Best running hats: beanies, headbands, caps and visors

As stated on the tag, this cap really is weightless. Well, it weighs 34g but you can’t feel it on your head at all. Stretchy, but not extensively so, the material is very flexible, wicks sweat away with ease and dries quickly too. The brim can be bent and squeezed when stowed away, yet retains the original shape without any issues.

While side panels work great for ventilation and the head never overheats when wearing this cap. The brim can be flipped up to open up your field of vision, too. There’s no issue with wearing a head torch over the cap since the brim is short enough and does not obstruct the light, yet it is long enough to protect eyes from the sunlight. The Zero Cap comes in one size – the adjustment at the back works a treat and never needed re-adjustment while in use. The last feature to point out is a reflective print on the cap’s middle panel, which comes to life when light is shone on it and boosts a runner’s visibility well.

We are impressed with the remarkably high quality of the Montane Phase Lite waterproof running cap. There are taped seams, lightweight material, adjust-and-forget simplicity of the size regulation. The waterproofing works as it should, no surprise there coming from the reliable Gore-Tex and their Active Shell material.

The peak of the cap is very stiff, I was a bit worried about bending it out of shape buIt keeps its form perfectly. The Phase Lite sits nice on the head and with a deep fit you do not have to worry about it being blown off your head.

As it is waterproof, the Phase Lite is one for colder months as sweat-wicking is mostly achieved by a band of soft material on the inside of the cap, which might not be sufficient during hotter weather. As to be expected, the waterproofing also reduces breathability. Overall, this is a great hat for the unpredictable British weather!

This lightweight cap from Hoka is both comfortable and provides good coverage from the sun or rain. The soft material is super thin and dries quickly, it has a softshell feel and sits flush against the head with a gentle sweatband that does its job. There’s added ventilation along each side in the form of small laser-cut holes.

The rear of the cap is cinched via one elasticated drawstring, which should allow for a range of head sizes. The star of the show is the slightly oversized brim, which offers max protection from the elements and has some flex, so shouldn’t bend out of shape when packed away.

When browsing for a lightweight hiking and running cap for hot climates, we stumbled upon this unisex one from Decathlon in-store. It ticked all the boxes of being affordable (sub-£15), made of mesh for ventilation in hot places, and well fitting. We like that this cap is available in black and the white/green we went for, as for hot places the white colour deflects rather than absorbs the sun’s rays.

The fit of this cap suits well with a ponytail for those with long hair, with the rear adjustability is easy to do via a clip, if not as seamless as a drawstring like in others here. As mentioned, the entirety of the main material is aerated mesh, with the wide brim of the cap blocking out a good amount of sun and shelters from rain. Granted, it’s not as elasticated or clingy as other caps on test, but it suits our running purposes fine and is a good value cap for the price.

The Ultralight Flash Visor from Compressport is a lightweight yet sturdy cap that provides good coverage and boosts visibility while running. The visor has fluorescent yellow and reflective detailing throughout to make you highly visible both from all angles, improving safety on the trails and road.

The cap section itself is rigid and a touch larger than seen on other running hats, which makes it ideal for protecting the eyes from strong sun rays, as well as sheltering the vision from oncoming rain. The visor is one-size and really does fit any head size due to the flexibility of the band, which is wide and soft enough to sit comfortably around the head.

The material itself is lightweight and breathable, while the band at the forehead has an extra layer of absorbent material to mop up sweat and sit gently against the skin. Overall, the Ultralight has proven highly useful during both our rainy runs as a reliable buffer against oncoming rain, cold runs as an extra touch of warmth and coverage, and sunny runs to protect from glare.

This Reflective Ultimate Hat from Ultimate Performance is a soft beanie that sits flush to the head and stays in place well over the ears, designed with a flexible band that wraps securely around the head. Above this sits a highly reflective piping that circles the head and combines with the main iridescent material to make a highly reflective hat in low light conditions.

It might not be the most flattering hat, but the Reflective Ultimate Hat is highly functional and affordable. Nice and warm, the size small/medium fits a small head snugly and can also sit flush under a helmet for some multi-sport use.

This Bamboo Jersey Beanie Hat is a great alternative to a thicker knit beanie, for use while doing sport. Best for those with short hair or even better, no hair, this beanie is extra long and stretchy, so should easily fit all head sizes. The style is a turned-up cuff, or can be left long, to the wearer’s taste. Besides the sustainable property of bamboo, it’s also naturally anti-odour, thermoregulating and sweat-wicking.

This Montane headband is a great option for adding a touch of extra warmth or coverage to your runs. A lot of heat is lost around the head, what this headband does is both capture and wick away sweat, while also adding an extra layer of warmth.

The headband itself has a simple design. It’s narrower at the forehead, then widens to encapsulate the ears and reach around the back of the head. A reflective Montane logo sits at the front for a touch of extra visibility, while rear stitching gives it more structure and form.

We like the inner lining of the headband, which is a soft brushed Apex thermo Eco felt that remains thin and breathable. Plus, it’s made from 88% recycled polyester, with that final 12% an injection of elastane for the stretch and permanent anti-odour treatment.

The Dynafit Performance Dry Headband is a wide and well-fitting headband designed to suit a range of sporting activities. This headband is a good option for those that prefer a wider band, made from a stretchy mix of 100% recycled polyester and elastane. The band itself is slightly stiffer than the Montane headband and also wind-resistant, so should add an extra layer of protection to the head when running in more stormy weather.

There’s no fleece or felt to the band, instead the Performance Dry does what it says on the tin, providing a lightweight and fast-wicking wrap ideal for slipping under a running head torch, as an extra layer for colder runs, or for any cycling/skiing cross-training. It helps that this headband is also pretty stylish, and available in 16 colour combinations!

The Reflective Ear Warmer from Ultimate Performance is a breathable and sweat-wicking running headband that keeps the ears and forehead nice and warm while running. The headband itself is nicely shaped, being wider at the ears and stays in place well, even if worn with headphones. By day it’s a black band but at night it produces the same iridescent reflectivity as seen in the UP gloves and beanie we’ve also tested. The reflective ear warmer is available in two sizes: S/M and L/XL.