scottfsmith

I don't have much problem with this and it can be extremely hot and humid where I am (90F and 60% humidity right now). My helmet has large cooling vents in it, I expect that helps.. it is a Specialized Prevail. I also agree you want a sunscreen that doesn't drip, also not so oily as that impedes evaporation. I can't imagine putting on a cap in hot weather, maybe it works but it seems so very wrong.

Retro Grouch 

I have a 100% fix but you probably don't want to hear it. The answer is "recumbent". It makes the sweat drip off of your head in the other direction. Thanks for reminding me of one of the benefits of riding recumbents that I had forgotten about.

79pmooney

I couldn't imagine wearing a cap under the helmet either and didn't for 30 years. Then I tried it. Surprise! I as not hotter. No surprise, much less issue with sweat in eyes - very nice. But best of all, my helmets stayed so much cleaner and nicer. Better smelling. And far less work to keep clean. All I have to do is start my rides with a clean cap. I'm warmer on cold days. Keeps my serious hats clean on still colder days.

All for something as difficult to manage as underwear. Put on a clean one. Ride. Toss in the wash. And my life is simply better. (Not much, it's just a hat, but still ...)

Rolla

Exactly. And for us bald/shaved guys, it's kind of a must, unless you want weird tan lines on your head. I also like having a visor available when I want it.

Camilo

Of course!

bkaapcke

Two thumbs up on Halo headbands. BK

ThermionicScott 

I clean -- or at least rinse and dry -- the pads in my helmet on a regular basis in the summer. If I don't, they saturate with salt, and it doesn't take much sweat to carry that into my eyes and put one out of commission. The first time that happened was a 90°+ RAGBRAI day as I was zooming downhill. Pretty terrifying.

Now that my hairline is receding, I find myself needing to clean the pads even more often than I used to. Might have to look into those skull caps at some point.

79pmooney

I started wearing caps before my hairline receded. It's only when I see threads like this that I think "Oh yeah, I could do the striped head look!" Nah.

rsbob 

Problem: Sweat gets in my eyes

Solution 1: Spend $16 on a high tech headband
Solution 2: Spend a couple of thousand dollars on a recumbent and have to ignore a perfectly good road bike

Hmmm. Tough choice. What to do? What to do?

AJW2W11E

That's a good point and you got me thinking.
I didn't have this issue previous summers. (BTW I sweat a lot.) Sweat just rolled down my face and never bothered my eyes.
This started when I went to a road bike with Drop Bars this year. I adjusted my helmet tilt to get a better view and after I did that the helmet fit differently.
You got me thinking maybe my head is now at an angle that nothing will solve this?
It gets hot next week and the only way I'll find out is to ride a safe long route without a helmet. Maybe at the school yard. Maybe the answer is no Drop Bars in the summer?

Camilo

We use Banana Boat "Faces" and it doesn't seem to sting the eyes.

Yea, the skull caps I use are just very thin wicking material. They don't add any warmth like i think some folks are assuming.

I have several accumulated over the years (I started with a set of three from Performance ~20 years ago and sitll use them). Just like having a few bibs, socks and jerseys. I throw them in our "technical fabric" laundry basket along with our other "active wear' stuff (i.e. synthetic stuff that has similar washing and drying temps and cycles).

I originally bought them to protect my head from sunburn, keep the helmet pads from getting disgusting as quickly, and also help prevent an embarrassing goat horn type of indentations on my forehead from the pads when I was commuting to work. They work on all counts, and like I said, actually promote wicking of sweat and cooling and keep it out of my eyes. I prefer the lightest and most minimal I can find (in other words, above the ear).

Ogsarg

Being follicly challenged, I have to wear a skull cap to prevent sunburn and do not find it hot at all. On a hot day, I can soak it in water and get some cooling for a bit till it drys out, which is not long. I use one from Pactimo, which is moisture wicking and very lightweight.

JohnDThompson 

+1 this. Or a headband, if you prefer. I use "Headsweat," but there are others. I've found having the cap extend down my forehead a little below the edge of the helmet helps. The cap wicks up the sweat, which flows down to the exposed area over my forehead, and evaporates before forming drops that can get into my eyes. Works even in high temperature/high humidity Wisconsin summers.

Nachoman

As long as we're talking about sweaty heads:
Pro tip: To avoid really stinging eyes, don't put sun block on your forehead.

rsbob 

Halo must be enjoying a spite of new orders. Good for them.

CAT7RDR

+1 for the Headsweat.
Tried the Halo but it was too hot and the material and band too thick for my helmets.

Reality is, on a hot day, cycling uphill without any wind draft, nothing will work.
At that point I rinse my face with cold water and that does the trick until the next climb.

KerryIrons

A third vote for Halo. Nothing really works when you're sweating heavily but at least most of the drips stay away from your eyes. I also tilt my head to the side and squeeze the helmet against my head to direct the sweat that accumulates in the foam.

Sy Reene

If your sweat isn't evaporating before dripping, you're not riding fast enough.

NoWhammies

Wear a cycling cap. Someone here recommended Walz caps. Since giving them a try I have never looked back. I have a combination of tech fabrics and merino wool caps. Can't recommend them enough.

drlogik 

The absolute best thing I have found are Halo head bands. They have a silicone rubber "dam" that keeps the sweat from running down your face as well as a very absorbent fabric. They are also very thin and don't bulk-up under the helmet. I swear by these things and have been using them for about 7 years now.

https://store.haloheadband.com/

urbanknight

Agreed. I started wearing skull caps after my hairline had receded enough that I started getting "tiger stripes" tanned onto my forehead from the helmet vents. It doesn't seem to make me any hotter, either, even here in So Cal.

LarrySellerz

I normally ride with my helmet dangling on my handlebars and I still get sweat in my eyes, doesn't make a huge difference but no helmet is probably better because you are less hot and it you get more air. I suggest you just put in on for descents, people did le tour without helmets lol. For most riding its not essential, most people who ride bikes in the world dont use helmets

rsbob 

Yeah, but what about your face mask lines? Maybe a ski mask with just eye cutouts?

Rolla

"Le Tour" is on a closed course, ridden by professionals.

Many of those places have better bike infrastructure and healthcare.

This is at least encouraging.

Juan Foote

Another endorsement for the Halo. I do make a suggestion. When you stop for regroup (etc.) take it off and squeeze it out. Once they reach full saturation they actually go on to make the problem worse. The biggest issue for me was it then dripping directly onto the back of my eyeglass lens, which rolls to the bottom where the airflow then kicks in back up into your eyes.