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THIN thermal layer for the head

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Old 01-05-17, 03:14 PM
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I know the feeling of being too hot for head covering, I have a thermal headband to cover my ears and let my head lose some heat when I feel its too warm to have my head fully covered. It covers my forehead so that the wind hitting it directly doesn't bother me.

https://www.amazon.com/Pearl-Izumi-T...dband+for+cold
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Old 01-05-17, 03:51 PM
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Originally Posted by Yendor72
I know the feeling of being too hot for head covering, I have a thermal headband to cover my ears and let my head lose some heat when I feel its too warm to have my head fully covered. It covers my forehead so that the wind hitting it directly doesn't bother me.

https://www.amazon.com/Pearl-Izumi-T...dband+for+cold
that's the one I can't find :/
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Old 01-05-17, 04:13 PM
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When it's too warm for a balaclava but too cool for my bare (and I do mean bare) head then my go-to piece is a Smartwool micro beanie. It's thin and covers most of my ears with just the lobes sticking out. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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Old 01-05-17, 08:30 PM
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Originally Posted by Bike Rebel
When it's too warm for a balaclava but too cool for my bare (and I do mean bare) head then my go-to piece is a Smartwool micro beanie. It's thin and covers most of my ears with just the lobes sticking out. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
can you help me understand the sizes listed here?
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0128XAAZQ...00N42ANNU?th=1

  • 1FM
  • 1SFM
  • One Size
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Old 02-16-17, 01:52 PM
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warming up again, guess I'll get to use this biking, this weekend. been using it around the house


Last edited by rumrunn6; 11-08-17 at 12:38 PM.
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Old 02-16-17, 02:04 PM
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Originally Posted by noglider
The color in real life is different from the web page. I think these pictures capture it better, even though I don't like selfies.


Paint that black and grey and you'd be an officer from the Empire or the First Order.
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Old 03-08-17, 09:34 AM
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Originally Posted by Yendor72
I know the feeling of being too hot for head covering, I have a thermal headband to cover my ears and let my head lose some heat when I feel its too warm to have my head fully covered. It covers my forehead so that the wind hitting it directly doesn't bother me.

https://www.amazon.com/Pearl-Izumi-T...dband+for+cold
found it! was scrunched up in the corner of the box it was supposed to be in
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Old 03-08-17, 10:16 AM
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Originally Posted by rumrunn6
found it! was scrunched up in the corner of the box it was supposed to be in
Yay! Just in time for you to not need it. Now I don't know where mine is.
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Old 03-08-17, 11:51 AM
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Originally Posted by Yendor72
Now I don't know where mine is
maybe I found yours?
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Old 03-08-17, 10:34 PM
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Originally Posted by noglider
I wear a ski helmet with this hat or something else under it. If you don't have a ski helmet, consider it. It was transformational for me when I got it last year. Some very painful days became no problem at all.
Agreed

I bucked this year and purchased a Bern helmet and put away my Giro with all those vents. What a warm winter helmet with a ski mask on. I can't believe it took me so long but well worth the investment. They have liners you can put inside to make the helmet warmer but I don't need them.

I will say that a ski helmet is probably not as safe as a regular bike helmet that has more crush for accidents.
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Old 03-09-17, 07:39 AM
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tried one on at a ski slope (shop) cpl weeks ago (wasn't skiing). it was comfortable but seemed really heavy. plus it was approx $150

Last edited by rumrunn6; 03-09-17 at 12:23 PM.
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Old 03-09-17, 11:16 AM
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Originally Posted by rumrunn6
tried one on at a ski slope cpl weeks ago. it was comfortable but seemed really heavy. plus it was approx $150
It is heavy, but that hasn't bothered me. Mine was about $100, which is a lot to me for a helmet, but it was the least expensive.

As for safety, it's very hard to measure. If I remember correctly, bike helmets make an uncomfortable compromise. They are optimized for a hard hit at the expense of protection from soft hits. I have no idea what design constraints go into ski helmets. I don't think it's paradoxical to say (1) bike helmets don't provide much protection at all and (2) I'm still better off wearing one than not wearing one.
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Old 03-09-17, 05:40 PM
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Originally Posted by rumrunn6
maybe I found yours?
LOL. I use a very similar headband most of the time, and my ears love it. When it gets down into the 20s F, my bald head dictates that I wear wool. I recently found a nice wool sherpa hat, made with a loose weave, so self-venting, so it's warm, but not too warm. After a couple weeks, I finally removed those silly tie strings that hang down. 😋
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Old 03-11-17, 03:58 PM
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Wool Beret.
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Old 03-11-17, 04:40 PM
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Originally Posted by rumrunn6
warming up again, guess I'll get to use this biking, this weekend. been using it around the house

How has that worked out for you?
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Old 03-11-17, 04:45 PM
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I have a Giro Nine ski helmet for cold weather riding. It works great with adjustable vents, adjust the airflow to the conditions.
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Old 03-13-17, 04:02 AM
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Originally Posted by 02Giant
How has that worked out for you?
actually pretty good. used it on a cold ride Saturday, which surprised me. started the ride with a thin knit hat but at the halfway point took it off cuz it was soaked. wringed it out and hung it on my rack trunk to dry in the sun. I brought a balaclava with me but decided to try the thin smartwool beanie instead. I knew the ride back had some climbing so thought I would be hotter. turned out being the right choice! highly recommended it!


Last edited by rumrunn6; 03-23-18 at 07:32 AM.
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Old 03-15-17, 10:19 PM
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Originally Posted by rumrunn6
pondering some ideas about head covering(s)

at 33-38 degrees, last weekend, I rode alternating between the hooded sweatshirt, a thin knit hat & nothing except a thin helmet cover. the 2 thermal items were too much & just the helmet cover wasn't quite right. wondering if the thin poly or cotton head-sweats was more in order. but those seem more for fall/spring. was thinking maybe just a cycling headband would have done the trick, but I can't find mine ;-(

anyone got a head cover they use that's just right for when it's cool, but not cold?
You need a synthetic skull cap, like the Louis Garneau Matrix Hat. Thin and form fitting, but keeps my head and ears warm down to below zero temps. $10 on amazon with prime.
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Old 03-19-17, 02:10 PM
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I would suggest a helmet cover. Keeps the rain and snow out. Easy to pull off if it gets too warm.
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Old 03-20-17, 08:07 AM
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After reading this thread, I've realized that we all have different 'thresholds' of what is COLD to each of us so for me, this is what works in these conditions.......

Anything ABOVE 32F the Pearl Izumi Barrier was PERFECT for me! Below 32F and I started to feel the 'BITE' of the cold FREEZING air.

Below 32F, the absolute best was the Chaos -CTR Howler Multi Tasker Pro Windproof Balaclava. I bought both the S/M and L/XL sizes and I preferred the S/M because although it was tight it provided a nice TIGHT SEAL around my head and I absolutely DID NOT feel ANYTHING whatsoever! Made my ride much much more enjoyable in freezing conditions. Amazing mask!!
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Old 03-20-17, 08:35 AM
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39 degrees on a sunny Saturday. wound up wearing nothing but the helmet
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Old 03-20-17, 11:18 AM
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Originally Posted by rumrunn6
actually pretty good. used it on a cold ride Saturday, which surprised me. started the ride with a thin knit hat but at the halfway point took it off cuz it was soaked. wringed it out and hung it on my rack trunk to dry in the sun. I brought a balaclava with me but decided to try the thin smartwool beanie instead. I knew the ride back had some climbing so thought I would be hotter. turned out being the right choice! highly recommended it!
Thanks for the info!
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Old 03-20-17, 01:08 PM
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Originally Posted by 02Giant
Thanks for the info!
under helmet takes very little room, w helmet off looks like any knit hat, even tho it's much much thinner. not too bad

Last edited by rumrunn6; 03-21-17 at 09:06 AM.
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Old 03-20-17, 01:10 PM
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Originally Posted by Hiro11
I like Smartwool's thin/tight running beanies
hey thanks again for this suggestion
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Old 11-08-17, 12:39 PM
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Originally Posted by rumrunn6
started using this again when temps dipped into the 40s this year, thought it might be useful to acknowledge this
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