Protect yourself from the sun with our pick of the best trail running caps this season, tested by our gear testers on various trails throughout the UK. Here's what the experts had to say.
Keeping your head (and face) 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 running caps also able to wick sweat away from your head, and capable of protecting you from light rain too.
Because of the active nature of trail running, airflow is a vital feature for running caps – it’s important to consider how breathable the cap will be when it’s boiling outside and you’re hours from the finish line.
Holly is pictured here testing a trail running cap. Photo: Jordan Tiernan.
For longer-haired folks, it’s also a very handy way to keep your hair out of your face when on-the-move. From our experience, there’s nothing more annoying that when you’re focusing on the terrain beneath your feet, and some long strands of hair start sticking to your sweaty forehead, obstructing your vision of the trail.
They’re also sometimes used as a less breakable alternative to running sunglasses, or on the flip side, as an extra barrier of protection for your eyes. As always, it’s very much down to your individual preferences, and what makes you feel most comfortable out on the trail.
To help you weave your way through the huge amount of options out there in the big, wide world; we’ve narrowed our reviews down to eight of our favourite running caps on the market right now.
The Best Running Caps for 2025
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. Here are our highlights:
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
Most Versatile Outdoor Cap: Fjällräven Abisko Trekking 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.
Most versatile outdoor cap: This cap is ideal for a whole range of activities including hiking, running, cycling and bikepacking.
One of our gear testers, Jazz, is pictured here wearing the Fjällräven Abisko Trekking Cap on a hike. Photo: Cinthia Lilen.
Price: £40 Weight: 41g Pros: very secure, breathable, easily adjustable, nice look Cons: could benefit from some anti-odour treatment
In terms of versatility, the Fjällräven Abisko trekking cap wins hands down. Our tester (and editorial assistant) Jazz has been using it for the past few months and has been very impressed. “I’ve used this cap for everything from multi-day hikes and everyday walking, to cycling, climbing and even on long gardening days” she said. “It’s my go-to hat at the moment for any outdoor activity that will work up a sweat.”
“In particular, I love the discrete look and the secure elastic drawstring that keeps the hat well and truly on your head. I recently used it on a windy ascent up Benbulbin in Ireland actually, and am happy to report it didn’t budge once. I think the breathability is fab too, and it dries really quickly. My only qualm is that I wish it had some kind of in-built anti-odour treatment as I’ve noticed it does get a little bit stinky after a few days without a wash. But then again, don’t we all?”
Here Jazz is pictured on the summit of Benbublin wearing the Fjällräven Abisko trekking cap.
During our tests, we also found that the foldable brim was very handy when stuffing the cap away into your pocket or backpack. It barely takes up any space at all and doesn’t lose its shape. It’s worth noting that this cap has a slightly shorter brim than other caps on this list, but that’s partly what gives it its versatility. “The shorter brim made it great for transitioning from peak to pub, and also made it a good fit for wearing under a cycling helmet,” said Jazz.
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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