The Outdoor Research Seattle Rain Cap is a lightweight, unisex Gore-Tex rain hat designed for hiking, trail running, and wet commutes. Weighing 2 oz, it’s a practical mix of protection, packability, and everyday wearability that makes your rain jacket better because it keeps the rain off your face or glasses. Face it, most rain jacket hoods suck because they don’t have extended front brims.

• 3-layer GORE-TEX laminate bonded to a 70D nylon outer face; fully taped seams ensure waterproof integrity.
• A 3-inch brim sheds rain from your face and helps keep prescription glasses and sunglasses drier than a hood does
• Wicking polyester sweatband for comfort and faster drying.
• UPF 50+ sun protection
• Adjustable fit
• Five-panel ball-cap styling

Performance and use

This hat shines when you want better visibility and ventilation than a hood provides. For hiking, backpacking, or running, it keeps rain off your face without the tunnel vision or clamminess of a hood. The brim’s shape is particularly helpful for keeping rain and drizzle off your glasses and for quiet wind protection, without the load flapping that can occur with a rain jacket or windbreaker hood.

The OR Rain Cap is a great all-round hiking hat .

Fit and comfort

The cap fits like a typical baseball hat, but with a slightly stiffer structure to support the brim. The wicking headband helps control sweat; the hat is comfortable under a hood and packs down small enough to stow in a pocket or pack lid. The interior is lined to protect the membrane, which makes the hat more windproof and adds a bit more warmth for shoulder season or mountain weather. On the flip side, the hat may retain more heat on a hot day than a mesh trucker’s hat. Consider getting it in a lighter color to reflect more sunlight when hiking in very hot, humid conditions. I also wouldn’t recommend it for desert hiking, where there’s no rain and you probably want a highly ventilated straw hat or a lightweight hat with a sun cape.

Pros

• Reliable waterproofing with breathable GORE-TEX
• Effective brim for visibility and keeping glasses dry
• Lightweight and packable
• Comfortable wicking headband and adjustable fit
• UPF 50+ and bluesign-approved materials

Cons

• Not a warm-weather-focused ventilated hat; may feel slightly clammy in hot, humid conditions
• Less coverage than a wide-brim rain hat or a sun hat with a cape for neck protection

Bottom line

If you want a breathable, packable rain hat that offers better visibility and face protection than a hood, the Seattle Rain Cap is a strong, versatile choice for hikers, backpackers, and trail runners who spend time in wet weather. Let’s face it. The hoods on most rain jackets suck because they don’t have a brim or enough adjustability to keep the front and sides of your face dry. The Outdoor Research Rain Cap fixes that, and because it’s waterproof, the brim doesn’t soak out like a regular ball cap.

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