Ear Covers

I'm a big guy, with a big head. So big I have to look for large-enough helmets. I've got both Giro and Bell models, with the ear covers mounted on the Giro for now. Normally, I ride with a skull-cap in cold weather, with the cap above my ears (like glasses, over the top of the ear) and these covers in place. These things work GREAT! I can hear road sounds, including traffic approaching behind me, and hear my bluetooth speaker (mounted to the handlebars) but wind noise is gone. These things are so good at keeping warm that I sometimes have to remove them, or slide them down, so that air can flow and my ears don't get too hot. I have used these on rides as cold as 17 degrees F. (-8 C) with a combination balaclava and skullcap (since the balaclava isn't really big enough, I wear it up to the back of my head, and the skullcap does the rest). These ear covers are an absolutely essential part of my riding gear during the winter. I have worn just a kerchief on my head, with these over my ears, and been just fine on 40 degree days.

I have had a few weeks to try these out, and now for my review. The Cat-Ears brand mostly sells noise reduction bits to place on helmet straps. Never knowing such a thing existed until now, after 30+ years of riding and accepting that wind noise was the trade off for bicycling, I ordered a pair. Being Winter, I have yet to try them out, but I also ordered a pair of their ear covers, which are designed more for ear warmth, so my review covers that aspect of these and not the noise reduction. Installation was a no brainier, but I still read them. They are a soft fleece material, with Velcro to hold them to your helmet straps, utilizing the V shape formed at the usual bracket joint of the two straps. For my current helmet, a Fly Racing mountain bike (I prefer the extra coverage of mountain bike helmets for commuting) model, it has more head coverage than my old Bell road helmet, with a more sculpted out ear region. The straps also originate at the edge of the helmet, and do not extend into the interior of the helmet, as in the Bell road helmet. This makes ear coverage a bit problematic, with a gap quickly appearing under the sculpted portion. This translates into less than ideal coverage of my ears with this particular helmet. Installed on a Bell road helmet, with its more flat ear region, the ears are better covered, so it is something to note. I suggest checking your helmet ear portion and and straps before deciding. Most helmets I have owned have the straps originating from inside the helmet, which would allow the pads to extend further, thus covering the ears properly. So I do not recommend them for more sculpted out ear helmets. As noted, these are not really designed for noise reduction, but for warmth. When installed on the Bell road helmet, they work as designed. Unfortunately for my purposes, I am using the Fly Racing helmet more often, so they do not get as much use. All that said, as long as you know your helmet design, they are recommended for warmth.

The benefits of these earcovers are two-fold: They provide warmth and protection from the elements, and they also reduce wind noise. I use a balaclava as my base layer and with these ear covers I'm quite comfortable riding in 30 degree temps. Another benefit is that they are attached to the helmet so I never have to search for them! Highly recommended for cold weather riding!

They attach super easy. As a solution for the wide variances of helmet strap configurations, they did a fairly good job of making fitment universal. However, for my particular helmet (Lazer Impala), they do not hold very tight against the ears, the excess material ends up flapping into the wind at th base of the helmet. They do reduce wind noise, so I know they are blocking the wind, but they are not a tight enough fit around the ears to keep ears warm below 30*F, especially if riding on the road. This is a great idea, just not a perfect fit for all helmets. I am going to attempt to sew additional Velcro for more adjustability, which should address my fitment issue.

These Polartec Ear covers help quite a bit with warmth and the wind, better than just a helmet liner or ideally with a helmet liner. They also reduce wind noise.

Got these for my wife. The concept is good but these are too thin. Once installed, the pads are slightly off the ear and will let cold air in. These would be great with more plush material.

Nope. Good idea, but did not fit well. Returned them.

These went on the helmet easily, reduced road noise on a downhill at 20+ MPH and kept my ears warm as advertised. Awesome product if your going fast, fast downhill or just need to keep your ears warm while letting the rest of your head breathe.

Easy to fit. Comfortable. Warm. Quiet. What more is there to say? Both my wife and I wear these for the cold weather.

Cuts wind noise right down and has stopped my ears getting sore with the cold very easy fitted

They don't fit all helmets. On our helmets they slide down and doesn't fit with the Velcro on the back. Very thin and too soft for this purpose as well.

Have only had them a few weeks, Tried them out on a cold windy morning and they worked really good,

I probably haven't fitted these as I should, I can't seem to get them as close fitting as the picture. Maybe it's my helmet.