Cyclists in search of the ultimate sweatband need look no further than Sweat GUTR(TM), described by senior coach Jake Rubelt of Carmichael Training Systems as “one of the few things that you can buy these days that really makes your riding and racing experience better.”
Sweat GUTR is the only sweatband that is completely saturation-proof. It is lightweight, fully adjustable, comfortable, easy to clean, and built to last. The band captures and channels dripping sweat, preventing it from running into your eyes and blurring your vision. The sleek design of the Sweat GUTR allows for improved air flow, while the sides of the band are vented for added flexibility and comfort.
“The sweatbands are great,” says Australian Defense Force cycling coach Mick Rand. “The guys I’ve trialed with have all given them the thumbs up.”
Duane Morrow, the first-place finisher in the wheelchair division of the 2007 Nashville Country Music Marathon, said Sweat GUTR is a “great product for all athletes, but especially for those of us on wheels!”
“I could tackle technical descents with confidence,” raves Cat 1 racer Malcolm Sawford.
Rite Aid professional cycling team member Peter Penzell says Sweat GUTR “actually works. (It’s) very comfortable and thin, simple yet effective. I would recommend it to anyone.”
The Sweat GUTR is available in two styles: a frost-colored band with a blue logo and a smoke-colored band with a white logo. The MSRP for the Sweat GUTR is $19.99.
More Info: Visit ProNetCycling.com
05.28.2009 at 4:43 am - by Jae S
I have used the sweat gutr/tunnelvision device since it became available. In fact, I put my two cents into its development. While the product does what it says, it does have significant shortcomings.
1) The band can be difficult to get tuned to the right tension so that it stays where you want it and still does it’s job without producing a nasty headache.
2) The gutr doesn’t play that nice with helmets. (It cannot be worn comfortably under a helmet as a traditional sweat band.) The GUTR and helmet are competing for the same space on your noggin. Cyclists endowed with large foreheads may avoid this trouble. Furthermore, routing the gutr through the helmet straps (the ones that cup the back of your head) is the only way to get the helmet and the sweatband to work well together. That means the GUTR comes off every time the helmet does. This is another common complaint, especially among mountain bikers who often wear helmets with more coverage at the back of the head.
3) The GUTR doesn’t wick sweat for evaporation, it’s a gutter. It routes and dumps. Just like a bent gutter on your home, if you tilt the gutr, it’s going to dump its contents. If your riding glasses are between the gutr’s pool of sweat and the ground then you’ve just irrigated your vision field. For running, that isn’t a problem because the athlete’s head is held perpendicular to gravity and it mostly stays there. For cyclists, a good position is likely forward enough to allow pooling of sweat in the gutr which then ends up exactly where you do not want it next time the rider looks down.
4) The material used in the gutr becomes discolored a yellowish/brown with the use of sunscreens over time.
5) The gutr has an annoying propensity to route sweat into my ear. I haven’t heard this complaint from any others, but it really is an annoyance.
My conclusion is that the gutr mostly works as advertised, but it has unique drawbacks. Heavy sweaters will overwhelm the GUTR on especially hot or humid days as with all other sweat bands. Overall the GUTR performs nearly as well as the competing HALO product line, but it falls down on price, comfort and versatility when compared head-to-head.
Overall: C+
02.26.2010 at 10:18 am - by Greg Thurmond
Tunnel Vision, Inc. (Sweat GUTR sweatband manufacturer) response to response and rating above
1. The instructions on our packaging clearly say to wear the band snug but not tight. Anything worn too tight on the head can give you a headache. Technical explanation – your blood vessels dilate when you get hot so that the body can better cool itself. Rings can become tighter on our fingers, watches become tighter on our wrists. Our heads also swell slightly for the same reason which can lead to a headache if a helmet, cap or headband is worn too tightly.
2. See instructions on packaging or view the 2min. You Tube Video that demonstrates how to properly fi the sweatband and how to wear it with a helmet. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OR-VGOj8n4A
3. We offer a satisfaction guarantee if the Sweat GUTR doesn’t meet your needs. We have pro and amateur and recreational cyclists using the product around the world.
4. The Frost model can yellow over time from ultraviolet sun rays discoloring the plastic. We recommend you consider the Smoke model or replace your sweatband every couple of years – nothing lasts forever!
5. This is a rare occurance that can happen with very small head sizes.
We encourage you to visit http://www.SweatGUTR.com for more product information, testimonials and reviews from around the globe.