Commuting - Hats for winter?

I was wondering if anyone knows of any hats or some kind of ear/head protection that will fit under a helmet.

I bought a regular wool beanie type hat and had to take it back because it would not fit unless I had the size adjuster on the helmet maxed out and it really looked ridiculous anyways.

I noticed on performance the bakalavs and stuff do not show pictures of them wearing helmets over them so I dont know if they would work or not. And helmet covers would stop the wind but I am not sure that they would keep you to warm.

I was wonering the same thing. I'm thinking of getting one of these, but I don't know how warm it'll be.

http://www.ems.com/products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442584727&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=282574488770867&fromTemplate=search%2Fresults.jsp&bmUID=1129770118503

get a helmet cover and try a under armor skull cap like they wear in the nfl. the helmet cover keeps the wind out of the vent holes and i wear my skull cap down to 35F if you want to go colder try rei in the ski section for a lightweight full head cover works great to 25F colder than that i drive

I use a polartech powerdry beenie hat (looks same as link above), with a rainproof helmet cover. Warm and dry and the least amount of helmet head when i get to work. Anything else was too sweaty.

Edit : found link to one i wear http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442241259&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302698795&bmUID=1129773107771

Tried baseball cap, windstopper cap, earmuffs, earbands, wool hat, nothing kept me as warm with the least sweat as the above.

Use ski equipment from a ski shop. It will work well underneath a helmet.

I have a little Pearl Izumi skull cap that fits easily under a helmet. Even though I am totally bald and live in Anchorage, I find this to be plenty warm enough. I have not had to resort to taping the vents on my helmet, although I would do that before I bought a bigger helmet and put a polar fleece hat under it.

Alertshirt sells super cheap skullcaps, too. Gods, I love that place!

http://www.alertshirt.com/heliskca.html

These are the best.

http://www.ems.com/products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442014393&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302857221&fromTemplate=navigation%2Fsubcategory.jsp&bmUID=1129780032506

in warmer weather it's a light helmet liner, cooler and it covers the ears without riding up, cooler and it's a hat and neck gaiter, and when the snow falls it's a full face.

How far north do you live? I live in Ohio and last winter somedays all I needed was something to cover my ears, others I needed a balaclava (I hope that's not the Greek pastry) and goggles. I don't think a balaclava will effect the helmut fit, but might make your helmut slide around because there's less friction than hair maybe. Anyway, I have trouble keeping a hat from sliding off when I wear a balaclava. But then, I wimped out last winter.

Yeah, what biodiesel said. Wrote. I have one of those things. They're great for those crystal clear blue sky winter days when the wind blows right through... Anyway, when you breathe through the fabric, moisture collects around the nose and mouth, which kinda warms the air before you inhale (which is nice), but can get messy if you don't wash it afterwards (which isn't). The wicking stuff dries quickly so just rinse it out.

I was wondering if anyone knows of any hats or some kind of ear/head protection that will fit under a helmet.

I bought a regular wool beanie type hat and had to take it back because it would not fit unless I had the size adjuster on the helmet maxed out and it really looked ridiculous anyways.

I noticed on performance the bakalavs and stuff do not show pictures of them wearing helmets over them so I dont know if they would work or not. And helmet covers would stop the wind but I am not sure that they would keep you to warm.
If its not super cold where you are and you have hair I find ear protection + helmet good. I'm in Toronto and I only find the need for something warmer on the coldest days of the year (say below -15C)

Like this
http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441955691&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302693161&bmUID=1129787746401

Under Armour has a good Cold Gear Hood. It's a balaclava.
http://www.underarmour.com/ProductDetail.cfm?site_id=4&dept_id=3&coll_id=153&pf_id=0503

I use a Nashbar 6-in-1, when wearing it as a balaclava it's quite tight and doesn't interfere much with my helmet.

See it here:
http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=137&subcategory=1220&brand=&sku=7620&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

My head is big anyway, any stock helmet only just barely fits me with the adjustment as far big as it will get, so I DO feel it if I add a layer, but this thing isn't bad, just one layer of stretch poly, probably no worse than if I let my hair grow out a bit.

I notice that there are a few helmets that are advertised in Nashbar & Performance catalogs as being "for bigger heads" - I'll probably try that next time.

I don't generally put anything on my head other than helmet down to about 20*F. This morning it was 25*F, so I finally got out the aforementioned Nashbar thing, just wearing it as a neck gaiter. When it gets into the teens, I'll probably start pulling it up over my ears and head.

I'll probably also put on the helmet cover pretty soon. Last year I just duct taped the vents, but I bought a J&H helmet cover when I bought my raingear from them, so I'll probably use that now.

I have sensitive ears. Give me a slight cool wind and I get a massive earache.

Anyhow, I have a Novaro headband that fits around the ears and a skull cap. I am bald (mostly bald but I shave my head). However, a skull cap is fine till the upper 20s.
I have a performance brand balaclava that works fine. I have not worn it for an extend time yet. I'm still working on what temps to use it at. I plan on trying the headband and the skull cap together and seeing what happens. I may need a mid weight cap.

Some of us wear wool hats when its 60 out!

I find thin beanies with a windstopper layer like the Mountain Hardwear Transistion N2S Dome to be the best for helmet liners. Stops the wind and a lot of the precip.

most of the hats sold at subperformance and its evil minions let the wind right through.

Get one with a weather barrier in it. Campy has a windproof beanie. I like my Mountain Hardwear.

Get the PI Micosensor Facemask. It is about as thick as silk and I double it up as hat in cool weather and wear it roll down to protect my face/neck in colder weather. It is the perfect multi-functional headwear.
http://www.pearlizumi.com/product.php?mode=view&product_id=679&type_id=1&sport_id=5&category_id=11&color_code=021

http://www.redavantgarde.com/Im/1089b.jpg

Performance used to sell these polartec skull cap-like things that made you look like you were ready for the next moonshot but they covered head and ears well and fit under the helmet. I see on their site that they no longer sell these so I'm glad I bought two.

Best,
e.

Under Armour has a good Cold Gear Hood. It's a balaclava.
http://www.underarmour.com/ProductDetail.cfm?site_id=4&dept_id=3&coll_id=153&pf_id=0503

Those Cold Gear Hoods are nice. I start using em around 10-15°F (until that point I'm running sans toque) and they've held up nicely down to as low as -20°F for my 45 min commute.

Below -20°F I pull a knit cap over the hood and use my Bell KingHead helmet.

I wear a technical jacket in the winter and just pull the hood up over my helmet. The hood's adjustable,so I don't have a prob with it interfering with my vision.

I guess putting where I live at would of helped :o . I live in pennsylvania, southwest close to pittsburgh. It probably gets to around mid to low 20's average usually and a few days under that.

Thanks everyone. Lots of ideas here, just gotta decide now.

I was wonering the same thing. I'm thinking of getting one of these, but I don't know how warm it'll be.

http://www.ems.com/products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442584727&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=282574488770867&fromTemplate=search%2Fresults.jsp&bmUID=1129770118503

Does anybody have one of these? Can you wear a helmet wiff it?

Does anybody have one of these? Can you wear a helmet wiff it?
I broke down and picked one up. I can wear them under my helmet, but I get pretty goofy looking hair afterwards w/ enough static to keep it almost permanently goofy. Maybe I should keep some balloons at work to rub on my head and stick to the wall. Hasn't been cold enough to try it out yet and I also picked up a Pro Tec helmet which has fewer vent holes and covers more of the back of my head keeping me warm and so far, sweaty.

I guess putting where I live at would of helped :o . I live in pennsylvania, southwest close to pittsburgh. It probably gets to around mid to low 20's average usually and a few days under that.

Thanks everyone. Lots of ideas here, just gotta decide now.

A balaclava is what you need for those temps. They come in different weights and materials and they easily fit under your helmet. A modest polypropylene one will probably serve you well. Don't bother with the super fancy ones or you'll roast. Also, don't bother with a helmet cover.

I have a fleece earband......somewhere. Couldn't find it for Sunday's ride.
Picked up a Performance fleece skullcap Monday. Since I don't often ride when the temp is below 35, the cap should be fine.

Also have a balaklava, but the face hole is too small and my breath freezes into a gooey mess. The newer ones have a breathing hole that looks like it solves the problem.

The stuff at Performance is not knitted like you'd find in the corner store. It's either fleece or a thick blend of lycra.

Bell Metro Helmet is very WARM with the Ear Muffs and Insersts installed.

http://ai.pricegrabber.com/product_images/11986000-11986999/11986173_125.jpg

For temperatures around freezing -5C to +5C or 25F to 40F, I just use a helmet and maybe a toque(skull cap) and a light jacket or hoodie. For temperatures from -25C to -5C, I use ear warmers (hook onto the helmet), a helmet cover and a goretex jacket. For temperatures -45C to -25C, I ditch the helmet, go to a full face mask balaclava, toque and goretex jacket with hood completely zipped up and sometimes ski googles. I am usually toasty warm all year round using this setup.

How about this? (http://www.uswings.com/springshowcase05.asp)

scroll down until you reach "Snoopy" Leather Flying Cap and of course you need the goggles below.

Alertshirt sells super cheap skullcaps, too. Gods, I love that place!

http://www.alertshirt.com/heliskca.html
The site has great hivis shirts and vests but the skull cap is worthless at keeping your head warm. It is much too short, does not cover the ears and the band at the bottom is basically plain elastic (no wicking, little warmth).
Coolsweats makes a nice midcap and wintercap, or get a light weight fleece skullcap. Something with wind protection will be helpful in the worst weather. The polypro balacava fits easily under a helmet but I found it difficult to breath through and uncomfortable when pulled below the mouth. Still any layer will take some room under your helmet so it is nice to have a helmet with easy adjustment.
Craig

a helmet liner is one application where Gore next2skin windstopper works very,very well. A lot of bike specific hats at not-so-specialized and its ilk aren't wind or weather resistant. When it's cold enough to consider a hat, I want one that blocks the wind.

Mountain Gear has a Mountain Hardwear transistion N2S toque right now for about 12 bucks.