(Review) Running Hats Prevent Sweat, Glare

Posted May 16, 2008 at 03:00 PM by Denise Musumeci

Section: His Gear & Apparel, Equipment, Apparel, Reviews, Special Features, He's Fit Reviews

Not only are hats in style, they can also come in handy while running. Many runners like to wear “running hats” when they are on the go for various reasons. Many are designed to absorb sweat, prevent sun glare, and are lightweight so it doesn’t feel tight on your head.  In a recent New York Times article, Brad O’Brien, the president of the Tamalpa Runners--an 800-member club in Marin County in California--tested five of these running hats to see which one fit his needs the most.

The first was the Adidas Supernova Cap, $19.50. The cap had a two-layer sweatband with an SPF 25 finish. O’Brien said that the hat “ventilated well and felt completely snug without squeezing.”

Next was that Sugoi RSR Cap, $19.95. O’Brien thought that while this hat looked cool, it rode up too high and felt like it would blow away s he ran. One of the advantages of this hat, however, is the black underside that prevented the glare from the rising sun. The New York Times reported that “A swath of reflective material across the bill shined brightly when Mr. O’Brien drove his car toward a friend wearing the hat on an early run.” This could prevent any potential accidents that could happen with early birds.

The Boss Head-Lite Lite And Motion, 19.95, was unique in its own way because it comes with a built-in light on the front of the hat. It is also lightweight and powered by lithium batteries. It helped O’Brien see fine, but he could feel the morning cold through the mesh top of the hat.

The Pearl Izumi Ultrasensor Race Lid, $21.99 worked Justas well as the Sugoi hat mentioned earlier. It has extra padding in the sweatband that helped it fit more comfortably. O’Brien’s only problem with the Ultra Sensor was that he “couldn’t find anything to match” this Scream Yellow hat. It also comes in white or black to eliminate this problem.

The Brooks HVAC Mesh Cap, $24, was the lightest hat O’Brien tested. It helped keep his head warm during the cold winter while still allowing sweat to escape. O’Brien reported, however, that the hat sat too high on his head and he kept lowering it to prevent it from falling off during the marathon.

While all of the hats had advantages, the type of hat you would want to wear during a race depends on your taste, needs, and location. The Brooks hat may not be appropriate for someone who lives in a hot area, but perfect for someone who lives far north. The Boss would be perfect for early morning runners who start before sunrise, allowing them to take their safety into consideration. Whatever your needs may be, each of these hats are around the same price, so the only challenge is to find the best one to suit your needs.

To see these hats, go to www.runningwarehouse.com.

Sources and other research information: [picture]