Da Brim Review: Riding Under Da Brimfluence

Additional photos by Matteo Minelli

I’ve been hearing we need to make cycling sexy to get more butts on bikes, so I’m throwing my hat into the ring with Da Brim. It’s no exaggeration to say that Da Brim is the most revolutionary piece of clothing I own. It’s so functional. And, at least according to me, it’s the most stylish cycling accessory under the sun. This is what peak performance looks like.

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But you know what’s even sexier than a big ol’ cycling sombrero? I’ll tell you: a calm, cool wherever you go, caring for future you, taking up the space you deserve, and unflappable confidence that doesn’t take itself too seriously. This (and more) awaits you when you don Da Brim. After months of field research in sunny Spain, I’m positively brimming with excitement to finally share all my findings with you. Strap in!

Da Brim deep dive

Da Brim is a sun visor for cycling helmets that throws shade on all other means of sun protection. The donut-shaped visor attaches to your helmet and offers 360° sun protection for your face and neck. In this review, we’re looking at the Sporty model with its 7-9.5cm (2.75-3.75”) brim. This is the model I would generally recommend, as the generous brim already offers full coverage. If you never want to see the sun again, go with the even larger Classic model, and please send a photo over!

It’s made from 100% nylon and features a reinforced brim edge. It weighs around 150 grams (5 ounces). The extra weight up top felt a little odd at first, but I adjusted quickly. Da Brim is available in Black, Gray, Tan, Pastel Ribbons, White, and super sexy Fluorescent Yellow to best suit your cycling safari look. It’s manufactured in Mexico and costs $48.95 in the US.

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Da Brim attaches via a collar that slides over the lower part of your helmet, which is tensioned with a single strap on the left side. The inside of the collar is rubberized to prevent slipping. This system works universally with all kinds of cycling helmets. It’s very secure when correctly attached. Thanks to the lip that hooks beneath the edge of your helmet, I found Da Brim stays in place even in windy conditions beyond the official 50-kilometer-per-hour (35-mile-per-hour) rating. Still, you might add a dummy cord to prevent it from flying off.

A detailed PDF instruction manual is available from the makers, but failing to consult that, here’s my refined technique for mounting the visor. With my helmet on my head and Da Brim’s adjustment strap slack, I hook the front of Da Brim against the front edge of my helmet, pull down the rear, and then pull the adjustment strap until just snug. I then remove the helmet to make final adjustments with it in my hands. With practice, you can be ready for action in less than 20 seconds.

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Velcro straps at the front and rear allow you to fine-tune Da Brim’s angle of attack so you can see while in a time-trialing aero tuck without obstructing your helmet mirror. According to the manufacturer, the design also promotes airflow through the helmet, adding cooling to the shading effect. Maybe we can get a Formula 1 aero expert to comment on that claim.

Doubling up on protection

Last year, I got serious about sun protection. Our space rock is bombarded with powerful ultraviolet rays from the sun that damage unprotected fair skin. Sustained exposure can lead to painful sunburn in the short term, and the cumulative long-term damage and risks, including skin cancer, shouldn’t be underestimated, especially for those living active outdoor lives. Thanks to Da Brim, I look forward to skin as supple as my tires for decades to come. As is often the case, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Sunscreen is part of a UV protection strategy, but the best protection is to cover up as much as possible, especially sensitive facial skin. Unlike sunscreen, clothing and hats’ shielding effect doesn’t deteriorate within a few hours. Sunscreen also pollutes waterways, feels gross, and has a host of ingredients that I’d rather not ingest through my skin. I want to minimize my usage.

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This is where Da Brim comes in, offering glorious shading of the face and neck. It’s rated to UPF 50+ because that’s where the scale tops out. I learned first-hand that light surfaces such as gravel reflect up to 25% of UV radiation, so I still lather up once in the late morning. But blissfully shielded from direct radiation, I find a single application gets me through the day. Be aware that UV rays readily penetrate haze and thin clouds, so Da Brim is not only for sunny days.

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Unlike the sun hoody, another popular method of sun protection, Da Brim doesn’t restrict airflow and peripheral vision, and doesn’t stink. It does so with a slight weight and aero penalty, which I’ll take any day of the week. And unlike a regular sun hat, with Da Brim I get to keep my helmet’s impact protection, which is non-negotiable for me.

Bikepacking under da Brimfluence

In early spring of last year, I rode from Germany down to Spain with Da Brim strapped to my rack. I was unsure if I’d need it and even less certain I’d be able to pull it off. But after the Pyrenees, I dropped straight into the heat of the Spanish summer, which forced the issue. It took a few days to work up the courage to finally wear it, but everything changed when I put on Da Brim.

Whereas before, I was an anonymous, run-of-the-mill cycle tourist passing through towns like a ghost, I now heard choruses of “Me encanta!” and ranchers were tipping their hats to me. Its pragmatic silhouette identifies you as someone who clearly knows what they’re doing and doesn’t give a damn about what others think. Donning Da Brim catalyzed radical self-confidence that I didn’t know I had, and on the flip side, I found that it’s also impossible to take yourself too seriously wearing Da Brim—probably a good baseline for any traveler.

By June, riding conditions in central Spain were brutal. The sun was relentless, and the high plains offered zero shade. Vultures soared above, scanning for passed-out bikepackers. My oranges fermented in my panniers. But as long as I kept moving, it was bearable under my personal parasol. Da Brim is a godsend for sun-belt touring. If you don’t believe me, I refer you to Joe Cruz, a bikepacking veteran and, of course, long-time Brimmer. I trust he knows a thing or two about keeping that big brain of his cool as a cucumber.

One neat fact is that Da Brim works best in places in the places where you need it most. Closer to the equator, the sun will be higher in the sky, which means Da Brim’s will keep you shaded for more of the day, like pedaling through a permanent solar eclipse. In Spain, approximately the latitude of Utah, USA, I find Da Brim to be a three-season necessity. At higher latitudes around Berlin (approximately Hudson Bay), Da Brim is most useful in the core summer months and a bold statement year-round.

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Da Brim’s robust construction held up flawlessly to several months of touring, so I expect to get many years of joyous use out of it. Attached properly, it performed effectively and unobtrusively. While the weight wasn‘t a problem, an ultralight version (Dyneema?) that shaves a few grams would be interesting. A handful of extremely windy days prevented the deployment of Da Brim, and you won’t be riding with it through a monsoon because the nylon gets water-logged and droops. Overall, Da Brim is a well-designed and manufactured product that works just as advertised.

Brimming with potential

In becoming one with Da Brim, I’ve discovered some advanced uses and interesting effects. I’ve used it to fan a campfire on more than one occasion, and it’s equally effective at stoking online controversy. I’ve found it evokes smiles from folks wherever I go while confusing self-serious roadies and gravel bros, which I find delightful. Wearing Da Brim, you take up a lane in city traffic, and birds may attempt to nest in its real estate. Note that Da Brim may require registration as an experimental-class aircraft with your local aviation authority.

The manufacturer doesn’t advertise that Da Brim doubles as a sun hat at camp: you can strap it directly to your head without wearing a helmet. This technique is truly outrageous, and you’ll only want to make use of it when far from civilization or in emergencies.

Finally, I must warn you, Da Brim pushed me over the edge to premature cycling middle age. I traded short sleeves for flowy linen, dumped my shoes for SPD sandals, and now I’m rolling around on a Rohloff. The helmet mirror is coming into view.

Da Future

The trajectory of responses to my Brim has been fascinating. Prepare to be laughed at initially. I’ve received threats and intimidation due to my overt brimfluencing. But friends and strangers alike started coming around. Every day, the movement grows. When the planet heats, and the forests burn, Brimmers will be the last ones laughing. Da Brim is da future.

• Model/Size Tested: Sporty Cycling Helmet Visor Brim
• Weight: 150 grams (5 ounces)
• Place of Manufacture: Mexico
• Price: $48.95
• Manufacturer’s Details: Da Brim

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You can browse da full selection of Da Brim’s offerings over at DaBrim.com.

Further Reading

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