How to keep the ears warm while wearing a helmet?
12-02-11, 02:13 PM
#26
aka Timi
12-02-11, 02:31 PM
#27
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Wool neck gaiter. I got it to keep my neck warm, but it was a little tight, so I figured I'd wear it like a head band for a few days, and stretch it out. Turns out I really liked it as a "hat" with an open back (so I don't overheat). I can pull it down over my ears, and, after I climb a few hills, I can adjust it to still keep me warm, but less so.
I have a fleece neck gaiter from Columbia. I wear it round my neck and pull it up the back of my head to cover my ears, leaving the rest of my head bare (under the helmet) to keep from overheating. If I get too hot, I can pull the back back down without stopping to cool off, or pull the front up to cover my mouth.
12-02-11, 02:53 PM
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I have a skull cap with ear flaps, it's lite weight so it doesn't get too warm but keeps the wind out. I also have a helmet cover which helps keep the wind out and keeps my head warmer. (bald) 
12-02-11, 08:32 PM
#29
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Check out Earbags. I like them a lot for running and biking. Keep your ears warm without soaking up sweat from your forehead or interfering with your helmet fitment. https://www.rei.com/brand/Earbags
12-02-11, 08:44 PM
#30
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When the balaclava or skullcap is overkill, I've found a simple headband made of the same material is amazingly warm.
I don't have that exact model but I have a simple Pearl Izumi headband that is good down to the 20's. When it gets colder (and I have 5AM wet hair from right out of the shower onto the bike) I wear a slightly heavier headband from goretex and a goretex helmet cover (good to at least 8 degrees (tested last winter) - probably colder
12-03-11, 01:29 AM
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How to keep the ears warm while wearing a helmet?
12-03-11, 01:57 AM
#33
Banned
Some helmets , like Bern, perhaps others, offer a winter kit that includes ear muffs.
they have ski-bike -skate markets in mind .
consider a helmet for the winter, and another for the summer
(if you wear helmets)
they have ski-bike -skate markets in mind .
consider a helmet for the winter, and another for the summer
(if you wear helmets)
12-03-11, 04:59 PM
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Smartwool skullcap 100% wool. check online for best prices wash as needed and does not retain stink as poly does over time
12-03-11, 06:10 PM
#36
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+1 And I use a headband w/velcro clasp purchased from Target a few years ago. Got several of them for about 3.00 per as I recall. They keep my forehead warm at the same time. Do like the looks of the earmuffs posted here, though.
12-03-11, 09:57 PM
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I have used a balaclava, skull cap and buff as needed. This winter I have used my helmet cover almost every day on my commute. It is bright yellow, so it helps with visibility. It has a loop that will support an additional light. It probably doesn’t do much to keep my ears warm, but it does cut down a little more of the air that would normally move through my helmet.
12-03-11, 10:10 PM
#38
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It is not cold enough for a balaclava, but it's cool enough to keep the ears warm. So far I've been wearing a winter tuke and no helmet. However, now the mornings are cool enough to encounter icy patches, and so wearing a helmet is more important.
Even when I adjust the helmet to it's maximum size, it feel very tight when I wear the winter tuke = quite uncomfortable. Do you know of some head friendly way of keeping the ears warm while wearing a helmet?
Even when I adjust the helmet to it's maximum size, it feel very tight when I wear the winter tuke = quite uncomfortable. Do you know of some head friendly way of keeping the ears warm while wearing a helmet?
That's what I did when militantly car-free and living in Colorado with occasional sub-zero temperatures.
If it's not too cold to ski, it's not too cold to bike and many of the same solutions work.
12-04-11, 02:58 AM
#39
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Nutcase now offers Ear Pads for the Street helmets, if you are into getting a new helmet. My girlfriend uses them with her helmet, And likes them a lot. That only works if you want to get a new helmet to. Nutcase has lots of cool designs for their helmets.
I use a Buff my self right now. I have very little space for extra, Big head, only to "clicks" extra room with my Giro helmet. But I would like to get a SmartWool Headband. I have tried it on and it seems to work well with a helmet.
12-04-11, 11:30 AM
#40
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Ski helmets also suffer from being too warm. While they would be nice for a 20 degree commute, they would be way too hot when the temperature rises to 40, 50, 60 or even 70
which is always a possibility around here.
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Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
12-04-11, 11:45 AM
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It has a set of vents much like a bike helmet, with a sliding button which opens/closes the vents.
12-06-11, 05:32 PM
#42
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Saw one this weekend. Nice idea but the sliding closures would interfere with a helmet mounted light.
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Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
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Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
12-07-11, 02:14 AM
#43
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I also used two buffs. One around my head made into a beanie. It fits perfect under my helmet. I also keep one around my neck that I can pull up and over my face and ears.
12-07-11, 06:30 AM
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I fold a bandana in half and tie it around my head so that the knot sits lower than the back of my helmet and the front is even with my helmet. I find that this deflects the wind from my ears quite effectively, but does not cause me to overheat.
When it gets colder I wear a fleece headband, but it's too warm for that this time of year so I stick with just the bandana until the temps drop below 15ish.
For my face, I wear a beard which is surprisingly effective at keeping me warm.
When it gets colder I wear a fleece headband, but it's too warm for that this time of year so I stick with just the bandana until the temps drop below 15ish.
For my face, I wear a beard which is surprisingly effective at keeping me warm.
12-07-11, 01:42 PM
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Giro fuse is the one I use for winter, under 20F. It's remarkably warm. I keep the vents open almost all the time. when it get's down to 0F I add a thin balaclava. Oh and it would be hard to mount a light on though.
12-07-11, 02:42 PM
#46
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It is not cold enough for a balaclava, but it's cool enough to keep the ears warm. So far I've been wearing a winter tuke and no helmet. However, now the mornings are cool enough to encounter icy patches, and so wearing a helmet is more important.
Even when I adjust the helmet to it's maximum size, it feel very tight when I wear the winter tuke = quite uncomfortable. Do you know of some head friendly way of keeping the ears warm while wearing a helmet?
Even when I adjust the helmet to it's maximum size, it feel very tight when I wear the winter tuke = quite uncomfortable. Do you know of some head friendly way of keeping the ears warm while wearing a helmet?
12-07-11, 02:51 PM
#47
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I made something similar to these Dog Ears out of some fleece. I sewed it into a couple of triangles that slide over the buckles and straps on each side. Works perfect. No more overheating from a full hat under the helmet and my helmet fits way better than it did when I tried the head band style ear warmers.
Rox makes a product called Dog Earz which velcro right to the helmet straps and cover up your ears.
(Link goes to Bikeman.com; no affiliation, just a fave online shop of mine.)
(Link goes to Bikeman.com; no affiliation, just a fave online shop of mine.)
12-07-11, 02:52 PM
#48
Bike ≠ Car ≠ Ped.
I have a Sugoi insulated cycling cap. Helmet-wise, without it, I could actually fit in either a medium or large Specialized Prevail, but with the cap, I have to use a Large. So, and because I often wear caps even in the summer, I got the larger size of helmet.
12-07-11, 07:07 PM
#49
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Go to the MEC store or MEC.ca and check out MEC's Bolt or Charge toques or the CTR Mistral Vapor skullcap. They're all very thin but warm as helmet liners and the latter two offer very good ear coverage. Bring your helmet to check the fit.
12-07-11, 07:33 PM
#50
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Slipstreamz for cool or borderline freezing weather. They fit on your helmet straps and are designed to muffle noise but also provide a nice thin shield against wind thereby keeping your ears warmer.