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review
Craft Active Extreme Windstopper Skall hat£24.00
VERDICT:
Well priced, comfortable and ultimately a solidly performing piece of kit.
Weight:
20g
Contact:
At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.
What the road.cc scores meanGood scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.
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Craft, being Swedish, know a thing or two about keeping warm in proper winter temperatures, and this expertise shows with the Craft Active Extreme Windstopper Skull hat. Made from the same material as the base layer we have recently reviewed, it is a small, thin, and light beanie-style cap which fits under your helmet keeping winter at any from your skull.
The hat is made from a thermal material which does a thorough job of insulating the head from the coldest of climes, but its the Gore Windstopper which is this hats party piece.
Whether you are starting the day or in the middle of a hard training session the Windstopper fabric does a splendid job of keeping the icy blasts off of your head, complementing the thermal fabric and ensuring that you don't get brain freeze.
It's particularly useful when you are working up a sweat, as the windstopper prevents the wind and sweat from combining on your head and turning your forehead into a rapid freezing unit, this is most evident on the longer descents that come right after the sweat-inducing climbs. Whilst not an issue in warmer temps, where the chilling is welcomed, on cold rides the freezing temps can make the difference between enjoying the descent and wanting to pack it all in and go home again.
I've been using the Craft Active Extreme Windstopper Skull hat for a couple of months now, and whilst it doesn't have a peak like a traditional cycling cap or hat would, it's comfort levels are superb. The material is thin enough to add very little bulk to your head, so, unless you have a particularly tight helmet, you should be able to wear it under your helmet without a size change (as someone whose head is right not he M/L border I appreciate being able to wear this under a M helmet). So far it has provided comfortable heat levels down as far as -2, and it felt like there was plenty more potential for temperature drops before its limits were reached.
It dries quickly, and is simple to wash - useful as it can get a bit smelly after a few heavy rides - and at a penny under £25 (look around obviously and you will find it for a lot less then list price) it represents good value for money - for me it's an essential piece of kit.
Verdict
Well priced, comfortable and ultimately a solidly performing piece of kit.
road.cc test report
Make and model: Craft Active Extreme Windstopper Skull hat
Size tested: L/XL
Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?
For those who either like to, or have to, go out in the colder conditions the Craft Active Extreme Windstopper Skull hat is winter companion to help get through the chilly rides.
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
The Active Extreme hat is made of thin, lightweight and elastic micro polyester and Gore Windstopper panels. The Gore Windstopper panels are placed in exposed areas providing wind protection and freedom of movement simultaneously. Active Windstopper provides optimal body-temperature management throughout any workout in fair, cold and windy conditions.
Rate the product for quality of construction:
8/10
No loose threads, stitching is neat and tidy.
Rate the product for performance:
9/10
An excellent thin garment to provide some cranial protection from the colder weather.
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
8/10
Very little weight, barely noticeable.
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
8/10
Soft material, flat-lock stitching, and just loose enough to be comfortable without being saggy.
Rate the product for value:
9/10
I wear mine nearly every day, and when I don't it can be found in my pocket. Cost/wear is tiny!
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
At keeping the wind off of the head, it's great. At insulation? Likewise!
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
Personally I like that it does its role whilst being so thin and light.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
Nothing.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? Yes i have already as a present for a friend.
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes - absolutely.
Anything further to say about the product in conclusion?
Comfortble, effective, and good value for money!
About the tester
Age: 37 Height: 176cm Weight:
I usually ride: Rapide RC4, Raleigh SP Race, Hoffman BMX My best bike is: Rapide RC4
I've been riding for: 5-10 years I ride: Every day I would class myself as: Experienced
I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, touring, sportives, general fitness riding, Adventure-packing, crossing-countries
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Add new comment
13 comments
Unless you are regularly riding in proper arctic conditions I can't really see the point of the windstopper bit.
I have quite a vented helmet (Giro Atmos) and I just wear a doubled up buff during the cold months. It covers my ears and provides plenty enough insulation and is low on bulk.
I also have loads of buffs / choobs / similar knocking around the house from various freebies, so they effectively cost nowt.
I own a pair of this and it is great for winter as it covers my ears. It is not thick and fits perfectly under my helmet. One of my good buys. Highly recommended.
I love craft gear always seems to be well made and lasts well. I have a pair of fleece lined trousers that are designed for skiing, but to be honest, I run and cycle in them. There fantastic. I can't see this hat breaking the their mould. It is on the expensive side but a cold head can totally ruin a good ride so I've got no issues with it.
www.tinpony.co.uk
Looks a nice design
£17.25 at Wiggle. Mine's in its 4th year now.
"solidly performing piece of kit".........OMG, its a hat !! An expensive hat but still a hat.
I've a couple of those from places like Aldi. They weren't anything like £25 !
It appears that the Windstopper doesn't apply to the ears. If so and with no brim and the high price, there (imho) are better value wind-blocking skull caps out there e.g. CTR's Mistral Combo Skully which you can buy for less than 1/3 this price.
I've a couple of those from places like Aldi. They weren't anything like £25 !
Martin, have you ever tried wearing a cycling cap under your helmet? I'm intruiged as to how this represents good value for money over a £1.99 cap from On-One.
He did cover that in the review…
I have indeed, and being the possessor of a relatively large bounce I find that most caps don't fit, those that do leave pressure marks, and whilst they keep winter sun out of the eyes they don't block freezing winds so well , and they certainly don't keep my ears warm.
Having just looked in my draw and counted around 15 caps (I'm always dreaming that one might fit) I can say that yes, it's good value for money
Good value for money? Are you mad!!!!!!