Sun protection is an important concern for those that enjoy spending their time outdoors. Whether you’re planning a day of fishing, hiking your favorite local trails, or simply working in the yard, you are being exposed to dangerous UVA and UVB rays. While there are many great sunscreens available for protection, you may not be a fan of the greasy feel or the time that it takes to apply it. 

Including a sun hat on your packing list is an easy and reliable solution. Plus, they can easily be packed up and tucked into your hiking backpack or even a back pocket. 

A quick search for sun hats will reveal a wide assortment of sizes, styles, and features. In fact, there are so many options that trying to select one could feel overwhelming. We have put together this guide to help you get started including a breakdown of what features to consider and a list of our favorite sun hats for any outdoor activity.

Cover image: Shutterstock

Best Sun Hats

	Columbia Unisex – Adult Bora Bora Booney	Calamus UPF 50 Boonie Sun Hat	Dukars UPF 50+ Wide Brim Sun Hat for Women
Brand:	Columbia	Calamus	Dukars
Material:	Nylon	Polyester and Nylon	Polyester
Available Colors:	Boulder, Bright Aqua, Canyon Sun, City Grey, Collegiate Navy, Coral Reef, Dark Coral, Dark Pool, Deep Marine, Electric Turquoise, Emerald Green, Fossil, Grill, Mango, Mountain Red, Nimbus Grey, Peatmoss, Safari, Sage, Savory, Steel, Thyme Green, Tropic Water, Warm Copper, White, Wildfire	Khaki, Gray, Black, Light Khaki, Combat Green, Canary, Pink, Black Camo, Green Camo, Moss Green	Black, Grey, Light Beige, Navy, Orange, Pink, Pure Blue, Pure Light Beige, Pure Pink, Pure Purple, Pure Watermelon Red, Purple, Sky Blue, Watermelon Red
Brim Width:	3 Inches	3 Inches	3.34 Inches
	amazon.com	amazon.com	amazon.com

The Best Sun Hats at a Glance: 

1. Columbia Unisex Adult Bora Bora Booney
2. Calamus UPF 50 Boonie Sun Hat
3. Dukars UPF 50+ Wide Brim Sun Hat for Women
4. Connectyle Men’s UV Sun Protection Cap with Neck Flap
5. Outrip Fishing Hat for Men and Women
6. Mazo Outdoor Quick-Dry Sun Hat
7. Outdoor Research Sun Runner Cap
8. GearTOP Wide Brim Sun Hat for Men and Women

Best Sun Hats Reviews

1. Editor’s Choice: Columbia Unisex – Adult Bora Bora Booney

Specs:

If you’re spending time outdoors, this sun hat is a great option to keep you both comfortable and protected from the elements. It features Omni-Shade UPF 50 sun protection, blocking both UVA and UVB rays from causing short-term and long-term sun damage. It also offers a built-in ultra-sweat moisture wicking headband to keep your sweat out of your face on even the hottest days. 

Pros:

• Omni-Wick quick dry technology 
• UPF 50 sun protection 
• Toggle size adjustment at the back

Cons:

• Hat brim is weaker and reportedly flops up in the wind 

amazon.com

2. Runner Up: Calamus UPF 50 Boonie Sun Hat

Specs:

Another great option for outdoor lovers, this hat can be purchased either with or without the neck flap. But it is removable if you change your mind down the road. The hat is well suited for sunny summer days with UPF 50 sun protection, an anti-reflective darker surface on the bottom of the brim and a moisture wicking headband. A drawstring around the headband and an adjustable chin strap help to ensure it fits everyone comfortably. 

Pros:

• Option of purchasing with neck flap
• UPF 50 sun protection 
• Elastic drawstring for adjustable fit 
• Anti-reflective dark brim

Cons:

• Some buyers report the hat runs small

amazon.com

3. Best Sun Hat for Women: Dukars UPF 50+ Wide Brim Sun Hat for Women

Specs:

Ladies with longer hair will enjoy the fact that this hat features an opening at the back for a ponytail. It is made from lightweight polyester, making it comfortable when wearing it for long periods of time. The adjustable chin strap holds the hat in place when active and snaps on the sides allow you to adjust the position of the brim to suit your personal preferences. 

Pros:

• UPF 50 sun protection 
• Opening in the back for a ponytail 
• Very lightweight design

Cons:

• Some buyers report that the hat runs small

amazon.com

4. Best Baseball Cap Style: Connectyle Men’s UV Sun Protection Cap with Neck Flap

Specs:

For those that aren’t excited about wearing a hat with a brim all the way around, this is a great baseball cap style solution. The hat is made from a lightweight, breathable polyester fabric with ventilation holes in the sides for added airflow. A drawstring around the headband allows for an easy adjustment for different head sizes. The neckflap can easily be attached or removed, protecting your neck from the sun. 

Pros:

• Breathable and quick drying 
• Internal moisture wicking sweatband 
• Foldable for easy packing 
• Detachable neck flap for added protection

Cons:

• Neck flap is easily blown off ears with a breeze, leaving them exposed to the sun

amazon.com

5. Best Full-Coverage Sun Hat: Outrip Fishing Hat for Men & Women with Face Cover & Neck Flap

Specs:

This sun hat takes protection to the next level with full 360-degree protection. The hat itself offers a large, sturdy brim. Both a neck flap and a face cover can be attached to it, either together or separately, using snaps. The hat itself is waterproof, protecting you from the elements even if the weather changes. It can easily be folded and tossed in your bag when you’re on the go. 

Pros:

• Includes both neck flap and face cover for 360-degree protection
• Waterproof 
• Incorporated sweatband to address sweat 
• Foldable and packable

Cons:

• Buyers report it runs quite small 

amazon.com

6. Best Budget: Mazo Outdoor Quick-Dry Sun Hat

Specs:

Outdoor lovers that are looking for a solution to stay comfortable while sticking to a budget will love this hat. It has a smaller brim than the others on this list, but it’s still large enough to keep the sun off your head. Made from UPF 50+ polyester with a mesh panel around the perimeter of the hat, will keep you protected from the sun without overheating. If the hat gets dirty, it can be rinsed off but it is handwash only. 

Pros:

• UPF 50+ sun protection 
• Full mesh panel around the hat for hotter temperatures
• Budget-friendly price point

Cons:

• Some buyers find the chin strap is attached too close to the ears 
• Brim has a bit of a hard plastic feel to it

amazon.com

7. Also Popular: Outdoor Research Sun Runner Cap

Specs:

While this hat looks like a baseball cap, it is slightly smaller and more compact. The sides of the hate are completely mesh allowing for full airflow on a hot day. The neck flap extends up and over the mesh panels adding to the sun protection, but it can also limit the breathability slightly. It’s a lightweight hat that is suitable for a wide range of activities including those that require a helmet as it easily fits underneath. 

Pros:

• TransAction headband for sweat control and comfort
• Full mesh side panels for better airflow
• Removable neckflap covers the mesh sides and back of the neck

Cons:

• Buyers report it runs quite small 

amazon.com

8. Honorable Mention: GearTOP Wide Brim Sun Hat for Men and Women

Specs:

A popular hat due to its functionality and budget-friendly price point, this is a sun hat that won’t disappoint. It provides UPF 50+ protection to keep you safe from the sun’s dangerous UV rays. An adjustable drawcord around the center of the hat makes it easy to adjust to a wide variety of head sizes while the drawstring closure ensures that the hat will stay in place. 

Pros:

• UPF 50+ sun protection 
• Adjustable drawcord and snap buttons 
• Hidden pocket 
• Packable without fear of the hat losing its structure

Cons:

• Breathable mesh provides some air circulation, but not enough on a hot day
• Hand wash only

amazon.com

Best Sun Hats Comparison Table

Sun Hats		Brand	Material	Available Colors	Brim Width
Columbia Unisex – Adult Bora Bora Booney		Columbia	Nylon	Boulder, Bright Aqua, Canyon Sun, City Grey, Collegiate Navy, Coral Reef, Dark Coral, Dark Pool, Deep Marine, Electric Turquoise, Emerald Green, Fossil, Grill, Mango, Mountain Red, Nimbus Grey, Peatmoss, Safari, Sage, Savory, Steel, Thyme Green, Tropic Water, Warm Copper, White, Wildfire	3 Inches
Calamus UPF 50 Boonie Sun Hat		Calamus	Polyester and Nylon	Khaki, Gray, Black, Light Khaki, Combat Green, Canary, Pink, Black Camo, Green Camo, Moss Green	3 Inches
Dukars UPF 50+ Wide Brim Sun Hat for Women		Dukars	Polyester	Black, Grey, Light Beige, Navy, Orange, Pink, Pure Blue, Pure Light Beige, Pure Pink, Pure Purple, Pure Watermelon Red, Purple, Sky Blue, Watermelon Red	3.34 Inches
Connectyle Men’s UV Sun Protection Cap with Neck Flap		Connectyle	Polyester	Army Green, Black, Dark Grey, Khaki, Light Grey, Navy Blue	3.25 Inches, front only
Outrip Fishing Hat for Men & Women with Face Cover & Neck Flap		Outrip	Nylon and Polyester	Army Green, Beige, Black, Camo Blue, Camo Green, Camo Grey, Dark Blue, Dark Grey, Grey, Khaki, Light Blue, Pink, Purple	3.7 Inches
Mazo Outdoor Quick-Dry Sun Hat		Mazo	Polyester	Dark Khaki, Black, Azure, Navy, Orange, Pink, Rose, Gray, Dark Blue, Dark Grey, Gray, Olive	2.17 Inches
Outdoor Research Sun Runner Cap		Outdoor Research	Supplex Nylon	Bahama, Chartreuse, Granola, Lead, Sunset, White, Zinger, Classic Blue, Khaki, Pewter, Cornflower, Lemongrass	2.75 Inches, front only
GearTOP Wide Brim Sun Hat for Men and Women		GearTOP	100% Polyester	Army Green, Beige, Black, Black Camouflage, Khaki, Light Grey, White	3.75 Inches

What to Consider When Buying a Sun Hat 

What is UPF Protection? 

Like the SPF (Sun Protection Factor) rating level, UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) is a measurement used to identify how much protection a fabric offers against both UVA and UVB rays.  The rating refers to how much of the UV radiation is absorbed versus how much is allowed to pass through the fabric. For example, a fabric that is rated as UPF 50 only allows 1/50th of the UV rays to reach your skin. 

Any item that is rated as UPF 40 or above is considered to offer excellent UV protection while those rated 25-39 offer a very good level or protection. 

In addition to the UPF protection level, there are a few other factors to consider during your shopping journey. While some of these will have an impact on the level of protection you will experience, others will have a greater impact on your comfort level. 

Size 

Selecting a hat that is going to properly fit is a necessity. Not only does this play a big role in your comfort, but a hat that is poorly sized may also impact the functionality of the hat. If it’s too small, it may fail to cover the area that it is designed to cover. On the other hand, a hat that is too large can move and shift, even fall off, leaving you at risk for sun exposure. 

Pay careful attention to the options available for adjusting a hat to suit your head size. Many hats do include a drawstring in the headband portion, making it easy to tighten the hat to suit your head if you find that it is slightly larger than ideal. Other hats may use hook and loop closures or elastic to provide a level of adjustability. 

Breathability 

Sun hats are designed for use during the hot, summer weather. But the UVA or UVB rays aren’t the only risk when the temperatures rise. You also want to find a hat that will help to keep you cool and help to prevent heat-related complications like heat stroke or heat exhaustion. Check the breathability of the material used in the hat as well as any mesh panels or ventilation holes that have been added for improved airflow. 

Waterproof vs Water Repellent 

If you’re concerned about the weather taking a turn, you may want to choose a sun hat that can double as protection from the rain. There are two types of water protection that you will commonly see available in sun hats – Waterproof and Water Repellent. While the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, they do have separate meanings that allow you to understand how much protection your hat is going to provide. 

Waterproof is the highest level of water protection. This means that water will not pass through the material. But, to make a fabric waterproof you will need to sacrifice the breathability. Therefore, there are fewer sun hats that make the claim of being fully waterproof. 

Water repellent fabrics provide a protective barrier from water, but they aren’t fully impervious. They offer a good level of protection for a light to medium rain. However, they are likely going to fail in extreme weather conditions. They do still sacrifice some of the breathability that is regularly offered by a sun hat but it is a better balance for those that enjoy activities like backcountry hiking and camping where they need to consider a more comprehensive protection from the elements. 

Added Features 

Finally, there are a few additional features you may be interested in when selecting your sun hat. Some hats will include a zippered pocket on the inside of the hat. This isn’t a large space, and anything you add will add to the weight of the hat when you’re wearing it. But it is a great way to store a little cash, your car key, a credit card, or your fishing license when heading out. 

Another feature that you may enjoy is the option to fasten the sides of the brim up against the hat when you don’t require full protection. This is usually offered by including snaps on the brim and on the band of the hat. This will create a look that is similar to that of a cowboy hat when you are wearing it.