Helmets and sweat

**marybee** · 08-16-2007, 06:18 PM

I commute 18 miles to work a few times a week, the last third of the ride uphill. Lately, I've noticed that since I sweat so much on my ride in, by the time I'm ready for my ride home, I put on my helmet, and YUCK!

It's still wet from the morning's ride. I don't know if I'm sweating more (an exercise therapist once told me that people with "denser muscle fiber" sweat more, so that may be my problem...) or the pads on the inside of the helmet have just broken down over time, or what. But I'd like to have a helmet that wasn't still wet 8 hours after I take it off.
Does anyone have any suggestions for quick-drying helmets? Or well-ventilated helmets? Alternatively I was thinking about wearing a headband. Would that do the trick?

**KnottedYet** · 08-16-2007, 09:21 PM

I sometimes take the pads out of my helmet, rinse them out, and press them dry-ish between paper towels. They finish drying out pretty quickly.

Maybe you could try something like that?

**Velobambina** · 08-16-2007, 11:00 PM

I've found that wearing a Buff--cap style--under my helmet soaks up a lot of head sweat and keeps the sweat from going into my eyes. I, too, sweat a lot.

**sandra** · 08-17-2007, 06:30 AM

I'm still a newbie because I've never heard of a "buff". Are they all the same? Do you have a favorite buff? Where do you get them? Thanks.

**Tuckervill** · 08-17-2007, 06:38 AM

I have a SweatVac skullcap from Wickie Wear that seems to work great in keeping my helmet from taking all the sweat. Keeps the sweat out of my eyes, too.

http://www.wickiewear.com/

There are other companies that make similar products. I know lots of people like buffs, but I can't see having something bulky on in the summer time. I am considering one for winter, though.

Karen

**sandra** · 08-17-2007, 06:42 AM

I ride in extreme heat here in the south. 95 to 100 degrees. I have a problem with sweating and then it runs in my eyes and they BURN! The next day my upper cheekbones right under my eyes are red and irritated where they were burned by my sweat and tears.

I need something for the sweat, but I couldn't take anything that would make me hotter!

**lph** · 08-17-2007, 09:48 AM

actually, I read somewhere of someone who rode with a kind of "gutter system" that channeled sweat from his forehead to the sides where it could run off. I know, sounds pretty gross

but I saw a picture and you could barely see it, it looked like a narrow tube (think IV-tube) running parallell with his helmet. Except I'm assuming it was just half a tube.

Sorry, no idea if it was attached to a cap, a sweat band or what.

**lph** · 08-17-2007, 09:53 AM

Found it! Had to go look for it of course, too curious for my own good

http://www.sweatgutr.com/

And another link from the same discussion:

http://www.haloheadband.com/sitemap.html

**five one** · 08-17-2007, 10:52 AM

Originally Posted by lph

And another link from the same discussion:

http://www.haloheadband.com/sitemap.html

I use a Halo II headband in the summer and love it. Skull caps and buffs (even my bee-yoo-ti-ful AV buff) are just too hot for me except in cold weather. The headband keeps the sweat from my eyes and I'm honestly not aware of it being channelled to the sides of my head.

**Trekhawk** · 08-17-2007, 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by Tuckervill

I have a SweatVac skullcap from Wickie Wear that seems to work great in keeping my helmet from taking all the sweat. Keeps the sweat out of my eyes, too.

http://www.wickiewear.com/

There are other companies that make similar products. I know lots of people like buffs, but I can't see having something bulky on in the summer time. I am considering one for winter, though.

Karen

I have buffs and wickiewear stubbies that I use under my helmet in summer and winter. The buffs are not any hotter to wear than the wickiewear ones. They make them out of coolmax material for summer and I think have a polar version for winter. They help keep sweat away from my eyes and keep my helmet nice and dry. I have longish hair so it also helps keep this under control.

Check the buffs out here:
http://www.buffusa.com/

**marybee** · 08-17-2007, 07:01 PM

thanks, all, for the tips. Actually, the gutter thing sounds interesting... so I'm ordering one, and I'll let you know how it goes. I really don't want any hotter a head than I already have when I ride!

**BikeDutchess** · 08-17-2007, 09:22 PM

And I guess another option would be to use 2 helmets -- leave the soggy one (post-wash/rinse) at work, wear the dry one home, and the next day you switch...

[A more expensive option but it'll be an excuse to buy another cool-looking helmet!]

**aicabsolut** · 08-21-2007, 07:30 AM

Or you could buy an extra set of pads. Take the first one out and wash it when you get to work. Hang it up somewhere. Put your spare dry one in the helmet. Take it out and wash when you get home. The first one will be clean and ready for you the next morning.

Washing the pads regularly keeps my forehead from breaking out. I also have to wash all the white salt off the straps pretty frequently. Those take a while to dry.

**invsblwmn** · 08-24-2007, 11:16 PM

I bought the gutter thingee awhile ago. Don't really like it, feels like a rubber band on the forehead. It works to keep sweat away, though. I prefer using my head sweats headbands. Bought 5 of them and wear one every day. If your head pours like a faucet, the gutter will work. If you have more of the constant drizzling type of sweat, the head sweats band or cap work nicely. Good luck!

**Trek420** · 08-25-2007, 05:10 AM

Don't forget lots of headgear right here on TE

http://www.teamestrogen.com/categories.asp?catID=36

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