Have you ever been so sure about something, that no part of your mind thinks you could be wrong?
That’s where my head was when I decided to try Brooks’ Lightweight Packable Hat 2.0. I’ve seen plenty of similar soft running hats and assumed that they would be too floppy and tight around the head.
Man was I wrong!
Weirdly Amazing
I prefer running in regular, rigid running hats. If I don’t have a hat though, then I grab for a sweat headband. (And that’s pretty rare since they squeeze my head too much.)
Worried about a possible reality with the Lightweight Packable Hat, I mentally prepared to put up with it for 2-3 runs. Putting it on for the first, and every time since, and I’m still amazed by the fit!
I’m not sure how Brooks made it so comfortable. It tightens with a relatively thin elastic band, something I still don’t notice to this day. The only time I do, I’ve pulled it too much.
With a quick 5 second adjustment the problem is solved.
This was my first assumption I had as to why I wouldn’t like it, and I’m still flabbergasted by how comfortable it is.
Slippery Soft
I also presumed the material was going to be compromised and only use a single, crazy thin piece of fabric that wouldn’t hold up. Again, Brooks proved me wrong.
The entire hat, including the bill, is a thin pad of cotton-like material covered by super soft, sleeping bag-like fabric. It feels closer to a comfy beanie, or toque for my Canadian friends, than a running hat.
The Lightweight Packable Hat 2.0 is easy to put on and take off, but because of how soft and light it is, I never take it off mid run.
The Bill
The soft bill on this hat is slightly annoying.
As someone that’s constantly running on farm roads with big rigs going 40+ mph, I’ve had a few hats fly off from giant gusts of wind. That hasn’t happened with this hat yet, and probably never will.
Instead of flying off from a hard bill catching the wind like a normal hat, the soft bill flips up and lets the wind freely go by.
There are two cons of the soft bill though. First, it becomes wavy over time. Second, it doesn’t hold its shape that well.
So, when you try to adjust it and block the sun, the bill is in a different place after a few strides.
As for the actual bill ($), it costs as much as other running-specific hats; ~$30. Thankfully Brooks is running a sale right now, so you can pick up a different colorway for $22.
The Recap
I’m kind of upset that I didn’t try a Brooks’ Lightweight Packable Hat sooner. I didn’t think it would compete with the hats I’ve grown to prefer. Hats like Lululemon’s Fast and Free running hat.
But I was wrong. Very wrong.
These soft hats aren’t just comfortable, they’re arguably more so than traditional hard-billed hats. And for running, it’s nice to have something that’s both lightweight and cozy. Perhaps that’s what true luxury is, form and function molded into one thing?
Either way, the Lightweight Packable Hat 2.0 is pretty darn amazing! Shop Brooks