Nike Fly cooling cap review: does the ice-pocket hat really work?

The Nike Fly Dri-FIT ADV Unstructured Cooling Cap is exactly what it sounds like: a proper hot-weather running cap that doesn’t just manage sweat, it actively cools you while you’re moving.

It’s a low-depth, unstructured Fly cap with a snug, athletic fit, but the headline is the built-in ice system that uses pockets along the crown to hold custom-shaped ice cubes, and as they melt, the cap channels that cold water into a perforated “cape” at the back to cool your neck and help bring your body temperature down.

It’s actually kind of genius, and if you live in a hot/humid climate, this cooling cap is the difference between a ‘no-go day’ and a ‘get the run done’ kind of day.

This solves the classic hat paradox for crazy hot days: hats help with sun protection and sweat, but they can also trap heat.

This one doesn’t. It does what Nike promises which is ventilation when you’re sweating hard, it wicks properly, and the ice setup feels like having your own little cooling station on your head and neck.

And yes… it’s $145. That’s the point where a running cap stops being “a cap” and starts being a piece of heat kit. The good news is that it genuinely earns that positioning by solving a real world problem.

Key specifications

• Price: $145 at Nike
• Colorway tested: White/Anthracite
• Fit: Fly cap (low-depth so it works well with sunglasses), unstructured, “snug and athletic”
• Adjustment: bungee closure
• Cooling + sweat tech: Dri-FIT ADV (advanced cooling + zones of breathability)
• Vent tech: AeroAdapt sweat-activated vent panels (top)
• Visor: AeroBill (breathable + sweat-wicking comfort)
• Ice system: crown pockets + 3 silicone ice molds; meltwater channeled to perforated rear cape
• Extras: reusable mesh bag; reflective details; Swoosh turns a deeper blue when ice is inserted
• Care: hand wash only
• Materials (main): body 100% polyester with mixed panel fabrics (poly/nylon; poly/spandex; etc.)

Performance review

The cooling system actually changes how hot runs feel

The ice-pocket design is the whole reason this cap exists, and it delivers the intended effect of noticeable cooling that doesn’t require you to hold ice, stuff cubes into a buff, or constantly re-soak a hat.

You zip the molded cubes into the front and side crown pockets, and the cooling isn’t just “cold on the head” for a minute, it’s targeted and useful because the melt is directed into that perforated back cape that sits against your neck, protecting it from UV rays at the same time.

That neck cooling is what makes the difference on the run.

Instead of feeling like your head is wrapped in a damp, warm cap, you get this steady “taking the edge off” effect that makes hot miles feel more manageable.

It’s the same logic as grabbing ice at an aid station and putting it somewhere strategic, but built into something you can wear from step one.

A small detail I love (and it’s very Nike), the Swoosh logo turns a deep blue once ice is inserted, so you’ve got a quick visual confirmation that the front pocket is loaded, as if you wouldn’t know without it… yes, a gimmick but cool nonetheless.

AeroAdapt vents do what they claim: they open up when you’re working

Plenty of “breathable” hats say the right things, then feel like a lid once you’re sweating properly.

The AeroAdapt panels are different because they’re designed around sweat activation, so the cap gets more ventilated right when you need it most.

In practice, it keeps the top of the cap from becoming that hot, humid bubble.

And paired with the ice system, it means you’re not relying on one trick. You’ve got airflow management and active cooling happening together.

Dri-FIT ADV + AeroBill keep sweat from becoming a face problem

Even with the ice doing its thing, sweat management still matters, especially if you’re someone whose hat usually turns into a headband that eventually dumps into your eyes. That’s ME by the way!

Dri-FIT ADV is Nike’s “more engineered” sweat-wicking setup with mapped breathability, and it feels like it’s built for running intensity rather than casual wear.

Then the AeroBill visor helps too because the brim stays breathable and comfortable while still doing the job of directing sweat away and keeping the sun off your face.

So you’re not choosing between “cooling” and “sweat control”, you actually get both.

Fit is locked-in for running, and the low-depth Fly shape feels purposeful

This is a Fly cap through and through; low-depth, unstructured, snug and athletic.

The low depth means that sunglasses have plenty of room to sit over your ears, without the hat geometry getting in the way.

Being snug matters because once you add ice, you need the cap to stay stable, and It does.

The bungee closure keeps it secure without the fuss of Velcro, and the unstructured build makes it feel like a running cap rather than a stiff lifestyle piece.

This (and the neck cover) does, however, mean that it’s not a cap you can wear backwards, if that’s a style choice you subscribe too, so just be aware of that little nugget of information.

One practical upside of the zip pocket on the front (and the open pockets on the side to some degree), when you’re not running the ice setup, those pockets can double as small storage (think gels, key/cash), which makes the cap more than a one-trick pony.

The “real world” trade is prep and care, not performance

The only compromise here isn’t on-run comfort, it’s the routine around it.

You’ve got to freeze the molds (they’re included), and Nike specifies hand washing the cap only.

If you’re the kind of runner who already plans bottles, gels, and timing around heat, that’s not a big ask. It just becomes part of the heat-day checklist.

If you want a grab-and-go cap with zero extra steps, this is obviously more involved.

The price makes sense only if you treat it like heat gear

At $145, it’s in a completely different bracket to standard Fly caps, that retail at $30. But it earns the premium because it isn’t just nicer fabric or a special colorway, it’s solving heat in a way a normal hat can’t.

If you train through summer heat regularly, this is the kind of purchase that has a clear purpose that makes hot running feel less brutal while still giving you the sun/sweat benefits of a cap.

My verdict

The Nike Fly Dri-FIT ADV Cooling Cap is expensive, but it does what it claims: it takes a running cap and turns it into a legit cooling tool for hot-weather training.

The combo of AeroAdapt venting, Dri-FIT ADV sweat management, and the ice pocket + neck-channel system isn’t just clever, it’s genuinely useful when summer heat is the limiter.

I’d recommend it for runners who:

• train in heat/humidity regularly and want cooling built into what they already wear,
• like low-depth, snug Fly caps,
• want a cleaner alternative to separate ice bandanas/buffs.

I’d skip it if you:

• don’t get on with low-depth fits,
• want zero-prep gear,
• mostly run in mild temps where a normal cap is already enough.

If you’re going to pay $145 for a hat, it should solve a problem. For me, this one really does. -Alastair