Galibier Dolomiti Skull Cap

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

A stylish skull cap to see you through the colder weather, with two sizes available to suit most heads, and made of a material called Carvico Dolomiti, hence the name – a brushed, ultra-thin fabric that is said to have the thermal properties of a material twice as thick.

Galibier says: "Our 2017 Skull cap gets its name solely from the fantastic fabric we have used:- Carvico Dolomiti, is a brushed, ultra-thin fabric, that has the thermal properties of a material twice as thick. It is very tightly woven, meaning no edge seams are needed. This 'Feather edge', and flat stitching, means warmth- without bulk, so you shouldn't need to adjust your helmet."

The fabric manufacturer says: "Dolomiti is a technical two-way stretch fabric with a perfect fit that follows the body's movements in a natural way. Its exceptional elasticity facilitates the production of clothing that neither constrains athletes nor limits their movement. Soft, comfortable, anti-pilling and abrasion resistant, Dolomiti guarantees optimal thermal protection that allows the natural evaporation of sweat so the athlete stays as dry as possible while maintaining a constant body temperature."

It's superlight too, folding down into a tiny parcel that won't take up much space in a jersey pocket if you need to stash it.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Galibier states: "It is very tightly woven, meaning no edge seams are needed. This 'Feather edge', and flat stitching, means warmth- without bulk, so you shouldn't need to adjust your helmet."

Stitching on the seams was very neat and tidy.

Performance was excellent, keeping my head warm in temperatures approaching zero degrees, and on warmer days didn't lead to overheating; I didn't need to remove it on any of the rides I tested it on.

After a few weeks of wearing and washing, it still looks good and the material hasn't deteriorated at all. The seamless edge concerns me, but nothing untoward has happened.

The large I had on test fitted well, with some extra room (plus the material is quite stretchy) for larger heads.

Very comfortable from the off, and after a few minutes you forget it's there – excellent.

For the price it's easily the best skull cap I have used, a useful bit of kit that certainly won't break the bank.

How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?

Washed with my other sports clothing, it didn't stretch or deform, and lost none of its colour or soft feel.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

For its intended use of basically keeping your head warm it was excellent, no downsides at all.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

For a simple item there was a lot to like – it looks good, fits snugly and does its job well in wintry conditions, to the point that I forgot I was wearing it, it was that comfortable.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Nothing.

Use this box to explain your score

High marks for comfort, looks and weight. My only slight concern would be for longterm durability if the seamless edge started to fray, but so far no problems.