I’m not a big fan of wearing hats. I’ve always found them to be itchy and I hate the way they trap so much heat. They say 45% of body heat is lost through your head and I say, “good riddance!” The cooler you can make me while I’m running, the faster I can run.
As most of you know, however, I’m a bald man with a strong family history of skin cancer and I live in St. Petersburg, Florida -the sunniest city in the United States (according to the Chamber of Commerce). If I value my long term health, or at least the unblemished, shiny finish on my dome, then wearing a hat while I’m running is a necessity.
For years, I’ve been wearing hats of various technical fabrics. Some were solid and thin, others were thicker and made of a tight knit mesh. They’ve served their purpose and I’ve yet to develop a single blemish on my head. I thought I’d reached the pinnacle of running hat technology and I was satisfied to go on running wearing these same hats for the rest of my life.
Then, someone suggested I check out Headsweats hats. When my new Headsweats Race Hat arrived, I immediately knew it was different. I was struck by its feather light weight and I couldn’t wait to take it for a spin. After some adjustments to the sizing during cross country practice that day, I quickly forgot the hat was there. Not only is it lightweight, but the airflow through the shell kept me cool and dry. My other hats take hours to dry after a long run, but this hat remains pretty dry the whole way and it’s completely dry minutes after I remove it.
The Race Hat is made of 100% Coolmax polyester fabric. It weighs less than 2 oz. The plastic rear buckle is secure, but easily released with one hand. The adjustable strap is durable and very easily tightened with one hand while wearing the hat. Loosening the fit can quickly be done with two hands while wearing the hat – or even with one hand and some focus.
The interior of the Race Hat features a thin Coolmax terry headband. This not only keeps sweat from dripping into my eyes, but virtually eliminates the itchiness I’ve felt with other hats. Just looking at this hat, I would never have believed that it would be so much better than anything else I’ve ever worn, but I’m not exaggerating when I say that I haven’t worn any of my other hats since this one arrived.
Yes, that’s a little gross but because the Headsweats Race Hat wicks moisture away so rapidly, it doesn’t smell bad. It’s easy to wash too. I can refresh it with a gentle soaking in my bathroom sink, then hang it on the shower curtain and it’s dry in less than an hour. For a more thorough washing, I just throw it in the washer with the delicates and then let it dry on the drying rack.
At $20, the Race Hat is a bargain. It comes in a variety of colors and it’s highly customizable for all you coaches and race directors out there. I wholeheartedly recommend it for anyone who regularly runs or performs any physical activity in a hat.
Editor’s Notes:
1) The “45% of heat lost through the head” myth has been debunked. It was originally based on an army experiment where subjects in arctic suits spent time in cold weather. 45% of their body heat was lost though their heads because it was the only body part that was exposed.
2) St. Petersburg is the sunniest city in the United States only according to the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce. Actual research shows that Phoenix, AZ is the sunniest major city in the United States, though nearby Tampa, FL is #11!
***Disclaimer: The Race Hat was complimentary, but the opinions are solely mine.***