Best Running Hats of 2026
Lightweight running caps for hot weather, wicking sweat, sun protection and cooling heads
April 23rd, 2026, updated with a new bucket hat winner, to remove discontinued products, with a new what to look for section
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I'm a runner who lives at 7,000 feet in the high country of Colorado, where conditions can change fast enough that you're adding, adjusting, and stuffing a hat all on the same run. I also don't have much hair, which makes me particularly critical about sun protection and fit. My benchmark for a good running hat: it should be so comfortable that I have to periodically check if it's still on my head, it should keep salty sweat out of my eyes, dry quickly, and adjust easily on the fly.
To find the best running hats, we spent hours researching more than 28 top-rated options, narrowed them to the 14 most promising, and tested each one across everything from short pavement runs to all-day mountain efforts. Our main tester has logged over 1,000 miles in running hats on long-distance trails, plus a year of daily trail running, and has worn out enough hats to know what actually holds up.
A running hat does a specific job: shield your face, manage sweat, and stay out of the way while you move. What separates the best from the rest is how well the fabric wicks without trapping heat, whether the fit works across a range of head sizes and hair volumes, how the brim holds its shape after repeated soaking, and whether the hat is actually comfortable enough to forget you're wearing it.
Top Pick: The Ciele Athletics GOCap earns our Best Overall award. No other hat we tested scored as consistently across breathability, moisture wicking, sun protection, packability, and fit for a wide range of head sizes. Our tester wore his for more than a year of daily trail running and 1,000 miles on a long-distance trail before finally retiring it, and only because someone gifted him a new one.
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Running hats comparison table
| RUNNING HAT | TREELINE AWARD | PRICE | MATERIAL | ADJUSTABILITY | BREATHABILITY | FIT | BRIM WIDTH | SIZES | UPF | COLOR OPTIONS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ciele Athletics GoCap | Best overall Read why |
$45 | 100% recycled polyester | Rear strap and plastic buckle | Excellent | Average | 2.5" | O/S | 40+ | Many |
| rnnr Distance Hat | Best affordable Read why |
$40 | 100% polyester | Rear strap and plastic buckle | Good | Average | 2.5" | 56 cm (S) and 58 cm (Standard) | 40 | Many |
| Patagonia Duckbill Trucker Hat | Best trucker Read why |
$39 | 100% recycled nylon and polyester | Rear strap and plastic buckle | Excellent | Small | 3" | One size fits most, adjustable | n/a | Many |
| Sunday Afternoons Solar Bucket | Best bucket Read why |
48 | 100% polyester | Single hand barrel adjuster | Excellent | Average | 2¼" to 3" | M/L/XL | 50+ | 5 |
| Janji AFO Hyperlight Cap | Best lightweight Read why |
$38 | 88% recycled polyester, 12% elastane | Yes, rear bungee | Excellent | Average | 2 ⅜” | O/S | 25 | Many |
| Hoka Run Hat | Best road running Read why |
$34 | 97% polyester, 3% elastane | Rear side bungee cord | Good | Average | 2.5" | O/S | n/a |
Interested in running? Check out the Running Gear section:
The winners
Best overall running hat: Ciele GOCap
Material: 100% recycled polyester
Adjustability: Yes
Breathability / Ventilation: Excellent
Fit: Average
Brim: 2.5"
Color options: Y (many)
Sizes: One size fits most
UPF rating: 40+
What we liked: Luxury feel, optimal fit for most, breathability, structure, packability, and aesthetic
What we didn't like: Price runs higher than most, but has a lifetime warranty, and is a premium hat.
After many miles of running and testing more than 14 hats, the Ciele Athletics GOCap is the overall winner for the best running hat. Ciele is a Montreal, Canada-based company and is a running hat company first. The GOCap is the original cap from their now extensive lineup of running hat styles.
Just from picking up a Ciele GOCap, the quality and feeling of holding a premium product are evident in its fabrics. Ciele is known for its branded polyester COOLwick, which focuses on sweat-wicking. They seem to have figured out everything to make the best running hats, from fabric breathability, durability, and overall hat performance.
Compare prices of the Ciele Gocap
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Compared to other O/S hats (one size), it seems to have the fit figured out for a wide range of head sizes and hair volumes, too.
The GOCap isn’t the lightest or heaviest hat on the list at 56 grams (weights vary from one GOCap style to the next), but it’s somewhere in the middle. It's middle of the range for the brim size and firmness, too, measuring 2.5” x 7.25”.
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This running cap strikes a balance between pliability and stiffness, offers sun protection, and is compact enough to stash when not needed. The mesh on the side of the hat is slightly denser than the fabric on the top, lending it some tear resistance when catching branches on the trail while retaining an optimal balance of breathability and sun protection up top.
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The front, sides, and rear panels sport UPF 40+ protection, with the top being unrated.
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The GOCap is our reviewer’s go-to for pavement, dirt roads, the local foothill singletrack, and mountain trails, as it’s cool enough for pavement and cinches down securely for windy peaks at 14k feet. We’ve even used this hat on 1,000 miles of a long-distance hiking trail, plus a year of trail running, before retiring it.
Rather than retire it because it was falling apart (it wasn’t), we did so because someone gifted our reviewer a new one!
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Regarding durability in hat care, another aspect we like about the Ciele GOCap is that Ciele says we can machine-wash them. We still like to put them in a small laundry bag to protect the plastic rear snaps, but we haven’t had any issues from front-loading washing machines. We can also get a thorough wash in with regular handwashing in the shower or at the sink. See our Care Section below for more details on washing running hats.
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Any complaints that we have are minor. If you want a full open-mesh crown, check out one like the Ciele FSTCap SC or a similar option.
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Ciele hats do tend to be on the costly side, at around $45-55 for most. We find their durability, comfort, and Cool Wick tech are enough to justify it if it’s within your budget. Plus, they have a lifetime warranty on their hats.
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After more than a year of daily trail running and 1,000 miles on a long-distance trail in this hat, we never found a reason to reach for anything else. The GOCap does the unglamorous things right: it wicks faster than anything else we tested, the brim held its shape after being soaked through and stuffed in a vest dozens of times, and the fit dialed in cleanly across a range of head sizes and hair volumes — the thing most one-size hats get wrong. It's not the lightest cap here, and it costs more than most, but the lifetime warranty and the fact that ours was retired only because someone gifted us a new one tell you what you need to know about its value. For most runners in most conditions, this is the hat to beat.
Interested in running? Check out the Running Gear section:
Best affordable running hat: RNNR Distance Hat
Material: 100% Polyester (we think)
Adjustability: Y
Breathability / Ventilation: Good to excellent
Fit: Average
Brim: 2.5"
Color options: Y (several)
Sizes: 56cm (S) and 58cm (Standard)
UPF rating: 40
What we liked: Solid 5-panel construction, breathable side mesh, UPF 40+, comfortable, wicking polyester band and crown, great value
What we didn't like: Runs slightly warmer than our top pick
The rnnr Distance Hat is one of the best running hats out there, and at its price, it is our winner for a budget best running hat. We love founder Kate’s rnnr story. Even though she’s a lifetime runner and former Track and XC coach, she takes a less serious approach to running and racing. “We don’t run for time. We run for a good time!”
Even though Kate focuses on running as a less serious activity than some companies, rnnr doesn’t skimp on quality and provides excellent running hats at a fair value.
View the RNNR Distance Hat
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We couldn’t help but compare the Distance Hat to the Ciele GOCap, given so many similarities. Still, given the average $10+ difference between something like the rnnr Distance hat, and the Ciele selections, the Distance Hat is worth considering if you have a capped budget on your running kit (pun intended), and want some quality headgear. A better reason? You like the message of a fun-first approach to running.
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The Distance Hat weighs 61 grams with a 2.5” x 7” brim, a nice balance of weight, and coverage. rnnr uses their branded SPDwick fabric to highlight their focus on creating a hot weather hat that wicks and breathes well, with a large side mesh hole construction to keep the evaporative cooling going.
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Our reviewer found this running cap one of the most comfortable hats we tested. Our reviewer's partner saw the “Take it Easy” lettering on the Distance Perennial design, put it on, and never took it off. We haven’t seen it to this day. We can’t blame them. Luckily, the reviewer still had another rnnr Distance hat for testing. The hat really is that comfortable.
After multi-year testing, the rnnr Distance lasts.
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There’s not a lot to dislike about the Distance hat, but we do find it to run marginally hotter than the Ciele GOCap. It has a clearly thicker fabric on the top of the hat. But we also find that the mesh helps offset the decreased breathability up top.
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The rnnr Distance has a large mesh hole design on the sides. Some users may also prefer something with more coverage —especially if they don’t have any natural sun-blocking barriers there (such as hair!). Our reviewer doesn’t have much natural coverage, so typically reaches for a hat with more comprehensive UPF protection than the Distance hat can offer.
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The Distance Hat is the rare budget pick we'd still recommend at full price. It came within a hair of the GOCap on the things that matter — wicking, comfort, build quality — and lost only on running marginally warmer up top and offering less sun coverage through those big side mesh panels. For runners with hair to shade their scalp, neither is likely to be a dealbreaker. What you get for the roughly $10 you save is a genuinely durable 5-panel hat that held up through multi-year testing, plus the most comfortable band-and-crown combo of anything we tested — comfortable enough that our reviewer's partner walked off with one and never gave it back. If you want quality headgear without the premium price, and you like the idea of a brand that runs for a good time rather than a fast one, this is the easy call.
In the end, if you like the aesthetic, 5-panel style, and want a durable, comfortable, fun hat at a good value, we suggest giving the rnnr Distance hat a try.
Best running trucker hat: Patagonia Duckbill Trucker
Material: Body: 100% Recycled Nylon. Mesh: 100% Recycled Polyester
Adjustability: Rear strap and plastic buckle
Breathability / Ventilation: Excellent
Fit: Average to Small
Brim: 3"
Color options: Y
Sizes: O/S
UPF rating: n/a
What we liked: It’s packable and breathable for a trucker style. Rear strap is easy to adjust on the fly
What we didn't like: Some users found it too small.
Among endless trucker hat options out there, the Patagonia Duckbill Trucker hat stands out for its packability, breathability, and ease of adjustment—not to mention its sustainability. Style-wise, it sports the typical big brim and the tall front panel found on trucker hats. It works just as well with the bill facing up front or back. It also has some thoughtful features for runners, like a sleeve to hold down the adjustable strap so it doesn't fly around when loosened.
Typical of Patagonia, the bulk of the hat is made from recycled fabrics, and the DWR Patagonia uses on the brim and front panel of the hat is PFC (polyfluorinated chemicals) free, so you can rest assured that you’re taking a sustainable approach to your headwear with this hat.
Compare prices of the Patagonia Duckbill Trucker
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Compared to some other hats in our line-up, the rear nylon adjustable strap is easier to adjust without removing the hat, but otherwise stays in place. Rather than having to tuck the nylon strap into a sleeve in the body of the hat, there’s a small movable sleeve on the nylon strap that you can tuck the nylon strap into to keep the flap down.
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Similar to the rnnr hats we tested, the left-hand side of the rear of the hat strap is elastic where it meets the hat body. We love this stretchy material for a comfortable fit.
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Like other trucker hats, the brim on this one is long and wide at 3” x 7”. On out-and-back runs, when turning towards wind gusts, we found it easy enough to cinch the hat down to prevent the wind from ripping it off, given the big windsail over our eyes.
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Being that it’s a trucker hat, similar to a high volume bucket hat, it’s not going to be the most packable hat choice. That said, compared to other truckers, the brim is a little less stiff and overall more packable.
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It's worth noting that some user reviewers found the hat to fit on the small side and to run up their heads during runs. We didn’t experience this, so we can’t speak to this problem. In response to a customer complaint in a review, Patagonia states that the circumference of this hat measures 22.83”. Now that’s exact!
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Lastly, the message on the front of the hat that we tested, “Unpave the Roads,” is definitely aimed at trail runners. Still, Patagonia also makes this hat available in other colors without the design.
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Sizing complaints considered, we still feel confident in recommending this trucker hat for your running and general outdoor activity.
Best running bucket hat: Sunday Afternoons Solar Bucket
Material: 100% Polyester
Adjustability: Single hand barrel adjuster
Breathability / Ventilation: Excellent
Fit: Average
Brim: Bucket 3”
Color options: Yes
Sizes: M/L/XL
UPF rating: 50+
What we liked: Vents well, the fit, easily adjustable
What we didn't like: Bucket hat style not for everyone
The Sunday Afternoons Solar Bucket incorporates lightweight, breathable, high-performing materials, resulting in a bucket we enjoy wearing all day long. As more professional runners start integrating the bucket hat style, there are more options for runners who want a bucket-style running hat.
Of the bucket hats, the Sunday Afternoons Solar Bucket gets our top rating for breathability and secureness in the wind. It comes backed by Sunday Afternoons’ reputation in the sun hats world.
View the Sunday Afternoons Solar Bucket
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Compared to the more traditionally “ball cap” style running cap, the bucket hat style provides more sun protection and is more akin to what you’ll see on a river trip, a sunny day hike, and other non-running outings. We’ve seen more pro runners choose bucket hats in the last few years, especially for sunny race days and training runs.
Take Jim Walmsley, for example, who ran under 15 hours to his 3rd consecutive win at the infamously hot Western States 100-mile run from Olympic Valley to Auburn, California, wearing a bucket hat. Our reviewer admittedly couldn’t resist picking one up soon after the race.
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The Solar Bucket uses UPF 50 fabric for the top and brim fabrics and vents well through the sides of the crown part of the hat, with a construction similar to the Ciele GoCap.
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The hat is easily adjusted using a barrel lock and elastic shock cord in the rear. Single-hand adjustable! We also found that cinching the hat securely on the chin is really intuitive and simple to tighten and loosen, requiring that you simply pull your hands away from the other below the plastic piece to tighten (plastic piece towards the chin), and above the plastic piece to loosen (plastic piece away from chin).
Moreover, though the cord below our chin bounced around while running, it seems to always bounce out of the way, rather than slapping us in the face. Best of all, we enjoyed having a hassle-free way to cinch the hat down tight to keep it on our heads during windy days. Since bucket hats aren’t the most aerodynamic, the cinch cord came handy during gusts.
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Being it’s a bucket, it’s not going to be the best hat to wear in conjunction with a hooded jacket like a rain jacket or wind shell, or a base layer like a sun hoody. You’ll either have to pull the hood over the hat and crush the rear brim, which is awkward at worst, or place the hat over the hood on your head, also just awkward. This is a design issue with all bucket hats though, so we can’t fault the Solar Bucket for it.
Note that users who wear their hair in a ponytail will also find that bucket hats allow for only a low ponytail since there’s no hole.
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The brim on the Sunday Afternoons Bucket Hat offers among the most protection of any hat with 3". This is an improvement on Sunday Afternoon's Tempo Bucket hat, our previous winner, which was only 2". This also means that the brim is similar to most other bucket hats.
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Despite the inherent drawbacks of bucket hats, we’ve found the Sunday Afternoons Solar Bucket to shine among its competitors. With our experience with the hat and the Sunday Afternoon brand's good reputation in the hiking world (it's the overall winner in our Best Sun Hats for Hiking guide), we think it can hold a place in your running kit, too, especially for outings on high sun, hot days.
Best lightweight running hat: Janji AFO Hyperlight Cap
Material: 88% recycled polyester, 12% elastane
Adjustability: Y, rear bungee
Breathability / Ventilation: Excellent
Fit: Average
Brim: 2 ⅜”
Color options: Y
Sizes: O/S
UPF rating: 25
What we liked: Minimal packed size, no frills, comfortable
What we didn't like: Not the widest coverage, but fits the lightweight construction
There are many great lightweight hats out there, but after testing, we think the Janji AFO Hyperlight is the best lightweight cap for running. Compared to our other lightweight hats like the Patagonia Duckbill and Brooks Lightweight packable hat, the Janji AFO Hyperlight had the best balance of weight, brim stiffness, and adjustability. It is also the most comfortable and has that “barely there” feel.
Janji Afo Hyperlight Cap
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Weighing 28 grams (our scale), this one-ounce lightweight cap is barely felt in your pocket, waist belt, or running vest when not used. When on your head, the brim is big enough to provide coverage from the sun, stiff enough not to droop when soaked with sweat or rain, and small enough that it doesn’t catch wind gusts.
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When the wind is ripping, the rear bungee and plastic barrel lock type closure excel in adjustability to tighten and secure the hat while keeping a low profile back there.
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Similar to tights from Janji that we’ve tested for our Best Running Tights guide, Janji incorporates reflective detailing on the rear of the hat with a logo. The elastic cord in the rear integrates reflective material, so even when wearing their muted black color AFO hat, you can still remain seen/visible before the sun makes an appearance. You can read more about other reflective running apparel in our guide on Reflective Gear for Running in the Dark.
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We don’t really have any complaints about the Janji AFO Hyperlite hat, and reviewers don’t have many negative things to say either, with one reviewer mentioning that it wasn’t quite big enough for their head. Most users find the fit comfortable, and this running cap excels in high winds regarding security.
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Other users note that they’ve used this lightweight cap for general outdoor activities like cycling, hiking, climbing, and casual use, too. We find it to have some aesthetic resemblance to a traditional cycling cap, with a larger brim, and generally find it flattering to wear.
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If you’re looking for a do-it-all hat or a lightweight, minimal hat specifically with a bungee rear closure as an alternative to the more common nylon strap found on running hats, the Janji AFO Hyperlite is an excellent choice.
Best for road running: HOKA Run Hat
Material: 97% polyester, 3% elastane
Adjustability: Rear nylon strap
Breathability / Ventilation: Excellent
Fit: Average
Brim: 2.5”
Color options: Y
Sizes: O/S
UPF rating: n/a
What we liked: ultra-comfortable, breathable, packable, and uses an elastic cord to quickly tighten or loosen when adjusting the fit, stylish
What we didn't like: not the most high-vis or reflective hat out there
We aren’t often impressed enough with a hat to tell anyone about it, but the Hoka Run Hat is worth talking about. It's the updated version of the HOKA Performance Hat that we have long sworn by. This is by far the best road running hat we’ve ever worn. It’s ultra-comfortable, breathable, and packable, and it uses an elastic cord to tighten or loosen the fit quickly.
We love the Hoka Run Hat for windy conditions, like running along lake shore bike paths, in urban wind tunnels, and when running next to cars that don't slow down. The elastic shock cord and toggle on a five-panel hat seem so simple, we wish someone had thought of this sooner.
View the HOKA Run Hat
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It's got high-vis neon-yellow webbing with reflective ticking, so cars can better see you from behind. This is true whichever color of hat you choose.
There are higher-vis and higher reflectivity hats out there, like the ProViz hat that we recommend in our Reflective Gear for Running in the Dark guide.
But it's not as adjustable or as stylish as the HOKA Run Hat. That's one reason why we think the HOKA Run Hat is a better option for most road running conditions, whether you're running in the day or lower light conditions.
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At its core, this is a simple 5-panel hat. But, it has multiple kinds of stretch built in, which is great for runners, especially those who encounter gusts.
The shock cord easily tightens, but stretches enough to not hurt when you need to cinch it securely onto your head. This means that when running in high winds, you don’t have to wear this hat uncomfortably tight to keep it from blowing away.
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It’s constructed with a very breathable polyester with 3% elastane. This elastane in the body material, combined with the already mentioned elastic shock cord, makes this hat one of the most comfortable we’ve ever worn.
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The HOKA Run Hat has everything else you’d want in a running hat–vent holes along both sides, packs flat, and the bill flips up to expand your field of vision. Plus, it looks sleek. So if you go from road running to dinner or a store, you'll still look good.
Other running hats we tested
Brooks Lightweight Packable Hat
The Brooks Lightweight Packable hat has a rear pocket that allows it to pack into itself. Minimal to the fullest! Photo by Sasha Hashemipour
Material: 100% Recycled Polyester Ripstop
Adjustability: None
Breathability / Ventilation: Excellent
Fit: Average to small
Brim: 2 ⅜”
Color options: Yes
Sizes: One size fits most
UPF rating: 50+
What we liked: Minimal, breathable fabric, looks good, exceptional comfort for right head size
What we didn't like: Runs small, non-adjustable, no ponytail hole
At a gossamer 18 grams, a not-too-minimal brim size of 2 ⅜” x 7”, and a pocket to stow the hat, the Brooks Lightweight Packable Hat is a good “why not bring it” minimal hat. We didn’t pick a category winner because it tends to run too small for many users, isn't adjustable, has no ponytail hole, and we couldn’t find the material specs for this lightweight cap anywhere.
View the Brooks Lightweight Packable Hat
RNNR Pacer Hat (Party Pace & Era White)
The rnnr Party Pace Pacer hat is an eye grabber! Photo by Trey French
Material: Not stated
Adjustability: Rear nylon strap
Breathability / Ventilation: Good
Fit: Average
Brim: 2.25”
Color options: Y
Sizes: 56cm, 58cm
UPF rating: 40+
What we liked: Looks great, cool message, UPF 40+ protection
What we didn't like: No materials specs, fabric a little scratchy
The rnnr Party Pace and rnnr Era White are two visual styles of the same hat. Both Hats are five-panel, low-profile, with laser-cut perforations all over except the front panel and brim.
The perforated 4 panels almost feel like stiff nylon, though we can’t be sure. The rnnr Party Pace and rnnr Era White fit our heads well, but due to the non-stretch fabric, they might not suit everyone.
The breathability was average, neither warm nor cold. We don’t have any major complaints with the Pacer hat, though it didn’t stand out as a category winner. Our reviewer is going to wear the Party Pace hat the next time he paces someone in a race!
View the Rnnr Pacer Hat
Running in the Patagonia Duckbill, a classic minimal running hat. We love it, but it was just edged out by the Janji AFO Hyperlight in the lightweight/minimal category. Photo by Sasha Hashemipour
Material: Front panel: 100% recycled nylon, Mesh: 100% recycled polyester (recycled fish nets), Brim: 100% recycled nylon
Adjustability: Rear nylon strap
Breathability / Ventilation: Excellent
Fit: Average
Brim: 2.5”
Color options: Y
Sizes: One size fits most
UPF rating: n/a
What we liked: Beautiful fit, minimal branding, comfortable, recycled fishnet mesh
What we didn't like: Not quite as much coverage as our lightweight/minimal hat winner. Brim is too floppy for some users
We really like this classic Patagonia Duckbill Cap. We didn’t give it a category winner just because it was in the same class as the Janji AFO, and we preferred the coverage, fit, and rear closure of the Janji more. If you want to stick with the Patagonia brand for its eco-consciousness and are after a minimal hat with little structure, take a chance with the classic Duckbill design.
View the Patagonia Duckbill Cap
Material: 100% Polyester
Adjustability: Nylon clasp and stretch
Breathability / Ventilation: Excellent
Fit: Average
Brim: 2.5"
Color options: Y
Sizes: O/S
UPF rating: 50+
We're currently testing the Skida Packable Run Cap. We're big fans of Skida's winter headwear and you'll find it in our Cold Weather Running Gear List. An older version of their summer running hat was in our Trail Running Gear List.
This new version comes in nine colors and, unlike most running hats, is available not only in colors but in hand-designed patterns. We often find and like artist-designed trucker hats in mountain town gear shops. The Skida Packable Run Cap takes that idea and puts it in a more technical hat with a better fit and more breathability. We're currently testing and will report back on how it performs.
Skida Packable Run Cap
A good running hat has excellent fit, comfort, and adjustability for bouncing on trail. Photo by Sasha Hashemipour
What to look for in a running hat
Some runners find that light-colored hats are more cooling. This is our favorite all white hat, the rnnr Pacer hat in Era White, if that’s your fancy. Photo by Sasha Hashemipour
Running hats are made from moisture-wicking, breathable material, specifically designed to withstand sweat and increased body heat associated with running. Other hats are often made of cotton, which traps moisture, and tend to be thicker, making them hotter than running-specific hats. We feature running hats, along with other running accessories, in our Best Running Accessories guide.
UV Protection
Some hats advertise UV protection, and some simply provide a barrier between your head and harmful UV rays. Our reviewer, who has little head hair for natural scalp protection, is a big fan of hats with UV protection.
Sunscreen applied to the top of the head can run down into the runner’s eyes and cause irritation. Either way you look at it, UV protection can’t hurt! We found that most of our hats with advertised UPF protection were typically 40-50+, which is as good as you can get.
Hats with widespread mesh holes like the Patagonia Duckbill will inherently have less coverage from the UV rays. You can see the tag and our reviewer’s head through the mesh holes here. Photo by Sasha Hashemipour
Moisture Wicking
Most of us sweat a lot from our heads, and it’s no exception when it comes to having fabrics that wick sweat away from our heads and keep things cool. Head sweat is one reason to avoid natural fabrics like cotton and opt for thinner, technical polyester blends.
Cinching down the rnnr Pacer Era White, with a static nylon strap, plastic buckle, and in this case, an elastic webbing between the left hand index finger and thumb, to allow for some stretch. Photo by Sasha Hashemipour
Adjustability
Though some companies offer different hat sizes, we’ve seen that most hats are one size (OS), or one-size-fits-all. This approach simplifies things on the manufacturing side but does require a high degree of adjustability for the hats. Typically, the only adjustment point will be in the rear of that hat, where the “ponytail” hole will be. On running caps, they’re usually nylon webbing that adjusts with a low-profile plastic buckle or, increasingly popular, a bungee cord with a barrel lock.
Beyond adjusting for the size of your head, a good running hat has a way to cinch down tightly during high-wind outings to help keep the hat on your head.
Brim Coverage
Small brims may be an aesthetic choice for some. Other runners may find smaller brims more aerodynamic and less prone to blowing off, but they won’t offer as much sun protection. Small brims can be great in lower light conditions.
The larger the brim, the more likely it is to be pulled up by wind gusts, but it offers more sun protection and is best in bright conditions. Beyond length, some brims are also on the wider side. You’ll see this on many trucker hats.
Ventilation
Running caps may rely on thin fabrics or mesh to promote ventilation. Mesh holes will be poor performers for UV coverage but do score high on venting. Thin fabrics may be an excellent middle ground, as they tend to be air-permeable but can also achieve high UV scores with technical treatments.
Packability
Packability is important for runners who will be out in variable conditions where hats may not be necessary the whole time. For example, you probably won't need a cap if you're running in the dark in the morning or through the night during a trail ultra marathon.
Smaller-brimmed, thin fabric hats are usually the most packable. One thing to keep in mind is that if your brim is too small, it may not provide adequate coverage. If the brim is too pliable, it may flop in the wind! You’ll see this floppiness in some bucket hats with brims that have no built-in structure. The bucket hat we recommend, the Sunday Afternoons, has some structure, so it won't blow in the wind.
Ciele uses their patented polyester weave, COOLwick, to manage sweat. Photo by Trey French
Style and design
Running hats come in a variety of styles, like trucker hats, bucket hats, and traditional sports caps. Some have mesh, some have wider brims, some have drawcord adjustments, while others have buckles. You can find a range of colors and patterns, too. Basically, there’s a wide world of running hats, and you’ll likely have an easy time finding a style that suits you.
Sun protection
Hats made from nylon often offer UV protection, making them a great addition to runs in the sun or at high altitudes.
Minimal hats like the Brooks Lightweight Packable hat are light and pack down well, but don’t provide the most coverage. Photo by Sasha Hashemipour
Visibility
You can find running hats with reflective or hi-vis features. This is great if you plan to run in the dark, as anything you can do to make yourself more visible will help keep you safe from oncoming traffic. For more tips on running in the dark, check out our Best Reflective Gear for Running in the Dark guide.
Comfort and fit
Running hats are designed for your comfort while running, so if it doesn’t feel right when you’re trying it on, it won’t feel right while you’re running. Find a hat that fits snugly enough that it won’t bounce around, but not so tight that it feels uncomfortable. Most hats are adjustable, so you can appropriately fit them to your head.
Folks with long hair often like having a hole in the back of the hat for ponytails. Most running hats accommodate that.
How should a running hat fit?
A running hat should feel secure enough that you stop thinking about it. That's the real test. If you're adjusting it every mile or checking that it's still on your head when the wind picks up, the fit isn't right.
Most running hats are one-size-fits-most and rely on a rear closure, either a nylon strap through a plastic buckle or an elastic bungee cord through a barrel lock, to dial things in. Our testers find that a bungee closure is generally easier to adjust on the fly without stopping, especially if you have other things in your hands like a running flask or running poles, which matters when you're mid-run into a headwind, and the hat is threatening to become a frisbee.
The crown shape on a running hat matters more than most people realize. A deeper crown works better for runners with thicker hair or larger heads, while a shallower crown fits better for narrow heads or if you're wearing the hat under a hooded running jacket or windbreaker. Structured crowns hold their shape better in wind and offer more consistent sun coverage. Softer crowns pack down smaller but can fold in the wind.
A few things to check before committing to a hat: if you wear sunglasses, put them on with the hat and make sure the brim isn't pushing the frames down your nose. If you wear your hair in a ponytail, most running caps have a gap in the rear closure for this, while bucket hats generally don't, which limits you to a low pony. And a hat that fits well dry may feel different once it's soaked through with sweat or rain, so look for fabrics that maintain their shape rather than stretching out.
If the fit feels almost right out of the box, it'll probably feel better after a few runs as it shapes to your head. If it feels off from the start, it won't improve with time.
How to choose a running hat
Are you running in urban heat islands?
The main variables are where you run, how long you're out, and what conditions you're dealing with.
Trail runners are typically out longer and dealing with more variable weather than road runners. UV exposure at altitude, afternoon thunderstorms, and wind gusts on exposed ridgelines are all real considerations. Prioritize a hat with a secure adjustable closure you can cinch down without stopping, a brim that won't act as a sail in the wind, and quick-drying materials for when the afternoon storm rolls in. UPF-rated fabric matters more at elevation, where UV exposure increases significantly with every thousand feet, and you'll want more than face sunscreen to protect your skin (but we still recommend face sunscreen, even if you're wearing a hat!).
Road runners deal with different problems: heat radiating off pavement, car traffic in low light, gusts from trucks, and urban wind tunnels between buildings. A darker underside of the brim helps reduce glare from reflective city sidewalks. If you run-commute or transition straight from a run to something else, packability matters too. Reflective details on the hat, whether logos, brim trim, or the adjustment cord, become genuinely useful at dawn and dusk when you're sharing the road with cars. If you're running in low light, we recommend wearing running lights and other reflective accessories to increase your chances of being seen. However, a hat (as the highest point on your body) will likely be the first thing drivers see, so the reflective logos really do matter.
When in doubt, the hat you'll actually wear consistently is the right hat. The best running hat is the one comfortable enough to forget about.
Care and maintenance tips for running hats
Ciele hats are machine washable! That’s not the norm though. Always check the care label before throwing them in the wash. Photo by Trey French
Cleaning: machine or hand wash?
When it comes to cleaning your running hat, first check the manufacturer’s care instructions. If you can machine-wash the hat, use a mild detergent. Use cold water to help maintain the integrity of the materials.
Soaps and detergents
For hand washing, any mild soap should be fine. If the care instructions permit machine washing, use a good sports detergent.
What not to wash your hat with (colors and heavy fabrics)
You’ll want to avoid using fabric softeners when washing your running hat, so if you’re putting it in a washing machine, only wash it with other clothing that requires the same care. That is, wash your hat with other running/athletic clothes that require a mild sport detergent, cold water, and no fabric softeners.
Removing sweat stains
Nike offers a simple solution for removing sweat stains from its hats: make a paste of baking soda, salt, and hydrogen peroxide. After testing the paste in a hidden spot on the hat, you can scrub it on the stains. After rinsing the hat with cool water, let it air dry, and the stain should be removed.
Air dry
Air-drying your hat is preferable, as direct heat can compromise the material's integrity more quickly. Avoid using a drying machine or direct sunlight if possible.
Reshaping and avoiding wrinkles
If your running hat becomes misshapen or wrinkly, dampen it and reshape it. If there are creases, work them out with your hands. Allow the hat to air dry in the preferred shape.
Storage
Store your running hats somewhere cool and dry if possible, and avoid scrunching or stuffing them somewhere, as that can cause them to become misshapen.
How often to wash
The frequency with which you should wash your running hat depends on how often you wear it, the conditions you run in, whether it comes into contact with sunscreen or dirt, and how much you sweat. The goal is to keep the hat clean and effective, so if you see salt buildup, dirt stains, or any other buildup, it’s a good idea to wash the hat.
When running on hot and exposed trails and roads, having a good hat can wick away sweat and allow heat to escape. Photo by Sasha Hashemipour
FAQ about Running Hats
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In hot weather, some running hats can make you feel hotter. Most running hats are made of a blend of synthetic fibers that wick sweat away from your head and allow heat to escape, sometimes with perforations to encourage airflow and evaporative cooling.
Hats made of cotton or overly thick materials may hold in heat and lead to overheating.
If overheating, you may need to remove your hat periodically to let some heat escape.
Lastly, fully waterproof hats will be the worst at venting. Rain jacket marketing departments spend a lot on promoting their jackets as breathable. Typically, the better something is at keeping water out, the worse it is at keeping water (and heat) from escaping from within. If it’s going to rain and you need protection, especially in cold weather, we recommend using a rain jacket hood to get by.
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Yes! Running is a high-output activity and produces a lot of sweating. Though you don’t have to wash it after every use, you’ll want to periodically clean out the salty remnants of past runs. Always check the care label first.
While you may be able to wash some hats in the washing machine, at a minimum, we recommend putting them in a small mesh laundry bag to protect the clips and any small pieces on the hat from damage. To encourage long-term durability, hand washing in a sink or when you shower with some mild soap and hang drying is the way to go.
For gentler care, hand-wash with mild soap in the sink or shower, then let it air-dry. Avoid using fabric softeners or high heat. Even on short city runs, sweat and sunscreen buildup can wear down materials over time if not cleaned regularly.
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Some say that darker colors retain heat and should be avoided, but we find that the cooling differences between colors are marginal. If you want a dark blue running hat and don’t need the visibility of a brighter one for road running, feel free to opt for a darker color. With that said, there’s a lot of light-colored clothing at the Badwater 135, an infamous hot road ultra in Death Valley, California!
Brighter colors reflect more sunlight, which may help in hot conditions. This can be particularly useful on open roads, reflective sidewalks, or high-alpine trails with little shade.
On the other hand, darker brims can reduce glare, especially on pavement or exposed granite. If visibility from cars is more important than cooling, choose high-visibility colors or reflective details instead.
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Yes. The brim of a hat will keep the sun off the top half of your face and shield your eyes depending on the sun's angle relative to your running direction and time of day. With that said, you’re still exposed to a lot of UV rays while wearing a hat from reflections and peripheral light. At the very least, running sunglasses will reduce eye strain and headaches; at most, they will protect your valuable eyes from UV rays in the long run.
Whether you're navigating city glare or tree-filtered sunlight on the trail, you want to prevent eye fatigue on longer runs.
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Yes. Even hats with high UPF ratings don’t eliminate the need for sunscreen. Apply face sunscreen to your ears, neck, nose, and other exposed areas, especially if your hat has mesh panels or doesn’t cover the sides of your face. Use SPF lip balm for your lips, and body sunscreen for your arms and legs.
Running hats help reduce direct exposure, but UV rays can still reach you indirectly—especially during extended outings or midday runs on reflective surfaces like roads or water.
How we tested
We’re serious about testing at all times. Photo by Sasha Hashemipour
To find the best running hats, we tested them while trail running across a series of mountain ranges, including the foothills of the San Isabel National Forest and Bureau of Land Management land, the Sangre de Cristos, and the Sawatch Range of Colorado-Ute land.
We encountered temperatures between 55° and 95° through a warm but wet summer in the Colorado Rockies.
Then, we salt-stained and hand-washed our hats, measured their brims, stuffed them in our running belts, watched them spring back into shape, and appreciated how they shielded us from the sun.
Most of our trail runs averaged about an hour, with some as long as three hours, with a mix of hiking and scrambling.
We encountered sweltering heat in the 90s and afternoon thunderstorms, with temperatures down to around 55°. Most of our running was on dirt trails and roads, with a little bit of pavement mixed in for good measure. Some of the winning hats were comfortable enough that we forgot to remove them after runs and wore them the remainder of the day.
- Short & long runs in Colorado high country
- Hot, sunny & high-UV conditions
- Wind, rain & snow
- Stashed in hydration packs mid-run
- Adjusted on the fly during runs
- Sweat wicking & breathability
- Sun coverage & UPF rating
- Packability & shape retention
- Adjustability on the fly
- Weight & comfort over long runs
The Ciele GOCap was the best running hat at moisture wicking and staying cool. Photo by Sasha Hashemipour
The author Trey French in his running grounds in Salida, Colorado. Photo by Justin Walker.
About the author / Why you should trust us
From trail outings starting and ending on NYC trains; Colorado multi-sport front door-to-door outings containing cycling and trail running; to long-distance thru-hikes on trails like the CDT, PCT, and Long Trail — working with variable conditions is a constant in Trey’s outdoor life. Trey gravitates towards hiking, running, and cycling. He is interested in human-powered, carless travel with the occasional assistance of public transportation or a friendly hitch.
Based out of Salida, CO, at 7,000ft, Trey runs in all seasons — for mental health, fitness, and preparing a base for big mountain adventures once the snow melts in spring. Trey has run the Salida Run Through Time trail marathon, the Grand Canyon double crossing (the “Rim to Rim to Rim”), and many self-made alpine routes in Colorado. He keeps his legs under him by shuffling from the Arkansas River up into the local foothills most days of the week, and he is kept honest by the local Wednesday group run up the town’s namesake mountain. Around 9,000 miles of combined running and hiking inform his approach to gear testing.
You can read more of Trey's work at his blog or on his author page.
