Endura

I was looking for a warmer cap to wear, to go along with what I already have. My main needs are to keep my head and ears warm, and try to keep good visibility.

I own a wool balaclava -- super warm, what I wear in the coldest weather, but it seems to block out a bit of peripheral vision, sometimes fogs up my glasses, and has no bill to block out the sun low on the horizon.

I also own a basic wool cap -- pretty warm, has a small bill, but doesn't cover my ears as well, so they get cold if I'm out for a while.

The Endura Pro SL Winter Cap -- I'd say about as warm as my other wool gear, but has much bigger "flaps" to cover my ears, has little reflective panels, and it has a bill big enough to block the sun. On the down side, it's a little louder, and seems to trap in sweat a little bit more (but I've only noticed this if I wear it jogging, not so much on a bike).

After having used this for a few weeks, I think the Endura is my favorite, if I pair it with a neck warmer. If it's absolutely brutally cold, and I have to ride, I'll grab the balaclava. But if I'm commuting, and need to look around a lot, I like the Endura much better.

Endura is becoming my go-to brand for cold or bad weather cycling gear. There's always one or two things that I feel could be better, usually with fit, but none of them are deal breakers and the value is fantastic. This jersey adds some warmth but has nice breathability. I sweat quite a lot, more than what technical fabrics can typically deal with, but even as this gets saturated it still keeps me warm. The pockets are nice, big enough to be useful, though as another reviewer mentioned the back coverage could be a bit longer, which also makes it somewhat more difficult to grab items out of the pockets.

For group rides, I prefer wearing a thermal long-sleeve under a normal jersey when the temp gets below 60 or so, and i'll swap this with the regular jersey when it gets into the low 50's and add a vest or wind shell as it gets colder. For commuting, this gets added at even higher temps since I'm usually not pushing as hard, and this makes an excellent mid layer for cold, wet commutes. The breathability helps me not feel like I'm melting when a rain jacket is added, and it provides some needed warmth on downhills or when some heavier winds are added to the mix.

These are really well made, plenty of pockets. I'm 5'10" around 170lbs and the medium fits great. The included liner is nice too, used them on rides of 2-3 hours and never think about them. I've been out in upper 40's to mid 50's and they are warm enough for me. Had one ride in misty rain and they did a pretty good job of staying dry. My only complaint is I wish they were 1-2 inches longer for better knee coverage. Going to try them with lycra knickers instead of the liner and see how they work in colder weather.

Best feature: there is a side-back pocket appropriate for a water bottle (or other cylindrical beverage device). Elsewhere right combination of reach-in and secure pockets and the belt is a nice supplement. Material is typical Endura quality- these should last many, many rides. Medium-duty chamois is appropriate for a multi-hour ride. I'd say these are best used for casual trail or DH days- they don't fall into the 'fast, light and tight' category.