The Best Running Hats for Capping Off Your Training Kit
Enhance your miles with style and shade.
Whether trying to keep your face and neck safe from harmful rays, pounding out some rain-soaked miles or simply looking to maintain that mane during training, running hats can be an excellent piece of gear to have at the ready. These cranium-coddling accessories can provide a number of benefits to your kit … outside the added street cred. As such, there’s far more to them than the more style-focused truckers and ball caps sitting in your closet.
Unlike other brimmed wearables, running caps are designed to help you get the most out of your workout experience. Lightweight materials, moisture-wicking builds and comfortable bands are just a few of the features that frequent this silhouette, and there’s plenty of brands doing the category justice.
What to Look for in a Running Cap
Fit and Adjustability
Naturally, one of the first things to consider when choosing a running hat is how well the profile fits your head. You should aim for a silhouette that rests comfortably across your dome yet still has some staying power and security — you can’t really cover mileage if you’re constantly backtracking to pick up your headwear.
Additionally, most running caps feature a more shallow crown than other traditional ball caps, so to help ensure these accessories are less inclined to fall off your dome, be on the lookout for well-to-do adjustment features. Most caps, like many of the silhouettes included in this roundup, showcase a stretchy nylon clasp setup, which can allow for easier tuning to your cranium. Others may opt for a strap-style cinch, while some still employ that classic hook-and-loop motif. There’s no true winner in regards to adjustment strategies, but we do often find ourselves favoring the stretchier nylon clasp as this allows for a slight uptick in versatility and customization.
Weight
Like your go-to running shorts and tops, your running hat should also have a lighter build quality to it. Not only can this keep you comfortable and help in keeping your head cool during jaunts, but the featherweight fabrics and brims can also make packing your cap away a more approachable endeavor. There’s no max or minimum weight to aim for, but ultimately you want to ensure the hat is light enough that it won’t add unnecessary density to your setup.
Moisture Management
Running, after all, is a workout, and workouts typically result in sweat. To help keep that moisture from fogging up your on-road vision, look for running caps that help manage this condensation. Silhouettes can facilitate this need through quick-drying makeups or mesh compositions, but ultimately, you want to go with a hat that allows some form of water-wicking construction. This technology can also be ideal for keeping your cranium cooled and well-ventilated during warmer months.
Sun Protection
As with any cap, running hats are great for keeping the sun out of your eyes and off your dome. The main area of focus when deciding whether a cap can keep you well-covered is the brim. Shorter brims can provide worthwhile coverage but may leave your jaw and neck a little more exposed. Longer brims, on the other hand, can give every step a heightened dose of shade, yet these lengthier profiles may be harder to pack or store in the confines of a running pack or belt. Some caps even feature an underbill coating to help lessen the glare off cars and other structures mid-jog. Be sure to take your personal needs and style into consideration when choosing which build is right for you.