Castelli Viva Thermo Skully

Castelli, Italian manufacturer of high-end cycle apparel, has produced a simple yet effective skull cap in its Viva Thermo Skully.

It's a thin thermal layer designed to be worn under the helmet, and it performs its job brilliantly. At first glance I was concerned that it would be too thin to deal with the cold snaps the UK has had recently – but those concerns were unfounded.

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With a fleece liner and a shower resistant layer on the outside, the Viva Thermo Skully is stretchy and fits comfortably around the head – and heads of all sizes too. The cut means there's no bunching or excess, which makes adjustment of your helmet to accommodate it unnecessary. Just pop it on and away you go with lots of comfort and warmth.

The seams are well constructed, and while not taped they are flat to avoid any annoying digging or chafing against your helmet. The edges are actually seamless around the base, which also adds to comfort too.

The skull cap washes very well – after a few uses the fleece lining has remained as soft as it was when new, and the colours stay vibrant. This is particularly good, considering the bright red nature of the sample I had on test. If that doesn't match your kit, though, you can get it in blue or yellow fluoro, as well as more neutral white and black with the Castelli branding around the base. (And pastel blue 'Donna' versions for women – because men's and women's head shapes are so different...)

> Check out our guide to the best cycling kit to keep you warm in winter here

As with many Castelli products, it's on the pricey side at £19, but to be honest it's a nice piece that will last multiple winters, and does a great job in wintry conditions – just as good as my merino wool alternative.

Verdict

A simple product done very well