vaseline applied to unlikely body parts?  There's a joke in here somewhere but I'm far too refined .......

Avatar
peted76 | 6 years ago
0 likes

Vasaline above your eye brows. 

Could be made worse by the helmet are you wearing... the difference between an aero helmet and an airy helmet can be significant from a heat build up perspective. 

I'd also reccomend a headband over a buff, as there's less material to make your head even hotter involved. There are loads of these available thin, thick etc... 

If none of the above helps, then you can get special 'keep sweat out of your eyes things' to stop it from happening. Search silicone sweatbands, I've also seen what look like little stick on opaque silicone eyebrows for your head in a shop recently. Sweat in your face, who knew it was a big thing. 

 

Avatar
Shades | 6 years ago
0 likes

A Buff works quite well.  If you bunch up the loose fabric below the back of the helmet it looks a bit 'pirate-like'!

Avatar
Nick T | 6 years ago
1 like

A cycling cap will probably help, also much easier to wash regularly than the helmet pads. Walz cotton caps are good, I find. Wear both the cap and helmet sufficiently low on the brow for maximum mopping, safety and steez

Avatar
part_robot replied to Nick T | 6 years ago
0 likes

Nick T wrote:

A cycling cap will probably help, also much easier to wash regularly than the helmet pads. Walz cotton caps are good, I find. Wear both the cap and helmet sufficiently low on the brow for maximum mopping, safety and steez

Exactly what I do, winter, summer or training indoors. Not as hot in summer as you'd expect and as a bonus stop your bonce getting burned.

Latest Comments