Whether or not you like them stylistically, cycling caps can be a very handy addition to your bike kit.
Worn under your road helmet, they help keep sweat and sun out of your eyes, and can add a splash of colour to your cycling getup.
Scroll down to the bottom of this article to explore why they're useful and how to wear them, or take a look at some of our favourite picks below.
Best cycling caps and hats
Buff Pack Cycle Cap Glen Multi
This cycle cap is lightweight and packable, so can easily be put in a pocket until needed.
The sweatband is comfortable and the materials (which are 81% recycled) wick moisture away very well.
It’s not the warmest, but is enough to add a little insulation on nippy days.
The high-vis design and UPF50 rating is also welcome.
Unfortunately, it’s one size fits all and even on this tester’s bald head it proved too tight and uncomfortable for extended rides.
Verdict: Lightweight and solid moisture wicking, but fit and comfort an issue for us.
Score: 72%
Dexshell Windproof Skull Cap
If your head is as hairless as this tester, a windproof cycling hat is a solid idea for winter.
This option from Dexshell ticks the boxes in that it fends off chilly breezes well, yet wicks moisture away effectively when working up a sweat on harder parts of a ride.
That’s thanks to the use of a polyester mesh, nylon and Porelle membrane.
Fit proved ideal for us, but it’s one-size-fits all, so may not fit larger heads.
The brushed inner fabric feels nice against the head, while a mesh section at the rear helps with ventilation.
You’ll find a handful of holes over each ear, likely designed to boost ventilation and hearing, though we found road noise was somewhat muffled while wearing it, partly because of wind rushing by.
Admittedly, this is likely to be a problem for all products of this ilk.
Verdict: Very useful weather protection for winter, but does dampen hearing.
Score: 80%
Castelli A/C Cycling Cap
Many established brands have cycling caps in their range and Castelli is no different.
The A/C Cycling Cap featured here is made of a mix of polyester and elastane in an effort to deliver a close fit.
It features a mesh pattern across much of the hat to help keep it both lightweight and breathable, while a moisture-wicking headband is included in order to catch and wick away sweat.
The white colourway featured here should also help keep you cool thanks to its ability to reflect the sun away, but there's also a black and red option.
However, there's no adjustment at the rear.
Cycology Cycling Cap
- Buy now from Cycology
This cycling cap from Cycology comes in over a dozen different jazzy styles, allowing you to add some character to your cycling kit.
Thanks to the lightweight fabric, we never found it too hot, while it wicks moisture away and dries quickly, too.
Verdict: Does what it needs to do for a reasonable price.
Score: 87%
Assos Cycling Cap
With multiple colours available (including grey, black, white, red, orange and blue), this cap is a good option if you like a choice of styles.
Aside from the brightly-coloured versions, though, the styling of this cap is quite subtle.
That allows us to look at its construction, which is synthetic mesh in order to try and keep the head cool and dry.
Meanwhile, a band runs right the way around the base of the cap to catch any stray beads of sweat.
Van Rysel Cycling Cap RoadR 500
Here's another budget-friendly option, this time from French giants Decathlon.
This cap is designed especially for summer, with the brand saying its thin and light construction will help with ventilation and breathability on hot rides.
It's only available in one size, but a combination of polyester and elastane means it should have some stretch to it.
Dhb Classic Cycling Cap
This classic cap comes with understated styling and is available in two sizes to allow you to achieve a more personalised fit.
Dhb says it's designed to shield both sun and rain from your face, so it's likely to be a little thicker than some other options in this list.
It's made from 100% cotton, too, so we wouldn't expect the moisture-wicking to be quite as good as polyester options.
One for milder weather, perhaps.
Gore Wear C7 Cycling Cap
Looking for an option that's more suitable for the off-season? This cap comes from Gore Wear, experts in weather protection.
It's designed to be fully waterproof and windproof while still remaining breathable.
The cap is one-size-fits-all, but the rear is elasticated to help it fit a range of head sizes.
Like most cycling caps, the brim is foldable so you can push it out of the way if you want to, while the detailing on the hat is reflective to help make you more visible in dark or gloomy conditions.
Castelli Bandito Cap
Aimed at winter cycling, the Bandito looks to be a cap worth considering if you want to add more warmth to your rides.
The outer is made from a mix of merino wool and polyester – a winning combination in our experience, as it mixes the benefits of synthetic fabrics (quicker to dry, more durable) with the benefits of natural fibres (warm when wet, warmth to weight is good and naturally anti-bacterial).
Meanwhile, a jersey lining is used on the forehead and the flaps that extend over the ears in an effort to boost comfort.
What's the point of a cycling cap?
As much as cycling caps are a statement of style and individuality, they also deliver several key benefits.
For a start, they typically fit closely around the head, meaning they’ll catch any dripping sweat from your head before it drops down into your eyes.
Secondly, they also offer protection against the sun thanks to the small peak. If worn at the front it’ll keep the sun out of your eyes, or if flipped round it’ll offer added coverage for your neck.
If you have a helmet with lots of ventilation holes and have a minimal amount of hair (like this writer), a cycling cap will also help you avoid ending up with strange tan lines on your head.
Some options are also designed for use outside of summer, where they can add extra warmth and weather resistance to help you avoid the dreaded brain freeze.
Do you wear a cycling cap underneath a helmet?
Spot on. Cycling caps are typically very thin in their construction so they can be worn underneath a helmet without causing any issues with how your helmet fits.
How should you wear your cycling cap
To an extent, this is down to personal preference. Cycling caps can be worn with the peak at the front in order to block the sun from your eyes.
You can also usually flip the peak into an upward position, which can be helpful if you want a wider range of visibility, such as if you’re on a climb.
Of course, you can also wear your cap backward if you want to. In this guise it won’t keep the sun out of your eyes (some decent triathlon sunglasses can take care of that, though), but the peak will cover part of your neck, offering added sun protection back there.
Top image credit: Viktor Bystrov/Unsplash
