Mountain Equipment Drilite Cap Review

Overview

The Drilite Cap is Mountain Equipment’s answer to a problem every hood-hater knows well: sometimes you just want your head dry without sacrificing peripheral vision and sound. It’s a 5-panel running-style cap built from the same waterproof/breathable Drilite membrane technology ME has used in its shells for decades, making it one of the few caps on the market that’s genuinely rated waterproof rather than just water-resistant. This one’s aimed at hikers, trekkers, and mountain runners who want a low-profile alternative to a rain hood for showers and drizzle, not sustained deluges where a full hood and brim would serve better.

Key Specs

Spec	Detail
Weight	45 g (1.5 oz) — some listings cite 43–55 g depending on size/batch
Fabric	3-layer DRILITE® 50D
Material	100% Polyamide
Construction	5-panel, curved brim
Seams	Fully taped
DWR	PFAS-free
Lining	Tricot knit-lined headband
Adjustment	Rear strap (hook-and-loop)
Sizing	One size
Care	Machine wash 30°C, line dry, warm iron to reactivate DWR

Performance

The headline feature is right there in the name — this cap is actually waterproof, not just DWR-treated cotton twill that wets out after twenty minutes. Mountain Equipment’s Drilite membrane technology carries everything the brand has learned about comfort and protection in the mountains, with a waterproof membrane thin enough to keep jackets packable while still tough enough for serious routes. That same membrane in cap form means you get real rain shedding rather than the “resists a light mist” performance most softshell caps offer.

Reviewers consistently point to two things: it works, and it doesn’t cook your head doing it. One buyer noted after a wet Ben Nevis climb that the cap fits well, kept my head dry and the rain off my face. Another long-term reviewer summed up the core value proposition well, saying it does exactly what I need it to in foul weather: keeps my head dry without turning into a sauna. That balance matters — a fully waterproof membrane on your head could easily become a swamp on a climb, but the breathability of Drilite seems to keep pace reasonably well with cap-level exertion (not the same as a hardshell hood, where venting is harder).

The brim gets specific praise from glasses wearers. One user noted the structured brim does a great job of shedding water and keeping my lenses clearer for longer, which makes a real difference when visibility matters — a detail that matters a lot if you’ve ever tried to navigate a switchback trail with rain-speckled lenses. The curved brim shape seems to be doing real work here, not just cosmetic.

Comfort-wise, the tricot-lined headband earns consistent mentions for sweat management. As one review put it, the tricot headband adds a bit of comfort and helps manage sweat, a nice touch during high-output climbs.

The one recurring gripe is the rear adjustment strap. A verified buyer review flagged it as their only minor gripe with an otherwise comfortable, breathable, and waterproof cap. Another reviewer likewise suggested checking the fit if you’re on the larger end of the sizing scale, since it’s one-size and the hook-and-loop strap has finite adjustment range. If you’ve got a larger head, try it on or check a sizing chart before buying — this isn’t the cap to blind-buy if you’re already at the top end of typical cap sizing.

Durability reports are thin since this is a fairly niche item without a large user base on forums like r/Ultralight or BPL, but the reviews that do exist mention the fabric holding up over repeated wet outings without obvious wear. I’d treat that as encouraging but not exhaustive — nobody’s put this through a 2,000-mile thru-hike and reported back yet, as far as I could find.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Genuinely waterproof, not just water-resistant — a rarity in cap form
• Breathable enough to avoid the “sauna head” problem common with waterproof headwear
• Structured brim noticeably helps keep glasses/sunglasses lenses clear in rain
• Tricot-lined headband manages sweat and adds comfort
• At 45g, negligible weight penalty for the rain protection you get
• PFAS-free DWR — a plus if you’re trying to reduce “forever chemicals” in your kit
• Fully taped seams back up the waterproof claim rather than leaving it half-finished

Cons

• One-size-only fit with a hook-and-loop strap that has limited range — runs tight for larger heads
• Not a substitute for a full rain hood in sustained heavy rain or wind-driven rain (it protects the head/face, not the neck or ears)
• Sparse independent long-term durability data — most available reviews are early-impression rather than multi-season
• Premium price for what is, mechanically, a running cap (roughly $45–50 depending on region)

Who Should Buy This

This cap makes the most sense for hikers and trail runners who spend a lot of time in showery, changeable weather but don’t want to live under a jacket hood — think UK hillwalking, Pacific Northwest drizzle, or spring/fall trekking where rain comes and goes rather than settling in for a full storm. It’s also a solid pick for glasses wearers who are tired of rain-speckled lenses ruining visibility on descents. If you’re dealing with sustained heavy rain, high wind, or cold enough temps that you need ear/neck coverage, you’ll still want a proper hood or a warmer waterproof beanie — this cap is a specialist tool for a specific kind of wet weather, not an all-conditions solution.

Verdict

The Drilite Cap delivers on its core promise — real waterproofing in a genuinely lightweight, breathable package — and the brim design earns its keep for anyone who wears glasses on trail. The one-size fit and limited strap adjustment are worth checking before you buy, and durability data is still thin, but for showery-weather hiking and running, this is a smart, low-weight addition to a rain kit. I’d rate it a 7.5/10: excellent at the specific job it’s built for, with a fit caveat that keeps it from being a universal recommendation.