60 replies to this topic

[Angus]

I'm looking for a mesh running cap, having used a very ancient baseball-style cap for many a year.
Which ones do you guys find are the best? I've heard the Nike Dry-fit ones are quite good, but can't find anyone online who sells them (to get a price).
My searches have revealed  this Asics Running Cap at $20, which seems to fit the bill.
Also, does colour particularly matter? I think the black one would suit me a lot better, but will it attract/hold more heat, or would it be quite negligible?

Thanks for your thoughts!

[TRAVY]

this one is  free and bloody good

[omni]

How about a CoolRunning cap ?

[nikemiler]

I got a really great hat at Paul's warehouse a while age. It was New Balance and it was ideal for running in. It had holes in the side and was light as a feather. I haven't seen them at Paul's since but rebel has them!

[Barefoot]

I agree with Omni, the Coolrunning cap is the best I have worn, very lightweight.

The next best is the Nike drifit, but the advantage of the Coolrunning cap is the visor is soft and plyable.

[Billy The Fish]

Initially put off using a cap because of heat retainment but finally succumbed because of sunburn.

Am very pleased with my Mizuno mesh cap (in white) from Sydney Running Centre in Edgecliffe. Doesn't retain as much heat as imagined and keeps the sun off me bonce.

[plu]

There is only one not only because of the way it feels but because of the support that you get when you wear it.

  

plu

[Morley]

I wear a CR cap and find it heaps better than my old baseball cap. Cool, light, flexible visor and nice colors.

Only concern on design is lack of UV protection for ears and neck. Anyone come up with a design solution suitable for runners?

[Alycat]

I have used Nike running caps, with the "mesh" top, for 7 or 8 years, I have about a dozen of them, and have found they have been superior to anything else (and I have tried a few!). I bought a CR cap a week ago, and, whilst it is very light, I am concerned it is a bit "plasticy" and might be holding in heat leading to my head perspiring more. I have not trained hard last week, recovering from the SMC half, but have actually had both a Nike cap and the CR cap and have been swapping each K to test.

[Princess Odette]

I use a black Nike drifit cap.  It's definitely feels a lot cooler than when i was wearing a baseball type cap.  Rebel sells it but i can't remember the price.  The only other colour is white but I didn't want it cuz u can see dirt on white too easily.  yuck

[G.T.]

i have sold my soul so is a cool running cap for me   :D  

i got a run for your life cap the other day and was also very impressed with that ,,choices like that make life hard  :rolleyes:

[courtlylove]

I recall Slowjo at the Gold Coast marathon (where she did the half) this year. She had quibbled over buying the CR cap as she could get others much cheaper.

However it was not long before she realised what an investment the CR cap was. She felt the support, friendship, cameraderie and encouragement she got because other CRs could identify her was worth far more than the cost of the cap.

Like plu, I agree with her.

CL

[Puntermatt]

I borrowed RITH's CR cap for pacing duties at the Gold Coast. Whilst it was a great cap, nice and light and breathable, I disliked the floppy peak as it flopped around a bit so to speak when running into the wind.

Any chance of a sturdier peak, Kev?

Cheers
PM

[miners]

... and as Plu & CL alluded to, the CR cap has been scientifically proven to add 7.48 seconds per km when racing  ;)

[DianeE]

In my humble opinion...Nike DriFit caps are the best.  The new RFYL cap is excellent too - pretty much the same as the Nike cap.

Brooks have black or white mesh caps in stores at the moment for about $25,

I bought a CR cap but I have to admit that I have only worn it once and will probably not wear it again - the soft peak doesn't work for me, especially in the wind.

Note:  I do have a lot of hair to hold so I prefer a lightweight but firm cap.

[Miss Gazelle]

For keeping cool - Adidas mesh. Searched long and hard to find this great cap. White is the only colour of choice, doesn't attract extra heat and Napisan keeps it looking like new   :D  

For looking cool - Coolrunning cap - naturally   ;)

[PreWannaBe]

I've found the new Nike Sphere hats to have the best overall fit out of any one the market.
As far as breathability the Nike Dri-Fit tend to breath a little bit better then the Sphere. Both are excellent units.  :D

[Peterhorse]

well...my CR cap and singlet just arrived by Fedex literally 5 mins ago...it's a funny sort of cap actually and certainly doesn't look "cool" on me (singlet does though   B)  )

Out of sheer loyalty for the support and advice over the last few months, it will be worn ceremoniously for my first Half Mara in just under 2 weeks, with a couple of test drives before then. hmmmm - new singlet, new cap, plus new shoes (run in by then), all light blue and pretty cool - that's gotta be worth 8 secs/km, huh?

PH

[Pud]

RFYL hat alternatively my tried and tested dreamworld floppy hat.  Neityher make me look cool but serve the purpose

[Kato]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Princess Odette:
I use a black Nike drifit cap.  It's definitely feels a lot cooler than when i was wearing a baseball type cap.  Rebel sells it but i can't remember the price.  The only other colour is white but I didn't want it cuz u can see dirt on white too easily.  yuck

---

Hey Princess.  I was given a black one AND a white one for a birthday a couple of years ago.  The black one is definitely hotter, and the white one washes out clean in the shower after my run.  So it is black for dusk or dawn in winter when I need the warmth, and white for hot sunny days.  Or the Mt Mee King of the Mountain cap, in white.  Or the R4YL cap, in blue.  Decisions, decisions.

[The Ginger Bread Man]

a head full of flowing ginger locks is the best cap you could ever hope for.  :D  

run run as fast as you can  :P

[Angus]

The gingerbread man has hair now...?

Thanks for your posts guys. Considering the 'floppiness' of the CR cap, I might go to Rebel and have a look at what they have there.
And thanks Kato for clearing up the temp diff of black vs white!!

[Cato]

The CR visor is pretty good. The peak is much stiffer and if you are running on a hot day you can grab a water at the drink stations and pour it over your head to cool down.
I have tried pouring water on the CR cap and the water seems to just run off rather than being absorbed.
I mainly wear a cap to keep the sun off my face and nose.
The down side of wearing a cap is the problem with the top of your head getting too hot.
Keeping your head cool is so important I am amazed when I see runners in thick black caps on a sunny day.
I think I might use the CR visor this sunday in the MM

CATO

[Peterhorse]

(sorry if this should be a new topic/thread)...but i have read two schools of thought on the wearing of hats...
1. the aim of keeping the sun off to reduce heat ingress and sunburn, skins cancer etc...i.e. reduce heat coming in
2. with the stated aim of keeping cool, wear a visor so you reduce skin cancer risk on the face but allow the heat your head generates  i.e. let heat out, which you hat might prevent.

i figured a hat that has breathing holes was the compromise...but which do CRs treckon is the go?
(i run in Brisbane so it's pretty much always muggy...sure has been the last few days!!)PH

[knight60]

I'm with Travy. The R4YL cap is great. Lightweight,  free, and magpie-proof! (I tested it).

  :D

[tim]

I have found the Cr Cap is too hot and the R4YL hat seems too small.  My favorite is a White Nike Running Cap I bought for $20 years ago.

I have noticed that caps keep the sun from your eyes and off your nose but most of the time the rest of your face is uncovered which could lead to a false sense of security regarding sun exposure.  Especially the tops of your ears and lower lip.

[RMC]

I think I'll stick to my  PING cap. Covers the sun and lets air in/out the top. I think I'll have to get another one as this one is getting old.

[FakePlasticTrees]

quote:

---

Originally posted by knight60:
...and magpie-proof! (I tested it).

---

After going for a run in Gloucester the other day I can confirm that the CR hat is a magnet for magpies. I got swooped by no less than 7 in an 11k run. When I took the hat off to hit them with it, they attacked the hat. The guy at the B&B reckons it's because of the blue, maybe they were just annoyed about paramatta's last game.

[Rags]

quote:

---

I can confirm that the CR hat is a magnet for magpies

---

They probably mistook you for a Cowboy... don't forget the Tigers are still half Magpie   :D  

I'm glad I got that long run in Sunday morning

I'm still hungover...  B)

[Peterhorse]

actually i heard the CR was a magnet for chicks and that's why i bought it...might have misunderstood the brochure though  :rolleyes:  
hehehe

[Spud]

Went for a bike ride last week and was attacked not once but twice by magpies. I wasn't wearing my CR cap (luckily I had a helmet on!) but was wearing my CR Tritop, so maybe they are attracted to CR colours   :)

[runninlate]

I have a white 2003 City 2 Surf (my first fun run) cap - made by New Balance, mesh on the sides with large reflective strips underneath and a thin reflector strip on its peak - perfect for running late in the afternoon/evening.  

I also have a navy blue Nike drifit mesh cap but I prefer the above C2S cap as it keeps my head cooler.

[Princess Odette]

thanks for the tip Kato ... i might buy myself a white one for use during the hot summer days n give Napisan a good workout   :)

[alisonjc]

I took my CR cap for its maiden voyage last night and its moisture-moving properties are phenomenal! (I perspire like a tap and can usually shake sweat out of my like a wet puppy after a run, yuck). It is officially the coolest running cap ever, despite making me look a bit like a demented duck  :D  . See you all on Sunday

[Alycat]

Well, I only recently purchased a CoolRunning hat and singlet. I have done quite a bit of testing over the last two weeks, running in various temperatures. I have alternated between a Nike mesh cap and the CR cap, even during runs, and I have weighed them before and after runs, with the extra weight being an indication of the sweat absorbed. It seems to me, after all of this, that the CR cap retains more sweat, mainly inside and doesn't absorb it much. My head is noticably hotter in a CR cap than the Nike cap. The CR cap gets very wet inside whearas the Nike cap absorbs sweat and remains drier. Unfortanately, the CR singlet seems to be much the same, when compared to a mesh running singlet, with more sticky sweat kept on the inside, particulalrly around my kidney regions.

Any chance of CR stuff in the usual mesh running gear?

[Jogger]

I think its a case of whatever we do, we will never satisfy 100% of people. The vast majority of people seem to be happy with their gear so I am not inclined to change it.

I suspect there is no such thing as "usual" mesh as all singlets (after a reasonable amount of research) seem to be different.

[Peterhorse]

what i look foward to most about the wearing my brand new CR cap is the encouragement from other CR's i have witnessed at each of the 4 events i have done to date (i wasn't even aware of CR before observing this!)

personally at this early stage of my running life, i know just how much the psychological aspects help drive better performance - over and above my sweat etc - since i'm not an elite and never will be, that's good enough for me.

If you make the cap out of cardboard or wool Kevin, i'll still wear it if the CRs gee us up!
cheers
PH

[The Ginger Bread Man]

try wearing long flowing ginger locks. chicks will think you are hot  :D  

run run as fast as you can

[Morpheus]

I haven't used any of the others, but I like my adidas Climacool cap.

[DJ Hawkins]

I ran my first race in my new CR cap on Wednesday and I agree, it does seem to get a little heavier than my Nike one with all the sweat. But a tiny little bit of extra weight is worth it for all the encourgaement you get from other CRs.

I also got my 'guaranteed' PB so I am all smiles.

DJ

[The Mule]

I would have thought a few extra grams wouldn't make much difference, as long as the sweat doesn't run into your eyes (I sweat just thinking) and it keeps the sun off your head (the locks are thinning) and face (not a pretty one).  

I currently run with a nylon (not mesh) New Balance hat and have found it to be of poor quality for $30 (absorbent lining fell out after a few washes), not really one size fits all and a bit hot.  I have persisted with it as I am (not have) a tight arse.  

I will soon be in the market for a new hat so my question is are the CR hats comfortable to wear and are they hard wearing?  I  am aware of the morale boosting benefits of wearing one - it just needs to be comfortable!  :D  What do current users think?

Cheers,
The Mule

[Tuttle]

Hi Mule,
I can recommend the CR caps: they're good value, and comfortable, and we need to see more of them around here in Newcastle!  ;)  
Cheers,
Tuttle

[Stu Mac]

CR cap, not for me, borrowed one twivce & I didn't like the peak and I didn't like how hot & sweaty it became.

Nike Dri Fit - I have a navy blue one, great hat, very comfy, very light, I think the dark colour may attract the heat, but overall a great hat.

RFYL - good, light, air holes great, but I would say the Nike is slightly better.

Fila - got this one in the 'show bag' after the S2F Christmas Run, excellent hat, very light, white and fits great.  I think this one will get worn a fair bit during summer.

[Owly]

I have only run in four hats and I know which one I prefer...CR.  Not just for the cheering  ;)  but it's a great price, comfy fit, stays on (my R4YL cap keeps blowing off no matter how tight I have it) and keeps the sweat out of my eyes.

[lostboy]

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Owl:
...my R4YL cap keeps blowing off no matter how tight I have it...

---

mmmmmm I can't imagine anyone running so fast that their hat would blow off   ;)  , but I'm also very happy with the CR cap.

Mrs. L. on the other hand, has great problems with caps    :rolleyes:   (but I'm not going to touch that one, even though she's out Christmas shopping @ the moment, God bless her.)

Now, where was I?

Oh yes... on another recent shopping expedition  she's got hold of a cap from the local cut-price New Balance outlet (Thanks to a recommendation from Wobbly.)

Well! It seems that cap & Mrs. L. were just made for each other.

& as long as it keeps Mrs. L. happy, who am I to question the integrety of the particular item in question?

mmmmmmmm One embarrassing little problem though; (& I just hate to be picky). People are always asking her, when exactly did she do the Noosa Triathalon    :o

[moby]

I always run in a cap regardless of the weather.  Totally shaved head so no hair to absorb any sweat and I need to keep it from running into my eyes - as well as for sun protection.  

I have found the Nike dri-fit to be the best I’ve tried.  Have recently been running in the R4YL cap that came with the magazine subscription.  It is a bit lighter and cooler but considerably less effective at handling sweat than the Nike.  Maybe because it is more nylon material than the mesh stuff, but it just gets soaked where as the Nike cap seems much better at moving moisture and allowing it to evaporate.

I’ll use the R4YL for shorter runs only.

[Obi-Wan]

CR caps are very comfortable and durable.  Since the peak of the caps is not firm it makes it very light but after washing it about 200+ times, mine has become very warped but still does the job amazingly well.  I have a new Kona 2005 cap, which is very similar to the CR cap but has a firm peak.  I'm yet to run in it but I can say now that I wont be washing it as often.

[Fish]

The Nike Dri-Fit is it for me too.  With basically no hair on my head I need it to keep the sweat out of my eyes and to stop my head getting burnt.  The CR cap is great too, but mine (like Obi's) is getting a little out of shape now.  Mind you I can wear the CR in any wind and know it will never blow of my head.

[langswm]

I must admit that I've tried to persist with my "floppy-peak" CR cap, but find that with longer distances (say 15k+), it just drives me crazy, especially after it gets wet with sweat.
I find the new R4YL caps much better for longer runs. They seem just as light as the CR caps, have a firm peak (same with you Obi, I wont be washing it as much), and have proved their mettle into a very strong headwind, during the Clovelly STaR on Sunday.