melin, the makers of the world’s most premium headwear, have announced the launch of the Vo2 Collection, their most technically advanced run collection to date. True to melin’s problem-solving approach, Vo2 was designed and tested by runners, engineering a collection that redefines what running headwear should be. The collection launches on August 21st, with ultra-endurance athlete and creator Matt Choi tapped as the face of the campaign.
Vo2 is designed on the same foundation as every melin hat: water and sweat repellency, antimicrobial materials, and built to outlast anything else on the market. What sets this collection apart is the details added to solve problems runners actually face. Every hat in the collection is built with melin’s Cloud Visor Core for the lightest, most comfortable fit. It contours to your head and packs into tight spaces, never losing its shape. The Dri-Freeze Antimicrobial Sweatband is designed to hold a chill that reduces surface temperature while eliminating the bacteria that cause odor. The Fast Clasp with Adapt Tab Strapback offers one-motion adjustment with a secure yet flexible fit, and the Bonded Seams increase durability and drying time by removing panel stitching. All of it wrapped in an exterior crafted with 92% recycled fabrics.
The collection is offered in three unstructured shapes, designed for a lightweight and comfortable fit. The Pace offers the classic run fit, cut shallow in a seven-panel construction that contours closer to the head than most hats. It sits alongside the Odysea, melin’s traditional trucker shape built unstructured for run and the Legend, the classic dad shape with sloping front panels for a sleek fit.
“Run has been a part of our DNA since the very beginning. Growing up a soccer player, running with a team has always been a part of the program not just to stay in shape, but for the community you build that helps keep you motivated,” said Brian McDonell, co-Founder and CEO of melin. “Almost everyone here runs, so we had the luxury of testing on ourselves first, then core runners we had relationships with. Every piece of VO2 started as a problem, one of us hit out on the road, and we kept rebuilding it until nobody had a complaint left. I’m really excited to finally launch this, giving everyone an opportunity to run with it.”
Leading the campaign is Matt Choi, an ultra-endurance athlete and one of the most-followed voices in running content, who appears across the collection’s film, social, and retail creative.
“Running gave me the discipline, the friendships, and a community that shows up whether you’re feeling it that day or not,” said Choi. “What I care about is helping encourage more people out the door and keeping them there. I’ve been running in the Vo2 Collection, I’m proud to help put it out into the world and genuinely excited for everyone to wear this.
”To celebrate the launch, melin is hosting group runs at every Customer Experience Lab location on Saturday, August 22nd. Each run is led by local, community-first run clubs, open to the public and followed by on-site programming. The activations build on melin’s growing presence in the run community, including a partnership with Newport Beach Run Club who will host the event at the Fashion Island CEL in Newport Beach, and extend the invitation behind the collection’s campaign line, Run With It. The miles are how you get there, but the crew is why you come back.
The Vo2 Collection launches August 21st, 2026 on melin.com, melin’s Customer Experience Labs, and select retail partners, with early access beginning August 20th.
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About melin:
melin is a premium headwear brand dedicated to crafting the world’s highest quality headwear. With a focus on materials, details, craftsmanship, and innovation, melin set itself apart by delivering headwear that outperforms and redefines standards. For every adventure, melin is committed to elevating the headwear experience and providing enthusiasts with the perfect blend of performance and style.
About Vo2 Collection:
The miles are how you get there, but what you remember is everything else. The conversations, the laughs, the community that keeps you moving, it’s a new definition of the runner’s high. Designed by runners for runners, it is the most technically advanced run collection melin has ever built. A Cloud Visor Core for the lightest, most comfortable fit, a Dri-Freeze Antimicrobial Sweatband built to hold a chill, Reflective Accents that catch every type of light, a Fast Clasp with Adapt Tab Technology for a secure yet flexible fit, and Bonded Seams for durability and drying time. Water and sweat repellent, lightweight, packable, and crafted with 92% recycled polyester.
