Cycling in winter: Twelve warm helmet caps put to the test

Admittedly, helmet caps with their bathing cap look are not a fashion highlight, but they are practical and sensible: the thin fabric caps keep your cold-sensitive head cosy and warm when cold air whistles through the helmet's ventilation slits. However, only those models that provide good protection and don't get in the way under the helmet have what it takes to become your favourite hat.

Comfort of helmet caps

As there is hardly any space between the skull and the shell, the helmet cap should ideally be thin and not bulky. As few and flat seams as possible are an advantage; seam crossings or thickenings can be just as uncomfortable in the long run as circumferential seams exactly at ear level. Whether you prefer a cap with or without a peak is, as is so often the case, a question of personal preference. On the one hand, such a small cap can shield your goggles from rain and dirt, but on the other hand it can also restrict your field of vision. As a general rule, the peak must not be too stiff, otherwise there will be an edge at the transition to the cap, which can press painfully on the forehead and temples and leave red welts, especially under tight helmets.

Quiet and loud helmet caps for road cyclists

Wearing comfort also includes whether a helmet cap causes more or less wind noise on the ear. This is influenced both by the cut or the fit of the cap over the ears and by the material used. It is naturally louder under light, net-like mesh than under thicker fabric; if the fabric is tight around the ear, it will generally be quieter underneath than if the wind can slip under the brim. We have documented the subjective impressions of the testers on a fast descent.

Which cycling cap for winter?

Weather conditions, the intensity of exertion on the bike and individual sensitivity to the cold determine which helmet cap is the right one. The lightest models weigh around 20 grams and only have a windproof membrane at the front in the forehead area, while the rest is made of large-pored and vapour-permeable material that barely covers the ears and neck. Caps of this type are popular with cyclists who are less sensitive to the cold and also like to train intensively during the cold season. These lightweight caps protect against draughts, but prevent you from wearing a damp cloth under your helmet after a while, which makes your head feel even colder.

If you like it cosier or get cold more easily, you will probably find your favourite hat in the slightly thicker and heavier models from 30 grams. The windproof material of these candidates is partly processed in the form of a headband so that sweat can evaporate upwards; brushed Roubaix material on the inside serves as a thin layer of insulation. All in all, these caps offer a good compromise for a wide range of uses.

The warmest and tightest caps have large wind protection and padding all round, keeping you cosy and warm and reliably keeping out the wind. However, it can become almost too warm underneath even with light exertion.

In our experience, the best all-rounder is the Velocio bonnet, which provides very good protection, fits very comfortably under the helmet and causes the least wind noise. And we'll discuss the appearance of the helmet caps at another time.

The helmet caps in the test

How TOUR tests

Wearing comfort (50%): Each test cap was tried out and ridden together with the test riders' favourite helmet. The testers documented any pressure points. On a fast descent, any wind noise was subjectively recorded and also documented.

Weather protection (40%): It is important that the forehead, temples and ears are effectively protected from the wind. Plus points are awarded if water rolls off and the material does not become soaked.

Equipment (10%): Details count here: a small peak that protects the cycling goggles from splashes of dirt, mesh material that allows sweat to evaporate easily.

Café du Cycliste: Belgian Cap

• Price: 50 Euro
• Country of production: Italy
• Weight: 60 grammes
• EquipmentShield, mesh lining
• Insulation: high
• Wearing comfort (50%): 2.7
• Weather protection (40%): 2.3
• Equipment (10%): 2.0
• Overall grade: 2.5
• ConclusionWarm and windproof all round, covers the head extensively, pressure points on forehead and temples possible, hardly any wind noise

Gore Wear: C3 Gore WS Helmet Cap

• Price: 30 Euro >> available from Rose, for example
• Country of production: China
• Weight: 32 grammes
• EquipmentReflective logo
• Insulation: medium
• Wearing comfort (50%): 2.0
• Weather protection (40%): 1.3
• Equipment (10%): 1.5
• Overall grade: 1.7
• ConclusionAll-round weather protection in headband form, vapour permeable at the top, high wearing comfort, all-round fit, available in two sizes, also in signal colour, makes wind noise

Castelli: Difesa Thermal Cap

• Price: 35 Euro >> available from Delta-Bike, for example
• Country of production: Vietnam
• Weight: 39 grammes
• Equipment: Shield, reflective material
• Isolation: medium
• Wearing comfort (50%): 2.3
• Weather protection (40%): 1.3
• Equipment (10%): 2.0
• Overall grade: 1.9
• ConclusionAll-round weather protection in headband form, vapour permeable at the top, high wearing comfort, all-round fit, available in two sizes, also in signal colour, makes wind noise

Gripgrab: Windproof Winter Cycling Cap

• Price: 35 Euro >> to the Example at Alltricks or Available on Amazon
• Country of production: Pakistan
• Weight: 49 grammes
• EquipmentShield, over the ear Roubaix material
• Insulation: warm
• Wearing comfort (50%): 2.0
• Weather protection (40%): 1.0
• Equipment (10%): 1.0
• Overall grade: 1.5
• Conclusion: Very warm, windproof and water-repellent all round, fluffy on the ears, hardly any pressure points despite a lot of material, hardly any wind noise, available in three sizes

Craft: Active Extreme X Wind Hat

• Price: 35 Euro >> available from Rose, for example
• Country of production: Lithuania
• Weight: 18 grammes
• Equipment: -
• Insulation: low to medium
• Wearing comfort (50%): 2.3
• Weather protection (40%): 2.3
• Equipment (10%): 4.0
• Overall grade: 2.5
• Facit: Extremely light, windproof only at the forehead, very vapour permeable, for intensive use, the circumferential seam can press on the top of the ear cup, makes wind noise, two sizes

Bontrager: Windshell bicycle helmet cap

• Price: 20 Euro
• Country of production: Vietnam
• Weight: 31 grammes
• Equipment: -
• Insulation: medium
• Wearing comfort (50%): 1.0
• Weather protection (40%): 3.0
• Equipment (10%): 4,0
• Overall grade: 2.1
• ConclusionVery light, narrow windproof strip, vapour permeable, high wearing comfort without pressure points, hardly any wind noise, inexpensive

Poc: Thermal Cap

• Price: 50 Euro >> available from Alltricks, for example
• Country of production: Romania
• Weight: 48 grammes
• EquipmentShield, Roubaix ear pads
• Insulation: warm
• Wearing comfort (50%): 3.0
• Weather protection (40%): 1.3
• Equipment (10%): 1.5
• Overall grade: 2.2
• Facit: All-round windproof and water-repellent, fluffy on the ear, covers the head over a large area, pressure points possible due to circumferential seam, hardly any wind noise, two sizes available

Sportful: Helmet Liner

• Price: 40 Euro >> available from Bobshop, for example
• Country of production: Bosnia
• Weight: 41 grammes
• EquipmentUmbrella, Roubaix lining
• Insulation: medium
• Wearing comfort (50%): 3.0
• Weather protection (40%): 1.3
• Equipment (10%): 2.5
• Overall grade: 2.3
• ConclusionFront section well protected against wind and water, mesh material at the back and ears, edge of peak presses on the forehead, makes wind noise

Rapha: Peaked Merino Hat

• Price: 40 Euro >> the helmet cap is available directly from Rapha
• Country of production: Vietnam
• Weight: 41 grammes
• EquipmentUmbrella, merino material
• InsulationMedium to warm
• Wearing comfort (50%): 2.0
• Weather protection (40%): 2.0
• Equipment (10%): 2.0
• Overall grade: 2.0
• ConclusionWind and water-repellent material on the forehead, otherwise fluffy merino wool, from a head circumference of 58 cm the edge of the peak can be a little tight, makes wind noise

Velocio: Zero Cycling Cap

• Price: 79 Euro
• Country of production: Italy
• Weight: 45 grammes
• EquipmentUmbrella, Roubaix lining
• Insulation: warm
• Wearing comfort (50%): 1.0
• Weather protection (40%): 1.7
• Equipment (10%): 1.5
• Overall grade: 1.3
• ConclusionWind and water-repellent material on the forehead, otherwise fluffy merino wool, from a head circumference of 58 cm the edge of the peak can be a little tight, makes wind noise

Löffler: Windstopper Cycling Skull Cap

• Price: 35 Euro >> available from Rosebikes, for example
• Country of production: Austria
• Weight: 35 grammes
• Equipmentover the ear Roubaix material
• InsulationMedium to warm
• Wearing comfort (50%): 2.0
• Weather protection (40%): 1.0
• Equipment (10%): 1.5
• Overall grade: 1.6
• ConclusionWindproof and water-repellent all round, great wearing comfort without pressure points, covers the head extensively, makes wind noise, two sizes available

Santini: XF helmet cap

• Price: 25 Euro
• Country of production: Italy
• Weight: 24 grammes
• Equipment: -
• Insulation: medium
• Wearing comfort (50%): 2.7
• Weather protection (40%): 2.3
• Equipment (10%): 4.0
• Overall grade: 2.7
• Conclusion: windproof but not water-repellent on the forehead, comfortable fabric; noticeable seam at the back of the head; runs very small, only fits well up to a circumference of 54 cm, makes wind noise