Sweat gets in my eyes while cycling!
Jthanmyfitnesspal
Posts: 3,522 Member
I've been using Halo headbands that have a rubber strip to try to guide sweat away from your eyes. When cycling, the sweat pools in the front, however, and drips right down the middle of my face. (Works much better for jogging, etc.)
I've tried lots of other solutions, but have not found a perfect one. It's a real drag to have to take off my cycling goggles to wipe my face. Also, it's dangerous when the sweat actually gets into my eyes. I can't see!
Suggestions?
I've tried lots of other solutions, but have not found a perfect one. It's a real drag to have to take off my cycling goggles to wipe my face. Also, it's dangerous when the sweat actually gets into my eyes. I can't see!
Suggestions?
1
Replies
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I use a cap. It absorbs almost all of the sweat and it drains through the brim, a beautiful and calming waterfall right before my eyes! Fits under the helmet3
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I've been trying one of these out this year. Not only absorbs/passes sweat, but protects my old-guy bald spot under the helmet vents from the sun. So far, so good. We'll see how it feels when it's 90F or higher out ...
https://www.aerotechdesigns.com/cycling-beanie-sun-protector.html
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I use bandana. It gets soaked, extra sweat runs down sides of my face, at least nothing gets into my eyes.2
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I've found a shoe lace more effective than the specialised rubberised headbands - angled so that the sweat runs backwards and trickles down my neck.
I still get problems on those pesky high gradient / slow speed climbs though.
Your helmet design makes a big difference too, my current Bontrager Velocis Mips is far better than my old Bell semi- aero helmet.2 -
I've also used a cap, but lately prefer a Mission neck gaitor designed for cooling. Can wear it like a headband, and pour water right through the helmet and the fabric holds it and gives a nice cooling effect. I'm often in the aerobars, so the sweat runs off the tip of my helmet and usually hits my Garmin bike computer.
BTW, if you're a salty sweater like I am, a good splash of water on the bike after a ride helps avoid rust. I went through two sets of bolts on the aerobars and stem before my fitter changed them out for carbon ones. My sweat rusted them like ocean water.
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I just broke down and ordered a GUTR which is a plastic gutter for your forehead. Pretty dorky looking, but it is mostly under the helmet. @sijomial 's idea of using a shoe lace sounds pretty clever and cheaper.
I'm just pissed that I own about 4 of the Halos at $15 each. The one I wore last weekend totally failed and I was pretty miserable. I thought they used to work! They are old, but there's nothing visibly worn-out about them. I rinse them out every time.
I recall having a few thin tie-on headbands at one time that worked pretty well. The approach was to try to get the sweat to wick out and dry off before it could drip. I can't find exactly the same thing anywhere. I recall that they were expensive.0 -
The other thing I do on longer rides in hot or humid conditions is spray anti-perspirant on my forehead.
Helps to a degree.0 -
The other thing I do on longer rides in hot or humid conditions is spray anti-perspirant on my forehead.
Helps to a degree.
I've never tried that. Something new to check out.
I have my days where I sweat like crazy and none gets in my eyes. Then I have days when I feel like every drop goes right into my eyes. I've found that snug fitting sunglasses help hold a bandana or similar, and often let the sweat wick farther back on my face at least.
Sometimes.....1 -
The other thing I do on longer rides in hot or humid conditions is spray anti-perspirant on my forehead.
Helps to a degree.
Good idea. I'm going to try that.
The other thing I learned the hard way is to NEVER put sun tan lotion on my upper parts of face or my forehead. That's a guaranteed eye problem for me!5 -
The other thing I do on longer rides in hot or humid conditions is spray anti-perspirant on my forehead.
Helps to a degree.
Good idea. I'm going to try that.
The other thing I learned the hard way is to NEVER put sun tan lotion on my upper parts of face or my forehead. That's a guaranteed eye problem for me!
Oh yes, no sunscreen in the eye glasses area or higher. It will find the way in and will blind and sting. Also my sunglasses sit tight against the forehand and face and kind of divert the sweat away from eyes. Every little thing helps. I ride in hot and humid weather for a good portion of the year. It's also possible that i just ignore it and blink it away if it gets to be too much. I don't pull my glasses off often to wipe eyes, so I'm definitely not bothered too much by it.0 -
Jthanmyfitnesspal wrote: »I just broke down and ordered a GUTR which is a plastic gutter for your forehead. Pretty dorky looking, but it is mostly under the helmet. @sijomial 's idea of using a shoe lace sounds pretty clever and cheaper.
I'm just pissed that I own about 4 of the Halos at $15 each. The one I wore last weekend totally failed and I was pretty miserable. I thought they used to work! They are old, but there's nothing visibly worn-out about them. I rinse them out every time.
I recall having a few thin tie-on headbands at one time that worked pretty well. The approach was to try to get the sweat to wick out and dry off before it could drip. I can't find exactly the same thing anywhere. I recall that they were expensive.
I put out enormous sweat too, and require my glasses to ride, so anything coming down is dangerous actually.
GUTR is my best thing so far for me.
I use the Halo's on shorter rides, or non-city rides where I'll keep moving. Or before it gets too hot.
City rides when not too hot or late enough in day for shade, where I stop frequently and look down stupidly, I can still wear them.
GUTR has same issue of looking straight down, or back at gears. If I tilt head back first to empty it, then I can look down.
No beanie can soak up enough for me, but the Halo's skull cap where I can tie it tight as needed and some absorption on top is much better than the sweatband style one-size-fits-all.1 -
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The other thing I do on longer rides in hot or humid conditions is spray anti-perspirant on my forehead.
Helps to a degree.
Good idea. I'm going to try that.
The other thing I learned the hard way is to NEVER put sun tan lotion on my upper parts of face or my forehead. That's a guaranteed eye problem for me!
Yeah... been there, done that!
I have found that a couple of the kid formula spray on lotion gives minimal burn to the eyes, so if it's going to be blazing sun you can spray your face and tolerate a little if it gets in your eyes.3 -
I don't dare put anything on my forehead (sunscreen or antiperspirant) for fear it would get in my eyes.1
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This keeps 100% of sweat, rain, and snow out of my eyes. It breathes pretty well, but is a little too warm in the very hottest days. The brim is longer than a normal hat which is great, but might be hard on the neck on long bike rides in road posture for some people?
https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/calvus-cap0 -
Jthanmyfitnesspal wrote: »I don't dare put anything on my forehead (sunscreen or antiperspirant) for fear it would get in my eyes.
I have that all the time. I had been - seriously - putting sunscreen on my old guy's baldspot to protect it from the sun under the helmet vent holes. That all streamed down into my eyes with my perspiration as those hot rides went on for a while. As did the sunscreen that I apply, not to my forehead, but up to my temples (I got the MTB helmet, even though I do both road and trail, just because it has a sunshade visor). I've been seeing a dermatologist for the last several years, as he zap-freezes spots now developing from my sun-careless younger days. Curse of the red-haired, fair-skinned Irish.
I got this cooling, wicking and sun protective skintight skullcap as a trial this year. So far, it's seemed OK, but on June 5th, where it was blistering sunny, humid and hot (90F+ here on the NJ shore), it proved itself. No issues at all. I'll probably get a 2nd, so I can wash them for subsequent days. I got mine in stylish safety yellow to go with the helmet.
https://www.aerotechdesigns.com/cycling-beanie-sun-protector.html1 -
Update: I got a couple of sweaty rides in over the past week now using a GUTR. @heybales advice is very useful. You have to remember to let it clear out before you look down for any reason! I found it easier to tilt my head to the side rather than back, whereupon the sweat drips down your jowl.1
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I'm recalling now on strong cross-winds when tucked down a bit, and there's not a good back slope to it - sweat would actually blow over the edge too close to the glasses.
Those massive salt stained side-burns going all the way down, especially if I didn't shave that morning. Wild looking when I'd go into convenience store for water refills.
I should probably start practicing the right technique now, instead of 1st stop with it loaded up forgetting.2 -
Cycling in the summer slowly turns you into a pillar of salt...1
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I use a beanie sort of like the one last posted. Has a terry cloth band. Got it decades ago to protect my shaved head and received a bonus sweat band. If it gets too full I just wring it out and continue. Drier climate here though.0
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Just tightly close your eyes when you ride?
or
Simply, ride backwards?
(just remember, the advice on mfp is free)
.3 -
Jthanmyfitnesspal wrote: »I've been using Halo headbands that have a rubber strip to try to guide sweat away from your eyes. When cycling, the sweat pools in the front, however, and drips right down the middle of my face. (Works much better for jogging, etc.)
I've tried lots of other solutions, but have not found a perfect one. It's a real drag to have to take off my cycling goggles to wipe my face. Also, it's dangerous when the sweat actually gets into my eyes. I can't see!
Suggestions?
I’ve used bondi bands over the years for running. Love them
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I’ve used bondi bands over the years for running. Love them
Taking a look at their web site: they get an A+ for fun designs, and I particularly like the arm band for your phone. Any cloth headband will eventually saturate and start to drip. Maybe the answer is to carry a dry one in your pocket.0 -
Motorsheen wrote: »Just tightly close your eyes when you ride?
or
Simply, ride backwards?
Always look straight up when you ride. That sound logical.0 -
Jthanmyfitnesspal wrote: »
I’ve used bondi bands over the years for running. Love them
Taking a look at their web site: they get an A+ for fun designs, and I particularly like the arm band for your phone. Any cloth headband will eventually saturate and start to drip. Maybe the answer is to carry a dry one in your pocket.
I'll say it again. I use a cap, when it saturates and begins to drip, the water only comes out through the brim. It keeps 100% of sweat, rain, and snow out of my eyes, and does a great job protecting my forehead from sunburn too.1 -
NorthCascades wrote: »I'll say it again. I use a cap, when it saturates and begins to drip, the water only comes out through the brim. It keeps 100% of sweat, rain, and snow out of my eyes, and does a great job protecting my forehead from sunburn too.
I do that when I run, and it really works. I couldn't possibly wear a running hat with a brim when I ride because my vision would be partially blocked by the brim. Back when the racers wore bike hats, they'd typically invert the brim.
(Search google images for the great Eddy Merckx to see some classic pictures of that.)0 -
Tried this Castelli Summer headband this weekend on two 3hr rides in 30c/86f temperatures, worked pretty well and only leaked on a long slow climb and a little on a fast descent when I tried to become a little more aerodynamic than a barn.....
Also available in black so you might look less like a Samurai.
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Tried this Castelli Summer headband this weekend on two 3hr rides in 30c/86f temperatures, worked pretty well and only leaked on a long slow climb and a little on a fast descent when I tried to become a little more aerodynamic than a barn.....
Also available in black so you might look less like a Samurai.
That type works really well when the humidity isn't too high. I wicks the sweat up and allows it to dry as efficiently as possible. I've been riding in high heat with humidity, and all the regular sweatbands have been failing. The Gutr seems to be about as good as it gets for these conditions, although the sweat generated under it and around your eyes needs to be wiped off every once in a while.
Bottom line: Riding hard in the heat and humidity makes you sweat all over! And, in general, that's a good thing!1 -
Jthanmyfitnesspal wrote: »Tried this Castelli Summer headband this weekend on two 3hr rides in 30c/86f temperatures, worked pretty well and only leaked on a long slow climb and a little on a fast descent when I tried to become a little more aerodynamic than a barn.....
Also available in black so you might look less like a Samurai.
That type works really well when the humidity isn't too high. I wicks the sweat up and allows it to dry as efficiently as possible. I've been riding in high heat with humidity, and all the regular sweatbands have been failing. The Gutr seems to be about as good as it gets for these conditions, although the sweat generated under it and around your eyes needs to be wiped off every once in a while.
Bottom line: Riding hard in the heat and humidity makes you sweat all over! And, in general, that's a good thing!
After a long ride on Saturday in very warm, humid conditions, I decided to order a new (for me) headband. Headband is nylon/spandex and wide in front, maybe 4 inches when expanded. Back of the band is narrower with an elastic inside the outer material. Will see if it is non slip and reduces the amount of sweat that drips from under my helmet into my eyes and bike stem when riding in the aerobars. It comes in a 4 pack, so I'm going to try carrying a spare to change out as needed during rides.
On last Saturday's ride it seemed like I drained all five bottles of fluid out through my helmet!1 -
The things that make it hot here mostly give us dry heat. My state is basically half desert and half rain forest, sometimes the winds bring is hot so desert air.
Sweat is a great way to stay cool through evaporation, but that doesn't happen when the air is too humid to absorb your sweat (and heat with it). Be careful in those conditions!!2
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