Dear All,
I’m just in the process of buying my first Mazda MX-5 - so as a “newbie” I want to get the maximum out of it especially with the roof down, as it’s also my first roadster (convertible).
I found a recommendation for a “first” hat, but sadly it’s no longer available. It was grey with a little peak.
I want to avoid a Beanie style pom-pom – I already have one. Ideally, for British weather over the next few months…
Do folks really try to “go topless” whenever possible?
Simon
I do tend to go “topless” unless it’s really raining/snowing. My choice of headwear is a German army/Bundeswehr field cap. They’re very cheap to buy, excellent quality and easily obtainable. The peak keeps the sun out of my eyes and the cap itself gives excellent protection to my balding pate and it’s no.3 hairstyle! Highly recommended!
PS: For a neck-scarf I use a strip of khaki camo netting, again, very cheap, very warm and easily available. Don’t bother with expensive, “Branded” items they’re just not worth the extra!
If your doing any serious mileage topless get a hat/cap that covers your ears, summer jaunts are fine hat less but winter…tinnitus is not nice.
Very true! I’ve suffered with it in both ears for some years now!
Thanks, I see now that my original idea was complete rubbish. So it was good to ask a “silly question”!
Will find one that matches this style with velcro flaps that allow it to cover my “sensitive” ears as the cheaper ones seem just to be fixed.
Search also revealed “trapper” hats. A rounded or flat topped Bundeswehr.
Simon
I don’t know much about tinnitus except that it’s caused by noise-induced hearing loss - so not just feeling the cold.
The good news is that people with depression are more susceptible, so having an MX-5 can completely alleviate the symptoms (Smiles for Miles)?
I tend to put the roof down whenever I can regardless of temperature, even in the rain (as long as I’m moving forward above 30 mph). Having a small pea-head I find it difficult to find headware that fits relatively nicely so I have a Berghaus beanie sometimes worn with prescription sunglasses. If I’m getting down with the kids, I wear a hoodie, although have to make extra effort to look around or drop it completely when I arrive at a junction.
Hi Simon. I didn’t know about the depression/tinnitus connection until your post. That could explain mine as I’ve suffered from/received treatment for depression for many years!
I would also say that there are German army ski caps, similar in quality to the field caps, with ear flaps for sale on ebay for £3-99 incl. p&p! Can’t do much better than that! Be sure it’s the genuine article as there are “repros” around that have imitation flaps sewn in. They tend to be for “War-gamers” and are inferior quality, more expensive and utterly useless for such as we.
Good luck!
I am married to a partner who shares my belief that at the slightest hint of sunshine the top has to come down. Being very ‘seldom on top’ I need to wear a hat, and I also find that if I don’t have a peak to shade my eyes I struggle with the contrast between the sky and the road.
It sounds ridiculously simple but over the years I have settled on the simple baseball cap. I usually have the heating going full blast and the windows up so that’s all I need, something to cover the thin spot and keep the sun out of my eyes.
As someone who rides a motorcycle I can’t believe that people are complaining about the noise of driving with the roof down. I seriously doubt it is anywhere the levels needed to damage hearing.
I recently bought this for driving with the top down, lovely & warm with a peak to keep the sun out of my eyes:
Sorry, double post…
Looks really good and purposeful. Also two or more functions in one. The navy blue one shows all the different patterns up on my monitor. I’m guessing it’s not waterproof but it also probably doesn’t need to be as a driver’s hat if you stay in the car. I only see it in one size which is 57.5 cm. My cycle helmet is a 54-61 and I have it almost on biggest setting. So would this stretch to fit and be ideal? I guess I can return it if it’s the wrong size. Has four 5* reviews and one biased (long) 5* star review. US (change to .com) has many more reviews which are mostly very positive too. Does peak hold it’s shape?
Top down when ever possible, baseball cap.
So now we know. If you think you’ve spotted a German storm trooper in a 5 it’s Countryboy!
Must say that I’ve found that with a wind blocker of some description there’s not too much draft in the cabin. If you are really tall in the saddle then it might get a bit drafty though. Get the blowers going to chuck some warm air at you and you’ll be fine.
I bought this Berghaus cap for winter backpacking but it is ideal for winter roof down days as well. Nylon outer with fleece lining. Normally worn with ear flaps folded up but they keep the ears really warm when needed in or out of the car. In summer I wear a baseball cap, especially touring in southern Europe when it is needed to keep head cool and sun off face.
http://www.blacks.co.uk/mens/178851-berghaus-men-s-hydroshell-cap-black.html
I bought a couple of similar hats but without neck warmers, just peaked hats which pull down over my ears.
I leave them in the Eunos Special & the Mk3 Sport, heaters full on, plus wind blockers in both cars.
Keep below 70 mph on motorways then there is no turbulence or cold neck troubles.
Hood down all drives unless it is raining.
Bought them on Amazon in 2015 about £9 each.
Keith
Here’s another good reason for wearing something with a goodly-sized peak.
When my wife was given our first MX-5 as a company car back in 2011, we immediately took it to the south of France - roof down most of the way, because the weather was so lovely, and we were very keen. Anyway, muggins just wore sunglasses (no hat) - wind in hair (yes I still have mine !) for about 700 miles - fantastic. Unfortunately, I ended up with a sunburned nose, and looked like Rudolph for most of the holiday !
Chris Phillips.
100% agree. Its not just for cold weather. As we found last year in Croatia, it is wonderful driving in a pleasant breeze but its not until you stop that you realise how sun burned your nose and forehead is. Baseball cap with long peak is essential packing