Australian cycling kit brand MAAP has teamed up with American purveyor of fashionable urban hats New Era to “reimagine” the cycling cap.
The Stealth Performance Cap is designed for the hottest riding conditions and the two brands claim to have redesigned the ubiquitous cycling cap using “cutting edge technology”.
It costs €35 / AU$50, comes in three designs, and uses breathable, wicking fabrics with laser-cut perforations for air flow, and an internal sweatband to keep perspiration from running where it shouldn’t.
The new cap’s seams are taped for comfort – to avoid chafing, we assume – while reflective graphics aim to improve visibility.
Of course, most riders wearing cycling caps will do so underneath a helmet, so it’s debatable how effective this might be.
According to MAAP creative director Misha Glisovic, “Design and performance have always been at the front of mind when creating our product. To develop a cap from the ground up that is tailor made specifically for cyclists, in partnership with such an iconic headwear manufacturer is a really exciting new chapter for our brand”.
The classic cycling casquette (that’s French for “cap”, and as we know, using loanwords is more authentic) is an iconic piece of cycling fashion, one that’s sometimes worn as an off-the-bike signifier that someone belongs to the tribe of cyclists.
Some riders swear by them come rain or shine, while others can’t fathom wearing a hat under a helmet.
Is a summer cycling cap with street cred what your wardrobe has been missing? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
