Outdoor Research Swift Cap

The Outdoor Research Swift cap is great for trail running, hiking, backpacking, and other outdoor activities.

I'm out and about in the sun quite a bit in the summer. I want to protect my head and eyes from the bright sun so I usually wear a baseball style cap. I've had some that were hot and didn't breathe. I've had others that weren't comfortable or got nasty really quickly.  However, one cap that I've used extensively and have come to really like is the Outdoor Research Swift Cap.

The OR Swift cap has been with me on all sorts of adventures—from 12,000 feet mountains to sea-level hiking, this cap has been my reliable companion.  I've sweat buckets in it. It's been dropped in mud, rained on, and jammed in the bottom of my dirty backpack. It's had permethrin on it and a little bit of blood. Yet it keeps coming back well after a wash. 

I like the Swift cap because it is very durable. But it's also super practical. It's the ideal cap for backpacking because it's lightweight and packable. I put it in the back pocket of my hiking pants when I'm on trail. It also has a UPF rating of 40+ according to the OR website. The cap is also very breathable and doesn't let my head overheat on those warm summer days. It also does a good job of wicking sweat so the sweat doesn't drip in my eyes.  

The only negative of this cap is that it won't win any beauty awards. There are quite a few colors to choose from, but in my view it's not a neat looking cap. But it really gets the job done well so it's my go-to oudoor baseball style cap.  The price is decent so if you're looking for a cap like this, give it a shot! 

Background

I've taken the Swift cap on hikes through various mountain ranges, trails on the plains, and on longer trail runs. I've had it for two years and have put around 1,000 miles on it (give or take).