The Best Running Hats of 2024

Along with well-fitted running shoes and a comfortable pair of shorts, a dependable running hat rounds out the go-to kit of many passionate runners. The best running hats should wick away moisture, keep sweat out of your eyes, and protect against the sun, wind, and rain.

In 2024, running hats no longer resemble the heavy cotton baseball caps of the past. Instead, today’s running hats are lightweight, breathable, stylish, and impressively unobtrusive. From quick neighborhood jaunts to grueling ultramarathons, the proper running hat can immediately fit into your gear kit and add numerous benefits to your training or racing.

Our team of trail-trotting athletes at GearJunkie is constantly donning sweaty caps and hitting the trail with new models to bring you the best of the best. Tim Newcomb, our current author, is an avid runner who has been testing countless models over the past year and updating this guide regularly to keep it as fresh as possible. He knows just about everything there is to know about a running hat and only lets the absolute crème de la crème into this guide.

At the end of our top picks list, be sure to check out our Comprehensive Buyer’s Guide for advice on how to choose the best running hat for your needs. Also, check out our Comparison Chart to see how each model’s specs stack up against one another, and our Price & Value section for understanding everything you need to know about running hats.

Editor’s Note: For our November 20, 2024, update, we added the PATH Projects Hoyt Beanie and added a price & value section to the buyer’s guide to help you choose the perfect hat for your runs.

The Best Running Hats of 2024

Running Hat Comparison Chart

How We Tested Running Hats

The GearJunkie team is stacked with runners. From weekend hobbyists to ultramarathon podium threats, we’re diehard runners, through and through.

Like most runners, we use running hats for sweat-wicking and sun protection. Over the years, we’ve tested dozens of running hats in all sorts of conditions.

A good running hat should be durable, comfortable, breathable, and effective against the sun’s harsh rays. The recommendations on this list are the results of our careful observation and first-hand experience. We’re confident these are the best running hats on the market.

GearJunkie contributor Tim Newcomb is an avid runner, and has been managing this guide for over a year now. He knows his way around a running hat. He’s taken countless models on just as many runs and has become extremely choosy in which hats he allows in this guide.

As new running hats become available, we’ll be sure to try them out in consideration for this list.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose a Running Hat

A running hat is a handy tool that offers several functions as a part of your running kit. A well-made cap can provide sun protection, warmth, visibility, moisture-wicking, and water resistance. When shopping for the best hat for you, some key considerations to keep in mind include ventilation, comfort, adjustability, moisture transfer, and reflectivity.

This mix of features makes a running hat different from a typical ball cap. The materials used may keep it lightweight, flexible, and sweat-wicking. Liners can help keep sweat or rain from dripping down your face and depending on your selection, you may find water-resistant materials to keep you dry. Running hats tend to fit snugly for distraction-free aerodynamic movement.

After considering these features and determining your present and future needs as a runner, look over this list to find the option that best meets your criteria. We recommend every hat on the list, but some will suit certain runners better than others.

Ventilation & Breathability

Even when it isn’t especially warm out, runners tend to get hot and sweaty. In the hot sun, this reality becomes all the more challenging, and it becomes especially important to utilize gear with plenty of ventilation.

Choose a hat with lightweight fabric such as mesh or thin polyester, especially if you spend a lot of time running in warm conditions. Choosing a light color may also help keep your head cool during your run. Some hats, like the Nathan RunCool, are specifically designed for hot weather running. Add in that some hats will include UV protection, which can help provide an extra layer of protection.

Make sure to round out your kit with breathable and comfortable running shirts, running shorts, and running shoes to ensure you don’t overheat or overexert yourself while exercising.

Comfort & Fit

It’s helpful to have a good sense of the size of your own head when purchasing a hat. Once you know your head size, compare it to the dimensions of the hats you’re considering. Next, look for a hat with superior adjustability. Brooks hats, for instance, are known to accommodate larger heads.

Weight also affects a hat’s comfort. It’s imperative to have a well-fitting, lightweight running hat so your gear remains distraction-free, such as the Topo Designs option. A snug, comfortable fit will ensure you’re not worried about adjustments while on the road or the trail.

Hat Bill Options

Not every bill — or brim — is created equal. When selecting a running hat, understand what you want from the brim before making your selection. You’ll want to specifically focus on both the ability to flip the bill and the size of the brim.  

Some hats come with a bill that can mold into different shapes (ideal for long runs), with several styles offering the ability to flip the bill up to move out of the way when desired. The quality of the hat could dictate when the bill is able to flip — and stay in place — if that’s a feature you desire. 

The size of the brim is another key factor. Some runners want maximum coverage, both in length and width, to protect against blazing sun. But that size may bother other runners who want a more minimal design that does just enough to provide some sun protection. These are both personal decisions but are key considerations when selecting the right running hat for you.

Moisture Transfer

Moisture transfer reflects a hat’s ability to quickly dry after becoming saturated with sweat or other moisture. Many hats on our list include sweat-wicking internal liners that pull sweat away from your skin and eyes.

Hats made from mesh and thin polyester tend to dry quickly. Wool, with its natural sweat-wicking properties, is sometimes used in a liner, but too much wool can be cumbersome. When shopping for a running hat, avoid materials like cotton.

The sweat-wicking properties help during warm runs but can also provide benefits in cold weather. Moving sweat away from your head can keep sweat from drying, which can make you feel even colder.

Adjustability Options

Changing the sizing of your hat is one thing but changing it mid-run is vital. When selecting a running hat, be aware of the adjustability options and what might work best for you. The main adjustability options include plastic snaps, Velcro, a slide adjuster, or a bungee pull. Each has its own benefits.

Keep in mind that the plastic snaps and slide adjusters may be difficult to switch on the fly but often remain in place throughout runs, whereas the Velcro and bungee pull may provide an easier on-the-move selection, even if they could loosen during a run.

Flexibility

The flexibility of your running hat is about more than fit and comfort. Sometimes you’ll want to strip off the hat and store it in a pocket or jam it into a travel pouch. Selecting a flexible hat gives you more options for storage, whether on a run or on the way to your favorite route. The GADIEMKENSD offering brings its own unique blend of folding to the running hat space.

Reflectivity

A high-visibility running cap reflects light and helps others see you when running in low-light conditions. Good reflectivity increases your safety while running, especially in high-traffic areas. Reflectivity isn’t just beneficial in low-light evening scenarios, but also crucial in low-light morning runs, a common time for runners to hit urban streets.

Extras

At their most basic, running hats are meant to keep your head and face out of the sun. But that doesn’t mean they can’t go above and beyond. If you’re looking for a new running hat, keep an eye out for some interesting extra features, like the internal headband on the REI On the Trail Cap or a handy loop to hang in on your pack that you’ll find on the Topo Designs Global Hat.

One of the coolest (pun intended) extras we’ve found is the ice pouch in the Nathan Runcool hat. If you typically run in warmer climates, this perk is an excellent way to keep your head nice and cool during hot runs.

Price & Value

Running hats range in price from $10 to about $40. Depending on your budget, you’ll want to purchase the highest quality and most durable hat that you can. Durability comes from the quality of the materials used in the hat.

Bargain

You can find decent running hats for $10-$15, but many of these hats can be made with cheap, poorly constructed materials and are prone to falling apart after a few weeks or months. When you’re shopping in this price range, make sure you’re buying one with visibility, sweat-wicking capabilities, and some form of heat venting. If affordability is your biggest concern, the GADIEMKENSD Running Hat is just $15 and still offers lots of features.

Mid-Range

In the $20-$30 range, you’ll see more features and better durability than most hats in the bargain category. Lightweight fabrics, ponytail portals, and even an ice pocket for hot days, as you’ll find on the Nathan RunCool ($25), are all fairly common in this category. If you’re not trying to save every penny, this is probably the category that will appeal to the broadest range of runners.

Premium

If you’re willing to shell out $40 or more, some hats in this price range are well-known for their high-end durability. Plus, you’ll find some extra features like the COOLwick fabric in the Ciele Athletics GOCap ($40-$45), which is designed to keep runner’s heads cool and dry on hot runs. Plus, you’ll find some other cool extras like the 360-degree mesh and integrated sweatband you’ll find in the KAVU Trail Runner ($35-$40.

Frequently Asked Questions