Protect yourself from the sun with our pick of the best trail running caps this season, tested by our gear testers on various trail throughout the UK
Keeping your head (and neck) covered with a trail running cap can be vital for surviving hours on sun cooked trails. They also serve purposes beyond just shelter from the sun, with the best trail running caps also able to wick sweat away from your head and capable of protecting you from any light rain as well.
Because of the active nature of trail running, airflow is a vital feature for trail running caps – it’s important to consider how breathable the cap will be when it’s cooking outside and you’re hours from the finish line.
Holly is pictured here testing a trail running cap. Photo: Jordan Tiernan.
Cap vs Visor
The most obvious thing separating some of the trail running headwear we’ve featured below is that some are hats and some are visors. To put it simply, visors offer the bare minimal sun protection with a simple headband and peak, while trail running caps offer a covered crown for full protection.
Visors still provide sun and sweat protection for your eyes however. And, thanks to the open top, they offer optimal airflow for those who tend to run a little warmer, or perhaps typically run in warmer climates. By and large, visors are also more packable and lighter in weight than caps, with many small enough to scrunch into one of the pockets on your jacket or shorts.
Here’s our gear team’s pick of the best caps for running. Each item has been fully tested by one of our experts on various trails throughout the UK. We’ve picked a mix of well-known and lesser-known running brands here, suitable for a whole bunch of outdoor adventures.
Best Overall Running Cap: Ciele GoCap
Best Value Running Cap: Buff Five Panel Cap
Most Sustainable Running Cap: Adidas Terrex Aeoready Five-Panel Graphic Cap
Best Lightweight Running Cap: On Lightweight Running Cap
Ciele GoCap
Our top pick – the best running cap overall in our tests.
OM editor Will testing the Ciele GoCap on some trails in Wales. Photo: Dave MacFarlane.
Price: £45 Weight: 55g Pros: recycled materials, UPF protection, quick drying Cons: a bit pricey
It’s fair to say that Montreal-based Ciele Athletics have blown up in recent years and it’s all largely thanks to their extremely well-designed and unapologetically fashionable designs. The Ciele GoCap is the original trail running cap from Ciele, featuring UPF +40 UV protection with plenty of mesh fabric built in to keep you cool in warmer climes.
One of our testers Holly out and about with the Ciele GoCap. Photo: Jordan Tiernan.
One of our gear testers Jazz said, “I’ve been using the GoCap for both hiking and running for a number of years now and it’s never let me down. I even used it for a season of tree planting in Canada actually, during some very intense heat waves where we were planting non-stop for 8 hours or more a day. On particularly sweaty outdoor adventures, I’ve found that it always dries really quick and, crucially, doesn’t smell too bad afterwards. During my tests, I’ve also always been impressed with how well it handles strong winds – it hasn’t blown off once!”
Another big plus of the GoCap is just how many design variations there are to choose from. Including discrete colour options, designs with larger or smaller logo options, as well as more in-your-face designs that make you really stand out on the trail – there’s something for everyone here.
One of our testers running with the Buff Athletic Five Panel cap. Photo: Chris Johnson
Price: £13 Weight: 39g Pros: very breathable, good price point, highly functional Cons: the peak is a little small
Buff are perhaps best known for their protective neck tubes, but they do also make a great range of trail running hats. This, the Buff Five Panel Cap features a streamlined design, with stretchy mesh to promote airflow across the head.
OM editor and gear tester Will said, “I’ve worn this through a lot of different conditions and it’s been great in all of them. In the sun, it kept the light off my eyes, kept me cool and the breathability was absolutely excellent. In wet weather it sheltered my face from the rain and while it got damp it seemed to dry up really quickly. I never had any issues in windy weather either actually, with the elastic keeping it secure around my head but without ever feeling tight. Lots to like here, for sure.”
The materials used in the Buff 5 panel are predominantly polyester and elastane, a bi-stretch fabric which keeps clothes adaptable and lightweight. It also has a stretchy and adjustable fit to make it both suitable for a variety of head sizes, and for everyday use when you might not need it as tight.
Our choice for the most sustainable running cap, according to our tests.
One of our testers sporting the Adidas Terrex Aeoready Five-Panel Cap. Photo: Mike Drummond.
Price: £25 Weight: 80g Pros: very adjustable, recycled materials, great sun coverage Cons: a bit large for smaller heads
If optimal airflow, adjustability and flexibility comes at the top of your trail running cap buying choices, then you can’t go wrong with the Adidas Terrex Aeroready Five-Panel. With loads of unique colour options and 90% recycled materials, the Aeroready cap features a moisture-wicking, adjustable headband, as well as targeted mesh zones throughout. There’s also a firm brim that provides more than adequate protection from the sun, and a brushed interior with flat-lying seams that reduce the risk of chafing against your head.
“I’ve got a narrow face and pink isn’t my colour so this looks pretty terrible on me”, said our tester Will. “At least it performed well though! It’s quick-drying, it holds really well thanks to the adjustable rim and the somewhat oversized peak gives really good coverage. Breathability/ventilation has been top notch too.”
This is top quality and we wouldn’t expect anything less from Switzerland-based On. Their Lightweight Running Cap features an extremely streamlined design that carries a good level of protection with minimal weight penalty.
Made from tear proof fabrics, and featuring ultra-soft sweatbands and laser cut ventilation holes, the On Lightweight Running Cap is more than capable of keeping you comfortable over long miles on the trail.
One of our testers wearing the Coal Provo UPF Cap. Photo: Chris Johnson.
Price: £30 Weight: N/A Pros: easily adjusted, UPF protection, very breathable Cons: hard to find/ purchase in the UK
To put it simply; if you’re a fan of a five panel cap, then you’re going to get on with the Coal Provo, whether that’s on the walk into the crag, chilling at the pub or lapping your nearest hill rep. Thanks to the technical yet casual design, the Coal Provo is built to keep up with you through fast-paced activities in the hills.
On top of this, the Coal Provo UPF is sporting a ‘double diamond jacquard polyester’ that’s moisture-wicking and quick drying fabric for those warm days on the hill. This fabric will also help to keep the cap looking and smelling fresh even after miles on the trail.
One of our testers wearing the Coal Provo UPF Cap. Photo: Chris Johnson.
“I’ve worn this through a lot of different conditions and it’s been great in all of them”, said our tester. “On hot and sunny days, the breathability was absolutely excellent, the sizeable peak kept the light off my eyes, and I didn’t overheat. In wet weather it kept the rain off my eyes and while it got damp it seemed to dry up really quickly. I never had any issues in windy weather either actually, with the elastic keeping it secure around my head but without ever feeling too constricting.”
The Patagonia Duck Bill running cap. Photo: Patagonia.
Price: £30 Weight: 43g Pros: recycled content, super breathable, nice aesthetic Cons: doesn’t offer the best sun protection due to the mesh
The Patagonia Duckbill Cap was developed following a request from Patagonia’s ultrarunning ambassadors to create a breathable trail running hat to serve their needs. Featuring an almost fully mesh build, the Duckbill Cap certainly isn’t short of ventilation.
And of course, being a Patagonia product, the Duckbill Cap is eco-friendly, using a lightweight 100% recycled nylon that’s sewn together by Fair Trade Certified fabrics.
Our tester Holly wearing a Fractel running cap. Photo: Jordan Tiernan.
Price: from £30 Weight: 59g Pros: UPF protection, mesh venting, eco-friendly company Cons: drawcord straps are always a little fiddly to adjust on-the-go
The people behind Fractel set up their brand with the stated ambition of “creating the world’s best headwear using our own experience and passion, in a style that promotes adventure”. With each of their trail running hat designs featuring a whole new design from the last, the company have built up a varied range of colourful trail running hats.
The Fractel Calypso features a UPF +50 sun protection, mesh venting across the main body of the hay and a built in sweat absorbing headband. Top top things off, Fractal are a member of 1% For The Planet, meaning at least 1% of the company’s profits goes towards environmental causes.
Since our tests, the Calypso running cap has gone out of production. Still, we thought we’d leave this review in here as Fractel’s new running caps have very similar features, with even more designs and colourways on offer. They’ve also included a lot more recycled content in their manufacturing which is always good to hear. Here’s the link to their site.
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