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Is there helmet with decent coverage available that isn't just a sweat manufacturing device? Current is a Sweet Protection Trailblazer, which is comfy enough but holy moly it's worse than a Troy Lee A1 for making my forehead leak like a rusty tap.
I’ve got a Bell Super DH. The sweat catcher works quite well.
Fox Speedframe Pro is quite airy.
Thin pads though so not much sweat collection
The Oakley drt 5 has a rubber channel system where the sweat runs past your ears. I use it and it works really well, the helmet only has one small pad.
+1 Oakley DRT5
Try wearing a buff, with the excess hanging out the back. It can be an effective wick.
+2 for the Oakley DRT5 works well!
+1 buff
Skull cap here (like a buff)
The answer (that you may not want to hear) is full lycra and a lightweight XC lid.
#thismaylookoddonagnarpoon
Kask Protone works for me.
lightweight XC lid.
Doesn't have to be a lightweight XC lid - see the Speedframe that's been ignored so far with it's big assed vent up front and some degree of side/rear protection
As a fellow sweaty ****er I've had a couple of Bontrager helmets, (Lithos and Rally I think), with their NoSweat helmet pad. Basically the forehead pad has strip of silicon that directs the sweat away from your eyes. They work well but eventually fall to bits and I can't get replacements now☹️
The Oakley sounds interesting, I'll check it out👍
Wow, those DRT5's are expensive unless you have a small head!
I was going to put a similar post up.
Contrary to a couple of above posts, I find my Speedframe Pro to be unbearable from a swear perspective. So many vents but such little airflow. I think the forehead pad blocks a lot of airflow from the front vent. Particularly once it's saturated.
It's predecessor, a Giro Montaro was fantastic for airflow and keeping my head cool. No idea if they syill make it but I might buy another unless something else comes up here that looks promising
Bought a Speedframe Pro after going through reviews and finding one that ranked by coolness. I think it's the vent under the visor that does it. Most comfortable lid I've had since the Giro Xen
(haha! brilliant after bens' post! what's the ****ing point!? 😆 )
Contrary to a couple of above posts, I find my Speedframe Pro to be unbearable from a swear perspective. So many vents but such little airflow. I think the forehead pad blocks a lot of airflow from the front vent
I think yours is broken 🤣
Indeed.
There's only 1 thing wrong with the Speedframe and that the damn squeaking from the MIPS gubbins.
Bens +1.
The speedframe is not hot per se, but is not as cool as it should be given how it looks. Since my bare head is capable of running with sweat, its pretty backward to think reducing air flow by putting on a helmet is going to some how be 'less sweaty'
I found the speedframes big front pads just held even more sweat and dumped it down my face.
Oakley DRT 5 for me. The silicone forehead channel is a much better approach, with the added benefit that it doesnt ever get smelly since it doesn't hold moisture.
Speedframe Pro here too and I still sweat loads, but I have in any helmet I’ve tried and have no hair to soak it up, I’ve pretty much resigned to being a sweaty mess. I run a POC on the road and it’s really light and airy but as soon as I stop I drip. The lack of speed on an Mtb vs road riding means less air rushing over the bounce to cool it.
Another vote for the Speedframe as a helmet - I have been using a headband from Wickflow with my bike helmets for years - genius device with a silicone seal so the sweat runs down in the ear region rather than into your eyes - though it does fall down when you get very hot. https://wickflow.com/ you have to pay in dollars but delivery is cheap.
Its ok, summers over...
Nah, tried the buff thing, it doesn't work for me, I just end up with a very wet buff and very wet head and very wet helmet pads. I'll give the Oakley a go, and see what that's like. Looking around for helmets was massive vents, I stumbled across the Endura Singletrack, which seems like it's vents held together with bits of helmet, anybody use one?
Living in the sub tropics and sweating like a beast I’m a fan of the Speedframe pro. But really, I just live with it.
I'm on my third DRT5 (one crash replacement, one half price replacement as the sunglasses holder clips break every time!) - as a fellow sweaty, the channel works really well. Mildly moist ears are way better than it running down your face. New one seems a bit lighter/even more vented.
Any helmet with one of these:
https://www.haloheadbanduk.com/product/halo-ii-headband-colours/#reviews
As the inhabitant of a very sweaty head this has been a game changer for me.
I have a Halo, my sweaty head soon overwhelms it 🥵
Try one of the Lazer Kineticore helmets, noticeably cooler for me as a massive sweat generator.
No. However you can reduce the overall amount of sweating you do by leaving the helmet at home. Not the thing to say in our risk adverse, vulnerable to advertising society but funnily enough few people die or are seriously injuered if they come of their bike without a helmet. Not saying all the time of course but think about the risks.
I use one on our even club gravel rides when it gets a bit manic but not commuting with about half a mile of tarmac and no cars on that.
Not the most helpful answer I guess.
No it's cool, @mattsccm, I'm riding more and more without it, what you're saying is perfectly fine. In some situations, leaving the helmet at home is the best solution.
Although having sweat dripping out of your eyes as your trying to negotiate some Calder-tech is becoming a bit too distracting!
Different things work for different people. I see the Halo headband never worked for someone... I use some old Castelli headbands left over from my roadie days... work well for me and I suspect the Halo ones would (for me) also.
Buff coolmax headband if really warm
GripGrab summer skullcap most of the time
Endura skull cap for when its cool
Meanwhile, in Lancashire...
How to keep the rain out of your eyes, pooring down your face through that over vented helmet
Going up? Helmet off.
Going down? Helmet on.
Undulating? Accept sweat is an inevitable part of the sport.
One other thing that helps is getting much fitter. If you're breezing up the climbs you sweat less.
I keep meaning to try one of those sweatgutr headbands.
Different things work for different people.
agree. i wear a full face all year and unless we are hitting 30+ in totally fine. I found the first TLD A1 absolutely awful. Gravel / commuting rides I have a POC kortal which is super breathable.
I have a Bell Super Air R. The padding inside is designed to pull sweat to the bit on your forehead. Take my glasses off now and again, press helmet against forehead, stream of sweat drops out.
Had lots of helmets, always liked Fox eg Flux of Giro eg Montaro
Just in time for the hot spell a couple of weeks ago that we’ve all forgotten now, I got a Specialised Ambush 2 - it is the coolest running helmet I’ve owned. Very comfy too.
+ one on the buff underneath.
Looks daft. I look daft on a bike anyway. I have much less sweat running down my glasses!
The best method I've found to reduce noggin sweat is Grade 2 all over
The best method I’ve found to reduce noggin sweat is Grade 2 all over
Skullshaver here (shortest you can go without a bic) still sweat like I've sprung a leak
I put a post up along similar lines a couple of months back for my POC (lovely helmet but I bake) and took the collective advice for the halo headband and, for me, problem solved.
I am not sure it is a helmet "thing" or just some of us run hotter, for me headband for the win and a much cheaper option at £16 than a DRT helmet from Oakley and I did it on a .. **** it for £16 it is worth a punt.
James
PS I am also grade 1 or 2 all year, makes no difference.
I get a very hot head and my new helmet, with loads of cooling channels and vents was a major disappointment.
I found some chunky foam strips for a kiddie helmet and stuck them lengthwise inside, giving extra ventilation channel space and it worked a treat. I've got a lot of thick hair too.
different people sweat at different rates so I guess what works for some doesn't work for others but my vote is with the Halo...I use the full head one so my bald bits don't burn..(cooler bit of Aus' especially at the moment but 30degs doesn't stop me riding)