The best swimming caps we’ve tested that actually keep your hair dry

We had three swimmers testing our caps. Two were females with average-size heads (with a circumference measuring 54-55cm/21in); one has thick, shoulder-length hair and the other has long, fine hair. We also had a male swimmer testing our caps. He has a larger-size head (with a circumference measuring 59cm/23in) and short, fine hair.

Our testers went along to their local pool or open water spot, armed with a different cap to try out each time they went for a swim. Their chosen cap was then put through its paces to assess how it fared, both while they went about their usual swim and when they varied the type of stroke they did. We also asked our testers to submerge their head under the water while wearing each cap to further test its durability.

Speedo has introduced two long hair cap options to its popular Pace cap range – which come in purple (which we tested) and black. The cap is made of a nylon material and has a polyurethane water-resistant coating that gives it a silky feel.

Though it took our tester a few attempts to get all her thick hair inside the cap, it proved to be very comfortable to wear and didn’t budge at any point during her swim. Most importantly, it did an outstanding job of keeping her hair largely dry. Our tester was overjoyed at having only a couple of damp spots.

Looks-wise, the cap features striking white stitching lines across the top and it also has an unusual silky feel due to the polyurethane coating.

We liked: It kept our female tester’s hair mostly dry (quite a feat for a swimming cap!), and there were only a couple of damp spots when she checked at the end of her swim. The cap was easy to put on and it accommodated her thick shoulder-length hair well.

We didn’t like: There is very little we didn’t like about this cap. Our only small criticism would be that it’s only available in two colours at the moment.

We say: This cap could help to make swims less hassle, as your long hair stays mainly dry.

It may not be a brand that is all that well-known (our male tester had never heard of Sundried before, for example), but it offers a range of swimming and triathlon kit options. This silicone swim hat comes in a choice of nine colours ranging from black and white to green, red and yellow.

Both our male and female testers said the cap was very easy to put on and didn’t snag or pull at their hair at all. Where their experiences differed was on the comfort front. While our female tester found the cap was a little roomy, our male tester said it felt comfortable and provided a secure fit.

Another contrasting experience was on the effectiveness front. Our male tester found the cap offered excellent coverage and helped to keep his hair mostly dry. Our female tester’s experience wasn’t quite as positive due to the fit.

Both loved the bright red and yellow colours of the caps they were trialling. Our male tester thought the cap had a high-quality feel, too.

We liked: Both our male and female testers loved the rich colour of the caps they were provided with. They also found the cap was very easy to put on and had a quality feel to it.

We didn’t like: Our female tester, who has long, fine hair, found the cap was a little roomy and said it felt baggy at the top of her head. She feels this affected how well the cap performed during her swim.

We say: This one-size cap works well on larger heads and would also suit swimmers with long, thicker hair.

Soul Cap has joined forces with Adidas to create a new cap that aims to spread the word that swimming is inclusive and open to all. It’s a premium-grade silicone cap that’s available in a range of sizes, from junior regular up to adult extra extra large. It’s only available in one colour – original linen green.

The cap was really easy to put on for both testers, but finding a size that fits well was more tricky. Once the sizing was right, it proved to be a very comfortable cap that stays put when you swim. But when it’s not, it doesn’t fare quite as well.

On the effectiveness front, the cap provided full coverage and a secure fit that helps to keep your hair mostly dry (when you’ve got the right size cap on).

Our female tester commented on the lovely, pale green pastel colour of the cap as it’s quite different from usual cap colour options. The premium silicone gives it a smooth feel, too.

We liked: It’s a high-quality cap that offers excellent coverage.

We didn’t like: The sizing can be tricky to get right, as the cap is designed to fit all types of hair, including afro and braided styles. Our male tester tried on three different sizes before he found one that worked for him.

We say: This cap looks and feels great and does a stellar job of protecting your hair (once you’ve got the size right).

This longstanding Speedo cap is a favourite among pool and open water swimmers, and it’s easy to see why. It’s a great quality cap that comes in a range of colours. While we tested the black version, this long hair cap is also available in pink, green and printed versions, such as violet/mango and berry/violet.

Our female tester who has thick, shoulder-length hair found this cap was easy to put on and it accommodated her hair well. She also gave it top marks for being very comfortable to wear. Pleasingly, it also stayed in place while freestyle (front crawl) swimming and when she went under the water.

In terms of its effectiveness, this cap does a pretty good job of stopping your hair from getting wet. But our tester found the front and back of her hair was quite damp after her swim.

Design-wise, this Speedo cap is fairly plain but we do like the colour. After all, black goes with every swim outfit.

We liked: There’s lots to like about this cap. It’s easy to put on, it comfortably fits all your long hair in (even thick hair), and it has a lovely, smooth feel.

We didn’t like: There’s not much we didn’t like about this cap. A small gripe is we would love to see more stand-alone colours introduced.

We say: An excellent option for long-haired pool and open water swimmers.

Zone 3 is a brand that’s very popular with wild swimmers and triathletes alike. Its a unisex silicone cap – which our male and female testers have tried out – and it has a number of five-star reviews. The cap is available in six colours, including several brighter options that are ideal for open water swimming.

Both our testers said the cap was very easy to put on and didn’t snag or pull on their hair at any point. They also both commented on how comfortable the cap felt and how it provided a snug, secure fit.

Our female outdoor swimming tester found her hair was a little wet after she went underwater and swam freestyle (front crawl), but the cap stayed on securely. Our male tester had a similar experience during his pool swim.

The high-quality silicone used in this cap was a big plus point for both our testers. They especially liked the brightness of the caps they tested, too.

We liked: The quality of the cap really stood out for our testers, and they appreciated the snug, secure fit it provides. Both really liked the bright colour of their caps (red and yellow).

We didn’t like: Our female tester found her hair got wet when she went underwater while wearing the cap.

We say: It’s a great budget-friendly option if you’re looking for a brightly coloured, high-quality cap.

Vorgee’s popular SuperFlex Cap is made of high-grade silicone but has plenty of stretch to offer coverage for swimmers with longer or thicker hair. It’s available in a choice of nine vibrant colours, including unusual ones such as navy and fluorescent green.

Both testers found this cap was very easy to put on and tuck long hair into (a big bonus). They also commented that it was comfortable to wear. Where their experiences mainly differ is on the effectiveness front.

Our outdoor swimming female tester found the cap didn’t stay put during her freestyle (front crawl) swim and she subsequently had wet patches. Our pool swimming tester found it fared better, and she commented that her hair was damp in only a couple of areas after a swim.

The smooth, quality feel of the cap and the range of usual and unusual bright colours in the SuperFlex collection is a big plus point.

We liked: This is a cap that divided opinion among our testers. Our tester with shoulder-length, thick hair (who is a regular pool swimmer) owns a couple of these caps. She finds they are reliable for staying put and they also fare quite well in terms of only leaving her hair damp in places but never wet. Our other female tester found the cap was comfortable but limited in terms of its effectiveness.

We didn’t like: Our open water swimmer who tested this cap felt it didn’t stay put during her swim and this meant her hair ended up being wet in places.

We say: A quality, budget-friendly cap that comes in many different colours.

This cap is from Decathlon’s Nabaiji budget-friendly range of swimming kit options. Made of silicone, it currently comes in a choice of six styles, from dark green (which we tested) to a snazzy pink pattern and even a cartoon dinosaur pattern – perhaps suited to the big kids amongst our readers!

Starting with this cap’s good points, it was easy to put on and didn’t cause any pulling or snagging on our female tester’s hair. She also commented that it was very comfortable to wear and it stayed in place throughout her freestyle (front crawl) swim in open water.

Effectiveness-wise, it kept her hair only slightly dry. The dark green colour of the cap also didn’t really appeal to her as she prefers to opt for brighter coloured options when swimming outdoors. Our tester described the feel of the cap as being “slightly gritty” too.

We liked: Our female tester found this cap did a better job than some of the others in keeping her hair slightly drier. She also found it was easy to put on and, once in place, it provided a secure and comfortable fit during her freestyle (front crawl) swim.

We didn’t like: As an open water swimmer, our female tester wasn’t keen on the dark green colour, as the reservoir she visits requires swimmers to wear a brightly coloured cap. Something to think about if you plan on using a managed open water swimming facility.

We say: It’s a good, budget-friendly unisex cap option if you have a small or average-size head.