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I sweat a lot. A Lot.
After a short ride at any decent intensity, if its over 15 degrees, my arms, legs, torso, head will be covered in sweat. For 90% of my body, its not a problem. However the sweat that comes off my head is causing an issue.
Basically, my current 7dip M2 helmet pads get saturated with sweat and once they're full, they release a steady stream of warm salty water down my face which ends up with me inadvertently drinking my own sweat. Blurgh. I know we're suppose to drink stuff to replace lost salt but I don't think drinking your own sweat is a good idea.
My hair is a grade 2/3 all over, so that should keep my head cooler but I produce points of the stuff on a long ride.
So, please can I get some suggestions on decent trail (half shell or convertible) helmets which have sweat 'systems' that actually work in channelling the sweat away from your brow/keep it from dripping down your face. Well ventilated would be good too.
Ta 😁
Try the Oakley one. As far as I can tell it has a silicone band which acts as a channel to divert sweat to the edges. So will still flow, but hopefully in a less annoying place.
Also Urge (used to at least) have a pad that extends down below the edge of the helmet and is designed to sit in the wind and dry out as you ride.
Don't get Troy Lee A1 as mine also leaks down my face.
Try a GUTR sweatband, worked wonders for me and im a big sweater like you
Its a rubber sweat band with a channel that directs the sweat to the the side of your face
Sweat Gutr?
Similar here 20mins reasonable effort and the helmet pads are saturated.
I've tried buffs and halo bands, both last just as long. I did ride for a bit when the pads got too worn.
Currently on the roads bike have the helmet reasonably tight and when riding squeeze the moisture out the pads by pressing the helmet against your head.
Like the OP if anyone has a better solution i'd love to hear it.
Edit: Gutter, like halo bands assume that the forehead is the high point and not tilted down.
I've tried various things over the years and a full buff with the material hanging out the back like a ponytail is the only thing that works for me .
Urge pad on my enduronatic2 is probably best one I've used
My met parachute had a rubber sweat deflector that worked a bit better
My A1 TLD gets heated quick and I was literally dripping yesterday
I reckon the new full face Fox would be more airy except I love the look of my TLD and colour plus the comfort is unreal thanks to the sweaty liner thing
A fabric headband works for me, I use a DHB summer one (really thin). I used to suffer on road and mtb with sweat running in my eyes.
I like the look of the Oakley DRT5, any others work that sort of device?
As an extreme sweater myself I find the gutr type headbands are quickly overwhelmed. The only thing I've found that works for me is a the Halo cap. I reckon the full scalp evaporative wicking area is the secret. It's counter intuitive to wear a full cap but....
I wear a Buff Helmet Liner when I ride. It ends up soaked quite quickly, but I get the impression it wicks away a bit and evaporates a bit through the vents and almost completely eliminates the sweat running down. Previously, when I tipped my head forward (to duck under a branch or something) the sweat would all come out at once and literally gush down onto my glasses, into my eyes etc.
With the liner I rode yesterday afternoon, 33° heat, dripping wet jersey but no sweat pouring down from the helmet issues at all.
EDIT and I have a large head, so most helmets are tight. The Buff liner is very thin and fits under all my lids with no issues. You might get the impression I'm a fan, and you'd be right - I have four of them because I'll no longer ride without one. Another advantage is when I wear it without the helmet (setting off or preparing for a ride) my kids say I look like a pirate 🙂
I am a extreme sweater too. Mrs Solarider says it is because I am unfit. I say sweating is a sign of heat management. Either way at some points in a ride I can’t see for salt stinging my eyes. Based on this thread I have just ordered a Halo beanie. I’ll update here. If it works for me it will work for anybody!!!!
I use half or a quarter of a buff. My main aim is to try and keep sweat off my shades, and this works best for me so far although I've not tried the gutter.
I still have to take my shades off and wipe my face periodically, and on long slow climbs I remove my shades and put them on my helmet.
Just to be clear I don't mean a regular Buff, I mean their fastwick helmet liners
I bought a 1980s style Terry toweling thing. (though it's in enduro fluro so maybe it's a 90s thing)
I look like John McEnroe but it does work remarkably well.
Take one cheapie Buff-a-like tubular knitted nylon garment of your choice and cut it in half. Put that on your head 'twixt bonce and lid. Hey presto, sweat is wicked away beautifully, no more stinging eyes.
Cheap, simple, works.
Have you looked at Bell? I have a Super DH and the sweat tab really seems to work. It’s just a little tab at the front that ensures the sweat drips in front of your face rather than running down it.
Buff user here too. Keeps the head cool in summer and warm in winter. Wicks the sweat away in all but the warmest conditions. Had mine on during this years Etape du tour where it was in the high 30’s. Head was hot of course but would have been without buff but no sweat dripping onto the face so was wicking even in those conditions. Sweat was dripping off my chin from areas not covered by the buff, but the head was not dripping sweat. Also has the benefit of preventing smelly helmet issue.
Take one cheapie Buff-a-like tubular knitted nylon garment of your choice and cut it in half. Put that on your head ‘twixt bonce and lid. Hey presto, sweat is wicked away beautifully, no more stinging eyes.
I've tried that, again after about 20mons sweat starts to seep through. Halo band are the same.
Strangly the mrs suggested botox, it either stops sewating or i'm looking like a dried rasin.
Bell for me as well , the sweat channel thing seems to work . The sweat doesn’t end up in your eyes anyway
Have you looked at Bell? I have a Super DH and the sweat tab really seems to work. It’s just a little tab at the front that ensures the sweat drips in front of your face rather than running down it.
Funny how I read this thread then the above post just 3 days after buying a Bell 4Forty from Go Outdoors.
I'm a sweaty git as well so was Itching to try the new lid on a ride, & sure enough the sweat soon started appearing, but as mentioned it gathered in the middle at the front & just dripped off without being a pain in the eyes.
So yes, try a Bell.
instead of looking for even more garments to add to your obviously too warm cycling uniform stop wearing a helmet and stop wearing gloves and always wear short sleeved tops.
I've also just got a Bell 4forty and been impressed with the sweat wizardry.
Recommended.
My bell road/XC helmet has the sweat guide, but I find it only sort of works. I keeps light sweat out of my eyes, but the drip guide can get saturated, and it normally drips on a descent which then runs down my sun glasses. I have taken to squeezing the tab with my thumb every now and then on a climb to empty it out.
When it is hot or I am in hotter climates, I use a halo headband to move the sweat away.
The Halo beanie arrived this week. Been on a few rides now and whilst wearing what looks like a winter insulating skullcap feels a bit counterintuitive, the result is profound. It isn’t hot to wear at all and it totally works! No sweating down my forehead into my eyes at all even on slow hard grunty climbs with no breeze to wick the sweat away. I am a convert and can definitely recommend it as an option to my fellow sweaters!
I use these.
Being bald and sweaty I can't fault them.
Another one for the Bell four forty !
instead of looking for even more garments to add to your obviously too warm cycling uniform stop wearing a helmet and stop wearing gloves and always wear short sleeved tops.
I could cycle naked in winter and still sweat, I've had sweat freeze to my crossbar in the past, just accept that some people actually sweat more than others or stop trolling?
I'm also a sweaty bar steward. Some helmets are better than others but non are perfect and I need to wear a buff or something in any temp above 15 degrees.
I tried most products which are supposed to held. The worse is the sweat Gutr, the sweat just overflows out the front when I lean forward. It also looks stupid.
Halo is nice and lightweight and helps but the silicone section isn't wide enough so the sweat runs down my temples and forward on to my eyes / glasses.
Head sweats extreme works really well as a combo if terry toweling rim with light weight cap for evaporation. The 'bandana tail' of it is annoying though and on hot days it gets water logged.
A lightweight buff cut into 3, works ok and is cheap but again it gets water logged.
I have a Specialized Prevail and the worst of the sweat magically drops off the front of the lid, down to the ground, avoiding my nose and eyes. I didn't know it would do that when I bought it, but it does. It's also very light and cooling on a hot day. It's my favourite-ever lid for those reasons and it's also comfy.
Cheers all, will try the halo beanie and will also see if I can find somewhere with stock of the DRT5, I like the fact there's very few foam pads in it.