Just curious if you have a favorite brand hat or visor and is a light colored hat better for hot sunny weather?
Just curious if you have a favorite brand hat or visor and is a light colored hat better for hot sunny weather?
Desoto Bucket Hat. Works like a charm on those hot days.
Just curious if you have a favorite brand hat or visor and is a light colored hat better for hot sunny weather?
I used to figure hats were all the same. My wife got me one of these Nike hats (only in white):
It’s dang near the perfect running hat. I love it. A bit pricey, but what the heck…
If you get a white hat, make sure the color of the underside of the visor part is dark colored. This prevents light reflection off the bottom of the visor into your eyes. I think e-caps.com has one, pretty cheap too.
Pearl Izumi running hat, available in blue (my choice), silver, or white. It uses ultrasensor material around the inside brim instead of terrycloth. I had 2 terrycloth brim hats before this one that always got soaked, heavy, and gross.
I second the Nike recommendation. I picked up a light gray colored hat a couple of days before my 1/2 this last weekend. Even in the 90+ heat, an ice cube would last 2 aid stations (miles). Kept things as cool as could be expected.
TriCalifornia Wildflower 2002 “20 in '02” mesh hat. Best $20 I ever spent.
I trained my @$$ off for this race and by god (oops, sorry if I offended any Atheists out there) I’m going to remember it. Not only is it a very high quality hat, it has been the object of conversation at many a local running race. Someone will come up and intrduce themselves, congratulate me on my accomplishment and say that they are current or former triathletes/Wildflower participants. I thoroughly enjoy it when this happens. It gives added meaning to my training and racing with a connection to others. So on those long, solo training sessions I can wonder who I’ll meet next.
BTW, I wear this hat so often it has to be washed frequently due to the stench of hard work. My wife will give me the wrinkled nose and that’s how I can tell it’s time to wash. 
I love this Asics visor. I believe that they have ceased production, so I went ahead and bought a few from Sports Basement (Thanks to USAT Coupon). Given that they seem to be indestructible, I should have them for years.
litherland
Don’t know the name brand, but it’s the one that says:
St Pete Mad DOGs
Joel - #1855
It’s the only one I ever wear.
Joel
Headsweats now makes caps as well as the bandanas and beanies. I can’t recommend their products enough, they have been a gift from the heavens for this bald athlete.
I picked up one of these at the InsideOut Sports Tent at IMCDA this year and I love it. It was only $10.95 or something like that - http://www.baysixusa.com/sub_pages/1002_sub_caps_visor.htm
I had a TYR volleybar hat. Mesh with big holes all around and a bill that was about 2in longer than any of the running hats that my training friends had. Unfortunately 7 yrs of wearing that thing for every run took its toll and it became a visor than just a bill.
I have yet to find a hat as well ventilated and that offered as much coverage and I now own 12 running hats. I’m off to cry now.
I know it runs counter to current dogma, but I always feel I overheat with any kind of hat, even white ones with big holes in them. Ironically, I can’t tolerate ice up there either. What works best for me are the soft foam visors. You used to receive them in race packets and typically had PowerBar or GU logos on them. I haven’t received one for free in a long time, but I’ve seen them sold for $5 at larger race expos. Anyway, they’re very comfortable yet snug against the forehead. You can dump cold water on your head and it rolls off the visor without getting into your eyes. Downside – they look goofy.
The Herminator
Ah Francois, you should be writing Herman Maier and telling him that. An old girlfriend starting calling me The Herminator the night after we saw The Terminator in the mid-1980’s. It’s likely the great Herman Maier was being called “Junior” in those days. Funny though, now that you mention it, some people would say I ride like I have two broken legs.
The (Original) Herminator