A running hat is an oft-overlooked running accessory. I’ve found that although runners tend to either love running hats or hate them, I fall squarely in the middle: I wear them on certain, thought-out occasions and avoid them o others. A good running hat will protect your head and face from the elements—sun, wind, some moisture—and will be comfortable and not cumbersome.
After testing a handful of hats and evaluating top picks in the market, including recommendations from fellow runners, the Smartwool Go Far, Feel Good Cap stood out as the best running hat thanks to its lightweight design, Merino wool odor control and adjustability. The TrailHeads Performance Running Hat earned the top spot for a budget-friendly hat, and runners who want a super packable hat need look no further than the Brooks Packable Cap.
The best running hats protects your head and face when running, all while remaining comfortable.
Illustration: Forbes / Photos: Retailers
When shopping for a running hat, consider material, adjustability, brim size and other features, including UPF protection and flexibility. Here are the best caps on the market based on testing and long-term experience.
Adjustability: Slider | Special feature: Merino wool interior band
Pros:
Lightweight
Merino wool interior band for odor and sweat control
Cons:
Slider can be tricky to use midrun
I have been running in this hat from Smartwool, known for its Merino wool fitness and outdoor gear, for years. It continues to be the hat I grab in the rain and on really bright days, thanks to its lightweight material with UPF 20 protection, and protective brim. The one downside is the slider can be tricky to adjust while running, which I’ve had to do on windier days to keep the hat snug.
Best Budget Running Hat
A Pro-Level Hat For Just A Fraction Of The Cost
Amazon
TrailHeads Performance Running Hat
Adjustability: Hook-and-loop with Velcro | Special feature: Dark underbill for anti-glare
Pros:
Mesh design for breathability
Dark underbill reduces glare
2 ounces for barely there feel
Cons:
No UPF protection
TrailHeads is a popular-on-Amazon brand for running accessories, including hats (and ponytail-friendly hats) and gloves. Runners love the TrailHeads Performance Running hat, which at just $20, delivers in every way: It’s incredibly lightweight, it’s adjustable, the dark underbill helps reduce glare, it’s breathable and is offered in a variety of colors.
Best Running Hat For Sun Protection
Stay Cool And Covered
Zappos
North Face Horizon Sunshield Hat
Adjustability: Bungee pull | Special feature: Sun shield and UPF 40 protection
Heavy-duty sun protection hats can be heavy and cumbersome—think wide-brimmed, circular gardening hats with an under-chin string. But the North Face Horizon Sunshield Hat is designed as a cap for movement with excess coverage for neck protection. Plus, the material uses UPF 40 for additional sun protection.
The hat is adjustable with a bungee pull, and the lightweight material will prevent the hat and its shield from weighing you down. The downside, perhaps, is you can’t tuck away the sun shield if you don’t need it.
Best Trail Running Hat
Oversized Brim For Even More Coverage
Hoka
Hoka Performance Hat
Adjustability: Bungee pull | Special feature: Oversized, flexible brim
Pros:
Comfortable, lightweight hat with oversized brim
Secure fit even in high winds
Ventilation panels
Flexible and packable
Cons:
Hat can rub against ears
No UPF protection
I’ve been wearing this hat since I tested it on the trails of Moab, Utah, several years ago. Its oversized brim adds protection from wind, sun and rain, particularly important on the trails. Its flexibility allows you to easily fold and stash it in your shorts or bag.
The ventilation system keeps things cool, and the bungee pull is easy to use for a perfect fit.
Most Breathable Running Hat
A Bougie Cap For Runners
Ciele
Ciele Athletics Go Cap Worldwide Movement
Adjustability: Bungee pull | Special feature: Major marathon design options
Pros:
Perforated cap for incredible ventilation
Easy to adjust on the move
Collection features popular marathons
UPF 40 protection
Cons:
On smaller heads, cap can rub against top of ear
On smaller heads, bungee pull can flap against the head
Over the years, runners who wanted a luxury cap have gravitated toward Canada-based Ciele Athletics, which recently launched the Worldwide Movement collection, featuring the major marathons.
The Go Cap Worldwide Movement is a breathable hat thanks to its perforated material—without compromising coverage. The bungee pull allows a good fit across head sizes, but I’ve noticed that on smaller heads (mine), the cap rubs against my ears and the bungee pull, when pulled tightly, swats the back of my head. Not dealbreakers, but I’ve worn more comfortable hats.
Best Trucker Running Hat
Flexible Design Gives This Style New Life
Oiselle
Oiselle Runner Trucker Hat
Adjustability: Bungee pull | Special feature: Flexible design
Pros:
Breathable thanks to mesh material
Fun designs
Brim and cap fold for packability
Comes in satin-lined option
Cons:
Users say new design has a narrower fit
Hand wash only
No UPF protection
Trucker hats gained style notoriety in the early aughts, but runners knew they weren’t running hats—too heavy and rigid. But the Oiselle Runner Trucker hat takes the trucker style and makes it functional for runners: foldable brim, flexible material and bungee pull adjustability.
The designs are fun, and the hat also comes in a satin-liner option for textured hair (at the same price).
Best Packable Running Hat
A Hat That Can Fit In Your Pocket
REI
Brooks Packable Cap
Adjustability: None | Special feature: Can be folded to fit in your shorts pocket
Pros:
Comfortably in shorts pocket
Barely there feel
Cons:
No adjustability
Lightweight but no mesh or perforations
No UPF rating
Sure, other hats can be folded and stuck into a shorts waistband, but the Brooks Packable Cap can be folded or balled right into your shorts pocket—even the small lower back pocket.
There’s no adjustability, which allows for this flexibility, but the cap has an elastic band that stretches and forms to different-sized heads.
It’s lightweight, although there is no mesh or perforations to increase breathability. If you’re looking for a hat that will cover your head and stash away discreetly, the Brooks Packable Cap is it.
Fleece provides warmth, flaps provide extra coverage
Adjustable
Polyester wicks away moisture
Cons:
Doesn’t work well with ponytails
Fleece isn’t breathable
Keep your noggin warm with a cap-style running hat that’s adjustable for a better fit. The fleece material on this Outdoor Research cap wicks away moisture and the flaps provide extra coverage. The downside is there’s no opening for ponytails.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
The Forbes Vetted gear team takes a thorough, often hands-on approach, when reviewing and evaluating running and fitness must-haves, including running shoes, running strollers and running watches.
The author of this piece, Heather Mayer Irvine, has been running for more than two decades and testing running gear for nearly as long. She owns several of the hats included on this list.
Gear editor Cam Vigliotta has over six years of experience testing and reviewing sports equipment. He holds a degree in kinesiology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and is an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys testing the latest gear in a variety of settings, and he runs regularly in training and competitive settings.
How We Chose The Best Running Hats
In order to recommend the best running hats to our readers, we used our own experience as well as that from fellow runners and experts.
The author has been wearing running hats more frequently, regardless of weather, and has a go-to arsenal, which includes several of the picks in this article.
We dove into product reviews and discussions on running forums to get a better idea of the pros and cons of some of the more popular running hats.
When possible, we personally tested running hats to get a real feel of their fit, comfort and coverage, as well as any pain points.
What To Look For In The Best Running Hats
Adjustability
This isn’t Major League Baseball—no running hats should come in one-size-fits-all with no adjustability. Adjustability is key to perfecting your fit, for comfort and coverage. Running hats will have adjustability through a bungee pull, plastic snap, hook-and-loop with Velcro or a sliding adjuster.
In my experience, a bungee pull is the easiest to adjust while you’re moving. A hook-and-loop with Velcro is a secure fit, but over time, the Velcro may lose its stick or get worn down by lots of hair.
Material
Generally speaking, you want your running hat to wick moisture and keep you cool. Running hats are often made with polyester for those features, and many use venting systems or mesh for breathability. And sure, some hats are water-resistant, but if you’re logging miles in the rain, you’re going to get wet. One of our top picks uses a Merino wool liner to help wick sweat and naturally avoid odor.
Many running hats today also use UPF 50+ in their material, providing extra sun protection.
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