Running Hats Ranked: breathability, weight, sun block

[@CAIrondad]

QD: Seth, I always wear a hat, and for years it’s been a Headsweats branded hat which is very lightweight and very adjustable. Hats are crucial for keeping the sun off your face and the sweat out of your eyes. Also having had a minor skin cancer on my nose, I’m really big on always, always putting sunscreen on my face and wearing a hat to protect my skin. I strongly recommend this to all the younger runners reading this. When you’re my age, you will be glad you did!

[@christopherpolanco1311]

I always wear a running cap, even for night runs. It helps keep sweat from eyes. Mostly Nike ones but like the Compressport ones because of their lightweight design.

[@eulogyforadream]

I always wear a hat during the summer. Besides sun protection they are great at keeping sweat out of my eyes. My favorite hat is anything that is light and has a soft rim.

[@MartinH_-_-_1]

Wear a running hat on sunny summer days to keep the sun out of my eyes. No specific brand. Its actually a 20 year old Valentino Rossi (Motorbike racer)hat from when i was a kid. It's comfy and i don't mind it being more sweat than hat by the end...

[@TrailrunnerTroy]

Janji! Wear hats because my hair ain’t what it used to be

[@jamesyarwood7304]

*QD* Hello Seth, I’m and avid hat wearer from the UK and always wear one! Firstly great vlog! Secondly my favourite is the Aerobill type which Nike produce, very light weight and breathable. Wear because it blocks the sun from your eyes and also the rain (which we get a lot of in the UK) more than just a tool for running a hat, it’s part of your personality when you run. Never seen without one, don’t have a lot of hair either which doesn’t help haha! Keep up the good work James

[@timdoty6662]

QD: I always wear a hat when running. As a guy who shaves his head it offers me sun protection and keeps the sweat from running (no pun intended). I’ve worn a bunch from Nike to Brooks but discovered Ciele last year and have not looked back. Amazing hats!

[@SethJamesDeMoor]

COMMENT OF THE DAY!!!

[@alyxandrasherwood1176]

I always wear a Nike visor Spring - Fall. It keeps the wisps of hair and any stray rain drops out of my face. It is not adjustable, but it stretches just tight enough to stay on my head through most weather. I sweat through my head so I can't wear a hat and sunglasses at the same time. I like hats, but if it can't stay on my head I don't run in it.

[@feiwong70]

I don’t have a fav running hat yet. Any hat that is super lightweight, breathable and cool. I wear hat because I’m bald so need a hat to protect my dome from direct sunlight! :)

[@philippegagne268]

Smartwool makes a great hat. Don’t know if it’s specific to running but it’s very light, takes care of the sweat and oh so comfortable.

[@RunnersCorner2024]

The only man I know that can get you excited over hats and socks lol

[@jamespratt8637]

Patagonia is my go to hat. Have a couple different colors for a rotation of you will. I for sure wear them for races, in hotter weather

[@richardrankin7488]

Patagonia mesh hat with long bill. Great protection from the sun, very breathable and very light. I wear a hat for protection from the sun and to help keep sweat out of my eyes.

[@quinnharnett1311]

Outdoor ResearchVantage Air Cap is my go-to for trail running, fairly light weight, great ventilation and a big brim that holds its shape and stands up to creek dunkings instead of flopping down when waterlogged.

[@quirckybaldguy]

I’m bald so I run a lot with a hat. Out of the Salomon, Compressport and Buff hats I now have, the Buffs are my favorite for their fit, comfort, packability and moisture wicking!

[@davidgross7972]

I am folically challenged so a hat is a necessity. Up to this year I have just used any free hat I happened to have around but my favourite was a very light one from my previous employer that was made by The Right Hat company. This year I finally decided to invest in a good hat and picked the Chaser Hat from Brooks with UPF 30 Sun protection. It's light and comfortable and I am enjoying it!

[@ajmartinez1906]

Here in the islands a hat is surely needed. I am baldheaded so I need to protect the scalp. Headsweats has been my go to brand. I also use Nike and recently bought a Gore Tex hat for the Hurricane season when it rains alot.

[@MiracleWarriors]

For very hot days I love my running hats to keep my head cooled down . If there is some good wind blowing ... It feels like I got a hat with an air conditioning .

[@briangrissom3203]

QD: I pretty much always wear a hat when I run. And I’ve only worn Territory Run Co. (based in Portland) hats. After the first one I bought, I just love them. That said, seeing some of these models might have me branch out.

[@Diegorbarron]

Territory hats are da best!

[@mikhailpentz24]

I always wear a hat, keeps the sun off my balding head, the sweat out my eyes and most importantly it's a cool factor. I like the look of the ciele hats and have similar styles in adidas and North face. Not willing to pay the crazy price of Ciele in South Africa

[@jasondipoce1059]

Funny timing. I ordered 2 Vaga hats a couple of months ago after seeing Seth wear them in the blogs. Because of a mix-up in the mail, they were sent back to Vaga, but they readily agreed to send them to me again. They arrived today, and I like the fit. I was actually looking for a shorter brim as I find the longer brim tends to catch the wind whenever a truck goes by or when I pick up the pace. Thanks for the idea and now is a good time to thank you for all the content on the blogs!

[@senorhall]

QD: I almost always wear something on my head while running. As a redhead, I need to protect myself and my pasty skin from the sun at all times. I started just a few years ago when my kids were born and realized I need to be more responsible in the sun. It started with just whatever hats were laying around the house (usually a Detroit Tigers or Michigan State hat,) but I quickly gained an appetite for new and unique hats. My main rotation consists of a few Ciele hats, a Hoka performance hat, an On lightweight hat, and a few adidas Climacool hat. In the past year+, however, I have been growing my hair out for charity, and I have found myself reaching for the adidas climacool hats more than the others. I have to throw my hair in a bun, which I then have to feed through the back of the hat. I've found the adidas hats are less slick than others, and stay in place the best. That being said, I'm always on lookout for new ones, much to the chagrin of my wife.

[@TraumaER]

I usually use a white Amazon running hat. It’s breathable and helps keep sweat out of my eyes. It also keeps my hair looking good. 😀

[@mrpenguin9107]

I only recently started running and I use an Rei trail hat. It’s lightweight and I can put it in my pocket if I want. I wear it because I have long hair but not long enough yet for a ponytail.

[@MattD86]

Shocked you don’t have any Boco or Nike hats Seth! They both make great running hats IMO

[@kentm7731]

Ciele hats for me. I use it for eye protection from sun and my own sweat. I like Ciele’s quick dry material, even the brim. I’ve had some hats where the cover material dried quickly, but the brim was still wet from the run a full day beforehand. Ciele’s seemed to be perforated enough to dry uniformly, even after a wash.

[@caddchambers950]

Wearing a toque for the winter 🥶. But any hat will do in the summer as long as it’s a SnapBack 👍.

[@dannyj1983]

Living in Tucson, AZ, a quality hat is a key piece of gear. I have 2 hats that I choose depending on time of day. I run early-morning when its dark. The Brooks Carbonite Luminosity Hat has reflective strips that glow when headlights from cars hit it. My other hat is a Salomon XA with a neck gaiter. Absolutely necessary for those long days out when there's no escape from the sun. I'm of the mind that running gear should be practical first, next feel good and lastly look good. Luckily these hats check all 3 boxes.

[@UltraDad]

Buff! I love my buff hat. Has a large bill that can be flipped up. I also want to try Ciele.

[@astolzy]

I don't usually wear a hat, because then I feel like my head gets too warm. I get annoyed in winter when it's "too cold" and I need a full hat or balaclava. In the "mild cold" I just wear a fuzzy headband so my ears are covered, but not my entire head. In the summer I wear sunglasses all the time... but not usually a hat. I'd be more likely to wear a visor to block the sun, than a hat. I should look into some of these super lightweight options you have!

[@zero2brasso]

QD I wear a Fusion white hat. The only reason is I overheat quickly en this hat keaps my head cool. Big thanks to the local runningstore for the advice its a big help!

[@adamscales2376]

Halo hats are my go to. Love the sweat band. I'm a heavy sweater and their band inside the hat keeps my eyes from burning 🔥

[@signaturenil6984]

Please do shorts for running. That’s been my biggest struggle to find a pair that fits decent for my daily runs

[@liisarunsfar553]

I almost always wear hats when running, for sun protection and to keep my hair under control. My favorite brand is Ciele Athletics, but I am also a trucker hat fan.

[@spenceraronfeld4456]

I absolutely have to have a hat on here in Miami. I like Lululemom- very good, not great. Want to try the one you recommend. Love you.

[@Zachat86]

Ciele hats are the best, especially because they pack so easily for travel and can be washed with the rest of the laundry. I do like my Janji hat as well their zipper pocket is a nice feature.

[@Vonblargen]

QD: In my running kit, I tend to switch things up between brands. I run in Hoka, Salomon, Asics... whatever shoes work for me. I switch between apparel brands frequently, as well (although I find rabbit's stuff to be the best for me). The only brands that remain consistent for me on every single run are Drymax socks, and BOCO hats. Absolutely love BOCO hats for their combination of light weight construction, breathability, and comfort.

[@roustabout4fun]

some snazzy hats! Boca

[@martindattus7064]

I love to wear running cap on spring, summer and fall season often so I have no brand specific to wear, it helps keep sweat from eyes.

[@paulop3730]

Yes, I always wear a cap when running. I mainly wear a cap to prevent my hair from falling in front of face when sweaty and they help to keep the sun out my eyes on a summers day. My favourite cap company is defiantly NIKE. I have a Nike trail running flat peaked cap, however my favourite cap for running is a Nike swoosh Tennis cap. I have one in white with a small silver tick and light blue cap with a small white tick. The build quality is fantastic and the front is long enough to prevent the sun from shining too much in my eyes.

[@colereinhold1789]

QD: I usually wear one in the summer. I have a ciele also. I think they have a speed line that is lighter for races if you want to check that out

[@Michael-hc3ft]

I have hats from Patagonia, North Face, Columbia and others; however, the one(s) that are my go to are from BOCO (stands for Boulder, Colorado). They are well ventilated and help keep sweat from your eyes. Since I am in a high temperature, high humidity area, I utilize a visor instead of a hat most of the year and save the hat for winter.

[@gbmpam8]

Thanks for the vlog Seth, now I know where to start when assessing a hat 🙂

[@FreemasonV8]

Wheres the BPN one? Its great!

[@lisarunsfast7368]

I always wear a hat or visor. Hats keep my hair out of my face, as well as rain, sun and sweat. Once I started wearing hats, it was no going back. I really started preferring it, and now I don’t go out without one lol. My favorite hats are from a women’s running company Oiselle. I also like BOCO hats and Brooks.

[@lisarunsfast7368]

As I frequently run with Lisa, I too never go out without a hat.Grew up in So Cal and despite good coverage when younger, had some skin cancer removed from my scalp. Hair now thinner. Look for UV protection in the hat and a longer bill, like Seth. Also like them as they keep the sweat out of my eyes; during warmer weather runs it drips off the brim instead. Presently using Outdoors Research and their Gore Tek version is warmer in winter running and is nice in the rainy PNW. Have a Brooks hat that was my 1st had , is most used and I still enjoy it.

[@Melii1128]

I have kind of medium long hair, which is too short for a ponytail but falls into my eyes if I don‘t use anything. I found a New Balance Dry Fit Running hat which I love. So now I don‘t turn the doorknob withouth it 👍

[@Huxley555]

Montane coda and tempo for me, both are light and breathable. The coda having a fixed plastic peak and the tempo being flappy like a buff only it doesn't flap, and sits low so great for keeping out the sun and any bugs.

[@TOXIN543]

I've never worn a running hat, but curious to hear your opinions and mabe try some one day.

[@petermuller6903]

I only wear a hat when it's raining or snowing to keep water and snow out of my eyes and also when the sun is very strong. My favorite brand is Salomon. GREETINGS FROM SALZBURG/AUSTRIA!!!

[@derekrichardson9652]

I use hats frequently, especially in the morning or at sunset to keep the sun out of my eyes when it is on the horizon. I usually pair them with a bandanna to keep the sweat out of my eyes as I sweat quit a bit here in TX.

[@trainwellracewell]

I might have to get a Compress Sport hat. Thanks for this great vlog!

[@izzymi1212]

Satisfy running company hats are so dope!

[@brtarr]

The one I have in my profile pic. Pearl Izumi, bought in Vancouver before WS100 2010 :). My hat serves as a swearband. Runner up is my 2XU hat.

[@TommyHackett]

Yep, Territory Run Company is in Oregon. I'll have to try them out sometime. I wear a hat most of the time, as a bald dude it helps a bit to protect from sun and rain. It was actually a few years in before I started wearing anything running specific besides shoes. I was that guy in board shorts for a long time 😆 My favorites are Rabbit and Chip Time Running; Rabbit has a really nice breathable hat.

[@scott_strool]

I almost always wear a hat, of the baseball style. My favorite is from Path Projects. I have about a dozen hats that I could wear while running. My first running hat is from Nike.

[@MrJeoffroi1]

The Ciele and Path Projects running hats are great because they fit well, have comfortable headbands, and machine wash and come back out in great shape. Path Projects hats are hard to beat.

[@plaplaplapla]

QD I've been wearing the same Nike hat for a couple of years now, it's in pretty bad shape but it does hold a couple of memories. I mostly wear it to hold my longish hair in place, there is not much sun where I live

[@sganton]

QD: I wear the Salomon XA hat (2021 edition - it's a bit different from the bright yellow Salomon hats in the vlog) because of its breathability and its flexfit feel which keeps it in place even at strong winds without feeling the hat pressuring against my head. What is great about this hat is that it comes in 3 sizes so you can get the fit that suits your head.

[@Kenyonascending]

What do people think about the bucket hat? Like the Hoka hat worn by Jim in Western states. I used to wear a non branded one until I lost it, but it was brilliant in summer

[@braydonjenks3458]

My favorite running hat is from headsweats because I can get them on running warehouse for $10 and they are very comfortable for my head

[@ianweaver534]

Qd: I used to not wear hats but now I have a just a basic Nike Featherlight Dri-Fit hat. I like to wear it because it is easy to carry headlights when I run in the morning. I can put the headlight on the bill of the hat then clip the lights to the back

[@michaeldominic2070]

I always train in hats. My 2 favorite hats at the moment are the Patagonia Duckbill hat and the Headsweats Crusher hat. Both are super breathable, lightweight, and have shorter brims!

[@RNeden]

Funny, my first (and only) hat is also a North Face one (camouflage style). Like it because it's very light and quite form-fitting! Did you know the folks at ATREYU just launched their first running hat a few days ago? They should send you (and me) one for testing!

[@purduelts2295]

Seth, do you feel lighter color hats are good for you during the summer or no, dark hats are not an issue? thanks!

[@GHHinojos]

I usually only wear a running hat during my long runs. I live in Tucson, AZ and it gets pretty warm (HOT) starting in May all the way through September. My favorite running hat company is Alter Ego Running, their hats are amazing!!!

[@WayeOfLife]

QD As a bald guy I always have to have something on my head while running.. no hair means nothing to stop the sweat, the sun or the cold.. favourite brand is Ciele.. and especially now they have recycled materials... The stand out feature? You can put it in the washing machine without an issue. Too many other caps go all wonky afterwards. These don't!

[@justingeorg3725]

My favorite running hat is ciele, ( side note) did you find out how to say it? I like that it is light and breathable. I like to wear a hat to keep the sweat out of my eyes. I also have long hair so it help keep the hair back too.

[@ChristianRunsNY]

I never liked hats, I just thought they looked funny on me. But one day I realized how amazing it was to keep sun out of my eyes too. Right now I really like the PATH Projects hats.

[@schlossstadtlauferin8431]

I have a small head, so most of the hats don't fit. I have a very cheap one by h&m keeps water off when it rains. A very light one I have is by saucony a very good fit and great breathability in summer.

[@jason5584]

Headsweats from running warehouse. Not overly expensive, super comfy and they hold up when I wash them. I wash my running hats after every run.

[@jeanpaulmare6468]

QD: I wear a running hat to keep the sweat out of my eyes due to being as bald as an egg. And I mostly run in the dark due to my working hours. Here in the UAE there isn't much choice for runners in terms of different brands. Thank you for the constant quality content.

[@michaelbennett6778]

Waterproof breathable peaked cap for wet weather … otherwise just a buff which wear if it gets hot.

[@marceloa.digrigoli2780]

Hi Seth. I wear a hat on every run, not just for blocking the sun but also for absorbing the sweat (´cos I sweat a LOT!) and keeping it away from my eyes. No matter the time of the day, even at night, I wear a hat! I spent last summer in Canada so I bought 3 Ciele hats and I love those. On hot sunny days I wear light color (white, light grey, etc), and save the dark ones for cold wheater! Great video! Take care!

[@germandeluna3821]

QD: without a doubt the best brand for me is Ciele, great at blocking the sun, keeping the sweat out, and very very comfortable. I have also tried Reebok, Buff (which are pretty good too), Mammut, and Ben Parkes too.

[@janfolkerts7342]

Always wear my Adidas hat! Something else, what was the brand again of the massage gun Seth was using?

[@takejantalgar1503]

QD: My favorite running hat is Buff

[@SoutheastSam3]

I don't think it's available anymore but the Patagonia Duckbill is the best hat I've ever used. With a thick head of hair most just don't cut it.

[@shawnforman2185]

QOD: I wear a hat mostly to keep too much sweat from dripping down into my eyes, and also to keep my hair out of my face now that i grew it out. Also because I like hats and the way they look. My favorite running hat brand right now is my Ciele hat. They are very comfortable, flexible, and lightweight.

[@robkowright]

QD: I like to wear hats in general, so that transitioned to my running as well. My wife's family is from Slovakia and one day I found an old USA basketball hat with the logo from the dream team year. It is pretty cheap, and the colors are bright yellow, red, navy blue, and white. It is definitely a knock-off, but is light and has a good feel so it has become my official running hat!

[@SNIFFMYBADGER]

Compresssport and Runr are my favourites at the moment

[@harveyjones5027]

I wear a cap because my hair is receding and I need to look after my skin. I now never do any outside exercise without covering my head. So outside of running I have an under helmet UV skull cap or cotton cycle cap under the helmet too. I would favour a shorter brim as once or twice I have not seen a low branch because the peak of my cap is longer. I like my Inov-8 Hotpeak, and have others that are not that special but do the job, a cheap NB one and a Nike one that actually is probably for golf but quite water resistent so good in rain. I have just picked up very cheap a Hoka Packable Trail cap which is very comfortable and has the shorter peak. I am tempted to by a second one as it is so cheap at the moment. Having one that is packable with a soft peak I can see will be useful.

[@LouieB4]

I wear a hat mainly to keep sweat out of my eyes. Defiantly prefer the duckbill or packable hats over the trucker hats. My go to hat is a Tailwind Nutrition hat made by Territory.

[@StefanWbkk]

I mostly run in the early morning or in the evening and don't wear a hat. But sometimes i run in the late afternoon and a hat is needed for the strong Bangkok sun and also because I'm bald. My choice is a trucker cap i got from my running club as a gift.

[@jeanyves4220]

QOD: As I'm balding, I almost always wear some head gear: to protect myself from the sun, to keep my head warm, and to avoid excessive sweat or rain into my eyes. In the summer I like 360 degree brims that offer more sun protection all around and keep more water when I soak them in a stream; in winter I'll switch from a tuque to a buff depending on the temps, and most of the time I'll have either a cheap running cap or my Ciele bucket hat for sun protection. That Ciele bucket with short brim is useful in rainy night runs as the brim will prevent most rain from getting in my eyes, yet allow my headlamp to illuminate the trail.

[@lapins86]

Waiting for the Strava running hat I bided for and won on Ebay to be delivered!! I have a Nike TN aerobill running hat that is great for wearing backwards in the summer to protect my neck and look like a 90s throwback !! 🧢

[@SwissAlpsHiker]

QD: I wear Nike Aerobill Tailwind hat. It's light (50 grams) -- incidentally, that's somehow heavier than SOAR race singlet -- and the visor blocks the sun well. Importantly, a hat is a good holder for sunglasses. When clouds roll in, just put them over the hat rim, and voila.

[@mjaybash26]

Great channel 🏃🏽‍♀️🏃🏽‍♀️🏃🏽‍♀️🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾

[@theboybrand]

Have a few hats ive picked up over the years. Ciele, NB, North face. Hardly wear them. Might be wrong but I thought most folk wore them for the look. Being in the UK, never considered it an essential bit of kit at all.

[@allendranoel]

Hi Seth, thank you for sharing your running hat collection. QD: Which one is machine washable? I believe hats that are machine washable are quick drying and have better quality compared to hand wash only.

[@runscottyrun5297]

QD: I always wear a hat, I had some bad sun stroke/exhaustion as a teenager and always need to cover my head. I wear a hat primarily for that, but also to help absorb sweat to keep it from running in my eyes. My favorite running hat of all time is from Ben Parkes (UK). I have a rather large noggin and his hats fit me the best, are super light, breathable and durable. Not cheap by the time I get them shipped to me in Canada, but well worth it in my experience! Cheers from Canada, Scott :)

[@B_-_t_-_-_-_]

QD: I always wear a hat. I have to - no hair, so sweat just runs down into the eyes if I didn't. I like Salomon caps, but for longer runs they don't always stop the sweat. I sometimes wear a Halo sweatband underneath, which works well. I'd like to try a Halo cap for running. An important point for me is fit (i.e. depth of the head covering). Having no hair means caps sit lower on my head & some can bunch around the ears at the point were my glasses sit. I'm still trying to find my perfect running cap.

[@justi063]

QD: I always wear a hat while running even at night. Mostly to keep my hair out of my face and secondly to try and keep the sun off my big nose. Favoured brand is Fractel. Loving the bucket hat they released that is a big help keeping the sun off on those hot summer days.

[@BigfootRunning]

I really like my Ceile running hats (especially the “distance nirvanna” ones) 😎👍

[@davidwatt7570]

I always wear a hat. I've had a small skin cancer removed from my left ear and I often wear a Fractel legionnaires cap because it covers my ears and the back of my neck.

[@davidprabhu6130]

Headsweatsit keeps the sweat out my eyes and have nice snazzy designs

[@grahambutler436]

QD: New to wearing hats but have really enjoyed wearing them to block out the rain. Best had is from VAGA due to your blog. But recently got a couple from RUNR but yet to give them a try.

[@josephgschwartz]

I don't have a ton of experience but Adidas is currently my favorite. I'd add that I really like a visor too (just make sure its men's size)

[@ScarceAsteroid]

QD: I wear an Outdoor Research swift sun cap when I run. I wear it because it keeps my hair in check and wearing the hat makes me feel like a runner.. Gets me in the zone, focus mode. Love how it looks, its neon yellow colour and its breathability

[@DanRuns]

Salomon Xa Cap. My favourite of all hats and very affordable and durable

[@dbk81]

Seth, if you are reviewing running hats you should really have something from Buff, some great comfortable lightweight hats in their lineup.

[@TumoRuns]

QD: Couldn’t tell you why I started wearing one, but I wore one once and now I just can’t stop. I wear one of 3 Ben Parkes caps that I own usually! Backwards, of course - makes you faster, obviously