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.
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.
Related: Best Running Shorts
Related: Best Energy Bars For Trail Running
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.
Looking for more running gear? We’ve also compiled similar guides to the best running socks and the best trail running shoes, plus there’s also our guide to the best new running brands.
On Lightweight Running Cap
