off-road.cc

Gore's C5 Gore-Tex Shakedry cycling cap might seem like a rather costly way to cover your head, but I've rapidly fallen in love with both the huge amount of breathability and under-helmet weatherproofing it offers and it's become a firm favourite for soggy rides on the drop bar bike.

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While £40 might seem like a fair slab of cash for a cycling cap - after all you can pick a cotton one up for under a tenner - Gore's offering is made from their waterproof yet highly breathable Shakedry fabric.

That's basically a minimalist version of their waterproof Gore-Tex membrane, with the usual abrasion resistant layer stripped out in the name of improving vapour permeability - basically maximising how easily your sweat can get through the fabric in order to keep you from getting an extremely humid head.

That means it's possible to wear it in everything from mild and windy conditions to full on soggy downpours and it'll keep your head dry and proofed from cold or chills. It's a one-size-fits-all affair with an elasticated back and there's a reflective stripe if you're too hip for a helmet when riding at night. As is conventional, the small peak at the front can be flipped up or down in a satisfyingly tight manner and when up, it stayed out of the way very well. It even fitted fine with a peaked mountain bike lid too.

I usually run extremely warm and sweaty, so I'd rather tolerate a few cold-induced ice cream headaches rather than feeling like my mind is being broiled, but I found this cap to be superb at regulating temperature and moisture, even on relatively mild days. Despite not having much hair, I found the brim didn't cut into my forehead uncomfortably when riding and any marks left were only what I'd expect from helmet padding when I took it all off, which is fine.

Okay, for forty quid on a small cap might seem excessive, but when you see how much some brands are willing to rinse you for a fashion cap without the technical features, this cap almost seems like good value in comparison. If you regularly go riding in the rain and detest a wet head, it's a must have bit of kit in my opinion.

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