Helmet for cold weather?

[Dave Tozer]

So, seeing the snow on the ground this morning got me thinking about cold weather riding. (ugh)

Do any of you have a helmet specifically designed for cold weather?  I have balaclavas, neck gators, ear covers, etc., but curious what might be out there as far as dedicated winter helmets.

Any idea if ski/snowboard helmets would match bike helmet protection?

[DeepVI]

All I've ever needed.  Keeps your ears toasty and fits under your helmet.  Just the right amount of protection IMO.
http://shop.pearlizumi.com/product.php?&mode=view&pc_id=337&product_id=1884683&outlet=&color_code=021

[Steve Smith]

Wear a skull cap and put scotch tape over the vent openings on the front of your helmet.

[Wall]

I wouldn't worry so much about keeping your head warm since that is where most of your body heat is lost.  What you are going to want to keep warm are your hands and feet.  BarMits are the best for keeping your hands warm.  I install them on my patrol bike when the weather starts dipping into the 30's and use them all winter with just a glove liner all the way down below 0.
 
For your feet I would recommend a dedicated winter riding boot.  I wear the LG winter riding boot with wool socks and keep warm on patrol for 8 hours in the winter.
 
I wear a Smartwool under helmet cap untill it gets too window for the face then wear a buff around my neck that I can pull up over my face and still breath through it.

[David Krahulik]

Very cheap and very warm!  Get a helmet from Walmart, Target, etc., and use shipping or strapping tape to close off the vents.  No other head covering needed.  I do usually also add a neck/ear cover that goes up to the helmet.  David K 

[Dave Tozer]

While we are on the subject of cold weather gear (appropriate since it's been snowing for a while today)...

I have heard of tights and jackets now being made with wind-stop on the front but  more breathable material on the back, the thought being moisture management as a means to stay warmer.

Castelli has some great looking stuff, "Leggerezza 2 Bib Tights" and "Espresso Due Jacket", but at $150 for the tights and $300 for the jacket, that's pretty hard on the wallet.

Anyone know of that kind of technology at a more reasonable price?

[gmcttr]

...Anyone know of that kind of technology at a more reasonable price?

http://www.rei.com/product/852905/novara-headwind-bike-pants-mens

I've been using them for several years now.

Haven't tried the jacket...http://www.rei.com/product/852904/novara-headwind-bike-jacket-mens

[ELduder]

I am a big fan of kid size ski goggles for winter riding. They are smaller than adult sized ones so they easily fit under the helmet and keep your eyes from watering in the cold. You can get a pair for like 15 bucks at most places. That is the one nice thing if you have a snowboard helmet you can wear it since the goggles are usually incorporated into them.

[Dave Tozer]

Nice. I knew there was something else out there. I'm an REI member so that helps too.

The Hastleton store has them in stock. May swing by tonight.

Thanks! 

...Anyone know of that kind of technology at a more reasonable price?

http://www.rei.com/product/852905/novara-headwind-bike-pants-mens

I've been using them for several years now.

Haven't tried the jacket...http://www.rei.com/product/852904/novara-headwind-bike-jacket-mens

[Dave Tozer]

I tried on the pants but the drawstring just won't cut it. It has one of those plastic, spring loaded cinch do-dads. It felt too loose and that was just in the dressing room. To bad since the price is reasonable.

http://www.rei.com/product/852905/novara-headwind-bike-pants-mens

I've been using them for several years now.

Haven't tried the jacket...http://www.rei.com/product/852904/novara-headwind-bike-jacket-mens

I tried the jacket and I think it may be a winner. Good design and not expensive.

I may get some decent bib tights from somewhere and go with the REI jacket.

[Wall]

Instead of taping the vents of the helmet you could get a rain cover for it.  I use an LG that fits over my visor to keep the wind and rain/wet snow off my head.  It was only $15.

[gmcttr]

I tried on the pants but the drawstring just won't cut it. It has one of those plastic, spring loaded cinch do-dads...

I'll admit I was never fond of the drawstring. If mine came with a cord lock I removed it and tie the drawstring.

[mtbikernate]

For the head, I have a Buff and a Smartwool beanie.  The Buff works for me down into the 20's by itself, because I crank out a lot of heat.  The Smartwool beanie comes out in two situations: commuting where it's more open on the roads, or anytime the winds are high.


A bigger concern for me are my hands.  I have long fingers, and a lot of gloves have excessively short fingers, so I hit the ends and get cold fingers (usually my thumb).  I have found some Seirus softshell gloves that fit me pretty well and have long fingers.  Again, because I run warm, they only come out when it's really cold.  Otherwise, pretty much any long fingered glove works okay for me.  I haven't really found anything that makes me happy in cold rain yet for commute duty, but that's pretty much the toughest situation for gloves.


I should probably break down and buy a better pair of pants, because I'm not all that thrilled with what I've been using the past several years - wpb rain pants layered with whatever I need underneath for warmth.


For jackets/torso coverings, I have a variety of items that work well in different situations.  I will start with a synthetic or smartwool lightweight baselayer shirt and layer it with anything from just a regular jersey above, to a 100wt fleece vest, to one of a couple softshell jackets (my favorite and most versatile is an EMS Windstopper N2S cycling jacket that is pretty light but also very resistant to wind and good enough for a light drizzle).  If it's raining more seriously, I pull out my Marmot Precip jacket, which does double duty as a windbreaker when it's well below freezing.  I would like to add a technical midweight softshell jacket to the mix, though.  The midweight softshell I have is not a technical garment and it has regular sewn seam construction, which makes it very NON-water resistant.


I'd also like to add some winter cycling shoes/boots to the collection.  In the past, I've duct taped over the mesh on my regular shoes and worn wool socks.  Unfortunately, the shoes don't have enough room for very warm wool socks without cutting off circulation, which makes the cold feet problem worse.

[Otter]

I tried on the pants but the drawstring just won't cut it. It has one of those plastic, spring loaded cinch do-dads. It felt too loose and that was just in the dressing room. To bad since the price is reasonable.

http://www.rei.com/product/852905/novara-headwind-bike-pants-mens

I've been using them for several years now.

Haven't tried the jacket...http://www.rei.com/product/852904/novara-headwind-bike-jacket-mens

I tried the jacket and I think it may be a winner. Good design and not expensive.

I may get some decent bib tights from somewhere and go with the REI jacket.

Dave-
 
Give these a shot.  Drawstring too, but they're BY FAR the best winter pants I've ever had.  I was turned on to them by a couple of riding buddies from Colorado who fat bike all winter...I was amazed how much better they were than my regular tights.  I've found these on sale for under $100 before.
 
http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/51383?productId=893105&qs=3016887_mercent_google_pla&mr:adType=plaattrValue_0=Black&mr:trackingCode=1FDE1996-B0F0-E211-A497-90E2BA285E75&mr:referralID=NA&mr:adType=pla&mkwid=0PVMhukY_dc&pcrid=30635767857

[dprimm]

I tried on the pants but the drawstring just won't cut it. It has one of those plastic, spring loaded cinch do-dads. It felt too loose and that was just in the dressing room. To bad since the price is reasonable.

I have a pair of these and will have to look at the waistband.  No problems when riding with them.  Nothing moves around unexpectedly.
For hands, I have been told my many that the bar mits are the way to go.  Seems like regular gloves or just thin liners inside of them are enough.  I've not tried them -- frankly, commuting both ways in the dark gets old quickly, so I don't know if I will. 
I have lobster gloves and my hands sweat enough that they get wet and cold.  I make it about an hour of my commute and then have problems. 
For the helmet, I was thinking if you stay in a fancy hotel, grab a shower hair cover.  Try it.  Then you know if such a thing will work for you and can get something specific.