Outdoor swimming expert, Rowan Clarke, takes us through her best buys for open water swimming hats.
The best open water swimming hats tried and tested by Rowan
You might be reluctant if you’ve not worn a swim cap since school. But, with improved visibility and warmth, a swimming hat is essential for open water swimming.
Along with a tow float, a swim hat is one of the most important items of swim safety kit. The main reason is visibility. Even if you’re bobbing along doing heads-up breaststroke, a bright swim cap will help other water users spot you.
It will also help you stay warm. Not because you lose most heat through your head – that myth has been debunked. But, any part of your body exposed to cool air or water will get cold quickly. So, by covering your head, it will stay warmer.
A good swim cap will also keep your hair out of your face. And, while it won’t necessarily keep your hair dry, it does offer protection against the elements. It can also cover your ears.
There are a few different types of swim hat to choose from – scroll down for my favourites and buying guide.
At a glance
Best silicone swim cap: Nancy Farmer
Best bathing belle swim hat: Silk Lawn Salty Sea Knot
Best swim hat for long and voluminous hair: Soul Cap
Best neoprene bonnet for cold water swimming: Lomo Smoothskin Neoprene Swimming Cap
Nancy Farmer Swim Cap
Best silicone swim cap
Specifications
- Durable
- Streamlined
Reasons to buy: Independent, artist-designed, streamlined, fun designs, great quality, available in regular or long hair sizes
Reasons to avoid: Limited production runs
My favourite swim caps are designed by the artist Nancy Farmer and sold on Etsy. They’re bright, beautiful, comfortable and durable – they check every requirement for a swim cap.
If you have longer hair (or a big head) it’s worth trying the long hair swim cap. This also has a gripper band around the inside edge, which stops the dreaded hat creep that long, clean hair can cause.
Nancy’s swim hats get five-star reviews on Etsy for a good reason.
Silk Lawn Salty Sea Knot
Best bathing belle swim hat
Specifications
- Handmade in Brighton, UK
- Glamorous
- Made from Liberty print silks and Tana lawn cotton
- Available with matching silicone swim caps
Reasons to buy: Beautiful handmade designs available in two sizes
Reasons to avoid: Not for immersion
Silk and Lawn couldn’t take you further from the swim school caps of nightmares. Proving that swim hats can be beautiful, these gorgeous turban toppers bring glamour to your wild swims.
Available in two sizes, you can get a good fit over long hair. They’re easy to wash and dry, too.
I love the choice of prints and block colours in natural fabrics. Worn over my silicone cap for heads-up breaststroke dips, my Salty Sea Knot makes me feel 1960s glam. It’s distinct, unique and it feels good to buy from an independent brand.
Soul Cap Large Swim Cap
Best for long or voluminous hair
Specifications
- Full protection for volume-blessed hair
- A snug fit for a tight seal
- Skin-friendly and latex-free
Reasons to buy: Snug fit to keep hair dry, choice of sizes for hair quantity, durable, high quality, ethical brand.
Reasons to avoid: Tight fit across the forehead.
Soul Cap revolutionised hair protection for people with voluminous hair. It’s enabled so many people to swim and is the go-to brand for anyone with big, long or voluminous hair.
When its founder saw a woman try to protect her braids with a carrier bag, he decided to do something about it. The result is a tough, durable silicone swim cap that protects hair.
Available in bright colours and different sizes, this hat will fit any volume of curls, dreadlocks or braids. It’s also the only swim cap that keeps my hair dry. The pay-off is that it’s tight across my forehead. But, for dry hair and no slippage, it’s a fair exchange.
I also value spending my money with brands that invest in communities, which Soul Cap does brilliantly.
Alpkit Outdoor Swimming Cap
Best streamlined bonnet for cold water swimming
Specifications
- GlideSkin coated neoprene
- Velcro fastening
- 3mm neoprene
Reasons to buy: Coated neoprene for warmth, Velcro fastening, available in three sizes.
Reasons to avoid: Only available in black.
The extra warmth and face protection offered by a neoprene swim cap is essential in colder water.
With 3mm neoprene, the Alpkit swimming cap offers good protection from the cold. Because neoprene is less streamlined than silicone, Alpkit has added a GlideSkin coating to minimise drag.
It comes in three sizes, however we found it gaped a little around the hairline. To combat this, I recommend wearing a silicone swim cap as well. Put on your silicone cap, then your goggles and then the Alpkit bonnet over the top.
Lomo Smoothskin Neoprene Swimming Cap
Best snug fitting neoprene bonnet for cold water swimming
Specifications
- Smoothkin coated neoprene
- Velcro fastening
- 3mm neoprene
Reasons to buy: Stretchy coated neoprene for warmth, velcro fastening, available in four sizes
Reasons to avoid: Only available in black
Available in four sizes, there is no gaping at all with this neoprene bonnet. That means a comfortable fit with extra warmth for your head, ears and cheeks.
To choose your size, measure around your head just above the eyebrows. If you have long hair, it may be worth going up a size although this could compromise the fit around your face. I found that the adjustable chin strap was enough to accommodate my ponytail.
Like all smooth-coated swim neoprene, this swim cap is only available in black which is rubbish for visibility. If you’re not bothered about speed, you could opt for the pink or orange version without the smooth coating. Alternatively, Lomo suggests wearing a bright silicone cap over the top.
Cool Bathing Seamless Swim Cap
Best seamless swim cap
Specifications
- Durable
- Streamlined
Reasons to buy: Independent, ethical brand, streamlined, fun designs
Reasons to avoid: Only comes in one size
I love Cool Bathing for a few reasons. Firstly, their swim caps are well-made, durable and fun. And Cool Bathing is also an ethical, independent brand innovating new ways to recycle swim caps.
The silicone seamless swim cap is super-streamlined. No seams mean no drag so this cap will aid your open water or pool swimming. For open water, fun, bright designs make you more visible.
Rowan Clarke’s expert advice: How to choose the best swim cap
When shopping for a swim cap, you can choose between:
- Silicone swim caps
- Neoprene swim caps
- Fabric swim caps
- Fun swim turbans, retro caps or bonnets
The first thing to consider is how you’ll use the swim cap. If you’re a pool swimmer, pick a standard silicone or fabric cap. But, if you swim outdoors, you’ll also need to think about colour and warmth.
What type of cap?
Silicone swim caps are the most popular choice because they’re warm, keep your hair drier and offer good streamlining. Expect your hair to be damp after a swim.
Neoprene swim caps are more bulky, but they are warmer. Choose a bonnet style for extra protection of your ears and face. Layer with a silicone swim cap for visibility and extra warmth.
Fabric swim caps don’t tug your hair, they fit comfortably and they’re easy to get on and off. However, they offer no warmth or watertightness.
Swim turbans, retro caps and bonnets are all about the vibes. They’re pretty, unique, fun and glam – great for heads-up breaststroke, but hopeless if you swim with your head in the water.
What colour?
The swim cap’s most important job is making you visible to other water users. Studies have shown bright yellows, greens oranges and pinks are most easily spotted in the water.
What size?
Some swim caps come in different sizes – follow the size guide to measure your head and get the right fitting. If you have long or voluminous hair, buy a swim cap designed for your hair type. Long hair hats have extra space in the back without changing size around your forehead, so you can fit in your curls without compromising on watertightness.
How to put on your swim cap
The easiest way to pull on a swim cap is by holding it in place on your forehead and then pulling it straight back as shown in the video. Tuck your hair in afterwards.
Put your goggles on over the top of your cap, but make sure the hat doesn’t break your goggles’ seal.
Here’s a few more options to consider for cold water swimming caps
Zone 3 Silicone Swimming Cap
If you want a simple, functional swim cap that will suit lots of different swimming adventures and won’t break the bank, look no further than Zone 3’s unisex silicone cap. It does what it says on the tin, using durable, stretchy silicone to protect your hair and fit most head sizes, although swimmers with large heads or lots of hair may find this too tight a fit.
We like it because it’s available in various acid-bright colours that will make you more visible in open water, including pink, yellow and orange. And at under £6, it’s a no-brainer of a purchase, especially if you don’t already own a brightly coloured hat.
Material: silicone
Colours available: black/yellow/pink/orange/red
Recycled: no
Sizes: One size
Pros: Good classic silicone design, great bright colours available, great price point
Cons: Does pull on hair when you’re popping it on and off, doesn’t fit larger heads
Price £5.99 (RRP £5.99) $7.99
Buy Zone 3 Silicone Swimming Cap from wiggle.co.uk
Speedo Recycled Cap
Speedo have made choosing recycled easy with this simple, affordable and effective cap. Constructed with recycled instead of new silicone, this cap is warm, protective and durable. It’s also a tad easier to pull on and off than your average silicone hat thanks to a wide bottom band. The material feels thicker and warmer than some silicone caps, so it’s a good all-rounder if you like to swim both indoors and out in all seasons. This one-size-fits-all design is stretchy enough to work for most heads (and most hair lengths), and we like the minimalist grey speckled colourway, although this isn’t a hat to choose if you’re looking to be more visible in the water.
Material: silicone
Colours available: grey
Recycled: Yes
Sizes: One size
Pros: A good choice if you want to pick a recycled design, warm and durable silicone, doesn’t tug on hair
Cons: Neutral colourway won’t improve visibility outdoors
Price £9 (RRP £9) $12
Buy Speedo Recycled Cap from speedo.com
Decathlon Mesh Swim Cap
If you’re on a budget we recommend a browse through Decathlon’s range of swim caps, which are all functional, hard-wearing and brilliantly-priced, mostly under £5. Our pick of the hat pack is this comfortable mesh fabric design, which is very easy to pull on and off with no tugging at all – great if you find rubbery hats uncomfortable. Once on, this cap has a surprisingly snug fit that doesn’t budge but also doesn’t feel restrictive to wear.
Unlike most swim hats, two sizes are available, but the ‘small’ seems aimed at children, and most adults will need to try the large for size.
Material: Mesh
Colours available: blue/black/pink/blue and yellow
Recycled: no
Sizes: small and large
Pros: Two sizes available, comfortable mesh fabric doesn’t pull on hair, great affordable price point
Cons: Not as warm as silicone and lurex designs, not splash-proof
Price £2.99 (RRP £2.99) $3.99
Buy Mesh Fabric Swim Cap from decathlon.co.uk
Zone 3 Neoprene Swimming Cap
If you love swimming all year round, you might be in the market for a swim cap you can swap to when the winter draws in and the water temperature plunges. Neoprene is a favourite with surfers and swimmers as a wetsuit material for its heat-trapping and flexible properties, and it works just as well on your head, keeping you comfortably in the water for longer without the dreaded brain freeze that winter swimming and ice swimming can otherwise cause.
Zone 3’s neoprene swim cap for cold water is a well-designed pick, adding welcome warmth but without much extra bulk. This bonnet-style hat has a Velcro strap under the chin so you can get a snug fit, and extra coverage of the ears and neck really help to keep things cosy. Choose from small, medium and large sizes.
Material: neoprene
Colours available: black
Recycled: no
Sizes: small, medium, large
Pros: 4mm of neoprene acts like a wetsuit for your head, trapping in warmth well, the Velcro strap allows an adjustable fit, still reasonably hydrodynamic for a neoprene design
Cons: Neoprene is not as sustainable as yulex, design is not as aerodynamic as silicone or latex hats
Price £29 (RRP £29) $12.34
Buy Zone 3 Neoprene Swimming Cap from wiggle.co.uk
Bubble Swim Cap
We love the retro looks of the Bubble swim cap from vintage-inspired brand Fine Saratoga, which is delightfully easy to pop on and off your head. This thick latex cap is warm and comfy to wear and has a bit of stretch, so there’s room for long hair or a larger head. Latex is usually more breathable than silicone, but this design is quite thick and the ‘bubbles’ work as added insulation, so it works in colder conditions. The bubble cap fully covers the ears, which adds warmth but reduces how much you can hear above water.
If you want something functional but fashionable (well, as fashionable as swim caps get!), this is a fun choice.
Material: latex rubber
Colours available: nine available
Recycled: No
Sizes: One size
Pros: Fun retro looks make this design stand out, warm and insulating, room for long hair
Cons: Heavier and not as streamlined as a classic silicone hat would be, not everyone will want their ears covered
Price £11.99 (RRP £11.99) $15.99
Buy Bubble Swim Cap from finesaratoga.com
Patagonia R3 Yulex cap
Neoprene is a brilliant swim cap material for swimmers and surfers heading out in cold conditions, but this petroleum-based fabric is less good for the planet. Luckily there’s a new material on the block that wetsuit makers and swim cap designers are now using in their kit: yulex. This renewable, plant-based rubber is more sustainable than neoprene, but still has heat-holding properties, so it’s ideal for winter water and for ice swimmers. Our pick of the pack is Patagonia’s R3 cap, which is really well shaped to keep your head snug and protected – we like the peak for protecting your eyes when you’re swimming in the elements, and the soft thermal lining.
This hat doubles up nicely for surfing, so if you love both swimming and surfing it’s a worthwhile investment.
Material: Yulex
Colours available: black
Recycled: 68% recycled
Sizes: small, medium, large, XL
Pros: Made from yulex, a more sustainable alternative to neoprene, warm heat-trapping properties, lovely soft thermal lining
Cons: More expensive than some similar designs
Price £30 (RRP £35) $40
Buy Patagonia R3 Yulex Cap from patagonia.com
You can read more about cold water swimming gear in our other articles:
The best cold water swimming gloves
Best cold water wetsuit for year round water-sports addicts
Cold water swimming – everything you need to know to take the plunge
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