The innovative ICED Cap is a mesh fabric running cap that is designed to cool down athletes (runners, triathletes, etc.), but can just as easily be worn by anyone spending significant time outdoors in hot weather. The unique feature of the ICED Cap is a roomy storage pocket on top, which holds enough ice to keep you cool during all kinds of activities.
The cap may look a bit geeky, but it’s certainly had the desired effect on several of my late afternoon summer runs. The only real issue I’ve encountered is that the ice quickly melts and needs to be replaced every 3 to 4 miles – not ideal when you’re out for an hour run with no chance of restocking the ice pocket. However, the ICED Cap really comes into its own in races with water stops/aid stations spaced at regular intervals, or longer events on a looped course. For example, I used the cap during a 24-hour event earlier this year where I was able to top up the ice pocket as often as required.
Using the ICED Cap is easy:
- Make sure sufficient ice is available before starting your activity.
- Loosen drawstring and open up ice pocket.
- Stuff ice into the pocket. It may take a bit of trial and error to figure out the correct amount.
- Tighten the drawstring to close the pocket.
- Adjust the ice position and tilt of the cap as desired.
- Enjoy the cooling relief from the melting ice!
A couple of things to bear in mind:
- You WILL get wet. However, as an alternative, you can use freezer gel packs instead of ice, or put ice in ziploc bags before stuffing into the ICED Cap.
- You MAY experience a brief “brain-freeze” sensation, typically when first putting on the cap full of ice.
What to expect (based on a 6:30am 8 mile run at 80°F with a dozen ice cubes placed in the ICED Cap):
- Mile 1 – initial mild “brain-freeze” sensation, ice frozen, perceived body temperature = cold
- Mile 2 – ice melting, occasional water drip from the brim, perceived body temperature = cool
- Mile 3-4 – ice completely melted, steady drip of cool water from the brim/back of hat, perceived body temperature = cool
- Mile 5-6 – hat cool to touch, not so much water drip, perceived body temperature = warm
- Mile 7-8 – hat still cool to touch, steady water drip, perceived body temperature = warm
The makers of ICED Cap claim it’s possible to “reduce your running time during hot races and training sessions by as much as 30 seconds per mile”. I personally haven’t put this to test, but it’s something I’m considering in the next couple of weeks. Naturally I’ll update this post with any test results.
If you’re interested in trying out the ICED Cap, you can purchase directly from their website, or over at Amazon.com. Styles include the latest 3rd generation ICED Cap available in black or white (with black or white trim), or the older ICED Cap 2.0 which in my opinion is a slightly better deal.
Let me know if you have any questions, or if you already own an ICED Cap, feel free to leave a message in the comments section below.
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Disclaimer: The running cap featured in this review is a media sample provided free of charge by ICED Cap.
What an interesting and new idea! Not the most stylish but definitely could be helpful while racing or cycling outside in the summer!