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review

GripGrab AquaShield Waterproof Cycling Cap

8
£29.95

VERDICT:

8
10
Stands up to even heavy rain without issue, yet is breathable enough for warm days too
Keeps the water out
Good fit
Peak is long enough to keep the sun off
Not quite as breathable as a standard cap
Weight: 
26g

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The GripGrab AquaShield Waterproof Cycling Cap does exactly what it says on the label, doing a great job of keeping your head dry in the rain while being almost as breathable as a standard cap. It's pricier than one, though.

The humble cycling cap has a multitude of uses, from protecting your head from the sun, keeping the glare out of your eyes and – to a lesser extent – keeping the rain off. In fact, a standard cap does a very good job.

GripGrab's version is made from a 100% nylon and uses an AquaShield durable water repellent (DWR) coating to keep the water out. GripGrab claims the cap has a waterproof rating of 15K, which I'd say is realistic, as in some thundery downpours it resisted any ingress for at least an hour.

The 15K, by the way, means the fabric has been tested to resist the pressure of a 15,000mm (15 metre) water column before it starts to leak. If my calculations are correct, that's around 21psi of pressure. That's mid-scale in waterproofing terms.

Whether you wear it on its own or under your helmet, water beads off the outer surface. In heavy rain that does mean it can run off and drip down your neck, but the rest of you is likely to be wet anyway.

Hatters gonna hat

Rainwater beads off the peak too, but the peak is large enough that it drips in front of your glasses, so it's no big issue.

Breathability isn't bad considering the coating – GripGrab says its rating is 40K, and I certainly didn't find things get any hotter than I was expecting. Breathability tests are far more varied that waterproofing ones and aren't standardised, however, so that 40K rating is arguably not all that meaningful.

2023 Grip Grab AquaShield Waterproof Cycling Cap - 3.jpg

The fabric will soak up a reasonable amount of sweat before it gets overwhelmed, though, so it was only on stormy humid days that I found it too warm to wear. It was a hot and very humid spring period for the test, mind you, and in typical May/June temperatures it would be comfortable. It'll be ideal for use in the autumn too.

It comes in two sizes – S/M and M/L – and its construction is thin and light, so you only need to wind out your helmet's cradle a few millimeters for it to fit underneath.

Value

At £29.95 it's pricey compared to a standard cap, which typically come in at £15-£20.

The GripGrab is cheaper than Showers Pass' Atlas Cap, however – that's a similar design and costs £35. Its Elite Cycling Cap is more roadie than the Atlas, at least, but also costs £35.

Also similar, the Sealskinz's Waterproof All Weather Cap is slightly cheaper at £25.

Overall

Most caps do a good job even in the wet, but if you're looking for proper water resistance then I recommend this GripGrab. It offers good weather protection and decent breathability, and the price is in the right ball park too.

Verdict

Stands up to even heavy rain without issue, yet is breathable enough for warm days too

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road.cc test report

Make and model: GripGrab AquaShield Waterproof Cycling Cap

Size tested: M/L

Tell us what the product is for

Grip Grab says, "The GripGrab AquaShield Waterproof Cycling Cap is an essential addition to any cyclist's kit drawer – for those wet days of spring and autumn, and even summer – thanks to its exceptional breathability."

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

* Weather protection

* Extremely breathable

* Moisture management

* Optimal under helmet fit

* Reflective detailing

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for fit:
 
8/10
Rate the product for sizing:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight:
 
7/10
Rate the product for comfort:
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
5/10

How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?

GripGrab recommends a handwash only, and that worked fine multiple times.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

It offers good waterproofing, and breathability isn't majorly hampered by the coating.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Keeps the worst of the rain out.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Water can run off and travel down your neck.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

It sits between the Showers Pass and Sealskins caps mentioned in the review.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

It does the job it is designed for, plus it is well made and priced well against the opposition.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 44  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is: B'Twin Ultra CF draped in the latest bling test components

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed,

As part of the Tech Hub here at F-At Digital, our senior product reviewer Stu uses the knowledge gained from putting well over a 1,000 products through their paces (including hundreds of bikes) to write in-depth reviews of a huge range of kit. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 160,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. Although, as he spends a fair bit of his time reviewing ebikes these days he's becoming an expert in letting the motor take the strain. He's also waiting for 23mm race tyres to make a comeback!

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