Pros: Works as advertised. Comfortable, light, easy to adjust and easily washable.
Cons: Should have bought one sooner.
The Bottom Line: The Sweat Gutr works as advertised and offers a great alternative to standard sweatbands that you have to constantly need to wring out.
Background:
Many of you know that I am an avid mountain biker and also volunteer my time as a Regional Park Bike Patrol officer. I have been looking at various ways to keep the sweat out of my eyes. I have used helmets that claim to have a built-in sweat brow, to using headbands and bandanas to keep the sweat out of my eyes. All worked to a certain extent until I they would become saturated from a long ride. After doing a search on the internet, I came across the Sweat Gutr, a product that claims to keep the sweat out of your eyes no matter how much or how long you sweat. When it comes to sports related products, I review them after months of actual use. So my review on this product is based on eight months of actual use.
Product Description:
Sweat Gutr is a thin headband that is made of a hypoallergenic PVC material that is very flexible and easily conforms to your head. On the front of the headband is the secret to this product. It has a large gutter that "catches" your sweat above your eyes and channels it away to the side of your head. On each side of the headband there is one long slit to aid in comfort or for those who like to use this headband over their ears according to the manufacturer's web site. On the end of the headband are adjustable velcro straps that loop into one of three nylon-like rubber bands to help with the fit of the Sweat Gutr to your head. The Sweat Gutr is a opaque in color and only the logo comes in two colors, blue or red.
Features:
Comes with three different sized nylon-like rubber bands to help the Sweat Gutr adjust for different sized heads. There is a slit on each side of the headband to aid in comfort or for those wanting to put the headband over their ears. Lastly, for fine-tuned adjustments, each end of the Sweat Gutr has a velcro loop for quick and easy adjustments for a custom fit.
Actual Trail and Road Use:
Like I said before, I have tried many other solutions to keep the sweat out of my eyes, especially during my long hill climbs in the Regional Park system. Temperatures around here are now into the 90s and low 100s so I can really put this product through its paces. Out trail riding on my mountain bike, the sweat that I produced was actually channeled away from my eyes as the product described. As long as you don't look down, the Sweat Gutr did an admirable job of channeling the sweat away from my eyes. Though it was effective, it was not 100%. There were times that some sweat would reach my eyes or sunglasses but this would be sweat created by my eyebrows that the Sweat Gutr could not cover. Also, as I mentioned earlier, if you look down, be prepared for quite a bit of sweat falling out of the Sweat Gutr. I learned early on not to look down if I don't have to. Overall, I would say in a mountain biking scenario, it would be effective at least 85-90% of the time and it doesn't get saturated! This is great when you have to consider I am talking about being out in the trails for over two hours. Standard headbands for me are oversaturated by hour one and are not effective after that unless your wring them out. This forces you to stop your ride briefly, an annoyance. On my road bike, the Sweat Gutr is even more effective. I would say 95-100% of the time. Probably due to the faster speed being on the road affords to help with evaporating sweat and the different geometry of the bike.
In regards to comfort, as long as you don't attach the Sweat Gutr to your head very tightly, you shouldn't have any problems with comfort. I have had this product on my head on my four hour rides and forget it's there all the time. Doesn't interfere with my helmet in any way. Do be prepared that it does leave a mark on your forehand that will go away. The tighter you put the Sweat Gutr on, the mark it leaves will stay on longer. Lastly, on those bumpy single tracks, the Sweat Gutr doesn't move one bit. Very solidly attaches with no movement at all. Because this product is made of PVC, it is very easy to clean and use again. Just a little hand soap and water under the faucet, let dry and your done. Also, no funky sweat smell after the ride, each and every time. So far, the PVC material, even with my daily use hasn't change color in any way. The Sweat Gutr still looks like the day I bought it.
Warranty:
None that I could find from the manufacturer's web site. I bought mine a the local bike shop which gives their customers a 30-day return policy.
Weight:
For you weight weenies, using my Pelouze digital scale, the Sweat Gutr weighs in a svelte 20 grams.
Manufacturer's Information:
Tunnel Vision, Inc.
8812 Rolling Rock Lane
Dallas, Texas 75238
Main: 866.457.0140
Fax: 248.281.7663
Web Site: www.sweatgutr.com
Conclusions:
Overall, I have been quite pleased with the performance of this product and wouldn't hesitate recommending to my friends to purchase one. If you are one of those individuals like me that sweat a lot during strenuous activities and hate having the sweat sting your eyes, you need to check out the Sweat Gutr as your alternative to the standard sweatband.
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
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