The best swim caps to wear in pools and open water

Wherever you’re swimming, whether it’s your local leisure pool or in open water, a swim cap is an essential piece of kit.

Swim caps ensure you remain streamlined and help reduce drag in the water, so they’re a handy tool if you’re looking to keep your time as tight as possible. Along with a swim robe to keep you warm after a dip, swim caps are an essential piece of swim gear.

What’s more, they also help protect your hair from chlorine damage to keep your hair as dry and tangle-free as possible after a swim.

Hygiene is another factor to consider, and it’s compulsory to wear swim caps at some swimming venues, so it’s a wise idea to have an emergency swim cap in your bag so you’re not turned away.

And if you’re still not convinced, swim caps are an important part of swim safety. Brightly coloured swim caps increase your visibility in open water so it’s a good idea to wear one. We’ve included plenty of vibrant options in our list so you’re sure to be easily spotted.

You might even want to double up and wear two swim caps if you’re in chilly water. If you’d rather opt for a thicker option, take at look at the best cold water swim hats.

Best caps for swimming in 2025

1. Zoggs Silicone Swimming Cap

• $12.50 / £9.50

This swim cap from Zoggs is said to be shaped with a superior fit in order to maximise comfort when you’re swimming. It’s available in one size only, and if white doesn’t take your fancy, it also comes in red, pink, blue and black.

Looking to increase your strength in the water? Have a look at our pick of the best swim paddles.

2. Speedo Long Hair Swim Cap

• $20 / £10

This swim cap from Speedo has been designed specifically for swimmers with long hair for a snag-free swimming experience.

If you find that you often get yourself in a tangle and don’t have enough room for your long locks, this Speedo swim cap could be a simple solution.

3. HUUB Silicone Hat

• £9.99 (UK only)

If you’re after a lightweight swim cap, this pick from top triathlon brand Huub is one to consider.

It promises a wrinkle-free fit so you can glide through the water at a fast pace and, with such a bold colour, you’ll easily be seen in the water, making it a safe choice for those open-water training sessions.

Having said that, if you’re not a fan of the orange, you’ll be glad to hear that there’s a wide range of colours to choose from. These include everything from white and red to blue and fluorescent green.

• Swim shampoos and conditioners

4. Zone3 Silver Swim Cap

• $9 / £6

For a professional, sleek look, this silver swim cap from Zone3 has been designed with comfort in mind.

With a focus on ensuring it’s not too tight or too loose, this product aims to make the process of putting on and removing your swim cap less of a struggle, so hopefully you can spend more time in the water and less time faffing about in the changing rooms wrestling with your cap.

5. Aqua Sphere Tri Silicone Swim Cap

• £9 (UK only)

If you’d like to go for a more alternative design, or for something that’s not a block colour, this Aqua Sphere swim cap is a stylish choice.

It’s made with chlorine-resistant silicone and it has been approved by the International Swimming Federation (FINA), so it’s a top pick if you’re looking for a professional cap for competitions.

6. Orca Silicone Swim Cap

• $12 / £10

Promising a snug and seamless fit, this Orca swim cap is bound to brighten up your pool session. It is made of 100% silicone and is said to be incredibly durable, meaning you can use it again and again without worrying too much about wear and tear.

It’s also said to be entirely seamless to help maximise comfort, while the bright colour will also help keep you safe on those open-water swimming sessions. If it’s half as good as some of the brand’s wetsuits, you’re onto a winner with this swim cap from Orca.

You can find more Orca products in our list of the best cheap triathlon wetsuits.

7. Soul Cap

• $18 / £15

Soul Cap creates swim caps that are suitable for swimmers with voluminous hair, meaning this large swim cap should be ideal for swimmers with weaves, braids, afros, curls and hair extensions.

The brand claims the cap’s extra room means that your hair can comfortably fit in the cap while being protected from harsh swimming pool chemicals.

Check the chemical levels in your swimming pool with these high-quality pool test strips.

8. Funkita Summer Bay Silicone Swimming Cap

• $14.95 / £11.95

If you fancy going for a more unusual design that’s likely to turn some heads in the pool, Funkita could be the brand for you. This light blue swim cap with its loud branding is a fun choice that is sure to liven up your swimwear wardrobe.

• In need of more swimming equipment? Check out our guide to the best swimming goggles for triathlons.

9. Decathlon Print Silicone Swim Cap

• £4.99 (UK only)

Another quirky design, this Nabaiji silicone swim cap comes in one size and promises enhanced glide in the water.

Due to its stretchy nature, this cap is suitable for both kids and adults, making it a handy piece of kit that’s likely to be well used.

• Looking to swim outdoors? Here’s our guide to the best cold water swimming gear.

10. Yogingo extra large swim cap for long hair

• $13.98 / £9.98

Designed for those with long and/or bulky hair including dreadlocks, afros, braids, and extensions, this large, black swimming cap from Yogingo is meant to keep hair secured while swimming.

The BPA-free, silicone cap aims to protect hair and keep it from snagging while swimming. While it doesn’t promise to keep the hair dry, some customers comment that their hair remained dry while swimming when using the Yogingo cap.

Best swim caps for kids

11. Speedo Junior Plain Moulded Silicone Swim Cap

• $12 / £8

This straightforward yet colourful Speedo swim cap looks to be a top choice for regular swim training sessions.

It aims to improve kids’ hydrodynamic performance and protect their hair and scalp from the negative effects of chlorine.

Take a look at the best wetsuits for kids so you can fully kit your children out.

12. Lahtak Swim Cap Kids

• From $12.99 / £8.99

This bright blue swim cap is said to be ideal for kids and teenagers who have long hair, dreadlocks and braids.

The loose-fit design aims to make the cap comfortable to wear so young swimmers aren’t left with a tight cap that presses ponytails and buns to their heads in an unpleasant manner.

The caps are made of hypoallergenic silicone so they should be durable and appropriate for an active swim session.

13. Zoggs Character Silicone Junior Swimming Cap

• £12.50 (Europe only)

A fun and adorable pick kids are bound to love. This clownfish silicone swim cap from Zoggs features a non-slip inner surface so it should sit comfortably and securely on your child’s head when they are swimming.

With such a unique design, you should be able to spot your kid in an instant when you’re trying to find them in the pool.

How to pick a swim cap 

Swimming caps are worn to secure the hair and keep it protected from damage while swimming. They are also worn by some to improve hydrodynamics in the water, and by others to prevent the hair from getting completely wet. 

Swimming hats should be chosen based on their size and quality. The hat should be tight but not uncomfortably so when worn, so make sure you test the cap’s size on your head when buying (if you can).

Otherwise, a swimming hat should be made from a stretchy and hydrophobic material, such as a high-grade silicone. 

Ensure your swimming hat isn’t too thin as to easily poke a hole through, nor too thick to make it overly tight or hot while wearing. 

How to put on a swim cap

Swimming caps are made to be stretchy and to mould to the wearer’s head. It can be easier to put on a swimming hat with two people. First ensure that your hair is tied up flush to your head (for instance in a flat bun or french braid).  

If you have a friend to help, the wearer can hold the forehead section of the hat to their forehead, while the friend should grasp the end of the hat and pull it up, over, and down the back of the head until the bottom of the hairline at the neck. 

If you’re solo, position the lip of the hat on the forehead and hold it taunt, then quickly pulling the rest over the back of your head and down. Stuff any trailing hair strands into the hat at the bottom. 

It can be handy to wear goggles over the hat to keep it in place, with those with long hair placing two sides of the goggles strap (if your goggles have a double strap) over your ‘hair bump’ in the cap. 

Is there a swimming cap that actually keeps hair dry?

Most swimming caps don’t actually aim to keep the hair dry, this is normally a happy by-product when the right head shape, size, and cap come into perfect alignment. 

For any chance of keeping the hair as dry as possible, opt for a relatively thick, silicone swim hat and ensure that it’s completely flush to the head when wearing it in order to form a seal. 

You’ll need the hair to be completely covered and secured underneath, too, so there’s no danger of it trailing out of the cap while swimming. 

Is a silicone or latex swim cap better?

These days, most swimming caps are made from silicone. This is because it tends to be more durable and long-lasting than latex. 

The cap should also be a suitable thickness as to not be easily caught or have holes pocked through by your nails or other shape objects it may come into contact with.  

Should a swim cap cover your ears?

Yes, your swimming cap should cover your whole head and half-way down your ears. 

This is to ensure a good fit and that the hair is completely secured underneath. Wearing a cap above the ears makes it more likely to ride up and potentially some off.

You’ll likely have seen professional swimmers, such as at the olympics, wear their goggles under their caps. This is to improve hydrodynamics, minimising the drag created by goggle straps. 

Unless you’re aiming for those world records, this isn’t something that you need to consider except if you find wearing your hat more comfortable this way. 

Check out our favourite thermal swimming cap and hat options to keep you swimming open water in the winter months.