The cap does not grip your ears, it does not stay on for a 1 mile ocean swim, but rather creeps up the moment you start your swim. The cap rolls up and exposes your ears. Still there seems to be room at the crown- so it is not being pulled up for need to house the cranium. Bought the item to secure the ears from ocean water- it fails. I have used the Speedo vinyl and TYR warm cap, both of which roll up a bit over the ears- but neither of those ripped- the Aqua Glide ripped after less than 2 dozen uses, and I followed the directions on how to put it on and care for it. A slight tear near the ear ripped all the way up to the crown in a few strokes.