by
Olivier Poirier-Leroy
Looking to stay warm and visible while open water swimming in chilly water? Here’s a breakdown of the best neoprene and skull swim caps for cold water swimming.
When it comes to swim gear for triathletes and open water swimmers there is no shortage of ways to accessorize your swimming, whether it’s putting on a pair of dinner plate-sized paddles or boosting your leg strength and kick speed with some training fins.
The variety doesn’t stop with fins and paddles, as even something as basic as a swim cap comes in different forms for different functions.
Choosing the best swim cap comes down to the type of swimming you are doing and water conditions.
A latex or silicone cap are ideal for pool workouts, or when swimming in warmer waters. Latex is cheap and breathable, making it ideal for the “hot-headed” person, while silicone is thicker and more durable, placing it as a good choice for colder pools, and even some “warmer” open water swimming.
Neoprene caps, however, are made specifically to keep your head extra warm during really cold open water swimming (water temperature below 60-65 degrees Fahrenheit, or 15 degrees Celsius).
These caps are made from the same material as triathlon and swim wetsuits and operate much the same way. Get a little water between your head and the cap, and your body will warm the water, giving you an added layer of insulation that will keep your head nice and toasty.
Neoprene swim caps have a similar look—a full cap design with a chin strap to keep it firmly in place. Additionally, many of them, including some on our list of best neoprene and skull swim caps, are designed in bright, hard-to-miss colors so that you are easily visible to other swimmers and boaters out in the water.
Alrighty, with all the basics behind us, let’s dive into our list of top neoprene caps for open water swimming!
The blueseventy Thermal Skull neoprene cap is the warmest of the neoprene caps on this list and comes in as our number one pick. The cap is constructed with an added Zirconium internal jersey to keep your head nice and toasty.
The cap is 3mm thick, and the fleece liner is quick-drying, only taking about 5-15 minutes to dry out after a swim. For added visibility it’s recommended that you buy a cheap, bright latex cap and wear it over this cap. (Best paired with the blueseventy open water swim gloves.)
Roka is one of the more popular manufacturers of gear for triathletes, and their neoprene cap is a clean and solid addition to their line-up of equipment. All blacked out, with the three panels stitched and glued together to give a head-fitting shape. The cap is 3mm thick, make of neoprene with a hydrophobic nano coating.
The Orca cap is designed particularly for open water swimmers who do not plan on putting an additional cap over their neoprene layer. While in competition all athletes, whether open water swimmers or triathletes, are supposed to wear a cap over the neoprene cap. That makes the Orca High Vis cap an ideal choice for training.
Safety and visibility are a real concern when it comes to open water swimming, particularly in the ocean and in conditions where it’s not that sunny out, and this cap, with it’s bright, pylon-orange sticks out plenty!
Another one of the “can’t miss me!” caps is this offering by popular swim manufacturer TYR. With yellow and grey lines along the cap, which look like road hazard paint, you will be able to keep your head warm and stay visible under challenging water conditions.
This cap performed well in cold ocean temperatures, and if you don’t mind going for the safety-first look, the TYR High Vis neoprene cap is right up your alley.
5 Best Wetsuits for Open Water Swimming. Looking for the best open water wetsuits for swimming? We’ve got you covered with the top wetsuits for every kind of swimmer and budget.
5 Best Goggles for Triathlons and Open Water Swimming. Accessorize your new neoprene cap with our breakdown of the best swim goggles for open water swimming.
Olivier Poirier-Leroy Olivier Poirier-Leroy is the founder of YourSwimLog.com. He is an author, former national level swimmer, two-time Olympic Trials qualifier, and swim coach.
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