waterproof helmet covers
 

I've always just ridden without one and let my head get wet in the rain (which it does plenty of here in the winter). For those who live in a similar or same climate as PNW, do you wear one?

If you had to pick between these two, which would you pick?

http://media.nashbar.com/images/nash...CV-HV-BACK.jpg
Louis Garneau http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...0052_529400_-1

or

http://media.nashbar.com/images/nash...C-NCL-SIDE.jpg
Nashbar house brand http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...0052_172132_-1

I've been using the hood on my rain shell. It covers the helmet and works fine without limiting visibility or mobility. Of the two you chose, I'd go with the more visible neon one.

I assume you're wearing it under your helmet?

I don't wear one because my head get soaked in sweat regardless, but I am in FL. Up north it would make more sense.

I don't think I'd choose either one. If it's raining and warm, these things will cause you to get hot and sweaty; better to just get a damp head. If it's cold, you're better off with a breathable thin wool or polypro cap beneath the helmet.

I only plan on wearing when it is cool (50 and under) so that shouldn't be too much of a problem.

I only plan on wearing when it is cool (50 and under) so that shouldn't be too much of a problem.

Dollar store shower caps (2 in the pack) for 99c cannot be beaten IMO for over the helmet rain protection. My helmet has a visor and the shower cap is just a little tight going over it. This leads to tears. Duct tape. I also have thin skullcaps designed to go under the helmet for warmth. They do not breathe and in the rain or not in the rain my head gets soaked. It is only bad if I take it off because the moisture cools quickly and it is not pleasant having to put a skullcap on wet after it has cooled below body temperature.

H

I just put packaging tape on the helmet in November and take it off in April.

I do the same; since I use a helmet-mounted light, I can't put anything over the helmet anyway.

I like the topic, though I have more specific questions.

For those who own one and use one, would you recommend it? (Also in the PNW context)

For those who own one and use one, if you lost it would you replace it?

I may just bite the bullet and try it myself but if someone who uses one has an opinion and would share I would be grateful.

I have the Louis Garneau cover. It works great and is small enough that it lives in my trunk, just in case. The trouble with NOT using a helmet cover is that the water drips in behind your glasses, making them useless. With the cover, I am able to see where I am going. If the rain is heavy, I can see under the visor and over my glasses.

Packing tape is an ingenious idea.

demoncyclist- thanks for your reply. I would imagine I would wear it in those types of rain where it's really coming down. On my commute this morning the rain was just kind of a steady light rain so my head didn't even get that wet without one. But when we have our times of complete deluge, it might be nice.

I use the J&G Cyclewear Waterproof Breathable Helmet Cover and really like it. I don't put it on until the rain really starts to fall, but I love it. I use a rain jacket with no hood, and the rain drains from the helmet cover over the collar and down the outside my jacket in the back - not inside the collar and inside my shirt.

The breathable fabric makes a big difference. I don't wear anything under it unless it is below freezing, and stay very comfortable. My head gets very hot, so this is a big deal for me. Th breathable fabric makes it nice for the "transition temperatures" - when it is too warm for a waterproof layer, but too cold for nothing. For me, this is between about 50°F and 30°F. Above 50, I just get wet.

If I lost it, I would replace it in a heartbeat. Especially where we live. Even if the waterproof breathable was not an option, I would still use a helmet cover. I'm not a fan of getting the "runoff" from the top of my head into my mouth during a steady rain.

I just looked at the Garneau helmet cover and it looks like it is a breathable fabric. That's the one I would recommend between the two you are considering.

If you use a helmet with a visor, I would definitely look into the J&G. They come in a regular and a long. I have the long, and it easily fits over my visor. This is a big deal, especially if you wear glasses.

I use an older Sugio brand helmet cover similar to the second one. It's a little more subtle in appearance and it reduces the runoff effect and makes it easier to see when using glasses. I prefer to wear glasses for eye protection when cycling even in the rain.

All of those covers look like they would cover my Blackburn Flea light that I wear on my helmet, so I would stick with what I use now: a hood (from my O2 rain jacket) under the helmet. If it's much over 45 degrees I would be inclined to just let my hair get wet.

I like my helmet visor but I don't think any of them are long enough to keep rain off my glasses at 35 mph which I hit on the downhill side of my ridge. I wear contact lenses in the rain. My optical correction is about minus 11 diopters, so wet glasses mean I'm blind.

I use the J&G helmet cover and a head light. My minewt mini has straps the need the vent holes to fasten to. I just slide the helmet cover up a little on the sides to do this. Works great.

I use Jandd helmet cover and its big enough to accomodate my helmet visor.
Oh yeah, its water proof too.

Me? THe green one, for the visibility.

Of course I don't wear mine (yellow) unless it's below 30-35F. Too warm.

I got one sent down here from MEC, thru a friend, as commecial export is a PIA.
it adds a brim, to keep your eyes under,
and a bit of a cape/flap on the back to keep the back of your neck dry

water resistant breathable coating ..


might get a Bern helmet, then I just have a couple holes to tape up ..


General problem no helmet light mount and rain cover work together.

Thanks everyone for your replies and thanks to matimeo for the original question. The advice I got here says I should buy one.

If you search Google images for images of bike helmet covers, you can find some interesting ideas.

I have the one made by gore. I'm on the road by 5AM so that pretty much means jumping out of the shower and onto the bike with a wet head.
I use mine for warmth when the temperature is below 25 degrees - makes a huge difference. Would replace in a heartbeat if lost.

In the Pacific Northwest context - I don't use it for rain or if the temperatures are much above 25.

I've used similar in the past, as well as hoods. My favorite solution continues to be a cycling cap under the helmet. There are many waterproof ones out there, but I have stuck to the standard cotton/poly blend caps which do get damp, but breathe well and protect my head a lot better than nothing at all.