I don’t know how I’ve managed so long without roadie caps! They’re great (for sweat management) for my bald sweaty sexy head in summer. But what’s the MTB equivalent? A normal road cap looks a bit daft with MTB helmets.
I always used a buff in pirate configuration.
Don't use a MTB helmet?
A buff or a bandana
Call the fashion cops .. but I wear a roadie cap and an older style (non aero siliness) road lid when I'm on the MTB too. It just works better than peaked MTB lids ime.
Under helmet skull cap is the term to google for. I found using a buff a bit of a shitty alternative.
Under Armour do a hear gear skull cap. It's designed for wearing under helmets. Worth a look.
Decathlon sell sweat bands for your head, not the 80's style tennis ones but thin stretchy things. Fit perfectly under a helmet. The only issue is they disappear in the laundry so buy a few lol
This isn't it exactly but it's very similar. I got mine in-store, can't see it online
Looks like I need to check out Decathlon. They also have some Van Rysel branded ones. Halo ones look great but 4x the price!
Have tried Buffs but you either have a large knot at the back (pirate, uncomfortable) or a dangly bit that looks a bit weird IME. Cheers.
or a dangly bit that looks a bit weird IME.
If looking a bit weird is a concern, it's best to avoid roadie caps too.
With the dangly bit at the back config you can pretend you're in the MTB division of the French Foreign Legion.
I cut a Buff in half to avoid the flappy bit issue.
Castelli also do a summer skull cap but the helmet slips around unless I tighten it right up.
Finally - why are roadie caps made so small and of such heavy material?
Thirty years ago in the US my cycle caps were all made of a very light material and plenty big enough for my big head. I still have one of these caps with the peak cut off and would love to find more. My Walz cap fits OK off the bike but is still far heavier than a Buff.
My mate wears one of the aforementioned under helmet skull cap. It's basically what Ali G wore, and he gets reminded as such each ride.
The halo one is expensive, but rather than just soaking sweat up and eventually leaking, it guides sweat to the side of your head so it doesn't run into your eyes.
Just for reference, I am a bald very sweaty 49 year old 16 stone man. I've used a DHB head band but that sweated out after a while. The Halo just work imo. I've used it from road riding in the Pyrenees to DH in the Alps....
The flappy bit on a buff protects the back of the neck from the sun and also gives a large area from which sweat can easily evaporate.
Finally - why are roadie caps made so small and of such heavy material?
Have a look at the GripGrab caps for something in a lighter weight fabric.
Sweaty baldy here.
Roadie cap under mtb helmet worn with a don't give a **** attitude. Flip the peak up to show your sponsor and minimise the double peak look. Flip oit down for far superior sun and rain protection than the helmet gives. Obvs pair with crochet back track mitts.
Way better than a buff, horrendous things. Cotton in the caps is pretty much the only "technical" cotton item i rate over synthetic.
And in winter... Belgian winter cap. Now that's a challenging in the eyeball department.
Finally - why are roadie caps made so small and of such heavy material?
Try the Van rysel ones from decathlon, they fit my giant head and are a thin synthetic material rather than cotton so they dry super quick! Cheap too.
I got some cheap sweat bands from amazon, and they seam to do the trick
Have a look at the GripGrab caps for something in a lighter weight fabric.
GribGrab's large size is also real world large, rather than "cycling large" which is equivalent to real world pin headed toddler. I think I have said before, when I rule the world the makers of "one size fits all" headwear will be tortured to death by means of a head tourniquet.
Used to use Halo bands on the mtb, but then I bought an Oakley drt5 which has a silicon Halo like sweat band instead of front pads and it's great, sweat gets channeled away to nr your ears, and my sunnies stay sweat free.
Do wear a synthetic castelli road cap on the road bike which is excellent for early mornings or evenings for keep the low sun out of your eyes. I do look like a dick tho
Finally - why are roadie caps made so small and of such heavy material?
They're not all that way. There are a few high wicking thin polyester or cotton poly ones out there. I have a Sportful one like that which is my standard road/gravel headwear. They currently seem to have a mesh one, which looks promising for summer use.
Also, roadies notoriously shrink their heads using illegal supplements because it's more aero, tight-fitting caps expedite the process.
https://www.sportful.com/GB/en/Mens/Cycling/Accessories/Caps/c/Man-Cyc-Acc-Cap
Buff cut in half, folded over once, worn 80s headband style. Done that for years. Ideally the merino ones. I found a full buff too warm across the top of the head although that may change at the rate my hair's thinning 😀
Skull cap under all my lids for sweat management !
Track down a slightly thicker/heavier material Buff and make a ~40mm band (or cut up and sew one from an old cycling jersey) and use it instead of the foam pads in your helmet (hence why slightly thicker material works).
If it extends about 10-15mm below the helmet then it's enough area for the sweat to evaporate before it runs into your eyes.
Or get a Bell helmet where the pads run under the brim to achieve a similar effect.
I double the buff up. Makes it more absorbant. I sweat more than any other human I’ve met, but the buff has stopped the issue of sweat running into my eyes. I’ve taken to wearing a buff under my MTB helmet all year now, because I just find it more comfortable.
Does no one a
Else absolutely detest buffs? As soon as i put one on my head i get really grumpy and kt irritates me until i realise and take kt off.
I sometimes wear a lightweight merino beanie from Aussie Grit (RIP). It was intended for running but it's a comfortable fit underneath a helmet as it's quite thin.
absolutely detest buffs? As soon as i put one on my head i get really grumpy
Possibly a bit tight ? My cheap knock-off "Buffs" do that to me.
Not sure whether they are too tight of just the all over "compression"
I don't have a particularly big bonce.
Above all, never ever double peak
Galibier and PedalEd do lightweight caps, presume others do too. Particularly impressed by my PedalEd one, especially with 30% off from a Strava challenge.
Dint bother with the Castelli summer scull cap if your head is any bigger than medium, unless you want to look like you've had a face lift of course.
My pal cut up a buff into strips, you get three per buff.
My pal cut up a buff into strips, you get three per buff.
Publicity caravan at the Tour usually throw thousands of thin polka dot caps to the crowds, and loads will show up on ebay in the following weeks. Check the Sports Memorabilia section as well as the cycling.
I'm also a convert after getting one at the start of a bike packing event. If I want to wear it on the mtb I just use a non -peaked helmet.
Great for when the sun is low and you can flip it down, I also find it's much cooler and better wicking than a buff or summer sweatband.
I bought a gribgrab one as I don't think my event one freebie will survive many washings.
Not really suitable while it's 30° but for 3 seasons a made to measure cap might fit.....yep, deliberate.
https://ukgravelco.com/2025/06/22/uncle-petes-handmade-cycling-cap/
I usually ride on road with a roadie helmet, but on rare occasions I venture off road I just use my roadie caps with my mtb helmet. Works fine
Does it look great, no. Does it look great on a road bike...no also
But in the grand scheme of things, I'm a 50 year old bloke wearing baggy shorts on a pushbike. I'm not going to look cool regardless
I usually ride on road with a roadie helmet, but on rare occasions I venture off road I just use my roadie caps with my mtb helmet. Works fine
Does it look great, no. Does it look great on a road bike...no also
But in the grand scheme of things, I'm a 50 year old bloke wearing baggy shorts on a pushbike. I'm not going to look cool regardless