Kitting yourself out for a workout? Let’s start from the top down.
In Ireland, it’s rare that the conditions allow you to exercise outdoors without some form of protection on your noggin.
Most of the time it’s cold and windy enough to require a warm hat to cover your head and ears.
During the summer, meanwhile, when the sun does come out, you’ll need a cap to stop the sun getting at your pasty skin and to prevent the need to keep your hand attached to your forehead so you can see three feet in front of you.
Below are some options that will cover all bases all year round.
Men’s Under Armour Basic Beanie (€20)
Let’s start with the basics.
If all you’re after is a regular beanie hat that will keep your head warm in cold weather, keep your hair in place and doesn’t look like something your mother knitted for you in ten minutes, then this Under Armour beanie hat will do the job.
It also looks good enough that it doesn’t just have to be for exercising, you can wear it casually on cold days too and Lord knows we get enough of those in Ireland.
Adidas climachill cap (€25)
This is an option for the person that wants a peaked cap they can wear out running on a sunny day and also to a GAA match during the summer so they won’t have to be coming up with any ingenious match programmed-themed inventions like this guy.
Loving this fellas sunvisor he made out of the match programme today at the Down/Donegal ladies match today @JOEdotie pic.twitter.com/8yxA1VpmCH
— J Cro (@j_cro10) February 8, 2015
This Adidas number will do the job and the Climachill technology will keep your head cool on warm days when a 99 ice-cream with a flake on it can’t do that job on its own.
Salomon XA+CAP II (€29)
A peaked cap focused more towards performance, this baby is light as a feather and comes with a removable bandana that can protect your neck when you’re out in the sun for an extended period.
The North Face Neck gaiter (€27)
The neck gaiter is so light that it’s not going to impede you in any way, but at the same time your neck will feel as if it’s been wrapped in a warm blanket.
These babies were en vogue in football circles until they were banned a few years ago, but nobody’s going to stop you wearing it out on a run in the snow or even at five-a-side down at the astroturf.
Bluetooth beanie (from €20.39)
Trying to listen to music comfortably while exercising in cold weather is a problem that has haunted active people for generations.
Do you stick the headphones inside a warm hat and run the risk of them falling out mid-run?
Or do you leave your ears exposed to the cold while trying to ensure that headphones stay secure throughout?
Thankfully, the Bluetooth beanie saves that decision having to be made at all, as it comes with in-built headphones that allow you to listen to your smartphone or MP3 device through the wonders of Bluetooth technology.
No wires, no problem and you head stays snug as bug too. Sweet.
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