Best clay shooting caps – what to wear on the clay ground

Not everybody wears a cap when they’re out on the clay ground but a cap is a useful item to have on you. (For more on what to wear clay pigeon shooting read here.)

Becky McKenzie in action on the clay ground, cap on head

Award-winning clayshooter, CPSA shooting instructor and Sporting Gun contributor Becky McKenzie says: “Caps are good for keeping sun out of your eyes, protecting your head in the event of falling bits of clay. Also if you have long hair, it keeps it out of the way. Be careful when choosing a cap, you don’t want one with too long a peak, as this can get in the way of your field of view.”

The interior of Becky’s Flex clay cap

With this in mind, we looked at what’s on offer and came up with the following list of the best clay shooting caps, which tick the boxes for various different reasons, depending on what you’re looking for. (If you’re looking for clay shooting vests you can find our list here.)

Sporting Gun contributor Jasper Fellows advises: “It is worth saying, many, if not all, clay ground require shooters wear a cap, alongside shooting glasses and hearing protection, as part of their essential PPE. Anyone who has spent enough time on a clay ground will have been hit in the head by fragmented clays. Normally its a light tap on the head, but the cap protects the gap between your shooting glasses your forehead, proving an added layer of protection for your eyes.”

Shooting instructor at West London Shooting School and Shooting Times gun reviewer Mark Heath says: “When setting a clay course the setter has a good idea where the whole clays are going but sometimes stray pieces of clay debris end up in all sorts of places. A cap gives good protection from these small pieces and will in most cases prevent cuts and grazes that may otherwise occur. Also handy to help keep the sun out of your eyes on certain stands. Colour is immaterial depends how much you want to make a statement!!”

Bisley shooting instructor and Sporting Gun contributor Tony Bracci comments: “Baseball caps are very practical for protecting your eyes and face from the sun and falling debris but also allow you to wear ear muffs comfortably too. If you prefer in-ear protection then a wide brimmed hat is an option. A flat cap can be worn but can become too warm on summer days in the sun. The baseball hat should be made out of a good quality material and can promote your favourite brands; it all depends on what image you’re trying to portray. It’s always nice when in places well away from the shooting ground to see a stranger wearing a branded shooting hat, it could be anywhere in the world but you know you have a conversation starter. The only word of caution is to try not to wear a shooting school hat to a competitors’ shooting school, it’s not as bad as the wrong coloured scarf at a football match but it is the same ball park!”

Best clay shooting caps

Flexfit 3D Hexagon Jersey Cap Kape, Unisex, 6584 £17.34 – £27.29

Becky’s clayshooting cap from Flexfit

Best choice of professional clay shooter

• Sizes: S-XL
• Material: 100% Polyester 
• Fit: The fabric is stretchy
• Colours: Navy, black, dark grey, white

Becky says: “I don’t always wear a cap, but when I do, I wear Flex Fit. These come in different sizes that flex to fit, as opposed to the adjustments on the back of a lot of caps. Being female I have always found it hard to get a cap to fit me, the cap is usually big, then when adjusted, has lots of material at back which looks messy. So I buy my cap myself then put my sponsor’s logo on it.

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Seeland Men’s Shooting Cap £29.99

Best for shading eyes

• Sizes: One size
• Material: Polyester
• Fit: Adjustable with Velcro strap on the back
• Colours: Black, green, Sodalite blue

This cap has a larger than average peak so will be useful on sunny days. If you’re already a fan of Seeland then this could be a good choice for you, as the company is known for their quality fieldsports wear.

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TACVASEN Ultra Thin Quick Dry Baseball Cap UV Outdoor Sports Hat with Adjustable Buckle £13.98

Best for quick drying

• Sizes: One size
• Material: Quick dry polyester
• Fit: Adjustable buckle closure
• Colours: Blue, black, dark grey, light grey, light beige, white, navy blue

This cap is designed to dry quickly if you get caught in a rain shower or drop it in a stream or puddle. It’s also breathable so your head will stay shaded and cooler on hot days.

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Geoff Garrod in a camo cap on a pigeon day

Browning Unisex’s Rimfire rtmx5 Cap, Multi-Colour, One Size £18.99

Best for camo fans

Sizes: One size
Material: 100% cotton
Fit: Adjustable velcro closure
Colours: As shown

This is a cap that won’t just see you right on the clay ground but can multi-task when you’re out in the pigeon hide or wildfowling.

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Sealskinz Waterproof All Weather Cap £17.95

Best for downpours

• Sizes: One size
• Material: 100% polyester
• Fit: Adjustable
• Colours: Black/grey, navy

Sealskinz gloves have many fans and so it’s good to know that the company also produces a hat. This one claims to be 100% waterproof and windproof and is ideal for both sunny days and cold, wet days. If it starts to look grubby, just wash it on a normal setting in the washing machine with the rest of your gear. With qualifications like this it had to be on our list of the best clay shooting caps.

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Geoff with his Browning Maxus and a trusty well worn cap

Hoggs Of Fife Struther Waterproof Cap £17.95

Best for smart finish

• Sizes: One size
• Material: 90% polyester 10% nylon
• Fit: Adjustable strap
• Colours: Dark green, navy

We like the tonal contrasts on this cap which features a suede effect on the peak and top button. Despite this, it’s also waterproof and breathable, so it looks good and performs well.

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Seeland Retriever Cap £26.95

Best for waxed cotton fans

• Sizes: One size
• Material: 100% waxed cotton
• Fit: Velcro closure
• Colours: Mudd green

As fans of waxed cotton know, it’s a fabric that is naturally waterproof and hardwearing. However this cap also features a leather brim, which gives it a bit of an edge.

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Schōffel Unisex Thurlestone Cap £24.95

Best for quality and value

• Sizes: One size
• Material: 100% cotton twill
• Fit: Brass adjustable buckle
• Colours: Navy, olive

Choose the olive version with a brown rim (as shown above) or kit yourself out with a navy cap with a brown trim. Either way you’ll be set for the clay ground in comfort and style. Schōffel kit has a name for quality and we think £24.95 is a very fair price for a cap like this.

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More of the best clay shooting caps we’ve tracked down

QOHNK Big Head Hat Tactical Shooting Sports Fishing Baseball Cap Outdoor Hunting Jungle Hats for Large Heads £20.99 – £21.99

Best for large heads

Sizes: Standard size 21.2-23 inches (54-60cm) plus size 23.2 inches-25.6 inches (59-65cm)
Material: 100% cotton
Fit: Adjustable strap
Colours: Black, beige, navy blue, grey, pink, red, white, wine red

We’re not saying that you have an inflated opinion of yourself but some people just do have heads which are on the larger side. In which case this is probably one of the best clay shooting caps you could choose.

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WALKER AND HAWKES – Derby Tweed Hoaden Baseball Cap w/Leather Peak – One-Size £14.95

Best for tweed lovers

• Sizes: One size
• Material: 60% Wool, 25% Polyester, 11% Acrylic, 4% Other fibres
• Fit: Hook and loop
• Colours: Light sage, beige, brown, dark sage, navy

Whilst tweeds are’t usually seen on the clay ground (see our list of the best clayshooting jackets here) some of us are keen tweed fans of the fabric and the look. So if that describes you, then this might be a cap you find you can’t do without.