Each hat was crammed in a bag for 30 minutes and evaluated on how they fared. The full-brim hats in our review are all less protective because they don't have capes that cover your neck. Standing out for great value are the North Face Horizon Breeze Brimmer and the Outdoor Research Sun Runner for their excellent performance at a more affordable price. Theres also an adjustable chin strap that helps ensure the hat stays on your head in windy weather.
The removable sun cape provides excellent protection from the elements, but can potentially impair your peripheral vision. Users seeking a hat that will keep them protected deep into the backcountry should consider something else. Straw hats are usually the more stylish option because they go well with nearly all outfits. It also offers great sun protection because of that wide brim. This review is brought to you by OutdoorGearLab Review Editors Sam Schild, Jessica Haist, and Joanna Trieger. Sun hats are typically a fairly affordable piece of gear, yet they perform the priceless task of saving your skin from sun damage. We crushed them inside our packs to test how well they resumed shape.
These hats interfere less with a loaded pack, so there's less chance that they'll annoy you on the trail. We took the Patagonia Baggies Brimmer across snowfields, rivers, and beyond.
It also has very little ventilation. This beach hat features a 2 brim, so it will provide some extra protection, but not as much as you get from a wide brim straw hat. The Sinsola, the Outdoor Research Helios, the Ultra Adventure, and the Outdoor Research Sun Bucket were the lightest in the review and also the most comfortable. The best sun hat for you is that one that fits you properly. Its also more portable than the average straw hat thanks to this, plus the poly-straw material is more durable and packable.
The Filson Summer Packer looks great on men and women alike, and it can be for a variety of activities.
This means you're more likely to actually wear them while trekking, which is always the most protective option. The Outdoor Research Sombriolet has one of the widest brims we tested, and for water sports or general activities like gardening, this will keep you most protected. We love this hat and its wide selection of colors. The best models have ample ventilation and are made with breathable fabrics so that your head stays cool on hot days. It's also less likely to interfere with a backpack, which makes it a very comfortable choice. Its a fashionable straw hat that looks great with every outfit, plus it features a 6 brim that offers excellent sun protection, especially with the ultraviolet protection factor. When he's not backpacking, Sam can be found trail running, rock climbing, camping, and peak bagging on the Colorado Front Range. It is the most stylish of the high-performing full-brim models, and we felt comfortable wearing it around town. After all the testing we can offer you choices that include outstanding performers, budget-friendly choices, the most stylish options, and the best pick for the water. Its available in three different sizes, plus theres a velcro strap inside the hat that allows you to adjust it even further. No ads. Got feedback? The Baggies Brimmer has a long, 3.25-inch brim all the way around to protect your neck. The latter two models also had decent wicking materials to keep our heads cool and dry, which added to their comfort.
It is great to be fully protected from the sun, but if you can't see where you're going, it defeats the purpose. Keep in mind that, according to the American Cancer Society, the best sun protection is to stay out of the sun, especially from 10 am to 2 pm. This brings up an important point: sizing is critical. Need to find some good sun hats for travel?
The Filson Summer Packer doesn't have any mesh paneling, but we found that the eyelet vents shown here provided decent airflow. While the Patagonia Baggies Brimmer blew off our head in a large gust of wind, we loved how the foam toggle feels against our chin when you have to tighten it. With all these miles under the sun, Sam spends a lot of time considering ways to protect his face, neck, and ears. Even after being crushed, this hat pops right back into shape without a crease in sight. When we asked friends and family which hat they'd want to wear, they invariably picked the Summer Packer first. Go with one of our top three choices, depending on what features you are prioritizing in a sun hat! Testing the Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure hat while hiking rim to rim of the Grand Canyon. The Filson Summer Packer performed really well here because it packs down small and any creases caused by packing shake out after a wear or two. We think the Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure has the optimal level of high sun protection, but you can still sport it without feeling too ridiculous. From washing your car or gardening to sweltering desert hikes or summer kayak floats down your local creek, this hat has got you covered. We put our lineup of hats to the ultimate test -- a weeklong backpacking trip in the southwest US desert, including the Grand Canyon. One other factor we take into consideration is visibility. We find that full-brimmed competitors can be more uncomfortable, like the Outdoor Research Women's Oasis Sun Sombrero because the stiffer brims tend to dig into our foreheads. Theres also an adjustable chin strap that lets you secure this cotton hat to your head. The most durable hats are well made with strong materials and a crushable brim. The Sunset Hat by Sunday Afternoons is another great option if you want a flexible straw hat. We found that the Horizon Breeze Brimmer can take the abuse of being folded and crushed over and over. It is loaded with surprising features, including a sunglass keeper and anti-glare material under the brim for when you're traveling on reflective surfaces like water or snow. The downside of this crochet hat is that its not one of the more packable hats out of the bunch. The other thing to keep in mind when considering the price is versatility. The cotton hat is lightweight, packable, and comfortable to wear, making it the ultimate addition to your travel bag. The Filson Summer Packer is super stylish. While almost all competitors have 50+ UPF ratings, contenders like the Columbia Bora Bora Booney II and the Alchemi Labs Desert Hat have mesh in the crown area that could allow some sunlight through. The downside is that it doesnt seem to provide any protection from UV rays. In the rest of our review, we'll go over the different test metrics that we used and let you know which models stood out in each. The Sinsola is stretchy and comfortable. Taking in a well earned view with the Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure. No hat is perfect. We love looking out over the water with this high-performing model. This is one of the most comfortable models we tested. The Tilley Wanderer sun hat is a great option if you want to get a soft cotton hat. This hat provides incredible protection from the sun while remaining lightweight, comfortable, breathable, and super packable.
The San Diego floppy hat is one of the best summer hats you can get for travel. The Siggi Floppy Sun Hat is a great option if you prefer the look of straw hats but the functionality of cotton hats. In terms of value for money and performance, this is easily one of the best straw hats out of the bunch. The worst can't even be crushed and fall apart at the seams over a short time. The body of the hat is breathable thanks to the woven construction, so it shouldnt feel too warm to wear the Panama sun hat. Also, its worth noting that this hat easily folds flat, for carefree transport in suitcases and backpacks. MISSION Cooling Bucket Hat- UPF 50, 3 Wide Brim, Cools When Wet, Quiksilver Men's Pierside Lifeguard Beach Sun Straw Hat, Quiksilver Men's Bushmaster Sun Protection Floppy Visor Bucket Hat, FURTALK Panama Hat Sun Hats for Women Men Wide Brim Fedora Straw Beach Hat UV UPF 50, MISSION Cooling Bucket Hat- UPF 50, 3 Wide Brim, Cools When Wet (Sea Palm), Home Prefer Mens UPF 50+ Sun Protection Cap Wide Brim Fishing Hat with Neck Flap, Home Prefer Men's Sun Hat UPF 50+ Wide Brim Bucket Hat Windproof Fishing Hats, MISSION Cooling Performance Hat- Unisex Baseball Cap, Cools When Wet- White, Home Prefer Outdoor UPF50+ Mesh Sun Hat Wide Brim Fishing Hat with Neck Flap, Pineapple Sun Straw Fedora Beach Hat Fine Braid UPF50+ for Unisex, Plarmod Sun Fashing Hat for Men, 3.5 Wide Brim Cools Super Wide Brim Sun Hat for Fishing, Hiking, FURTALK Fedora Straw Sun Hat for Men Women Foldable Roll Up Short Brim Trilby Hat Panama Beach Hat UPF 50+, FEICUI Men Women Outdoor Bucket Hat Quick Dry Packable Boonie Hat UV Protection Sun Hat, MISSION Cooling Bucket Hat- UPF 50, 3 Wide Brim, Cools When Wet (Matrix Camo), Quiksilver Men's Outsider Waterman Sun Protection Lifeguard Straw Hat, Billabong Men's Classic Straw Lifeguard Hat, Sun Hat Women/Men, Fishing Hat with UPF 50+ UV Protection Wide Brim Bucket Hat, Connectyle Outdoor Mesh Sun Hat Wide Brim UV Sun Protection Hat Fishing Hiking Hat, Hemlock Hat Co. On top of that, its important to mention that the hat is size-adjustable with the metal buckle in the back. Also, the hat is available in only one size, so theres no way to guarantee a perfect fit. We traditionally think of sun hats as having wide, full brims but were surprised that the most effective types also include extra neck coverage. The OR Sun Runner is a great choice for desert hiking and running. It looks great, too.
We recommend a hat with a narrower brim for backpackers, like the Filson Summer Packer, the Patagonia Baggies Brimmer, or the North Face Horizon Breeze Brimmer. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Read review: Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure.
In this update, we bought the 15 most promising for hands-on testing.
Depending on what activity you're doing, you're going to want to have the proper visibility. This hat includes a removable "neck cape" not the most stylish, but super great when you need extra protection from intense solar rays, like in the middle of the desert with nary a shade tree in sight.
The Dalix Rainbow Baseball Cap is the perfect sun hat if you want something simple and functional. We found that it depends on the activities you'll be pursuing. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. In our opinion, every season is sandal season. We bought the hats and then put them to the test, with special care to evaluate the performance characteristics that our experience told us were the most important. While stylish, the Sinsola is not a great technical performer. Our side-by-tests were designed to determine which were best at keeping us protected and cool, and which were best when it came to comfort. Though this brim will hit a large backpack when backpacking, the brim will stay folded up or down, so it doesn't rub your pack all day. The Sun Runner is essentially two hats for the price of one, which makes it a great value. The Sunday Afternoons Adventure Hat is the classic trail hat with a colossal visor and a long neck cape that makes you look like you've just walked out of the Sahara. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. All trademarks property of their respective owners The Furtalk Sun Straw Hat is a great option if you want a stylish hat to wear with cute outfits.
In case you just want an affordable hat for travel, the Joylife Fishermen hat is the best choice.
The OR Sun Runner's cape partially blocks the hat's mesh vents. While most of the hats in our review tend toward dorkiness, the Arc'teryx Sinsola is sleek and stylish. The Outdoor Research Sombriolet's 4-inch brim keeps the sun's rays mostly off your face. The best ones can be crushed for days without the brim being affected and can be tossed around carelessly without worry.
If you want a simple straw hat, the Furtalk Sun Straw Hat is one of the top options to consider. Choosing the Right Sun Hat for your Adventures.
Comfort is essential in a sun protection hat. Look for the available sizes of sun hats, and settle only for those that are going to be a perfect fit. We were a bit disappointed with the Outdoor Research Sun Runner Cap in this category because the neck cape tends to trap warm air when the front chin strap is done up, causing our necks to get hot. We also looked out for hats that show stains. We found the large full brims, especially the floppier ones, have the least visibility, and we would not recommend these for anything technical that you may need to look around a lot, such as ridge scrambling. It's also very comfortable, and it packs down to nothing, so you can permanently stow it inside a bag or purse. To Best Sun Protection Shirts for Women of 2022. It offers sun protection, its stylish, and its affordably priced. A high-quality, durable hat can potentially last you a lifetime and maintain your healthy skin. The most stylish hats have sleek, classic looks, while the least stylish have huge brims or odd-shaped capes. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing and comparison.
It boasts Columbias proprietary Omni-Shade technology that is capable of blocking UVA and UVB rays, for maximum protection from the sun. The buckle also allows you to adjust the cap for ventilation, plus theres a sweatband lining inside, for maximum breathability. For the times when you have to be outside, however, the right sun hat can offer substantial protection. Then youre certainly in the right place because this detailed guide features ten of the best sun hats for travel you can get your hands on! We loved having this model with us on all our backpacking trips.
Its very lightweight, packable, and available in more than 20 different colors so everyone can find a design they like. But, this model has everything else you're looking for to stop the "Death Star" from frying your neck and face.
The hat is UPF50+ rated and that protection extends all around the brim. Its made from a lightweight and breathable material, its extremely packable due to flexible fabric, and its available in a wide variety of prints and solid colors, so everyone can find a design they like. It has a cape the cinches up in the front to cover the front and back of your neck from the sun. Its brim has a very specific curved shape that makes it hard to look around or take in the view while hiking, especially when wearing a pack.
The brim will shield your face for the most part, but its missing that extra protection that guarantees you wont burn even in the shade. We were pleasantly surprised by the Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure's foldable brim, making it much more durable and packable than the regular Adventure Hat. Read review: Outdoor Research Sun Runner Cap.
Its made from moisture-wicking hydrofil fabric with durable water repellent coating for great performance even in wet weather. Which soft cooler is the best? You want them to hide stains but don't want them to be too dark and attract more sun and heat. A super comfortable hat, in contrast, you might want to wear even when it isn't sunny out. Relaxing over afternoon tea with shade on our faces. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.
When the wind picked up, it stayed on our heads, and the brim didn't expose our face by flipping up or limit our vision by flopping in our eyes. This Sunday Afternoons hat features UPF50+ protection, as well as an internal sweatband for improved breathability. The Ultra Adventure has a great blend of good coverage and visibility.
The Outdoor Research Sun Runner Cap is a versatile and protective model with an affordable price tag.
Although we loved both of these hats, we also highly recommend several options that are less than half the price of those two models. A very active backpacker, Sam has thru-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail and the Colorado trail twice. Material on GearLab is copyrighted.
Both types of hats offer sun protection, the main difference is that cotton hats can also provide some protection from the rain. The most stylish hat in our review, the Sinsola was great for wearing around town. All the hats with capes the Ultra Adventure, the Sun Runner, and the Adventure inevitably lost style points.
The womens hat is made from natural paper straw, and its UPF30+ resistant.
Style can make or break your dignity, and it is often what your choice of a hat will ultimately come down to.
It is great for travel, beach, vacation, trip, outdoor activities, street strolling, fishing for the sun protection headwear. Our favorite models, the Filson Summer Packer, the Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure, and the Patagonia Baggies Brimmer were top performers in this category, as well as the feminine and stylish Arc'teryx Sinsola. If your hat isn't comfortable, it's less likely that you will grab it while going out the door. The Patagonia Baggies Brimmer is comfortable and stylish for a high-performing full brim hat. GearLab is reader-supported. Its available in quite a few different colors, so it should be easy to pick out a design you like. On hot days when the sun is beating down on your head, you want a hat that not only protects you but that allows the pent-up heat to escape. Its a bit bulky because of the wide brim and straw construction and it doesnt respond well to being bunched up in a backpack. We feel like this female-specific model would look great at a casual wedding, but it also looks awesome with a t-shirt and shorts for a light hike. When you need less protection, remove the neck cape for a more hip look with better air circulation. Cotton hats are more packable and durable than straw hats, so theyre a more reliable option for travel. In addition to being a great packable sun hat, the Tilley Wanderer can also provide some protection in wet weather. The Baggies Brimmer kept our head nice and cool all day. The hat also features an adjustable chin strap that helps improve performance in windy weather. On the downside, the Horizon Breeze Brimmer has a narrower brim than some others we tested, so it doesn't offer quite as much sun protection as the Outdoor Research Sun Runner. We curated What are the best women's sandals for travel, hiking, and What are the best binoculars?
Our only gripe is that the unique brim shape dips in front of your eyes, as shown here.
Top subscription boxes right to your door, 1996-2022, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Its a great hat for travel because it performs well in changing weather conditions, but also because you dont have to take special care of it. Its fabric breathes exceptionally well and has large mesh sections running along its sides. We discovered that the Arc'teryx Sinsola's black color was quickly faded by the sun, which causes it to lose some durability points.
This hat also features an adjustable chin strap, so you can easily secure it to your head. The Filson Summer Packer protected our skin, stole our hearts, and earned its place in the spotlight. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. It might not be super packable, but its definitely one of the best options if you prioritize fashion over portability. With the Patagonia Baggies Brimmer, the brim can be folded up or down and will stay that way to prevent it from interfering with a large pack. It's not at all adjustable, either. The hat is available in 21 different colors, so you shouldnt struggle to find a design you like. This guide features only the best sun protection hats you can buy, and most of them are stylish enough that you wont need another hat while youre traveling! We tested the durability of each hat by crushing it in a small ziplock bag for 30 minutes and seeing how they fared.
Head over to Amazon to see prices and more photos of the sun hats featured in this review. For the most technical outdoor pursuits, where you'll be spending long days in extreme conditions, this might not be the best option.
This is a soft and lightweight cotton hat with an ultra-wide brim and a ponytail hole, for maximum comfort.
We also noticed that the cape partially covers the mesh ventilation. Are you going to be doing this to your hat regularly? After testing 40 of the best sun hats over the last 9 years, we know that some do their job better than others. Printed Bottom Lifeguard Hats, USHAKE Head Net Hat, Safari Hat Sun Hat Bucket Hat with Hidden Net Mesh, BROOKLYN ATHLETICS Mens Classic Straw Sun Beach Hat - Wide Brim, Womens Straw Hat Short Brim Panama Fedora Beach Sun Trilby Hat for Vacation Gentlemen Roll Up Summer Hat, Bucket Hat for Women Men Canvas Washed Cotton Trendy Distressed Womens Summer Beach Sun Hats with Detachable Strings, Women Straw Sun Hat Mens Cowboy Style Garden Hat UPF 50+ Wide Brim Summer Hat with Wind Lanyard, Straw Fedora Sun Hats for Women Men Summer Sun Beach Hat Packable Short Brim Roll Up Straw Panama Fedora Hat, The Hat Depot Cotton Stone-Washed Safari Wide Brim Foldable Double-Sided Sun Boonie Bucket Hat, Muryobao Mens Sun Hats UPF 50+ Waterproof Mesh Wide Brim Bucket Fishing Hat, Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in. The hat is also available in a variety of different sizes so that everyone can get a comfortable fit. Read review: The North Face Horizon Breeze Brimmer Hat. Whether youre looking for bucket hats, packable womens sun hats, or straw hats you will find plenty of interesting options below. All of the models we tested have a way to attach the hat to your head. Make sure the hat is stylish enough that you will wear it, though. Since many folks prefer the look and feel of a full-brim hat, however, it's worth considering which of these is the most protective. But that dirt washed out just as quickly. The Ultra Adventure is not the most stylish of the bunch, and we thought the Arc'teryx Sinsola and Filson Summer Packer both looked better. The Sinsola also fell in this category because its brim dips right in front of your eyes to obscure the view.
The lighter weight material the hat is made of, the more comfortable and wearable it is. The Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure Hat is great for long, exposed climbs in the desert, but it might not be our first choice to wear around town. 2) Take a BUFF and tuck it under a cap (photo below right). This hat can get wet, rung out, stepped on, and it shouldnt suffer a scratch. We'll also discuss what to look for when considering the value of your purchase. The near-constant jostling pushes the hat out of place and is majorly annoying for the wearer.
Its a very affordable hat made from breathable cotton, and its available in a lot of prints and solid colors. No cherry-picked units sent by manufacturers. The Tilley LTM6 is ideal if you're into Indiana Jones or want a classic-looking model. Its got a wide but adjustable brim, allowing you to adjust how the hat looks on you. For activities where you don't wear a large pack, such as gardening or paddling, the Baggies Brimmer is a great choice. The result is a comprehensive review that should serve you well in searching for a great sun hat. Do you want a simple straw hat that works well with most outfits, or would you rather have a cotton sun hat thats more durable and packable? It kept the sun off our face while the anti-glare material under the brim reduced the water's glare. If you buy a Tilley, you also join an exclusive secret club and inevitably start receiving the "Tilley Nod" from other Tilley owners. Its also worth noting that everything about this hat is high quality, from the leatherette bands to the sturdy straw its made from. Its not one of the best packable sun hats because of the straw construction, but it offers UPF protection and the wide brim keeps your face in the shade. The Adventure Hat can only be packed flat, and when the brim is folded, it permanently creases. Great protection all around, especially on the back, Lightweight material is good at wicking moisture. Most hats featured here are either available in multiple sizes or have buckles and straps that allow you to adjust how they fit.
This is a hat we were happy to tuck into a bag or pack no matter what outdoor activity the day had in store, and as a bonus, it's one of the most affordable models we tested. The Wallaroo Victoria Sun Hat is an excellent option if youre looking for a high-quality straw hat. Check out our related posts for ideas on other must-have travel accessories! We like the Sunday Afternoons Adventure Hat's comfortable webbing cinch around our head, and it also comes with a chin strap. Its available in three colors, and its a one-size-fits-all hat with a circumference of 22.5.
The most effective competitors had capes that go down the back of them to cover your neck.
But if you're looking for a durable, comfortable sun hat that can take you from the trail to the bar patio, the Filson Summer Packer is your best bet.
We could happily go all day without taking it off.
The brim is more like a sun visor, helping your eyes deal with the glare of the sun, and it wont do much to protect your face from UV rays. It has great breathability, with vents on all sides of its crown that ensure constant airflow.
We chose protection as the most important rating because this is usually the reason you buy a sun hat in the first place. Some hats, like the Tilley LTM6 Airflo, have large mesh panels that allow air to move through and cool through circulation. Top scorers have enough protection to keep you fully covered throughout the day while still maintaining your sense of dignity. We also noticed OR Sun Runner's white color collected dirt quickly. The Outdoor Research and North Face models have removable chin straps so you can lower the dork factor when the chin strap isn't needed.
The straw hat features a mid-length brim, so its not going to take up too much space in your luggage. Hat colors are tricky. The Conner Airflow was surprisingly small and needed to be sized up. If you're running, the air seems to circulate somewhat better perhaps that's why Outdoor Research called it the Sun Runner rather than Sun Hiker. However, its wide back brim can interfere with a loaded backpack. Its available only in one size, but it has an adjustable internal strap that lets you decide how the hat fits. Keep in mind, though, that the Sun Runner's cape is removable for those times when you need to hide your post-hike matted hair on the brewery patio. One of the most breathable hats we tested is the Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure Hat.
The OR Sun Runner Cap is the perfect example of this. The Women's Oasis Sun Sombrero, the women's version of the Sombriolet, had disappointingly no vents, while the Sombriolet has four. Most of the models in this review fall into a similar price range, with the notable exceptions of the Filson Summer Packer and the Tilly LTM6 Airflo, which retail for significantly more.
From Canada originally, Jessica came to the US from her native Toronto and now resides in Mammoth Lakes, CA, where she avidly engages in several sunny outdoor pursuits, including climbing, backpacking, mountain biking, and skiing. It is easier to wear with a backpack than the wider-brimmed models, too. Only a few hats are a one-size-fits-all design, and even those are flexible enough they should fit most people equally well. To find out, we took Finding the right UPF sun shirt can be a challenge. Its large front brim shades your face, but the tapered sides and neck cape allow for you to look around more. These competitors are the Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure, Sunday Afternoons Adventure Hat, Outdoor Research Sombriolet, and Patagonia Baggies Brimmer.
The removable sun cape provides excellent protection from the elements, but can potentially impair your peripheral vision. Users seeking a hat that will keep them protected deep into the backcountry should consider something else. Straw hats are usually the more stylish option because they go well with nearly all outfits. It also offers great sun protection because of that wide brim. This review is brought to you by OutdoorGearLab Review Editors Sam Schild, Jessica Haist, and Joanna Trieger. Sun hats are typically a fairly affordable piece of gear, yet they perform the priceless task of saving your skin from sun damage. We crushed them inside our packs to test how well they resumed shape.
These hats interfere less with a loaded pack, so there's less chance that they'll annoy you on the trail. We took the Patagonia Baggies Brimmer across snowfields, rivers, and beyond.
It also has very little ventilation. This beach hat features a 2 brim, so it will provide some extra protection, but not as much as you get from a wide brim straw hat. The Sinsola, the Outdoor Research Helios, the Ultra Adventure, and the Outdoor Research Sun Bucket were the lightest in the review and also the most comfortable. The best sun hat for you is that one that fits you properly. Its also more portable than the average straw hat thanks to this, plus the poly-straw material is more durable and packable. The Filson Summer Packer looks great on men and women alike, and it can be for a variety of activities.
This means you're more likely to actually wear them while trekking, which is always the most protective option. The Outdoor Research Sombriolet has one of the widest brims we tested, and for water sports or general activities like gardening, this will keep you most protected. We love this hat and its wide selection of colors. The best models have ample ventilation and are made with breathable fabrics so that your head stays cool on hot days. It's also less likely to interfere with a backpack, which makes it a very comfortable choice. Its a fashionable straw hat that looks great with every outfit, plus it features a 6 brim that offers excellent sun protection, especially with the ultraviolet protection factor. When he's not backpacking, Sam can be found trail running, rock climbing, camping, and peak bagging on the Colorado Front Range. It is the most stylish of the high-performing full-brim models, and we felt comfortable wearing it around town. After all the testing we can offer you choices that include outstanding performers, budget-friendly choices, the most stylish options, and the best pick for the water. Its available in three different sizes, plus theres a velcro strap inside the hat that allows you to adjust it even further. No ads. Got feedback? The Baggies Brimmer has a long, 3.25-inch brim all the way around to protect your neck. The latter two models also had decent wicking materials to keep our heads cool and dry, which added to their comfort.
It is great to be fully protected from the sun, but if you can't see where you're going, it defeats the purpose. Keep in mind that, according to the American Cancer Society, the best sun protection is to stay out of the sun, especially from 10 am to 2 pm. This brings up an important point: sizing is critical. Need to find some good sun hats for travel?
The Filson Summer Packer doesn't have any mesh paneling, but we found that the eyelet vents shown here provided decent airflow. While the Patagonia Baggies Brimmer blew off our head in a large gust of wind, we loved how the foam toggle feels against our chin when you have to tighten it. With all these miles under the sun, Sam spends a lot of time considering ways to protect his face, neck, and ears. Even after being crushed, this hat pops right back into shape without a crease in sight. When we asked friends and family which hat they'd want to wear, they invariably picked the Summer Packer first. Go with one of our top three choices, depending on what features you are prioritizing in a sun hat! Testing the Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure hat while hiking rim to rim of the Grand Canyon. The Filson Summer Packer performed really well here because it packs down small and any creases caused by packing shake out after a wear or two. We think the Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure has the optimal level of high sun protection, but you can still sport it without feeling too ridiculous. From washing your car or gardening to sweltering desert hikes or summer kayak floats down your local creek, this hat has got you covered. We put our lineup of hats to the ultimate test -- a weeklong backpacking trip in the southwest US desert, including the Grand Canyon. One other factor we take into consideration is visibility. We find that full-brimmed competitors can be more uncomfortable, like the Outdoor Research Women's Oasis Sun Sombrero because the stiffer brims tend to dig into our foreheads. Theres also an adjustable chin strap that lets you secure this cotton hat to your head. The most durable hats are well made with strong materials and a crushable brim. The Sunset Hat by Sunday Afternoons is another great option if you want a flexible straw hat. We found that the Horizon Breeze Brimmer can take the abuse of being folded and crushed over and over. It is loaded with surprising features, including a sunglass keeper and anti-glare material under the brim for when you're traveling on reflective surfaces like water or snow. The downside of this crochet hat is that its not one of the more packable hats out of the bunch. The other thing to keep in mind when considering the price is versatility. The cotton hat is lightweight, packable, and comfortable to wear, making it the ultimate addition to your travel bag. The Filson Summer Packer is super stylish. While almost all competitors have 50+ UPF ratings, contenders like the Columbia Bora Bora Booney II and the Alchemi Labs Desert Hat have mesh in the crown area that could allow some sunlight through. The downside is that it doesnt seem to provide any protection from UV rays. In the rest of our review, we'll go over the different test metrics that we used and let you know which models stood out in each. The Sinsola is stretchy and comfortable. Taking in a well earned view with the Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure. No hat is perfect. We love looking out over the water with this high-performing model. This is one of the most comfortable models we tested. The Tilley Wanderer sun hat is a great option if you want to get a soft cotton hat. This hat provides incredible protection from the sun while remaining lightweight, comfortable, breathable, and super packable.
The San Diego floppy hat is one of the best summer hats you can get for travel. The Siggi Floppy Sun Hat is a great option if you prefer the look of straw hats but the functionality of cotton hats. In terms of value for money and performance, this is easily one of the best straw hats out of the bunch. The worst can't even be crushed and fall apart at the seams over a short time. The body of the hat is breathable thanks to the woven construction, so it shouldnt feel too warm to wear the Panama sun hat. Also, its worth noting that this hat easily folds flat, for carefree transport in suitcases and backpacks. MISSION Cooling Bucket Hat- UPF 50, 3 Wide Brim, Cools When Wet, Quiksilver Men's Pierside Lifeguard Beach Sun Straw Hat, Quiksilver Men's Bushmaster Sun Protection Floppy Visor Bucket Hat, FURTALK Panama Hat Sun Hats for Women Men Wide Brim Fedora Straw Beach Hat UV UPF 50, MISSION Cooling Bucket Hat- UPF 50, 3 Wide Brim, Cools When Wet (Sea Palm), Home Prefer Mens UPF 50+ Sun Protection Cap Wide Brim Fishing Hat with Neck Flap, Home Prefer Men's Sun Hat UPF 50+ Wide Brim Bucket Hat Windproof Fishing Hats, MISSION Cooling Performance Hat- Unisex Baseball Cap, Cools When Wet- White, Home Prefer Outdoor UPF50+ Mesh Sun Hat Wide Brim Fishing Hat with Neck Flap, Pineapple Sun Straw Fedora Beach Hat Fine Braid UPF50+ for Unisex, Plarmod Sun Fashing Hat for Men, 3.5 Wide Brim Cools Super Wide Brim Sun Hat for Fishing, Hiking, FURTALK Fedora Straw Sun Hat for Men Women Foldable Roll Up Short Brim Trilby Hat Panama Beach Hat UPF 50+, FEICUI Men Women Outdoor Bucket Hat Quick Dry Packable Boonie Hat UV Protection Sun Hat, MISSION Cooling Bucket Hat- UPF 50, 3 Wide Brim, Cools When Wet (Matrix Camo), Quiksilver Men's Outsider Waterman Sun Protection Lifeguard Straw Hat, Billabong Men's Classic Straw Lifeguard Hat, Sun Hat Women/Men, Fishing Hat with UPF 50+ UV Protection Wide Brim Bucket Hat, Connectyle Outdoor Mesh Sun Hat Wide Brim UV Sun Protection Hat Fishing Hiking Hat, Hemlock Hat Co. On top of that, its important to mention that the hat is size-adjustable with the metal buckle in the back. Also, the hat is available in only one size, so theres no way to guarantee a perfect fit. We traditionally think of sun hats as having wide, full brims but were surprised that the most effective types also include extra neck coverage. The OR Sun Runner is a great choice for desert hiking and running. It looks great, too.
We recommend a hat with a narrower brim for backpackers, like the Filson Summer Packer, the Patagonia Baggies Brimmer, or the North Face Horizon Breeze Brimmer. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Read review: Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure.
In this update, we bought the 15 most promising for hands-on testing.
Depending on what activity you're doing, you're going to want to have the proper visibility. This hat includes a removable "neck cape" not the most stylish, but super great when you need extra protection from intense solar rays, like in the middle of the desert with nary a shade tree in sight.
The Dalix Rainbow Baseball Cap is the perfect sun hat if you want something simple and functional. We found that it depends on the activities you'll be pursuing. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. In our opinion, every season is sandal season. We bought the hats and then put them to the test, with special care to evaluate the performance characteristics that our experience told us were the most important. While stylish, the Sinsola is not a great technical performer. Our side-by-tests were designed to determine which were best at keeping us protected and cool, and which were best when it came to comfort. Though this brim will hit a large backpack when backpacking, the brim will stay folded up or down, so it doesn't rub your pack all day. The Sun Runner is essentially two hats for the price of one, which makes it a great value. The Sunday Afternoons Adventure Hat is the classic trail hat with a colossal visor and a long neck cape that makes you look like you've just walked out of the Sahara. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. All trademarks property of their respective owners The Furtalk Sun Straw Hat is a great option if you want a stylish hat to wear with cute outfits.
In case you just want an affordable hat for travel, the Joylife Fishermen hat is the best choice.
The OR Sun Runner's cape partially blocks the hat's mesh vents. While most of the hats in our review tend toward dorkiness, the Arc'teryx Sinsola is sleek and stylish. The Outdoor Research Sombriolet's 4-inch brim keeps the sun's rays mostly off your face. The best ones can be crushed for days without the brim being affected and can be tossed around carelessly without worry.
If you want a simple straw hat, the Furtalk Sun Straw Hat is one of the top options to consider. Choosing the Right Sun Hat for your Adventures.
Comfort is essential in a sun protection hat. Look for the available sizes of sun hats, and settle only for those that are going to be a perfect fit. We were a bit disappointed with the Outdoor Research Sun Runner Cap in this category because the neck cape tends to trap warm air when the front chin strap is done up, causing our necks to get hot. We also looked out for hats that show stains. We found the large full brims, especially the floppier ones, have the least visibility, and we would not recommend these for anything technical that you may need to look around a lot, such as ridge scrambling. It's also very comfortable, and it packs down to nothing, so you can permanently stow it inside a bag or purse. To Best Sun Protection Shirts for Women of 2022. It offers sun protection, its stylish, and its affordably priced. A high-quality, durable hat can potentially last you a lifetime and maintain your healthy skin. The most stylish hats have sleek, classic looks, while the least stylish have huge brims or odd-shaped capes. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing and comparison.
It boasts Columbias proprietary Omni-Shade technology that is capable of blocking UVA and UVB rays, for maximum protection from the sun. The buckle also allows you to adjust the cap for ventilation, plus theres a sweatband lining inside, for maximum breathability. For the times when you have to be outside, however, the right sun hat can offer substantial protection. Then youre certainly in the right place because this detailed guide features ten of the best sun hats for travel you can get your hands on! We loved having this model with us on all our backpacking trips.
Its very lightweight, packable, and available in more than 20 different colors so everyone can find a design they like. But, this model has everything else you're looking for to stop the "Death Star" from frying your neck and face.
The hat is UPF50+ rated and that protection extends all around the brim. Its made from a lightweight and breathable material, its extremely packable due to flexible fabric, and its available in a wide variety of prints and solid colors, so everyone can find a design they like. It has a cape the cinches up in the front to cover the front and back of your neck from the sun. Its brim has a very specific curved shape that makes it hard to look around or take in the view while hiking, especially when wearing a pack.
The brim will shield your face for the most part, but its missing that extra protection that guarantees you wont burn even in the shade. We were pleasantly surprised by the Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure's foldable brim, making it much more durable and packable than the regular Adventure Hat. Read review: Outdoor Research Sun Runner Cap.
Its made from moisture-wicking hydrofil fabric with durable water repellent coating for great performance even in wet weather. Which soft cooler is the best? You want them to hide stains but don't want them to be too dark and attract more sun and heat. A super comfortable hat, in contrast, you might want to wear even when it isn't sunny out. Relaxing over afternoon tea with shade on our faces. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.
When the wind picked up, it stayed on our heads, and the brim didn't expose our face by flipping up or limit our vision by flopping in our eyes. This Sunday Afternoons hat features UPF50+ protection, as well as an internal sweatband for improved breathability. The Ultra Adventure has a great blend of good coverage and visibility.
The Outdoor Research Sun Runner Cap is a versatile and protective model with an affordable price tag.
Although we loved both of these hats, we also highly recommend several options that are less than half the price of those two models. A very active backpacker, Sam has thru-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail and the Colorado trail twice. Material on GearLab is copyrighted.
Both types of hats offer sun protection, the main difference is that cotton hats can also provide some protection from the rain. The most stylish hat in our review, the Sinsola was great for wearing around town. All the hats with capes the Ultra Adventure, the Sun Runner, and the Adventure inevitably lost style points.
The womens hat is made from natural paper straw, and its UPF30+ resistant.
Style can make or break your dignity, and it is often what your choice of a hat will ultimately come down to.
It is great for travel, beach, vacation, trip, outdoor activities, street strolling, fishing for the sun protection headwear. Our favorite models, the Filson Summer Packer, the Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure, and the Patagonia Baggies Brimmer were top performers in this category, as well as the feminine and stylish Arc'teryx Sinsola. If your hat isn't comfortable, it's less likely that you will grab it while going out the door. The Patagonia Baggies Brimmer is comfortable and stylish for a high-performing full brim hat. GearLab is reader-supported. Its available in quite a few different colors, so it should be easy to pick out a design you like. On hot days when the sun is beating down on your head, you want a hat that not only protects you but that allows the pent-up heat to escape. Its a bit bulky because of the wide brim and straw construction and it doesnt respond well to being bunched up in a backpack. We feel like this female-specific model would look great at a casual wedding, but it also looks awesome with a t-shirt and shorts for a light hike. When you need less protection, remove the neck cape for a more hip look with better air circulation. Cotton hats are more packable and durable than straw hats, so theyre a more reliable option for travel. In addition to being a great packable sun hat, the Tilley Wanderer can also provide some protection in wet weather. The Baggies Brimmer kept our head nice and cool all day. The hat also features an adjustable chin strap that helps improve performance in windy weather. On the downside, the Horizon Breeze Brimmer has a narrower brim than some others we tested, so it doesn't offer quite as much sun protection as the Outdoor Research Sun Runner. We curated What are the best women's sandals for travel, hiking, and What are the best binoculars?
Our only gripe is that the unique brim shape dips in front of your eyes, as shown here.
Top subscription boxes right to your door, 1996-2022, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Its a great hat for travel because it performs well in changing weather conditions, but also because you dont have to take special care of it. Its fabric breathes exceptionally well and has large mesh sections running along its sides. We discovered that the Arc'teryx Sinsola's black color was quickly faded by the sun, which causes it to lose some durability points.
This hat also features an adjustable chin strap, so you can easily secure it to your head. The Filson Summer Packer protected our skin, stole our hearts, and earned its place in the spotlight. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. It might not be super packable, but its definitely one of the best options if you prioritize fashion over portability. With the Patagonia Baggies Brimmer, the brim can be folded up or down and will stay that way to prevent it from interfering with a large pack. It's not at all adjustable, either. The hat is available in 21 different colors, so you shouldnt struggle to find a design you like. This guide features only the best sun protection hats you can buy, and most of them are stylish enough that you wont need another hat while youre traveling! We tested the durability of each hat by crushing it in a small ziplock bag for 30 minutes and seeing how they fared.
Head over to Amazon to see prices and more photos of the sun hats featured in this review. For the most technical outdoor pursuits, where you'll be spending long days in extreme conditions, this might not be the best option.
This is a soft and lightweight cotton hat with an ultra-wide brim and a ponytail hole, for maximum comfort.
We also noticed that the cape partially covers the mesh ventilation. Are you going to be doing this to your hat regularly? After testing 40 of the best sun hats over the last 9 years, we know that some do their job better than others. Printed Bottom Lifeguard Hats, USHAKE Head Net Hat, Safari Hat Sun Hat Bucket Hat with Hidden Net Mesh, BROOKLYN ATHLETICS Mens Classic Straw Sun Beach Hat - Wide Brim, Womens Straw Hat Short Brim Panama Fedora Beach Sun Trilby Hat for Vacation Gentlemen Roll Up Summer Hat, Bucket Hat for Women Men Canvas Washed Cotton Trendy Distressed Womens Summer Beach Sun Hats with Detachable Strings, Women Straw Sun Hat Mens Cowboy Style Garden Hat UPF 50+ Wide Brim Summer Hat with Wind Lanyard, Straw Fedora Sun Hats for Women Men Summer Sun Beach Hat Packable Short Brim Roll Up Straw Panama Fedora Hat, The Hat Depot Cotton Stone-Washed Safari Wide Brim Foldable Double-Sided Sun Boonie Bucket Hat, Muryobao Mens Sun Hats UPF 50+ Waterproof Mesh Wide Brim Bucket Fishing Hat, Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in. The hat is also available in a variety of different sizes so that everyone can get a comfortable fit. Read review: The North Face Horizon Breeze Brimmer Hat. Whether youre looking for bucket hats, packable womens sun hats, or straw hats you will find plenty of interesting options below. All of the models we tested have a way to attach the hat to your head. Make sure the hat is stylish enough that you will wear it, though. Since many folks prefer the look and feel of a full-brim hat, however, it's worth considering which of these is the most protective. But that dirt washed out just as quickly. The Ultra Adventure is not the most stylish of the bunch, and we thought the Arc'teryx Sinsola and Filson Summer Packer both looked better. The Sinsola also fell in this category because its brim dips right in front of your eyes to obscure the view.
The lighter weight material the hat is made of, the more comfortable and wearable it is. The Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure Hat is great for long, exposed climbs in the desert, but it might not be our first choice to wear around town. 2) Take a BUFF and tuck it under a cap (photo below right). This hat can get wet, rung out, stepped on, and it shouldnt suffer a scratch. We'll also discuss what to look for when considering the value of your purchase. The near-constant jostling pushes the hat out of place and is majorly annoying for the wearer.
Its a very affordable hat made from breathable cotton, and its available in a lot of prints and solid colors. No cherry-picked units sent by manufacturers. The Tilley LTM6 is ideal if you're into Indiana Jones or want a classic-looking model. Its got a wide but adjustable brim, allowing you to adjust how the hat looks on you. For activities where you don't wear a large pack, such as gardening or paddling, the Baggies Brimmer is a great choice. The result is a comprehensive review that should serve you well in searching for a great sun hat. Do you want a simple straw hat that works well with most outfits, or would you rather have a cotton sun hat thats more durable and packable? It kept the sun off our face while the anti-glare material under the brim reduced the water's glare. If you buy a Tilley, you also join an exclusive secret club and inevitably start receiving the "Tilley Nod" from other Tilley owners. Its also worth noting that everything about this hat is high quality, from the leatherette bands to the sturdy straw its made from. Its not one of the best packable sun hats because of the straw construction, but it offers UPF protection and the wide brim keeps your face in the shade. The Adventure Hat can only be packed flat, and when the brim is folded, it permanently creases. Great protection all around, especially on the back, Lightweight material is good at wicking moisture. Most hats featured here are either available in multiple sizes or have buckles and straps that allow you to adjust how they fit.
This is a hat we were happy to tuck into a bag or pack no matter what outdoor activity the day had in store, and as a bonus, it's one of the most affordable models we tested. The Wallaroo Victoria Sun Hat is an excellent option if youre looking for a high-quality straw hat. Check out our related posts for ideas on other must-have travel accessories! We like the Sunday Afternoons Adventure Hat's comfortable webbing cinch around our head, and it also comes with a chin strap. Its available in three colors, and its a one-size-fits-all hat with a circumference of 22.5.
The most effective competitors had capes that go down the back of them to cover your neck.
But if you're looking for a durable, comfortable sun hat that can take you from the trail to the bar patio, the Filson Summer Packer is your best bet.
We could happily go all day without taking it off.
The brim is more like a sun visor, helping your eyes deal with the glare of the sun, and it wont do much to protect your face from UV rays. It has great breathability, with vents on all sides of its crown that ensure constant airflow.
We chose protection as the most important rating because this is usually the reason you buy a sun hat in the first place. Some hats, like the Tilley LTM6 Airflo, have large mesh panels that allow air to move through and cool through circulation. Top scorers have enough protection to keep you fully covered throughout the day while still maintaining your sense of dignity. We also noticed OR Sun Runner's white color collected dirt quickly. The Outdoor Research and North Face models have removable chin straps so you can lower the dork factor when the chin strap isn't needed.
The straw hat features a mid-length brim, so its not going to take up too much space in your luggage. Hat colors are tricky. The Conner Airflow was surprisingly small and needed to be sized up. If you're running, the air seems to circulate somewhat better perhaps that's why Outdoor Research called it the Sun Runner rather than Sun Hiker. However, its wide back brim can interfere with a loaded backpack. Its available only in one size, but it has an adjustable internal strap that lets you decide how the hat fits. Keep in mind, though, that the Sun Runner's cape is removable for those times when you need to hide your post-hike matted hair on the brewery patio. One of the most breathable hats we tested is the Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure Hat.
The OR Sun Runner Cap is the perfect example of this. The Women's Oasis Sun Sombrero, the women's version of the Sombriolet, had disappointingly no vents, while the Sombriolet has four. Most of the models in this review fall into a similar price range, with the notable exceptions of the Filson Summer Packer and the Tilly LTM6 Airflo, which retail for significantly more.
From Canada originally, Jessica came to the US from her native Toronto and now resides in Mammoth Lakes, CA, where she avidly engages in several sunny outdoor pursuits, including climbing, backpacking, mountain biking, and skiing. It is easier to wear with a backpack than the wider-brimmed models, too. Only a few hats are a one-size-fits-all design, and even those are flexible enough they should fit most people equally well. To find out, we took Finding the right UPF sun shirt can be a challenge. Its large front brim shades your face, but the tapered sides and neck cape allow for you to look around more. These competitors are the Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure, Sunday Afternoons Adventure Hat, Outdoor Research Sombriolet, and Patagonia Baggies Brimmer.