These Are the Running Hats Coaches and Joggers Wear Year After Year

For every jogger who switches to the treadmill when the temperature drops, there’s another who breaks out their base layers and braves the cold to log their miles. If that sounds like you, a good hat should be part of your ensemble. “Running in the winter without proper head protection can lead to heat loss and will make that run a lot less comfortable,” Gemma Ward, a Road Runners Club of America (RRCA)–certified coach and a runner training and products specialist at New York Road Runners, tells SELF.

She adds that the best running hats are pretty impressive multitaskers—they’ll help you stay warm while preventing you from overheating (and having to deal with a sweaty head). So while you certainly can wear any old hat for your outdoor runs, one that’s specifically designed for movement will keep you more comfortable in the long term.

If you’re ready to level up your headwear, you’ve come to the right place. We spoke to running experts about how to find the right hat for you and got their takes on the best ones you can buy.

Our top picks

1. Best Overall: Smartwool Thermal Merino Reversible Cuffed Beanie
2. Runner-Up: The North Face Oh Mega Beanie
3. Best Budget Pick: Levi’s All Season Leather Logo Patch Beanie
4. Cutest: Tracksmith Varsity Runner’s Cap
5. Best Headband: Ondo Everyday Merino Wool Headband
6. Best Ponytail-Compatible Beanie: Smartwool Merino Sport Fleece Training Beanie
7. Best Ponytail-Compatible Brimmed Hat: TrailHeads Fleece Ponytail Hat
8. Best for Sweat: New Balance Sport Performance Trucker
9. Best Splurge: Arc’Teryx Grotto Toque
10. Most Versatile: Buff Original EcoStretch
11. Best Balaclava: The North Face Freedom Fleece Balaclava

What should you look for in a running hat?

Shop the best running hats

Ready to gear up? Longtime runners and coaches say these top-performing hats are the best in their class. (Oh, and don’t forget some gloves.)

Best Overall: Smartwool Thermal Merino Reversible Cuffed Beanie

Pros

• Lightweight yet warm
• Temperature-regulating
• Adjustable cuffed length
• Machine-washable

Cons

• Some Smartwool reviewers found that it’s not very stretchy

A favorite of Katie O’Reilly’s, a runner and supporter of Girls on the Run International, Smartwool’s Thermal Merino Reversible Cuffed Beanie should keep most runners from freezing. It’s cuffable, so you can adjust the length to your liking; it’s made entirely of Merino wool; and its double-layered design holds heat, but doesn’t add bulk.

In fact, some REI reviewers were surprised to find how thin—yet warm—this beanie was (which is the best of both worlds for running hats). That also makes it easy to roll up into a pocket if you decide to go hat-free in the middle of your run—a perk that Ward always likes to have in her headwear.

Runner-Up: The North Face Oh Mega Beanie

Pros

• Thick and warm
• Adjustable cuffed length
• Machine-washable

Cons

• Not very sweat-wicking
• Pricier than our overall pick

A chunky, cable-knit beanie is a staple, and this one performs great on runs, Brittany Kenst, a coach from Girls on the Run Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, tells SELF. It’s made to insulate your head and has a comfortably roomy (but not oversized) fit. Read: It’ll stay on and lock out the cold, even on windy days.

“Nice and warm, and plenty of space for all my hair,” one reviewer for the North Face wrote. “And let’s not forget warm.”

Best Budget Pick: Levi’s All Season Leather Logo Patch Beanie

Pros

• Under $30
• Available in 21 color options
• Adjustable cuffed length

Cons

• Doesn’t effectively block wind

One SELF contributor’s neon green Levi’s beanie is both a great accessory and a motivational item: “Since it gets dark so early in the winter by me, the bright color helps with safety (and brings a little fun to something I don’t really enjoy—running, haha),” she says. “[It also has a] good balance of warmth without overheating.”

The All Season beanie feels soft and warm, although some Amazon reviewers noticed that it let the wind in. But if spending a little less and staying highly visible (just look at how that neon pops!) are your priorities, this is still a great option.

Cutest: Tracksmith Varsity Runner’s Cap

Pros

• Stylish, but made for performance
• Very warm
• Regulates temperature
• Doesn’t retain odors

Cons

• Colorways tend to sell out
• Brand recommends hand-washing only

The cute, collegiate vibes of Tracksmith’s Varsity Runner’s Cap caught our eye, but its performance is why UESCA-certified running coach and frequent SELF contributor Jennifer Heimlich regularly wears it.

“I love the weight of this beanie for sub-freezing temps—it’s warm but light enough that I don’t overheat,” she says. “Plus, it doesn’t get smelly (even if I do get super sweaty)!” She adds that she’s never noticed any tightness or pinching while wearing the Varsity Runner’s Cap either—no forehead indents here.

Best Headband: Ondo Everyday Merino Wool Headband

Pros

• Available in two sizes
• Just-right level of coverage
• Machine-washable

Cons

• Some Ondo reviewers had a hard time finding the right size

Some days, you might not feel like wearing a hat, but you still want to protect your ears. That’s when a running headband comes in handy—and Ondo’s Everyday Merino Wool Headband is Heimlich’s top choice. “It’s super soft, but stays in place without sliding back,” she says. “I also like its width because it gives me just enough coverage without taking over my whole head.”

Best Ponytail-Compatible Beanie: Smartwool Merino Sport Fleece Training Beanie

Pros

• Good for pulled-back hairstyles
• Has reflective details in front and back

Cons

• May feel a little tight, according to Zappos reviewers

The curved hem on Smartwool’s Merino Sport Fleece Training Beanie provides targeted, strategic coverage all around your head: It reaches low to cover your ears, but rises at your forehead to keep the hat out of your face (the front also has inlets for the arms of your sunglasses). Most importantly, there’s an opening in the back for your hair, so your pony won’t take up any precious space inside the beanie.

Best Pontytail-Compatible Brimmed Hat: TrailHeads Fleece Ponytail Hat

Pros

• Good for pulled-back hairstyles
• Shades your face
• Convertible ear flaps
• Machine-washable

Cons

• Runs large, according to Amazon reviewers

Tanya Frazee, a coach from Girls on the Run Georgia, highly recommends Trailheads’s winter hats. Her favorite is the brand’s Ear Warmer—but if you want the sun protection of a running cap on top of the cozy feel of a fleece headband, consider TrailHeads’s sweat-wicking, quick-drying Ponytail Hat.

Its brim has an antiglare underside and reflective piping along its edge for low-light or nighttime runs. And its earflaps can fold up into the hat if you start to feel too toasty.

Best for Sweat: New Balance Sport Performance Trucker

Pros

• Breathable
• Reflective details

Cons

• Not designed for warmth

New Balance, an official partner of New York Road Runners, makes some of Ward’s favorite running hats. We like the Sport Performance Trucker hat because, hey, not everyone wants to run in a beanie, even in the dead of winter. Its back panels are perforated to afford lots of airflow (no sweaty heads here), while its curved brim keeps the sun out of your face.

Best Splurge: Arc’Teryx Grotto Toque

Pros

• Very warm
• Not itchy
• Sheds sweat

Cons

• Most expensive item on our list
• Hand-wash only, per the brand

Amy May, a runner and Girls on the Run International donor, considers Arc’Teryx’s snow-ready Grotto Toque her go-to. It’s soft, warm, and slightly stretchy—Arc’Teryx reviewers say it retains its shape, fits under hoods and helmets, and effectively wicks away sweat.

One thing we’ll note: This style is a longstanding favorite, and in the past, it’s sold out with little sign of when the next restock will come. So if it strikes your fancy now, we’d recommend scooping it up while it’s still available.

Most Versatile: Buff Original EcoStretch

Pros

• Stretchy
• Customizable shape and style
• UPF 50 sun protection

Cons

• May not feel warm enough

While it’s not technically a hat, Buff’s best-selling Original EcoStretch neck gaiter is still popular among winter runners for its versatility. It can cover your ears, mouth, and neck—and you can even pull it over your head to serve as a makeshift hood. Its elastane content makes it easy to stretch into your desired position. Just bear in mind that it’s thinner compared to most of our other picks, so it might not keep you super warm in cold temperatures.

Best Balaclava: The North Face Freedom Fleece Balaclava

Pros

• Available in two sizes
• Moisture-wicking
• Good for wind protection

Cons

• Can be tricky to wear with long, thick hair

Get the benefits of a hat and a neck warmer in one snuggly package with the Freedom Fleece Balaclava from the North Face. It covers your head and face, with a gap for your eyes, and feels soft against your skin. Because it’s relatively stretchy, it should hold its shape without loosening or shifting when you pick up the pace. And it’s low-profile enough that you can layer it under your jacket’s hood for even more protection from the cold.

Related:

• The Best Fleece-Lined Leggings for Running, Hiking, and Getting Cozy
• Alpaca Wool Is My Secret to Staying Comfy During Cold-Weather Runs
• The Best Trail Running Shoes, According to Experts

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