Keeping my ears warm while biking in the cold with a helmet











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Biking in the Northeast has become a challenge lately because of the cold; my ears freeze.



I can't wear a hat (because of my helmet) - I never actually tried, maybe I can.



Sometimes I'll put my hood on and then my helmet on top of that, it looks really weird. (Helmets look weird, hooded helmets are a whole new level of weird.)



I'm wondering if there are any other solutions.





I normally have a single Bluetooth earbud in one of my ears as well, not sure if that makes a difference.










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  • 3




    Just use one of them ninja masks
    – Nick M
    2 days ago






  • 3




    Use a head band (e.g. Gore Bike Wear Windstopper Headband) and/or a thin cap.
    – Michael
    yesterday






  • 4




    If your hood keeps your ears warm, the helmet still fits well with your hood on and the hood doesn't obstruct vision, you should just wear the hood, regardless of how "weird" it looks.
    – Johnny
    yesterday






  • 1




    I wear a thin woollen beanie under my helmet. I look like a plonker, but it works just fine.
    – Strawberry
    yesterday






  • 2




    When it's not so cold I use a Buff under the helmet (wearing it using "pirate" method - see the instruction), when it gets colder I switch to a ski helmet (I know, but it's better than nothing)
    – k102
    yesterday















up vote
18
down vote

favorite
2












Biking in the Northeast has become a challenge lately because of the cold; my ears freeze.



I can't wear a hat (because of my helmet) - I never actually tried, maybe I can.



Sometimes I'll put my hood on and then my helmet on top of that, it looks really weird. (Helmets look weird, hooded helmets are a whole new level of weird.)



I'm wondering if there are any other solutions.





I normally have a single Bluetooth earbud in one of my ears as well, not sure if that makes a difference.










share|improve this question









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WELZ is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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  • 3




    Just use one of them ninja masks
    – Nick M
    2 days ago






  • 3




    Use a head band (e.g. Gore Bike Wear Windstopper Headband) and/or a thin cap.
    – Michael
    yesterday






  • 4




    If your hood keeps your ears warm, the helmet still fits well with your hood on and the hood doesn't obstruct vision, you should just wear the hood, regardless of how "weird" it looks.
    – Johnny
    yesterday






  • 1




    I wear a thin woollen beanie under my helmet. I look like a plonker, but it works just fine.
    – Strawberry
    yesterday






  • 2




    When it's not so cold I use a Buff under the helmet (wearing it using "pirate" method - see the instruction), when it gets colder I switch to a ski helmet (I know, but it's better than nothing)
    – k102
    yesterday













up vote
18
down vote

favorite
2









up vote
18
down vote

favorite
2






2





Biking in the Northeast has become a challenge lately because of the cold; my ears freeze.



I can't wear a hat (because of my helmet) - I never actually tried, maybe I can.



Sometimes I'll put my hood on and then my helmet on top of that, it looks really weird. (Helmets look weird, hooded helmets are a whole new level of weird.)



I'm wondering if there are any other solutions.





I normally have a single Bluetooth earbud in one of my ears as well, not sure if that makes a difference.










share|improve this question









New contributor




WELZ is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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Biking in the Northeast has become a challenge lately because of the cold; my ears freeze.



I can't wear a hat (because of my helmet) - I never actually tried, maybe I can.



Sometimes I'll put my hood on and then my helmet on top of that, it looks really weird. (Helmets look weird, hooded helmets are a whole new level of weird.)



I'm wondering if there are any other solutions.





I normally have a single Bluetooth earbud in one of my ears as well, not sure if that makes a difference.







helmets weather coolweather






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edited 2 days ago





















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  • 3




    Just use one of them ninja masks
    – Nick M
    2 days ago






  • 3




    Use a head band (e.g. Gore Bike Wear Windstopper Headband) and/or a thin cap.
    – Michael
    yesterday






  • 4




    If your hood keeps your ears warm, the helmet still fits well with your hood on and the hood doesn't obstruct vision, you should just wear the hood, regardless of how "weird" it looks.
    – Johnny
    yesterday






  • 1




    I wear a thin woollen beanie under my helmet. I look like a plonker, but it works just fine.
    – Strawberry
    yesterday






  • 2




    When it's not so cold I use a Buff under the helmet (wearing it using "pirate" method - see the instruction), when it gets colder I switch to a ski helmet (I know, but it's better than nothing)
    – k102
    yesterday














  • 3




    Just use one of them ninja masks
    – Nick M
    2 days ago






  • 3




    Use a head band (e.g. Gore Bike Wear Windstopper Headband) and/or a thin cap.
    – Michael
    yesterday






  • 4




    If your hood keeps your ears warm, the helmet still fits well with your hood on and the hood doesn't obstruct vision, you should just wear the hood, regardless of how "weird" it looks.
    – Johnny
    yesterday






  • 1




    I wear a thin woollen beanie under my helmet. I look like a plonker, but it works just fine.
    – Strawberry
    yesterday






  • 2




    When it's not so cold I use a Buff under the helmet (wearing it using "pirate" method - see the instruction), when it gets colder I switch to a ski helmet (I know, but it's better than nothing)
    – k102
    yesterday








3




3




Just use one of them ninja masks
– Nick M
2 days ago




Just use one of them ninja masks
– Nick M
2 days ago




3




3




Use a head band (e.g. Gore Bike Wear Windstopper Headband) and/or a thin cap.
– Michael
yesterday




Use a head band (e.g. Gore Bike Wear Windstopper Headband) and/or a thin cap.
– Michael
yesterday




4




4




If your hood keeps your ears warm, the helmet still fits well with your hood on and the hood doesn't obstruct vision, you should just wear the hood, regardless of how "weird" it looks.
– Johnny
yesterday




If your hood keeps your ears warm, the helmet still fits well with your hood on and the hood doesn't obstruct vision, you should just wear the hood, regardless of how "weird" it looks.
– Johnny
yesterday




1




1




I wear a thin woollen beanie under my helmet. I look like a plonker, but it works just fine.
– Strawberry
yesterday




I wear a thin woollen beanie under my helmet. I look like a plonker, but it works just fine.
– Strawberry
yesterday




2




2




When it's not so cold I use a Buff under the helmet (wearing it using "pirate" method - see the instruction), when it gets colder I switch to a ski helmet (I know, but it's better than nothing)
– k102
yesterday




When it's not so cold I use a Buff under the helmet (wearing it using "pirate" method - see the instruction), when it gets colder I switch to a ski helmet (I know, but it's better than nothing)
– k102
yesterday










17 Answers
17






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up vote
17
down vote













Try searching for the term "ear band". They tend to be thin enough to comfortably wear under a helmet, and the good ones are fully wind-resistant, yet breathable.



If you have an open ventilation-style helmet, I recommend a helmet cover as well, which is a fabric sleeve that stretches over the top of the helmet which also significantly cuts wind passing through, and may be easier to use instead of a jacket hood (not to mention more streamlined). Install once per season.



Balaklavas or "dickies" are also good to protect the neck and shoulders, and there are also polar fleece neck warmers that may be more comfortable and can bunch up nicely under the back of the helmet.



Any quality of biking glasses/goggles are useful, too — look for ones with clear lenses — which will ensure your eyes don't get a full blast of cold directly.






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  • +1 for balaklavas! They're my favorite temperature regulation device- put it on when it's cold in the mornings, take it off after sunrise/warmup. Take it off before the big climb, put it on for the wind-in-my-hair descent. The one I got folds down really small, making it a no-brainer to take along, and it fits under the helmet easily. The bonus sun protection isn't too bad either!
    – ClimbsRocks
    yesterday






  • 6




    Don't be fooled by the ear band's thinness, it doesn't take much to keep your ears warm when they're not being hit by the wind directly. I use them well below freezing with great success.
    – Brad
    yesterday


















up vote
13
down vote













I have a thin material tube that can be used for a lot of things. Also called a headsock or necksock or a buff.



I wear mine around my neck, with the top edge at my mouth/nose, and up over my ears at the back. The lower edge rides on my shoulders and slightly over my collarbone. Some buffs have a split on both sides and cover the top of the chest a bit.



Then on top of this I wear a cycling cap with a visor (my commute is into the sun both ways and helmet lacks a visor.)



Downsides, covering the mouth leads to problems with dampness from the breath, and contributes to steamy glasses.



Also, if you're biking fast enough you warm up with the effort and can get too hot, even in the cold.



Links:




  • https://www.dx.com/p/all-seasons-multi-functional-headwear-grey-124608#.W-k-P3UzbmE

  • https://www.dx.com/p/all-seasons-multi-functional-headwear-violet-274338#.W-k-H3UzbmE






share|improve this answer



















  • 2




    Yes I wear one of these around my neck and over the top of my head to cover my ears - it's amazing how a single layer of thin material it enough to keep the chill out of ones ears.
    – Mr_Thyroid
    yesterday






  • 1




    These are standard issue for motorbikes as well, surprisingly effective even at much higher speeds.
    – Separatrix
    17 hours ago


















up vote
10
down vote













This is an unconventional answer but it works for me.



I have an aero TT helmet that has fairings over the ears. The reason the fairings exist is to reduce my head's aerodynamic drag, but in doing so, it also takes my ears out of the boundary layer and keeps them toasty warm in winter.



Good luck






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  • This is crazy but I love it. Welcome to the site!
    – David Richerby
    yesterday


















up vote
8
down vote













Living in Sweden, I know what you're talking about. Because I like wearing a hat for any temperature below 10°C (50°F) and it can be -20°C (-4°F) in the winter, I have a special hat for usage under my bicycle helmet. For the warmer days I just use a thin buff, which I can always keep in my pocket due to its limited size. For the colder days I have a hat without anything on top of it (e.g. no pom-pom). I noticed the helmet is not very friendly for the fabric, it will wear out a little bit and start looking ugly, so do not use your favourite hat for it. Because the thickness of the hat is just a few millimetres, only a small adjustment of the helmet is needed.






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  • 1




    Yeah, it's called "thermal cap". At least looking up "running thermal cap" yields it.
    – Agent_L
    15 hours ago


















up vote
6
down vote













When it's cold enough here, I use a toque (or beanie or knit cap or whatever you call it in your part of the world) under my helmet. It's thin enough that a small adjustment of my helmet is all that is needed for a comfortable fit. Mine fits over my ears and doesn't interfere with headphones.






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    up vote
    5
    down vote













    I have a chillcheater skull cap for kayaking. It's designed to fit under a helmet and keeps the wind off your ears while also holding them closer to your head (warmer in its own right). I've tried it on the bike in a UK winter, and found it too warm for significant effort -- but our winters are warmer.






    share|improve this answer





















    • If you google "Bicycle cap under helmet" or similar you will find some suitable examples. My SO wears one in cold weather.
      – RedSonja
      yesterday


















    up vote
    3
    down vote













    Having a proper headwear under your helmet should be a preferred way to keep oneself warm. However, for the picture's completeness, I want to mention using different types of helmets in winter: full-face MTB and moped/motorcycle helmets.



    They are heavier and pricier than regular "open" helmets, but they have much less ventilation, and often come with some sort of goggles to cover your face even more. Both aspects are beneficial in winter.



    Another thing is that these helmets are also certified for riding two-wheeled (non-)motorized vehicles, if this is something you are concerned with. Other types of "warmer" helmets, such as ski helmets or water-rafting helmets, may not be tested against the types of impacts that may happen in a bicycle/motorcycle crash. You need to check certifications of a helmet before using it in possibly unintended conditions.






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    • 3




      I've never heard anyone report good experiences of cycling in a motorbike helmet. The lack of visibility (motorbikes have rear-view mirros), sound insulation (ditto) and OMG-my-neck-is-going-to-snap-from-this-weight are all significant disadvantages.
      – David Richerby
      yesterday










    • Yeah, @DavidRicherby, but think how strong your neck muscles will be from a winter's riding season with a full-face motorcycle helmet on your head! ;)
      – FreeMan
      yesterday






    • 1




      @FreeMan Probably about this strong, which is useful for winter!
      – David Richerby
      yesterday










    • @DavidRicherby meh... that's just light power... :) But also a useful skill!
      – FreeMan
      yesterday










    • I used to use a very thin windbreaker style hoodie and it worked until I switched jackets. Now when the weather is super cold, I generally ride my human powered bicycle with a motorcycle helmet made by Bell. Aside from the visibility, sound insulation and neck issues already mentioned by Richerby, you may also have trouble drinking from your water bottle and moving the plastic bug shield when it freezes up. Now a days, I actually prefer the motorcycle helmet in extreme cold because I no longer have to adjust my helmet straps for a hoodie or whatever before and after rides.
      – Shawn Eary
      23 hours ago




















    up vote
    3
    down vote













    There are literally hundreds of cycling specific headwear items available in the US that can keep your head and ears warm in cold weather, that are thin enough to fit under a helmet (and not look too strange).



    Just google 'bicycle headwear cold' and you'll find many choices; from headbands that keep the ears warm, but allow for cooling from the top of the head; simple skullcap type hats that insulate head and tops of ears; hats with extended ear and neck protection flaps; to full-face and neck balaclavas.



    I've even seen casual cycling helmets that come with a fitter liner with ear flaps that attaches to the chin strap 'fork' that goes either side of the ears.






    share|improve this answer






























      up vote
      2
      down vote













      My wife knitted me a pair of bike helmet earmuffs from a pattern similar to this: http://brineydeepdesigns.blogspot.com/2008/10/free-pattern-bike-helmet-earmuffs.html



      They do pretty well at keeping the wind off my ears.






      share|improve this answer

















      • 2




        Time to find a wife like yours... :P
        – WELZ
        yesterday


















      up vote
      2
      down vote













      Well, having bicycled through Finnish winters in our cold coastal regions, my tips should be helpful :)



      When it's around +5 ... -5 C (41 F ... 23 F), I usually wear a thin bandana that covers the ears:
      enter image description here



      Then when it goes a bit lower, around -5 C ... -15 C (23 F ... 5 F), I wear a bit thicker fleece beanie which has no "band" in the bottom:
      enter image description here



      And then I loosen the helmet from the headsize adjustment so that it still fits fairly snugly and is not loose. You might also need to adjust the chin strap.



      And for the real wintertime, between -15 C and -32 C (5 F ... -25 F) - the coldest I've bicycled in, but I didn't feel cold - I have the above fleece beanie and also a fairly thick wool pipe collar that starts from below the throat until all the way to the ears:
      enter image description here



      That keeps me warm :)



      Also remember to dress in layers in wintertime:




      • The bottom layer should be technical moisture wickening / merino wool

      • The middle layer should be warm and slightly loose fleece

      • The outer layer should be water and windproof but breathing, eg. goretex, softshell, etc.

      • Two pairs of socks - thin moisture wickening and then wool socks :)

      • Same for gloves: wool gloves and then water and windproof thick gloves where your index, middle, ring and pinky fingers are all in one "big finger".


      And one more thing: Don't overdress! You will start sweating and then you'll feel miserable. Dress like you would when walking in 10 degrees C warmer weather. So if it's -25 C (-13 F), dress like you would in -15 C (5 F).






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      • Welcome to the site!
        – David Richerby
        14 hours ago










      • The question is about protecting ears so I would remove the general stuff about dressing in layers.
        – JiK
        4 hours ago


















      up vote
      2
      down vote













      A completely different solution would be a thin but warm hat and a Hövding airbag collar. Not cheap, but I see plenty of people with that combination in Malmö, Sweden (probably because they’re a local company). Added bonus: it keeps your neck warm too.



      Edit: hadn’t realised these were only for sale in Europe and Japan. I guess from OP’s “Northeast” that they mean north east USA, which might make this answer a little harder.






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        up vote
        2
        down vote













        We've got plenty of good answers already so just want to share my head warm set up depending on the temperature. I also live in Sweden and in my daily commutes experience from +25C to -20C.



        +15C and up - only helmet, no head wear.



        +5C to +15C - helmet with a cycling cap.



        +0C to +5C - this is where stuff gets serious. On the upper limit of the range it could still be acceptable to ride without any ear protection in a normal cycling cap, due to the fact that our ears (or at least mine) adapt really quickly to cold by increasing a blood flow. Otherwise light ski scarf on the ears could help, or light cycling cap with ear cover.



        -10C to +0C - for these conditions it's impossible to live without ear covers. I have winter cap with ear covers which is too warm, so mostly I use thin balaclava which goes around my face. Winter cap is not perfect for such conditions because you would also want to cover your neck. So too warm winter cap with ear covers in my case feels like a bad purchase.



        -20C to -10C - in these conditions it's very important to both protect your face and your lungs. This is when I go for a full face balaclava for cycling with breath holes and ski goggles.



        Hope my experience would help anyone to stay warm :)



        UPD: also would like to add that commuting in cold temperatures adds unexpected requirements to your face wear. When it comes to lower than 0+ temperatures I also use protective lipstick (very greasy, you come to this naturally) and of course always use protective glasses, transparent for the dark part of the year, which are getting replaced by ski goggles when stuff gets even more serious.






        share|improve this answer























        • Of course, different people will put these temperature bands in different places. (For example, I'd only start thinking about wearing a cap if the temperature got below about 5C. Actually, I'm kinda surprised that you live somewhere where the temperature gets down to -20C but you find 15C cold enough to need a cap.)
          – David Richerby
          14 hours ago












        • @DavidRicherby heh, it's slightly different from that :) ~15+ is the edge temperature when cap is not feeling too hot, and for some reason I prefer to wear it most of the time (it's comfortable and also gives you convenient sun blind like in your car :) While for around ~10+ it becomes a must.
          – Sapphire64
          4 hours ago


















        up vote
        1
        down vote













        There are dedicated ear warmers to be attached to bike helmet straps (similar to those on ski helmets). There are photos on this blog post about "cat ears". I myself use hot ears. (I did note make a survey of all manufacturers that produce these. I just listed the first I found online).



        Other than these, some bike fashion manufacturers produce dedicated thin hats to be worn under the helmet from some windproof fabric, that are cut out to cover the eary but leave enough of forehead and neck free, so you don't push it up when turning your head forward. I don't think though they are in practice much different than a buff.



        With either (hot hears or under-helmet-hat) I'm not always satisfied as the helmet straps put very little pressure on them (from the side against the hat), so there is no force preventing a gap between head and tissue, through which the wind can blow in. I suspect that depends on the shape of your head, but in any case they are better than nothing. On very cold days I go with the combination under-helmet-hat + hot-ears which does a good job at sealing the ears from wind.






        share|improve this answer




























          up vote
          1
          down vote













          I use a "buff" almost all around the year in the outdoors - it is just a tube of cloth which you can wrap around your neck or different parts of your head, i.e. the ears, or neck+ears, or neck+ears+head+forehead, or neck+ears+mouth/nose. Very flexible. Should fit under any helmet, especially if you use it to cover not the whole head, but mainly neck/ears.



          Also, ear muffs without the "bridge" part (trademark name seems to be "earbags"). Very nice, and may just be the right thing for your helmet, depending on its cut.






          share|improve this answer




























            up vote
            1
            down vote













            I use a set of earmuffs (eargrips brand) to bicycle in Montana winters. They fit below the helmet in the back. If you go for a helmet cover get one with some flair. I get smiles every time I ride with my Tail Wags dragon helmet cover. The covers are also great year round if your favorite helmet is starting to look faded.






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              up vote
              0
              down vote













              You can use a buff under the helmet and a wind (rain) cover over the helmet. I bike with this outfit during the winter and it keeps my head warm even with wind an snowy weather below -10 degrees C.






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                up vote
                0
                down vote













                Purchase a snowboarding helmet -- they are basically the same thing only fitted with internal insulation to .... keep you head and ears warm. It works great for me.






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                  17 Answers
                  17






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                  17 Answers
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                  up vote
                  17
                  down vote













                  Try searching for the term "ear band". They tend to be thin enough to comfortably wear under a helmet, and the good ones are fully wind-resistant, yet breathable.



                  If you have an open ventilation-style helmet, I recommend a helmet cover as well, which is a fabric sleeve that stretches over the top of the helmet which also significantly cuts wind passing through, and may be easier to use instead of a jacket hood (not to mention more streamlined). Install once per season.



                  Balaklavas or "dickies" are also good to protect the neck and shoulders, and there are also polar fleece neck warmers that may be more comfortable and can bunch up nicely under the back of the helmet.



                  Any quality of biking glasses/goggles are useful, too — look for ones with clear lenses — which will ensure your eyes don't get a full blast of cold directly.






                  share|improve this answer








                  New contributor




                  sidewaysdesign is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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                  • +1 for balaklavas! They're my favorite temperature regulation device- put it on when it's cold in the mornings, take it off after sunrise/warmup. Take it off before the big climb, put it on for the wind-in-my-hair descent. The one I got folds down really small, making it a no-brainer to take along, and it fits under the helmet easily. The bonus sun protection isn't too bad either!
                    – ClimbsRocks
                    yesterday






                  • 6




                    Don't be fooled by the ear band's thinness, it doesn't take much to keep your ears warm when they're not being hit by the wind directly. I use them well below freezing with great success.
                    – Brad
                    yesterday















                  up vote
                  17
                  down vote













                  Try searching for the term "ear band". They tend to be thin enough to comfortably wear under a helmet, and the good ones are fully wind-resistant, yet breathable.



                  If you have an open ventilation-style helmet, I recommend a helmet cover as well, which is a fabric sleeve that stretches over the top of the helmet which also significantly cuts wind passing through, and may be easier to use instead of a jacket hood (not to mention more streamlined). Install once per season.



                  Balaklavas or "dickies" are also good to protect the neck and shoulders, and there are also polar fleece neck warmers that may be more comfortable and can bunch up nicely under the back of the helmet.



                  Any quality of biking glasses/goggles are useful, too — look for ones with clear lenses — which will ensure your eyes don't get a full blast of cold directly.






                  share|improve this answer








                  New contributor




                  sidewaysdesign is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.


















                  • +1 for balaklavas! They're my favorite temperature regulation device- put it on when it's cold in the mornings, take it off after sunrise/warmup. Take it off before the big climb, put it on for the wind-in-my-hair descent. The one I got folds down really small, making it a no-brainer to take along, and it fits under the helmet easily. The bonus sun protection isn't too bad either!
                    – ClimbsRocks
                    yesterday






                  • 6




                    Don't be fooled by the ear band's thinness, it doesn't take much to keep your ears warm when they're not being hit by the wind directly. I use them well below freezing with great success.
                    – Brad
                    yesterday













                  up vote
                  17
                  down vote










                  up vote
                  17
                  down vote









                  Try searching for the term "ear band". They tend to be thin enough to comfortably wear under a helmet, and the good ones are fully wind-resistant, yet breathable.



                  If you have an open ventilation-style helmet, I recommend a helmet cover as well, which is a fabric sleeve that stretches over the top of the helmet which also significantly cuts wind passing through, and may be easier to use instead of a jacket hood (not to mention more streamlined). Install once per season.



                  Balaklavas or "dickies" are also good to protect the neck and shoulders, and there are also polar fleece neck warmers that may be more comfortable and can bunch up nicely under the back of the helmet.



                  Any quality of biking glasses/goggles are useful, too — look for ones with clear lenses — which will ensure your eyes don't get a full blast of cold directly.






                  share|improve this answer








                  New contributor




                  sidewaysdesign is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.









                  Try searching for the term "ear band". They tend to be thin enough to comfortably wear under a helmet, and the good ones are fully wind-resistant, yet breathable.



                  If you have an open ventilation-style helmet, I recommend a helmet cover as well, which is a fabric sleeve that stretches over the top of the helmet which also significantly cuts wind passing through, and may be easier to use instead of a jacket hood (not to mention more streamlined). Install once per season.



                  Balaklavas or "dickies" are also good to protect the neck and shoulders, and there are also polar fleece neck warmers that may be more comfortable and can bunch up nicely under the back of the helmet.



                  Any quality of biking glasses/goggles are useful, too — look for ones with clear lenses — which will ensure your eyes don't get a full blast of cold directly.







                  share|improve this answer








                  New contributor




                  sidewaysdesign is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.









                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer






                  New contributor




                  sidewaysdesign is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.









                  answered 2 days ago









                  sidewaysdesign

                  1712




                  1712




                  New contributor




                  sidewaysdesign is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.





                  New contributor





                  sidewaysdesign is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.






                  sidewaysdesign is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.












                  • +1 for balaklavas! They're my favorite temperature regulation device- put it on when it's cold in the mornings, take it off after sunrise/warmup. Take it off before the big climb, put it on for the wind-in-my-hair descent. The one I got folds down really small, making it a no-brainer to take along, and it fits under the helmet easily. The bonus sun protection isn't too bad either!
                    – ClimbsRocks
                    yesterday






                  • 6




                    Don't be fooled by the ear band's thinness, it doesn't take much to keep your ears warm when they're not being hit by the wind directly. I use them well below freezing with great success.
                    – Brad
                    yesterday


















                  • +1 for balaklavas! They're my favorite temperature regulation device- put it on when it's cold in the mornings, take it off after sunrise/warmup. Take it off before the big climb, put it on for the wind-in-my-hair descent. The one I got folds down really small, making it a no-brainer to take along, and it fits under the helmet easily. The bonus sun protection isn't too bad either!
                    – ClimbsRocks
                    yesterday






                  • 6




                    Don't be fooled by the ear band's thinness, it doesn't take much to keep your ears warm when they're not being hit by the wind directly. I use them well below freezing with great success.
                    – Brad
                    yesterday
















                  +1 for balaklavas! They're my favorite temperature regulation device- put it on when it's cold in the mornings, take it off after sunrise/warmup. Take it off before the big climb, put it on for the wind-in-my-hair descent. The one I got folds down really small, making it a no-brainer to take along, and it fits under the helmet easily. The bonus sun protection isn't too bad either!
                  – ClimbsRocks
                  yesterday




                  +1 for balaklavas! They're my favorite temperature regulation device- put it on when it's cold in the mornings, take it off after sunrise/warmup. Take it off before the big climb, put it on for the wind-in-my-hair descent. The one I got folds down really small, making it a no-brainer to take along, and it fits under the helmet easily. The bonus sun protection isn't too bad either!
                  – ClimbsRocks
                  yesterday




                  6




                  6




                  Don't be fooled by the ear band's thinness, it doesn't take much to keep your ears warm when they're not being hit by the wind directly. I use them well below freezing with great success.
                  – Brad
                  yesterday




                  Don't be fooled by the ear band's thinness, it doesn't take much to keep your ears warm when they're not being hit by the wind directly. I use them well below freezing with great success.
                  – Brad
                  yesterday










                  up vote
                  13
                  down vote













                  I have a thin material tube that can be used for a lot of things. Also called a headsock or necksock or a buff.



                  I wear mine around my neck, with the top edge at my mouth/nose, and up over my ears at the back. The lower edge rides on my shoulders and slightly over my collarbone. Some buffs have a split on both sides and cover the top of the chest a bit.



                  Then on top of this I wear a cycling cap with a visor (my commute is into the sun both ways and helmet lacks a visor.)



                  Downsides, covering the mouth leads to problems with dampness from the breath, and contributes to steamy glasses.



                  Also, if you're biking fast enough you warm up with the effort and can get too hot, even in the cold.



                  Links:




                  • https://www.dx.com/p/all-seasons-multi-functional-headwear-grey-124608#.W-k-P3UzbmE

                  • https://www.dx.com/p/all-seasons-multi-functional-headwear-violet-274338#.W-k-H3UzbmE






                  share|improve this answer



















                  • 2




                    Yes I wear one of these around my neck and over the top of my head to cover my ears - it's amazing how a single layer of thin material it enough to keep the chill out of ones ears.
                    – Mr_Thyroid
                    yesterday






                  • 1




                    These are standard issue for motorbikes as well, surprisingly effective even at much higher speeds.
                    – Separatrix
                    17 hours ago















                  up vote
                  13
                  down vote













                  I have a thin material tube that can be used for a lot of things. Also called a headsock or necksock or a buff.



                  I wear mine around my neck, with the top edge at my mouth/nose, and up over my ears at the back. The lower edge rides on my shoulders and slightly over my collarbone. Some buffs have a split on both sides and cover the top of the chest a bit.



                  Then on top of this I wear a cycling cap with a visor (my commute is into the sun both ways and helmet lacks a visor.)



                  Downsides, covering the mouth leads to problems with dampness from the breath, and contributes to steamy glasses.



                  Also, if you're biking fast enough you warm up with the effort and can get too hot, even in the cold.



                  Links:




                  • https://www.dx.com/p/all-seasons-multi-functional-headwear-grey-124608#.W-k-P3UzbmE

                  • https://www.dx.com/p/all-seasons-multi-functional-headwear-violet-274338#.W-k-H3UzbmE






                  share|improve this answer



















                  • 2




                    Yes I wear one of these around my neck and over the top of my head to cover my ears - it's amazing how a single layer of thin material it enough to keep the chill out of ones ears.
                    – Mr_Thyroid
                    yesterday






                  • 1




                    These are standard issue for motorbikes as well, surprisingly effective even at much higher speeds.
                    – Separatrix
                    17 hours ago













                  up vote
                  13
                  down vote










                  up vote
                  13
                  down vote









                  I have a thin material tube that can be used for a lot of things. Also called a headsock or necksock or a buff.



                  I wear mine around my neck, with the top edge at my mouth/nose, and up over my ears at the back. The lower edge rides on my shoulders and slightly over my collarbone. Some buffs have a split on both sides and cover the top of the chest a bit.



                  Then on top of this I wear a cycling cap with a visor (my commute is into the sun both ways and helmet lacks a visor.)



                  Downsides, covering the mouth leads to problems with dampness from the breath, and contributes to steamy glasses.



                  Also, if you're biking fast enough you warm up with the effort and can get too hot, even in the cold.



                  Links:




                  • https://www.dx.com/p/all-seasons-multi-functional-headwear-grey-124608#.W-k-P3UzbmE

                  • https://www.dx.com/p/all-seasons-multi-functional-headwear-violet-274338#.W-k-H3UzbmE






                  share|improve this answer














                  I have a thin material tube that can be used for a lot of things. Also called a headsock or necksock or a buff.



                  I wear mine around my neck, with the top edge at my mouth/nose, and up over my ears at the back. The lower edge rides on my shoulders and slightly over my collarbone. Some buffs have a split on both sides and cover the top of the chest a bit.



                  Then on top of this I wear a cycling cap with a visor (my commute is into the sun both ways and helmet lacks a visor.)



                  Downsides, covering the mouth leads to problems with dampness from the breath, and contributes to steamy glasses.



                  Also, if you're biking fast enough you warm up with the effort and can get too hot, even in the cold.



                  Links:




                  • https://www.dx.com/p/all-seasons-multi-functional-headwear-grey-124608#.W-k-P3UzbmE

                  • https://www.dx.com/p/all-seasons-multi-functional-headwear-violet-274338#.W-k-H3UzbmE







                  share|improve this answer














                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer








                  edited yesterday

























                  answered yesterday









                  Criggie

                  41.5k567138




                  41.5k567138








                  • 2




                    Yes I wear one of these around my neck and over the top of my head to cover my ears - it's amazing how a single layer of thin material it enough to keep the chill out of ones ears.
                    – Mr_Thyroid
                    yesterday






                  • 1




                    These are standard issue for motorbikes as well, surprisingly effective even at much higher speeds.
                    – Separatrix
                    17 hours ago














                  • 2




                    Yes I wear one of these around my neck and over the top of my head to cover my ears - it's amazing how a single layer of thin material it enough to keep the chill out of ones ears.
                    – Mr_Thyroid
                    yesterday






                  • 1




                    These are standard issue for motorbikes as well, surprisingly effective even at much higher speeds.
                    – Separatrix
                    17 hours ago








                  2




                  2




                  Yes I wear one of these around my neck and over the top of my head to cover my ears - it's amazing how a single layer of thin material it enough to keep the chill out of ones ears.
                  – Mr_Thyroid
                  yesterday




                  Yes I wear one of these around my neck and over the top of my head to cover my ears - it's amazing how a single layer of thin material it enough to keep the chill out of ones ears.
                  – Mr_Thyroid
                  yesterday




                  1




                  1




                  These are standard issue for motorbikes as well, surprisingly effective even at much higher speeds.
                  – Separatrix
                  17 hours ago




                  These are standard issue for motorbikes as well, surprisingly effective even at much higher speeds.
                  – Separatrix
                  17 hours ago










                  up vote
                  10
                  down vote













                  This is an unconventional answer but it works for me.



                  I have an aero TT helmet that has fairings over the ears. The reason the fairings exist is to reduce my head's aerodynamic drag, but in doing so, it also takes my ears out of the boundary layer and keeps them toasty warm in winter.



                  Good luck






                  share|improve this answer





















                  • This is crazy but I love it. Welcome to the site!
                    – David Richerby
                    yesterday















                  up vote
                  10
                  down vote













                  This is an unconventional answer but it works for me.



                  I have an aero TT helmet that has fairings over the ears. The reason the fairings exist is to reduce my head's aerodynamic drag, but in doing so, it also takes my ears out of the boundary layer and keeps them toasty warm in winter.



                  Good luck






                  share|improve this answer





















                  • This is crazy but I love it. Welcome to the site!
                    – David Richerby
                    yesterday













                  up vote
                  10
                  down vote










                  up vote
                  10
                  down vote









                  This is an unconventional answer but it works for me.



                  I have an aero TT helmet that has fairings over the ears. The reason the fairings exist is to reduce my head's aerodynamic drag, but in doing so, it also takes my ears out of the boundary layer and keeps them toasty warm in winter.



                  Good luck






                  share|improve this answer












                  This is an unconventional answer but it works for me.



                  I have an aero TT helmet that has fairings over the ears. The reason the fairings exist is to reduce my head's aerodynamic drag, but in doing so, it also takes my ears out of the boundary layer and keeps them toasty warm in winter.



                  Good luck







                  share|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer










                  answered yesterday









                  Bill

                  1435




                  1435












                  • This is crazy but I love it. Welcome to the site!
                    – David Richerby
                    yesterday


















                  • This is crazy but I love it. Welcome to the site!
                    – David Richerby
                    yesterday
















                  This is crazy but I love it. Welcome to the site!
                  – David Richerby
                  yesterday




                  This is crazy but I love it. Welcome to the site!
                  – David Richerby
                  yesterday










                  up vote
                  8
                  down vote













                  Living in Sweden, I know what you're talking about. Because I like wearing a hat for any temperature below 10°C (50°F) and it can be -20°C (-4°F) in the winter, I have a special hat for usage under my bicycle helmet. For the warmer days I just use a thin buff, which I can always keep in my pocket due to its limited size. For the colder days I have a hat without anything on top of it (e.g. no pom-pom). I noticed the helmet is not very friendly for the fabric, it will wear out a little bit and start looking ugly, so do not use your favourite hat for it. Because the thickness of the hat is just a few millimetres, only a small adjustment of the helmet is needed.






                  share|improve this answer










                  New contributor




                  Johan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.














                  • 1




                    Yeah, it's called "thermal cap". At least looking up "running thermal cap" yields it.
                    – Agent_L
                    15 hours ago















                  up vote
                  8
                  down vote













                  Living in Sweden, I know what you're talking about. Because I like wearing a hat for any temperature below 10°C (50°F) and it can be -20°C (-4°F) in the winter, I have a special hat for usage under my bicycle helmet. For the warmer days I just use a thin buff, which I can always keep in my pocket due to its limited size. For the colder days I have a hat without anything on top of it (e.g. no pom-pom). I noticed the helmet is not very friendly for the fabric, it will wear out a little bit and start looking ugly, so do not use your favourite hat for it. Because the thickness of the hat is just a few millimetres, only a small adjustment of the helmet is needed.






                  share|improve this answer










                  New contributor




                  Johan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.














                  • 1




                    Yeah, it's called "thermal cap". At least looking up "running thermal cap" yields it.
                    – Agent_L
                    15 hours ago













                  up vote
                  8
                  down vote










                  up vote
                  8
                  down vote









                  Living in Sweden, I know what you're talking about. Because I like wearing a hat for any temperature below 10°C (50°F) and it can be -20°C (-4°F) in the winter, I have a special hat for usage under my bicycle helmet. For the warmer days I just use a thin buff, which I can always keep in my pocket due to its limited size. For the colder days I have a hat without anything on top of it (e.g. no pom-pom). I noticed the helmet is not very friendly for the fabric, it will wear out a little bit and start looking ugly, so do not use your favourite hat for it. Because the thickness of the hat is just a few millimetres, only a small adjustment of the helmet is needed.






                  share|improve this answer










                  New contributor




                  Johan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.









                  Living in Sweden, I know what you're talking about. Because I like wearing a hat for any temperature below 10°C (50°F) and it can be -20°C (-4°F) in the winter, I have a special hat for usage under my bicycle helmet. For the warmer days I just use a thin buff, which I can always keep in my pocket due to its limited size. For the colder days I have a hat without anything on top of it (e.g. no pom-pom). I noticed the helmet is not very friendly for the fabric, it will wear out a little bit and start looking ugly, so do not use your favourite hat for it. Because the thickness of the hat is just a few millimetres, only a small adjustment of the helmet is needed.







                  share|improve this answer










                  New contributor




                  Johan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.









                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer








                  edited yesterday









                  David Richerby

                  8,77422849




                  8,77422849






                  New contributor




                  Johan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.









                  answered yesterday









                  Johan

                  811




                  811




                  New contributor




                  Johan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.





                  New contributor





                  Johan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.






                  Johan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.








                  • 1




                    Yeah, it's called "thermal cap". At least looking up "running thermal cap" yields it.
                    – Agent_L
                    15 hours ago














                  • 1




                    Yeah, it's called "thermal cap". At least looking up "running thermal cap" yields it.
                    – Agent_L
                    15 hours ago








                  1




                  1




                  Yeah, it's called "thermal cap". At least looking up "running thermal cap" yields it.
                  – Agent_L
                  15 hours ago




                  Yeah, it's called "thermal cap". At least looking up "running thermal cap" yields it.
                  – Agent_L
                  15 hours ago










                  up vote
                  6
                  down vote













                  When it's cold enough here, I use a toque (or beanie or knit cap or whatever you call it in your part of the world) under my helmet. It's thin enough that a small adjustment of my helmet is all that is needed for a comfortable fit. Mine fits over my ears and doesn't interfere with headphones.






                  share|improve this answer

























                    up vote
                    6
                    down vote













                    When it's cold enough here, I use a toque (or beanie or knit cap or whatever you call it in your part of the world) under my helmet. It's thin enough that a small adjustment of my helmet is all that is needed for a comfortable fit. Mine fits over my ears and doesn't interfere with headphones.






                    share|improve this answer























                      up vote
                      6
                      down vote










                      up vote
                      6
                      down vote









                      When it's cold enough here, I use a toque (or beanie or knit cap or whatever you call it in your part of the world) under my helmet. It's thin enough that a small adjustment of my helmet is all that is needed for a comfortable fit. Mine fits over my ears and doesn't interfere with headphones.






                      share|improve this answer












                      When it's cold enough here, I use a toque (or beanie or knit cap or whatever you call it in your part of the world) under my helmet. It's thin enough that a small adjustment of my helmet is all that is needed for a comfortable fit. Mine fits over my ears and doesn't interfere with headphones.







                      share|improve this answer












                      share|improve this answer



                      share|improve this answer










                      answered 2 days ago









                      Greg Hewgill

                      47129




                      47129






















                          up vote
                          5
                          down vote













                          I have a chillcheater skull cap for kayaking. It's designed to fit under a helmet and keeps the wind off your ears while also holding them closer to your head (warmer in its own right). I've tried it on the bike in a UK winter, and found it too warm for significant effort -- but our winters are warmer.






                          share|improve this answer





















                          • If you google "Bicycle cap under helmet" or similar you will find some suitable examples. My SO wears one in cold weather.
                            – RedSonja
                            yesterday















                          up vote
                          5
                          down vote













                          I have a chillcheater skull cap for kayaking. It's designed to fit under a helmet and keeps the wind off your ears while also holding them closer to your head (warmer in its own right). I've tried it on the bike in a UK winter, and found it too warm for significant effort -- but our winters are warmer.






                          share|improve this answer





















                          • If you google "Bicycle cap under helmet" or similar you will find some suitable examples. My SO wears one in cold weather.
                            – RedSonja
                            yesterday













                          up vote
                          5
                          down vote










                          up vote
                          5
                          down vote









                          I have a chillcheater skull cap for kayaking. It's designed to fit under a helmet and keeps the wind off your ears while also holding them closer to your head (warmer in its own right). I've tried it on the bike in a UK winter, and found it too warm for significant effort -- but our winters are warmer.






                          share|improve this answer












                          I have a chillcheater skull cap for kayaking. It's designed to fit under a helmet and keeps the wind off your ears while also holding them closer to your head (warmer in its own right). I've tried it on the bike in a UK winter, and found it too warm for significant effort -- but our winters are warmer.







                          share|improve this answer












                          share|improve this answer



                          share|improve this answer










                          answered yesterday









                          Chris H

                          21k13398




                          21k13398












                          • If you google "Bicycle cap under helmet" or similar you will find some suitable examples. My SO wears one in cold weather.
                            – RedSonja
                            yesterday


















                          • If you google "Bicycle cap under helmet" or similar you will find some suitable examples. My SO wears one in cold weather.
                            – RedSonja
                            yesterday
















                          If you google "Bicycle cap under helmet" or similar you will find some suitable examples. My SO wears one in cold weather.
                          – RedSonja
                          yesterday




                          If you google "Bicycle cap under helmet" or similar you will find some suitable examples. My SO wears one in cold weather.
                          – RedSonja
                          yesterday










                          up vote
                          3
                          down vote













                          Having a proper headwear under your helmet should be a preferred way to keep oneself warm. However, for the picture's completeness, I want to mention using different types of helmets in winter: full-face MTB and moped/motorcycle helmets.



                          They are heavier and pricier than regular "open" helmets, but they have much less ventilation, and often come with some sort of goggles to cover your face even more. Both aspects are beneficial in winter.



                          Another thing is that these helmets are also certified for riding two-wheeled (non-)motorized vehicles, if this is something you are concerned with. Other types of "warmer" helmets, such as ski helmets or water-rafting helmets, may not be tested against the types of impacts that may happen in a bicycle/motorcycle crash. You need to check certifications of a helmet before using it in possibly unintended conditions.






                          share|improve this answer

















                          • 3




                            I've never heard anyone report good experiences of cycling in a motorbike helmet. The lack of visibility (motorbikes have rear-view mirros), sound insulation (ditto) and OMG-my-neck-is-going-to-snap-from-this-weight are all significant disadvantages.
                            – David Richerby
                            yesterday










                          • Yeah, @DavidRicherby, but think how strong your neck muscles will be from a winter's riding season with a full-face motorcycle helmet on your head! ;)
                            – FreeMan
                            yesterday






                          • 1




                            @FreeMan Probably about this strong, which is useful for winter!
                            – David Richerby
                            yesterday










                          • @DavidRicherby meh... that's just light power... :) But also a useful skill!
                            – FreeMan
                            yesterday










                          • I used to use a very thin windbreaker style hoodie and it worked until I switched jackets. Now when the weather is super cold, I generally ride my human powered bicycle with a motorcycle helmet made by Bell. Aside from the visibility, sound insulation and neck issues already mentioned by Richerby, you may also have trouble drinking from your water bottle and moving the plastic bug shield when it freezes up. Now a days, I actually prefer the motorcycle helmet in extreme cold because I no longer have to adjust my helmet straps for a hoodie or whatever before and after rides.
                            – Shawn Eary
                            23 hours ago

















                          up vote
                          3
                          down vote













                          Having a proper headwear under your helmet should be a preferred way to keep oneself warm. However, for the picture's completeness, I want to mention using different types of helmets in winter: full-face MTB and moped/motorcycle helmets.



                          They are heavier and pricier than regular "open" helmets, but they have much less ventilation, and often come with some sort of goggles to cover your face even more. Both aspects are beneficial in winter.



                          Another thing is that these helmets are also certified for riding two-wheeled (non-)motorized vehicles, if this is something you are concerned with. Other types of "warmer" helmets, such as ski helmets or water-rafting helmets, may not be tested against the types of impacts that may happen in a bicycle/motorcycle crash. You need to check certifications of a helmet before using it in possibly unintended conditions.






                          share|improve this answer

















                          • 3




                            I've never heard anyone report good experiences of cycling in a motorbike helmet. The lack of visibility (motorbikes have rear-view mirros), sound insulation (ditto) and OMG-my-neck-is-going-to-snap-from-this-weight are all significant disadvantages.
                            – David Richerby
                            yesterday










                          • Yeah, @DavidRicherby, but think how strong your neck muscles will be from a winter's riding season with a full-face motorcycle helmet on your head! ;)
                            – FreeMan
                            yesterday






                          • 1




                            @FreeMan Probably about this strong, which is useful for winter!
                            – David Richerby
                            yesterday










                          • @DavidRicherby meh... that's just light power... :) But also a useful skill!
                            – FreeMan
                            yesterday










                          • I used to use a very thin windbreaker style hoodie and it worked until I switched jackets. Now when the weather is super cold, I generally ride my human powered bicycle with a motorcycle helmet made by Bell. Aside from the visibility, sound insulation and neck issues already mentioned by Richerby, you may also have trouble drinking from your water bottle and moving the plastic bug shield when it freezes up. Now a days, I actually prefer the motorcycle helmet in extreme cold because I no longer have to adjust my helmet straps for a hoodie or whatever before and after rides.
                            – Shawn Eary
                            23 hours ago















                          up vote
                          3
                          down vote










                          up vote
                          3
                          down vote









                          Having a proper headwear under your helmet should be a preferred way to keep oneself warm. However, for the picture's completeness, I want to mention using different types of helmets in winter: full-face MTB and moped/motorcycle helmets.



                          They are heavier and pricier than regular "open" helmets, but they have much less ventilation, and often come with some sort of goggles to cover your face even more. Both aspects are beneficial in winter.



                          Another thing is that these helmets are also certified for riding two-wheeled (non-)motorized vehicles, if this is something you are concerned with. Other types of "warmer" helmets, such as ski helmets or water-rafting helmets, may not be tested against the types of impacts that may happen in a bicycle/motorcycle crash. You need to check certifications of a helmet before using it in possibly unintended conditions.






                          share|improve this answer












                          Having a proper headwear under your helmet should be a preferred way to keep oneself warm. However, for the picture's completeness, I want to mention using different types of helmets in winter: full-face MTB and moped/motorcycle helmets.



                          They are heavier and pricier than regular "open" helmets, but they have much less ventilation, and often come with some sort of goggles to cover your face even more. Both aspects are beneficial in winter.



                          Another thing is that these helmets are also certified for riding two-wheeled (non-)motorized vehicles, if this is something you are concerned with. Other types of "warmer" helmets, such as ski helmets or water-rafting helmets, may not be tested against the types of impacts that may happen in a bicycle/motorcycle crash. You need to check certifications of a helmet before using it in possibly unintended conditions.







                          share|improve this answer












                          share|improve this answer



                          share|improve this answer










                          answered 2 days ago









                          Grigory Rechistov

                          4,104828




                          4,104828








                          • 3




                            I've never heard anyone report good experiences of cycling in a motorbike helmet. The lack of visibility (motorbikes have rear-view mirros), sound insulation (ditto) and OMG-my-neck-is-going-to-snap-from-this-weight are all significant disadvantages.
                            – David Richerby
                            yesterday










                          • Yeah, @DavidRicherby, but think how strong your neck muscles will be from a winter's riding season with a full-face motorcycle helmet on your head! ;)
                            – FreeMan
                            yesterday






                          • 1




                            @FreeMan Probably about this strong, which is useful for winter!
                            – David Richerby
                            yesterday










                          • @DavidRicherby meh... that's just light power... :) But also a useful skill!
                            – FreeMan
                            yesterday










                          • I used to use a very thin windbreaker style hoodie and it worked until I switched jackets. Now when the weather is super cold, I generally ride my human powered bicycle with a motorcycle helmet made by Bell. Aside from the visibility, sound insulation and neck issues already mentioned by Richerby, you may also have trouble drinking from your water bottle and moving the plastic bug shield when it freezes up. Now a days, I actually prefer the motorcycle helmet in extreme cold because I no longer have to adjust my helmet straps for a hoodie or whatever before and after rides.
                            – Shawn Eary
                            23 hours ago
















                          • 3




                            I've never heard anyone report good experiences of cycling in a motorbike helmet. The lack of visibility (motorbikes have rear-view mirros), sound insulation (ditto) and OMG-my-neck-is-going-to-snap-from-this-weight are all significant disadvantages.
                            – David Richerby
                            yesterday










                          • Yeah, @DavidRicherby, but think how strong your neck muscles will be from a winter's riding season with a full-face motorcycle helmet on your head! ;)
                            – FreeMan
                            yesterday






                          • 1




                            @FreeMan Probably about this strong, which is useful for winter!
                            – David Richerby
                            yesterday










                          • @DavidRicherby meh... that's just light power... :) But also a useful skill!
                            – FreeMan
                            yesterday










                          • I used to use a very thin windbreaker style hoodie and it worked until I switched jackets. Now when the weather is super cold, I generally ride my human powered bicycle with a motorcycle helmet made by Bell. Aside from the visibility, sound insulation and neck issues already mentioned by Richerby, you may also have trouble drinking from your water bottle and moving the plastic bug shield when it freezes up. Now a days, I actually prefer the motorcycle helmet in extreme cold because I no longer have to adjust my helmet straps for a hoodie or whatever before and after rides.
                            – Shawn Eary
                            23 hours ago










                          3




                          3




                          I've never heard anyone report good experiences of cycling in a motorbike helmet. The lack of visibility (motorbikes have rear-view mirros), sound insulation (ditto) and OMG-my-neck-is-going-to-snap-from-this-weight are all significant disadvantages.
                          – David Richerby
                          yesterday




                          I've never heard anyone report good experiences of cycling in a motorbike helmet. The lack of visibility (motorbikes have rear-view mirros), sound insulation (ditto) and OMG-my-neck-is-going-to-snap-from-this-weight are all significant disadvantages.
                          – David Richerby
                          yesterday












                          Yeah, @DavidRicherby, but think how strong your neck muscles will be from a winter's riding season with a full-face motorcycle helmet on your head! ;)
                          – FreeMan
                          yesterday




                          Yeah, @DavidRicherby, but think how strong your neck muscles will be from a winter's riding season with a full-face motorcycle helmet on your head! ;)
                          – FreeMan
                          yesterday




                          1




                          1




                          @FreeMan Probably about this strong, which is useful for winter!
                          – David Richerby
                          yesterday




                          @FreeMan Probably about this strong, which is useful for winter!
                          – David Richerby
                          yesterday












                          @DavidRicherby meh... that's just light power... :) But also a useful skill!
                          – FreeMan
                          yesterday




                          @DavidRicherby meh... that's just light power... :) But also a useful skill!
                          – FreeMan
                          yesterday












                          I used to use a very thin windbreaker style hoodie and it worked until I switched jackets. Now when the weather is super cold, I generally ride my human powered bicycle with a motorcycle helmet made by Bell. Aside from the visibility, sound insulation and neck issues already mentioned by Richerby, you may also have trouble drinking from your water bottle and moving the plastic bug shield when it freezes up. Now a days, I actually prefer the motorcycle helmet in extreme cold because I no longer have to adjust my helmet straps for a hoodie or whatever before and after rides.
                          – Shawn Eary
                          23 hours ago






                          I used to use a very thin windbreaker style hoodie and it worked until I switched jackets. Now when the weather is super cold, I generally ride my human powered bicycle with a motorcycle helmet made by Bell. Aside from the visibility, sound insulation and neck issues already mentioned by Richerby, you may also have trouble drinking from your water bottle and moving the plastic bug shield when it freezes up. Now a days, I actually prefer the motorcycle helmet in extreme cold because I no longer have to adjust my helmet straps for a hoodie or whatever before and after rides.
                          – Shawn Eary
                          23 hours ago












                          up vote
                          3
                          down vote













                          There are literally hundreds of cycling specific headwear items available in the US that can keep your head and ears warm in cold weather, that are thin enough to fit under a helmet (and not look too strange).



                          Just google 'bicycle headwear cold' and you'll find many choices; from headbands that keep the ears warm, but allow for cooling from the top of the head; simple skullcap type hats that insulate head and tops of ears; hats with extended ear and neck protection flaps; to full-face and neck balaclavas.



                          I've even seen casual cycling helmets that come with a fitter liner with ear flaps that attaches to the chin strap 'fork' that goes either side of the ears.






                          share|improve this answer



























                            up vote
                            3
                            down vote













                            There are literally hundreds of cycling specific headwear items available in the US that can keep your head and ears warm in cold weather, that are thin enough to fit under a helmet (and not look too strange).



                            Just google 'bicycle headwear cold' and you'll find many choices; from headbands that keep the ears warm, but allow for cooling from the top of the head; simple skullcap type hats that insulate head and tops of ears; hats with extended ear and neck protection flaps; to full-face and neck balaclavas.



                            I've even seen casual cycling helmets that come with a fitter liner with ear flaps that attaches to the chin strap 'fork' that goes either side of the ears.






                            share|improve this answer

























                              up vote
                              3
                              down vote










                              up vote
                              3
                              down vote









                              There are literally hundreds of cycling specific headwear items available in the US that can keep your head and ears warm in cold weather, that are thin enough to fit under a helmet (and not look too strange).



                              Just google 'bicycle headwear cold' and you'll find many choices; from headbands that keep the ears warm, but allow for cooling from the top of the head; simple skullcap type hats that insulate head and tops of ears; hats with extended ear and neck protection flaps; to full-face and neck balaclavas.



                              I've even seen casual cycling helmets that come with a fitter liner with ear flaps that attaches to the chin strap 'fork' that goes either side of the ears.






                              share|improve this answer














                              There are literally hundreds of cycling specific headwear items available in the US that can keep your head and ears warm in cold weather, that are thin enough to fit under a helmet (and not look too strange).



                              Just google 'bicycle headwear cold' and you'll find many choices; from headbands that keep the ears warm, but allow for cooling from the top of the head; simple skullcap type hats that insulate head and tops of ears; hats with extended ear and neck protection flaps; to full-face and neck balaclavas.



                              I've even seen casual cycling helmets that come with a fitter liner with ear flaps that attaches to the chin strap 'fork' that goes either side of the ears.







                              share|improve this answer














                              share|improve this answer



                              share|improve this answer








                              edited yesterday

























                              answered 2 days ago









                              Argenti Apparatus

                              29.9k23378




                              29.9k23378






















                                  up vote
                                  2
                                  down vote













                                  My wife knitted me a pair of bike helmet earmuffs from a pattern similar to this: http://brineydeepdesigns.blogspot.com/2008/10/free-pattern-bike-helmet-earmuffs.html



                                  They do pretty well at keeping the wind off my ears.






                                  share|improve this answer

















                                  • 2




                                    Time to find a wife like yours... :P
                                    – WELZ
                                    yesterday















                                  up vote
                                  2
                                  down vote













                                  My wife knitted me a pair of bike helmet earmuffs from a pattern similar to this: http://brineydeepdesigns.blogspot.com/2008/10/free-pattern-bike-helmet-earmuffs.html



                                  They do pretty well at keeping the wind off my ears.






                                  share|improve this answer

















                                  • 2




                                    Time to find a wife like yours... :P
                                    – WELZ
                                    yesterday













                                  up vote
                                  2
                                  down vote










                                  up vote
                                  2
                                  down vote









                                  My wife knitted me a pair of bike helmet earmuffs from a pattern similar to this: http://brineydeepdesigns.blogspot.com/2008/10/free-pattern-bike-helmet-earmuffs.html



                                  They do pretty well at keeping the wind off my ears.






                                  share|improve this answer












                                  My wife knitted me a pair of bike helmet earmuffs from a pattern similar to this: http://brineydeepdesigns.blogspot.com/2008/10/free-pattern-bike-helmet-earmuffs.html



                                  They do pretty well at keeping the wind off my ears.







                                  share|improve this answer












                                  share|improve this answer



                                  share|improve this answer










                                  answered yesterday









                                  Roy Tinker

                                  1213




                                  1213








                                  • 2




                                    Time to find a wife like yours... :P
                                    – WELZ
                                    yesterday














                                  • 2




                                    Time to find a wife like yours... :P
                                    – WELZ
                                    yesterday








                                  2




                                  2




                                  Time to find a wife like yours... :P
                                  – WELZ
                                  yesterday




                                  Time to find a wife like yours... :P
                                  – WELZ
                                  yesterday










                                  up vote
                                  2
                                  down vote













                                  Well, having bicycled through Finnish winters in our cold coastal regions, my tips should be helpful :)



                                  When it's around +5 ... -5 C (41 F ... 23 F), I usually wear a thin bandana that covers the ears:
                                  enter image description here



                                  Then when it goes a bit lower, around -5 C ... -15 C (23 F ... 5 F), I wear a bit thicker fleece beanie which has no "band" in the bottom:
                                  enter image description here



                                  And then I loosen the helmet from the headsize adjustment so that it still fits fairly snugly and is not loose. You might also need to adjust the chin strap.



                                  And for the real wintertime, between -15 C and -32 C (5 F ... -25 F) - the coldest I've bicycled in, but I didn't feel cold - I have the above fleece beanie and also a fairly thick wool pipe collar that starts from below the throat until all the way to the ears:
                                  enter image description here



                                  That keeps me warm :)



                                  Also remember to dress in layers in wintertime:




                                  • The bottom layer should be technical moisture wickening / merino wool

                                  • The middle layer should be warm and slightly loose fleece

                                  • The outer layer should be water and windproof but breathing, eg. goretex, softshell, etc.

                                  • Two pairs of socks - thin moisture wickening and then wool socks :)

                                  • Same for gloves: wool gloves and then water and windproof thick gloves where your index, middle, ring and pinky fingers are all in one "big finger".


                                  And one more thing: Don't overdress! You will start sweating and then you'll feel miserable. Dress like you would when walking in 10 degrees C warmer weather. So if it's -25 C (-13 F), dress like you would in -15 C (5 F).






                                  share|improve this answer








                                  New contributor




                                  Juha Untinen is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                  Check out our Code of Conduct.


















                                  • Welcome to the site!
                                    – David Richerby
                                    14 hours ago










                                  • The question is about protecting ears so I would remove the general stuff about dressing in layers.
                                    – JiK
                                    4 hours ago















                                  up vote
                                  2
                                  down vote













                                  Well, having bicycled through Finnish winters in our cold coastal regions, my tips should be helpful :)



                                  When it's around +5 ... -5 C (41 F ... 23 F), I usually wear a thin bandana that covers the ears:
                                  enter image description here



                                  Then when it goes a bit lower, around -5 C ... -15 C (23 F ... 5 F), I wear a bit thicker fleece beanie which has no "band" in the bottom:
                                  enter image description here



                                  And then I loosen the helmet from the headsize adjustment so that it still fits fairly snugly and is not loose. You might also need to adjust the chin strap.



                                  And for the real wintertime, between -15 C and -32 C (5 F ... -25 F) - the coldest I've bicycled in, but I didn't feel cold - I have the above fleece beanie and also a fairly thick wool pipe collar that starts from below the throat until all the way to the ears:
                                  enter image description here



                                  That keeps me warm :)



                                  Also remember to dress in layers in wintertime:




                                  • The bottom layer should be technical moisture wickening / merino wool

                                  • The middle layer should be warm and slightly loose fleece

                                  • The outer layer should be water and windproof but breathing, eg. goretex, softshell, etc.

                                  • Two pairs of socks - thin moisture wickening and then wool socks :)

                                  • Same for gloves: wool gloves and then water and windproof thick gloves where your index, middle, ring and pinky fingers are all in one "big finger".


                                  And one more thing: Don't overdress! You will start sweating and then you'll feel miserable. Dress like you would when walking in 10 degrees C warmer weather. So if it's -25 C (-13 F), dress like you would in -15 C (5 F).






                                  share|improve this answer








                                  New contributor




                                  Juha Untinen is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                  Check out our Code of Conduct.


















                                  • Welcome to the site!
                                    – David Richerby
                                    14 hours ago










                                  • The question is about protecting ears so I would remove the general stuff about dressing in layers.
                                    – JiK
                                    4 hours ago













                                  up vote
                                  2
                                  down vote










                                  up vote
                                  2
                                  down vote









                                  Well, having bicycled through Finnish winters in our cold coastal regions, my tips should be helpful :)



                                  When it's around +5 ... -5 C (41 F ... 23 F), I usually wear a thin bandana that covers the ears:
                                  enter image description here



                                  Then when it goes a bit lower, around -5 C ... -15 C (23 F ... 5 F), I wear a bit thicker fleece beanie which has no "band" in the bottom:
                                  enter image description here



                                  And then I loosen the helmet from the headsize adjustment so that it still fits fairly snugly and is not loose. You might also need to adjust the chin strap.



                                  And for the real wintertime, between -15 C and -32 C (5 F ... -25 F) - the coldest I've bicycled in, but I didn't feel cold - I have the above fleece beanie and also a fairly thick wool pipe collar that starts from below the throat until all the way to the ears:
                                  enter image description here



                                  That keeps me warm :)



                                  Also remember to dress in layers in wintertime:




                                  • The bottom layer should be technical moisture wickening / merino wool

                                  • The middle layer should be warm and slightly loose fleece

                                  • The outer layer should be water and windproof but breathing, eg. goretex, softshell, etc.

                                  • Two pairs of socks - thin moisture wickening and then wool socks :)

                                  • Same for gloves: wool gloves and then water and windproof thick gloves where your index, middle, ring and pinky fingers are all in one "big finger".


                                  And one more thing: Don't overdress! You will start sweating and then you'll feel miserable. Dress like you would when walking in 10 degrees C warmer weather. So if it's -25 C (-13 F), dress like you would in -15 C (5 F).






                                  share|improve this answer








                                  New contributor




                                  Juha Untinen is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                  Check out our Code of Conduct.









                                  Well, having bicycled through Finnish winters in our cold coastal regions, my tips should be helpful :)



                                  When it's around +5 ... -5 C (41 F ... 23 F), I usually wear a thin bandana that covers the ears:
                                  enter image description here



                                  Then when it goes a bit lower, around -5 C ... -15 C (23 F ... 5 F), I wear a bit thicker fleece beanie which has no "band" in the bottom:
                                  enter image description here



                                  And then I loosen the helmet from the headsize adjustment so that it still fits fairly snugly and is not loose. You might also need to adjust the chin strap.



                                  And for the real wintertime, between -15 C and -32 C (5 F ... -25 F) - the coldest I've bicycled in, but I didn't feel cold - I have the above fleece beanie and also a fairly thick wool pipe collar that starts from below the throat until all the way to the ears:
                                  enter image description here



                                  That keeps me warm :)



                                  Also remember to dress in layers in wintertime:




                                  • The bottom layer should be technical moisture wickening / merino wool

                                  • The middle layer should be warm and slightly loose fleece

                                  • The outer layer should be water and windproof but breathing, eg. goretex, softshell, etc.

                                  • Two pairs of socks - thin moisture wickening and then wool socks :)

                                  • Same for gloves: wool gloves and then water and windproof thick gloves where your index, middle, ring and pinky fingers are all in one "big finger".


                                  And one more thing: Don't overdress! You will start sweating and then you'll feel miserable. Dress like you would when walking in 10 degrees C warmer weather. So if it's -25 C (-13 F), dress like you would in -15 C (5 F).







                                  share|improve this answer








                                  New contributor




                                  Juha Untinen is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                  Check out our Code of Conduct.









                                  share|improve this answer



                                  share|improve this answer






                                  New contributor




                                  Juha Untinen is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                  Check out our Code of Conduct.









                                  answered 16 hours ago









                                  Juha Untinen

                                  1212




                                  1212




                                  New contributor




                                  Juha Untinen is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                  Check out our Code of Conduct.





                                  New contributor





                                  Juha Untinen is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                  Check out our Code of Conduct.






                                  Juha Untinen is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                  Check out our Code of Conduct.












                                  • Welcome to the site!
                                    – David Richerby
                                    14 hours ago










                                  • The question is about protecting ears so I would remove the general stuff about dressing in layers.
                                    – JiK
                                    4 hours ago


















                                  • Welcome to the site!
                                    – David Richerby
                                    14 hours ago










                                  • The question is about protecting ears so I would remove the general stuff about dressing in layers.
                                    – JiK
                                    4 hours ago
















                                  Welcome to the site!
                                  – David Richerby
                                  14 hours ago




                                  Welcome to the site!
                                  – David Richerby
                                  14 hours ago












                                  The question is about protecting ears so I would remove the general stuff about dressing in layers.
                                  – JiK
                                  4 hours ago




                                  The question is about protecting ears so I would remove the general stuff about dressing in layers.
                                  – JiK
                                  4 hours ago










                                  up vote
                                  2
                                  down vote













                                  A completely different solution would be a thin but warm hat and a Hövding airbag collar. Not cheap, but I see plenty of people with that combination in Malmö, Sweden (probably because they’re a local company). Added bonus: it keeps your neck warm too.



                                  Edit: hadn’t realised these were only for sale in Europe and Japan. I guess from OP’s “Northeast” that they mean north east USA, which might make this answer a little harder.






                                  share|improve this answer










                                  New contributor




                                  Robin Whittleton is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                  Check out our Code of Conduct.






















                                    up vote
                                    2
                                    down vote













                                    A completely different solution would be a thin but warm hat and a Hövding airbag collar. Not cheap, but I see plenty of people with that combination in Malmö, Sweden (probably because they’re a local company). Added bonus: it keeps your neck warm too.



                                    Edit: hadn’t realised these were only for sale in Europe and Japan. I guess from OP’s “Northeast” that they mean north east USA, which might make this answer a little harder.






                                    share|improve this answer










                                    New contributor




                                    Robin Whittleton is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                    Check out our Code of Conduct.




















                                      up vote
                                      2
                                      down vote










                                      up vote
                                      2
                                      down vote









                                      A completely different solution would be a thin but warm hat and a Hövding airbag collar. Not cheap, but I see plenty of people with that combination in Malmö, Sweden (probably because they’re a local company). Added bonus: it keeps your neck warm too.



                                      Edit: hadn’t realised these were only for sale in Europe and Japan. I guess from OP’s “Northeast” that they mean north east USA, which might make this answer a little harder.






                                      share|improve this answer










                                      New contributor




                                      Robin Whittleton is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                      Check out our Code of Conduct.









                                      A completely different solution would be a thin but warm hat and a Hövding airbag collar. Not cheap, but I see plenty of people with that combination in Malmö, Sweden (probably because they’re a local company). Added bonus: it keeps your neck warm too.



                                      Edit: hadn’t realised these were only for sale in Europe and Japan. I guess from OP’s “Northeast” that they mean north east USA, which might make this answer a little harder.







                                      share|improve this answer










                                      New contributor




                                      Robin Whittleton is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                      Check out our Code of Conduct.









                                      share|improve this answer



                                      share|improve this answer








                                      edited 14 hours ago





















                                      New contributor




                                      Robin Whittleton is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                      Check out our Code of Conduct.









                                      answered yesterday









                                      Robin Whittleton

                                      1214




                                      1214




                                      New contributor




                                      Robin Whittleton is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                      Check out our Code of Conduct.





                                      New contributor





                                      Robin Whittleton is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                      Check out our Code of Conduct.






                                      Robin Whittleton is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                      Check out our Code of Conduct.






















                                          up vote
                                          2
                                          down vote













                                          We've got plenty of good answers already so just want to share my head warm set up depending on the temperature. I also live in Sweden and in my daily commutes experience from +25C to -20C.



                                          +15C and up - only helmet, no head wear.



                                          +5C to +15C - helmet with a cycling cap.



                                          +0C to +5C - this is where stuff gets serious. On the upper limit of the range it could still be acceptable to ride without any ear protection in a normal cycling cap, due to the fact that our ears (or at least mine) adapt really quickly to cold by increasing a blood flow. Otherwise light ski scarf on the ears could help, or light cycling cap with ear cover.



                                          -10C to +0C - for these conditions it's impossible to live without ear covers. I have winter cap with ear covers which is too warm, so mostly I use thin balaclava which goes around my face. Winter cap is not perfect for such conditions because you would also want to cover your neck. So too warm winter cap with ear covers in my case feels like a bad purchase.



                                          -20C to -10C - in these conditions it's very important to both protect your face and your lungs. This is when I go for a full face balaclava for cycling with breath holes and ski goggles.



                                          Hope my experience would help anyone to stay warm :)



                                          UPD: also would like to add that commuting in cold temperatures adds unexpected requirements to your face wear. When it comes to lower than 0+ temperatures I also use protective lipstick (very greasy, you come to this naturally) and of course always use protective glasses, transparent for the dark part of the year, which are getting replaced by ski goggles when stuff gets even more serious.






                                          share|improve this answer























                                          • Of course, different people will put these temperature bands in different places. (For example, I'd only start thinking about wearing a cap if the temperature got below about 5C. Actually, I'm kinda surprised that you live somewhere where the temperature gets down to -20C but you find 15C cold enough to need a cap.)
                                            – David Richerby
                                            14 hours ago












                                          • @DavidRicherby heh, it's slightly different from that :) ~15+ is the edge temperature when cap is not feeling too hot, and for some reason I prefer to wear it most of the time (it's comfortable and also gives you convenient sun blind like in your car :) While for around ~10+ it becomes a must.
                                            – Sapphire64
                                            4 hours ago















                                          up vote
                                          2
                                          down vote













                                          We've got plenty of good answers already so just want to share my head warm set up depending on the temperature. I also live in Sweden and in my daily commutes experience from +25C to -20C.



                                          +15C and up - only helmet, no head wear.



                                          +5C to +15C - helmet with a cycling cap.



                                          +0C to +5C - this is where stuff gets serious. On the upper limit of the range it could still be acceptable to ride without any ear protection in a normal cycling cap, due to the fact that our ears (or at least mine) adapt really quickly to cold by increasing a blood flow. Otherwise light ski scarf on the ears could help, or light cycling cap with ear cover.



                                          -10C to +0C - for these conditions it's impossible to live without ear covers. I have winter cap with ear covers which is too warm, so mostly I use thin balaclava which goes around my face. Winter cap is not perfect for such conditions because you would also want to cover your neck. So too warm winter cap with ear covers in my case feels like a bad purchase.



                                          -20C to -10C - in these conditions it's very important to both protect your face and your lungs. This is when I go for a full face balaclava for cycling with breath holes and ski goggles.



                                          Hope my experience would help anyone to stay warm :)



                                          UPD: also would like to add that commuting in cold temperatures adds unexpected requirements to your face wear. When it comes to lower than 0+ temperatures I also use protective lipstick (very greasy, you come to this naturally) and of course always use protective glasses, transparent for the dark part of the year, which are getting replaced by ski goggles when stuff gets even more serious.






                                          share|improve this answer























                                          • Of course, different people will put these temperature bands in different places. (For example, I'd only start thinking about wearing a cap if the temperature got below about 5C. Actually, I'm kinda surprised that you live somewhere where the temperature gets down to -20C but you find 15C cold enough to need a cap.)
                                            – David Richerby
                                            14 hours ago












                                          • @DavidRicherby heh, it's slightly different from that :) ~15+ is the edge temperature when cap is not feeling too hot, and for some reason I prefer to wear it most of the time (it's comfortable and also gives you convenient sun blind like in your car :) While for around ~10+ it becomes a must.
                                            – Sapphire64
                                            4 hours ago













                                          up vote
                                          2
                                          down vote










                                          up vote
                                          2
                                          down vote









                                          We've got plenty of good answers already so just want to share my head warm set up depending on the temperature. I also live in Sweden and in my daily commutes experience from +25C to -20C.



                                          +15C and up - only helmet, no head wear.



                                          +5C to +15C - helmet with a cycling cap.



                                          +0C to +5C - this is where stuff gets serious. On the upper limit of the range it could still be acceptable to ride without any ear protection in a normal cycling cap, due to the fact that our ears (or at least mine) adapt really quickly to cold by increasing a blood flow. Otherwise light ski scarf on the ears could help, or light cycling cap with ear cover.



                                          -10C to +0C - for these conditions it's impossible to live without ear covers. I have winter cap with ear covers which is too warm, so mostly I use thin balaclava which goes around my face. Winter cap is not perfect for such conditions because you would also want to cover your neck. So too warm winter cap with ear covers in my case feels like a bad purchase.



                                          -20C to -10C - in these conditions it's very important to both protect your face and your lungs. This is when I go for a full face balaclava for cycling with breath holes and ski goggles.



                                          Hope my experience would help anyone to stay warm :)



                                          UPD: also would like to add that commuting in cold temperatures adds unexpected requirements to your face wear. When it comes to lower than 0+ temperatures I also use protective lipstick (very greasy, you come to this naturally) and of course always use protective glasses, transparent for the dark part of the year, which are getting replaced by ski goggles when stuff gets even more serious.






                                          share|improve this answer














                                          We've got plenty of good answers already so just want to share my head warm set up depending on the temperature. I also live in Sweden and in my daily commutes experience from +25C to -20C.



                                          +15C and up - only helmet, no head wear.



                                          +5C to +15C - helmet with a cycling cap.



                                          +0C to +5C - this is where stuff gets serious. On the upper limit of the range it could still be acceptable to ride without any ear protection in a normal cycling cap, due to the fact that our ears (or at least mine) adapt really quickly to cold by increasing a blood flow. Otherwise light ski scarf on the ears could help, or light cycling cap with ear cover.



                                          -10C to +0C - for these conditions it's impossible to live without ear covers. I have winter cap with ear covers which is too warm, so mostly I use thin balaclava which goes around my face. Winter cap is not perfect for such conditions because you would also want to cover your neck. So too warm winter cap with ear covers in my case feels like a bad purchase.



                                          -20C to -10C - in these conditions it's very important to both protect your face and your lungs. This is when I go for a full face balaclava for cycling with breath holes and ski goggles.



                                          Hope my experience would help anyone to stay warm :)



                                          UPD: also would like to add that commuting in cold temperatures adds unexpected requirements to your face wear. When it comes to lower than 0+ temperatures I also use protective lipstick (very greasy, you come to this naturally) and of course always use protective glasses, transparent for the dark part of the year, which are getting replaced by ski goggles when stuff gets even more serious.







                                          share|improve this answer














                                          share|improve this answer



                                          share|improve this answer








                                          edited 4 hours ago

























                                          answered yesterday









                                          Sapphire64

                                          3264




                                          3264












                                          • Of course, different people will put these temperature bands in different places. (For example, I'd only start thinking about wearing a cap if the temperature got below about 5C. Actually, I'm kinda surprised that you live somewhere where the temperature gets down to -20C but you find 15C cold enough to need a cap.)
                                            – David Richerby
                                            14 hours ago












                                          • @DavidRicherby heh, it's slightly different from that :) ~15+ is the edge temperature when cap is not feeling too hot, and for some reason I prefer to wear it most of the time (it's comfortable and also gives you convenient sun blind like in your car :) While for around ~10+ it becomes a must.
                                            – Sapphire64
                                            4 hours ago


















                                          • Of course, different people will put these temperature bands in different places. (For example, I'd only start thinking about wearing a cap if the temperature got below about 5C. Actually, I'm kinda surprised that you live somewhere where the temperature gets down to -20C but you find 15C cold enough to need a cap.)
                                            – David Richerby
                                            14 hours ago












                                          • @DavidRicherby heh, it's slightly different from that :) ~15+ is the edge temperature when cap is not feeling too hot, and for some reason I prefer to wear it most of the time (it's comfortable and also gives you convenient sun blind like in your car :) While for around ~10+ it becomes a must.
                                            – Sapphire64
                                            4 hours ago
















                                          Of course, different people will put these temperature bands in different places. (For example, I'd only start thinking about wearing a cap if the temperature got below about 5C. Actually, I'm kinda surprised that you live somewhere where the temperature gets down to -20C but you find 15C cold enough to need a cap.)
                                          – David Richerby
                                          14 hours ago






                                          Of course, different people will put these temperature bands in different places. (For example, I'd only start thinking about wearing a cap if the temperature got below about 5C. Actually, I'm kinda surprised that you live somewhere where the temperature gets down to -20C but you find 15C cold enough to need a cap.)
                                          – David Richerby
                                          14 hours ago














                                          @DavidRicherby heh, it's slightly different from that :) ~15+ is the edge temperature when cap is not feeling too hot, and for some reason I prefer to wear it most of the time (it's comfortable and also gives you convenient sun blind like in your car :) While for around ~10+ it becomes a must.
                                          – Sapphire64
                                          4 hours ago




                                          @DavidRicherby heh, it's slightly different from that :) ~15+ is the edge temperature when cap is not feeling too hot, and for some reason I prefer to wear it most of the time (it's comfortable and also gives you convenient sun blind like in your car :) While for around ~10+ it becomes a must.
                                          – Sapphire64
                                          4 hours ago










                                          up vote
                                          1
                                          down vote













                                          There are dedicated ear warmers to be attached to bike helmet straps (similar to those on ski helmets). There are photos on this blog post about "cat ears". I myself use hot ears. (I did note make a survey of all manufacturers that produce these. I just listed the first I found online).



                                          Other than these, some bike fashion manufacturers produce dedicated thin hats to be worn under the helmet from some windproof fabric, that are cut out to cover the eary but leave enough of forehead and neck free, so you don't push it up when turning your head forward. I don't think though they are in practice much different than a buff.



                                          With either (hot hears or under-helmet-hat) I'm not always satisfied as the helmet straps put very little pressure on them (from the side against the hat), so there is no force preventing a gap between head and tissue, through which the wind can blow in. I suspect that depends on the shape of your head, but in any case they are better than nothing. On very cold days I go with the combination under-helmet-hat + hot-ears which does a good job at sealing the ears from wind.






                                          share|improve this answer

























                                            up vote
                                            1
                                            down vote













                                            There are dedicated ear warmers to be attached to bike helmet straps (similar to those on ski helmets). There are photos on this blog post about "cat ears". I myself use hot ears. (I did note make a survey of all manufacturers that produce these. I just listed the first I found online).



                                            Other than these, some bike fashion manufacturers produce dedicated thin hats to be worn under the helmet from some windproof fabric, that are cut out to cover the eary but leave enough of forehead and neck free, so you don't push it up when turning your head forward. I don't think though they are in practice much different than a buff.



                                            With either (hot hears or under-helmet-hat) I'm not always satisfied as the helmet straps put very little pressure on them (from the side against the hat), so there is no force preventing a gap between head and tissue, through which the wind can blow in. I suspect that depends on the shape of your head, but in any case they are better than nothing. On very cold days I go with the combination under-helmet-hat + hot-ears which does a good job at sealing the ears from wind.






                                            share|improve this answer























                                              up vote
                                              1
                                              down vote










                                              up vote
                                              1
                                              down vote









                                              There are dedicated ear warmers to be attached to bike helmet straps (similar to those on ski helmets). There are photos on this blog post about "cat ears". I myself use hot ears. (I did note make a survey of all manufacturers that produce these. I just listed the first I found online).



                                              Other than these, some bike fashion manufacturers produce dedicated thin hats to be worn under the helmet from some windproof fabric, that are cut out to cover the eary but leave enough of forehead and neck free, so you don't push it up when turning your head forward. I don't think though they are in practice much different than a buff.



                                              With either (hot hears or under-helmet-hat) I'm not always satisfied as the helmet straps put very little pressure on them (from the side against the hat), so there is no force preventing a gap between head and tissue, through which the wind can blow in. I suspect that depends on the shape of your head, but in any case they are better than nothing. On very cold days I go with the combination under-helmet-hat + hot-ears which does a good job at sealing the ears from wind.






                                              share|improve this answer












                                              There are dedicated ear warmers to be attached to bike helmet straps (similar to those on ski helmets). There are photos on this blog post about "cat ears". I myself use hot ears. (I did note make a survey of all manufacturers that produce these. I just listed the first I found online).



                                              Other than these, some bike fashion manufacturers produce dedicated thin hats to be worn under the helmet from some windproof fabric, that are cut out to cover the eary but leave enough of forehead and neck free, so you don't push it up when turning your head forward. I don't think though they are in practice much different than a buff.



                                              With either (hot hears or under-helmet-hat) I'm not always satisfied as the helmet straps put very little pressure on them (from the side against the hat), so there is no force preventing a gap between head and tissue, through which the wind can blow in. I suspect that depends on the shape of your head, but in any case they are better than nothing. On very cold days I go with the combination under-helmet-hat + hot-ears which does a good job at sealing the ears from wind.







                                              share|improve this answer












                                              share|improve this answer



                                              share|improve this answer










                                              answered yesterday









                                              pseyfert

                                              718216




                                              718216






















                                                  up vote
                                                  1
                                                  down vote













                                                  I use a "buff" almost all around the year in the outdoors - it is just a tube of cloth which you can wrap around your neck or different parts of your head, i.e. the ears, or neck+ears, or neck+ears+head+forehead, or neck+ears+mouth/nose. Very flexible. Should fit under any helmet, especially if you use it to cover not the whole head, but mainly neck/ears.



                                                  Also, ear muffs without the "bridge" part (trademark name seems to be "earbags"). Very nice, and may just be the right thing for your helmet, depending on its cut.






                                                  share|improve this answer

























                                                    up vote
                                                    1
                                                    down vote













                                                    I use a "buff" almost all around the year in the outdoors - it is just a tube of cloth which you can wrap around your neck or different parts of your head, i.e. the ears, or neck+ears, or neck+ears+head+forehead, or neck+ears+mouth/nose. Very flexible. Should fit under any helmet, especially if you use it to cover not the whole head, but mainly neck/ears.



                                                    Also, ear muffs without the "bridge" part (trademark name seems to be "earbags"). Very nice, and may just be the right thing for your helmet, depending on its cut.






                                                    share|improve this answer























                                                      up vote
                                                      1
                                                      down vote










                                                      up vote
                                                      1
                                                      down vote









                                                      I use a "buff" almost all around the year in the outdoors - it is just a tube of cloth which you can wrap around your neck or different parts of your head, i.e. the ears, or neck+ears, or neck+ears+head+forehead, or neck+ears+mouth/nose. Very flexible. Should fit under any helmet, especially if you use it to cover not the whole head, but mainly neck/ears.



                                                      Also, ear muffs without the "bridge" part (trademark name seems to be "earbags"). Very nice, and may just be the right thing for your helmet, depending on its cut.






                                                      share|improve this answer












                                                      I use a "buff" almost all around the year in the outdoors - it is just a tube of cloth which you can wrap around your neck or different parts of your head, i.e. the ears, or neck+ears, or neck+ears+head+forehead, or neck+ears+mouth/nose. Very flexible. Should fit under any helmet, especially if you use it to cover not the whole head, but mainly neck/ears.



                                                      Also, ear muffs without the "bridge" part (trademark name seems to be "earbags"). Very nice, and may just be the right thing for your helmet, depending on its cut.







                                                      share|improve this answer












                                                      share|improve this answer



                                                      share|improve this answer










                                                      answered yesterday









                                                      AnoE

                                                      38819




                                                      38819






















                                                          up vote
                                                          1
                                                          down vote













                                                          I use a set of earmuffs (eargrips brand) to bicycle in Montana winters. They fit below the helmet in the back. If you go for a helmet cover get one with some flair. I get smiles every time I ride with my Tail Wags dragon helmet cover. The covers are also great year round if your favorite helmet is starting to look faded.






                                                          share|improve this answer








                                                          New contributor




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                                                            up vote
                                                            1
                                                            down vote













                                                            I use a set of earmuffs (eargrips brand) to bicycle in Montana winters. They fit below the helmet in the back. If you go for a helmet cover get one with some flair. I get smiles every time I ride with my Tail Wags dragon helmet cover. The covers are also great year round if your favorite helmet is starting to look faded.






                                                            share|improve this answer








                                                            New contributor




                                                            Chris Sehy is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                                            Check out our Code of Conduct.




















                                                              up vote
                                                              1
                                                              down vote










                                                              up vote
                                                              1
                                                              down vote









                                                              I use a set of earmuffs (eargrips brand) to bicycle in Montana winters. They fit below the helmet in the back. If you go for a helmet cover get one with some flair. I get smiles every time I ride with my Tail Wags dragon helmet cover. The covers are also great year round if your favorite helmet is starting to look faded.






                                                              share|improve this answer








                                                              New contributor




                                                              Chris Sehy is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                                              Check out our Code of Conduct.









                                                              I use a set of earmuffs (eargrips brand) to bicycle in Montana winters. They fit below the helmet in the back. If you go for a helmet cover get one with some flair. I get smiles every time I ride with my Tail Wags dragon helmet cover. The covers are also great year round if your favorite helmet is starting to look faded.







                                                              share|improve this answer








                                                              New contributor




                                                              Chris Sehy is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                                              Check out our Code of Conduct.









                                                              share|improve this answer



                                                              share|improve this answer






                                                              New contributor




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                                                              answered yesterday









                                                              Chris Sehy

                                                              111




                                                              111




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                                                              Chris Sehy is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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                                                                  up vote
                                                                  0
                                                                  down vote













                                                                  You can use a buff under the helmet and a wind (rain) cover over the helmet. I bike with this outfit during the winter and it keeps my head warm even with wind an snowy weather below -10 degrees C.






                                                                  share|improve this answer








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                                                                  Joje is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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                                                                    up vote
                                                                    0
                                                                    down vote













                                                                    You can use a buff under the helmet and a wind (rain) cover over the helmet. I bike with this outfit during the winter and it keeps my head warm even with wind an snowy weather below -10 degrees C.






                                                                    share|improve this answer








                                                                    New contributor




                                                                    Joje is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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                                                                      up vote
                                                                      0
                                                                      down vote










                                                                      up vote
                                                                      0
                                                                      down vote









                                                                      You can use a buff under the helmet and a wind (rain) cover over the helmet. I bike with this outfit during the winter and it keeps my head warm even with wind an snowy weather below -10 degrees C.






                                                                      share|improve this answer








                                                                      New contributor




                                                                      Joje is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                                                      Check out our Code of Conduct.









                                                                      You can use a buff under the helmet and a wind (rain) cover over the helmet. I bike with this outfit during the winter and it keeps my head warm even with wind an snowy weather below -10 degrees C.







                                                                      share|improve this answer








                                                                      New contributor




                                                                      Joje is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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                                                                      share|improve this answer



                                                                      share|improve this answer






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                                                                      answered yesterday









                                                                      Joje

                                                                      1




                                                                      1




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                                                                          up vote
                                                                          0
                                                                          down vote













                                                                          Purchase a snowboarding helmet -- they are basically the same thing only fitted with internal insulation to .... keep you head and ears warm. It works great for me.






                                                                          share|improve this answer

























                                                                            up vote
                                                                            0
                                                                            down vote













                                                                            Purchase a snowboarding helmet -- they are basically the same thing only fitted with internal insulation to .... keep you head and ears warm. It works great for me.






                                                                            share|improve this answer























                                                                              up vote
                                                                              0
                                                                              down vote










                                                                              up vote
                                                                              0
                                                                              down vote









                                                                              Purchase a snowboarding helmet -- they are basically the same thing only fitted with internal insulation to .... keep you head and ears warm. It works great for me.






                                                                              share|improve this answer












                                                                              Purchase a snowboarding helmet -- they are basically the same thing only fitted with internal insulation to .... keep you head and ears warm. It works great for me.







                                                                              share|improve this answer












                                                                              share|improve this answer



                                                                              share|improve this answer










                                                                              answered 3 hours ago









                                                                              SteveJ

                                                                              63614




                                                                              63614






















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