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How Do You Choose One Of The Best Hiking Hats With Sun Protection?
Choose one of the best hiking hats with sun protection. A hat shades your face from burning sunshine, and keeps your head cooler too! These hats come from well know outdoor gear brands. Read this for more about the best outdoor gear brands for hiking clothes.
When you choose one of the best hiking hats with sun protection you want the following features:
For The Best Protection:
- Sun Protection (UPF) – You want a UPF of at least 30 and ideally 50 or higher. For more detail about UPF, read this from the Skin Cancer Foundation.
- Brim’s Width – You want a brim that is at least 3″ – 4″ wide. A brim with this much width protects your face and neck. You want your hat’s brim longer in the back to protect your neck.
- Cape – Some hats have a cape to cover your neck.
- Brim’s Shape – A curved brim that sits close to your face gives you the best protection.
- Color:
- Choose a light color for the hat’s outer side. A light color reflects the sun’s heat away from your head.
- Choose a hat with a dark color under the brim. A dark color absorbs the sun’s rays that bounce back towards our face and eyes.
For the Most Comfort:
- Material – For warm and hot weather, you want a blend or synthetic hat. A cotton blend with polyester, nylon, or spandex makes a good choice. A well made synthetic hat makes a good choice too. You want a lightweight, breathable sun hat.
- Ventilation – Vents help keep your head cool on a sunny hike.
- Proper Fit For Comfort – An adjustable headband keeps your hat from feeling too tight. As the day goes on, you will become uncomfortable with a tight hat. Also, you can adjust your hat so it stays on your head when the wind blows.
- Chin Strap – A chin strap also keeps your hat secure on those windy hikes.
- Packable – You want the convenience of a hat that packs easily. You want your hat handy when you hike.
Best Hiking Hats With Sun Protection – Quick View
| Brand | Hat | UPF | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women’s: | |||
| Columbia | Coolhead Booney | 50 | $45 |
| Outdoor Research | Mojave Sun Hat | 50+ | $49 |
| Outdoor Research | Solar Roller Sun Hat | 50 | $38 |
| Men’s: | |||
| Filson | Twin Falls | 50+ | $75 |
| Outdoor Research | Sombriolet Sun Hat | 50+ | $42 |
| Outdoor Research | Sun Bucket Hat | 50+ | $35 |
| The North Face | Horizon Breeze Brimmer | 40+ | $40 |
| Unisex: | |||
| Columbia | Bora Bora II | 50 | $30 |
| GearTop | Wide Brim Sun Hat | 50+ | $21.88 |
| Sunday Afternoons | Ultra Adventure Hat | 50+ | $42 |
| Tilley | LTM6 Airflo Hat Broad Brim | 50+ | $99 |
Columbia – Coolhead II Zero Booney
This brimmed hat offers your face a lot of sun protection. The UPF 50 protection lets you enjoy the sun as you hike. On windy days, a back closer lets you secure the hat so it does not blow off.
Embrace the sun with the Coolhead Booney, don’t avoid it.
Features & Benefits
- Sweat band wicks away moisture
- Adjustable chin strap to keep your hat secure
- Back toggle and draw cord that adjust for a better fit
- 3.5” brim with dark fabric underside for better sun protection
- Cape that packs to protect your neck
- Nylon for a durable hat
- UPF 50 for sun protection
- $45 MSRP
Shop for a Coolhead II
Outdoor Research – Mojave Sun Hat
Outdoor Research made a hat as pretty as the Mojave Desert it is named for.
This Western style sun hat offers a lot of value as well as protects you from the sun. The hat offers broad brimmed shade with a feminine look. This is a perfect hat to shade you as you hike during sunny days.
Features & Benefits
- Broad brimmed, lightweight sun hat protects your face
- Chin strap and an internal tie for a better fit
- Sewn eyelets offer extra airflow
- Packs for travel
- Long lasting, breathable 100% cotton twill shows less dirt
- UPF 50
- $49 MSRP
Shop For A Mohave
Outdoor Research – Solar Roller Sun Hat
This is a hat you always want to have with you.
This broad brim sun hat keeps your face covered on sunny days with oasis like shade. The UPF 50+ rating adds more protection. You will enjoy how the wicking headband helps your brow dry. The external draw cord keeps the Solar Roller snug on your head when you hike long, windy trails.
Features & Benefits
- Dark fabric under brim for more sun protection
- Foam stiffened brim that floats
- Sewn eyelets helps keep your head cooler
- One handed draw cord for easy adjustment
- Removable chin cord for more comfort
- Easy to pack
- Stay dry with:
- Water resistant
- Wicking headband
- Quick dry
- Breathable for comfort
- Lightweight for more comfort
- Nylon plain weave for strength and keeps shape
- UPF 50+
- $38 MSRP
Buy A Solar Roller
Men’s Hiking Hats With Sun Protection
Filson – Twin Falls
The Twin Falls Travel Hat keeps the sun off your face and neck. The hat has a dry finish cover cloth. The cloth gives the hat a 50+ UPF rating. You will enjoy the lightweight comfort the hat offers in warm and hot weather.
Filson gave their hat a light, flexible 3” brim. This and the locking cinch cord keeps your hat from blowing away on windy days. Ventilation grommets help keep your head cool on hot hikes.
Features & Benefits
- Full 3” brim keeps sun off face and neck
- Flexible brim, locking cinch cord to keep hat in place on windy days
- Lightweight dry finish cover cloth
- Eyelets in crown for air to keep your head cooler
- 100% Cotton cover for durability
- UPF 50+ to protect from sun
- $75 MSRP
Shop For A Filson
Outdoor Research – Sombriolet Sun Hat
When you hike, keep your head and face protected with one of the best men’s sun hats. The Outdoor Research Sombriolet Sun Hat shelters your face from the sun.
The foam stiffened brim lets the hat float. A mesh lined crown and wicking headband help keep your brow dry. The crown vents keep your head cooler. A UPF 50+ rated fabric shields keeps your face from sun burning. Piping along the brim helps keep your hat in place during windy hikes.
This is a nice hat. Still, I returned the hat. The sweat band is not tacked/sewn and slips when you wear the hat.
Features & Benefits
- Dark fabric under brim helps shield from sun
- Foam stiffened brim floats
- Side vents on crown for more air
- Breathable mesh panels to stay cooler
- Wide brim for more sun shielding
- One hand draw cord for easy adjustment
- Chin cord removes for more comfort
- Easy to pack
- Stay drier with:
- Water resistant to stay dry
- Breathable and lightweight
- Wicking
- Fast dry
- Mesh lined crown for a better fit
- 89% Nylon; 11% Polyester
- UPF 50+
- $42 MSRP
Shop For A Sombriolet
Outdoor Research – Sun Bucket Hat
Wear the Outdoor Research Sun Bucket Hat to protect your head from the bright sun. The hat’s lower brim gives your face more shade.
Features & Benefits
- Dark fabric under brim helps shield face from sun
- Foam stiffened brim floats
- Eyelets on crown for more air
- One hand draw cord for easy adjustment
- Chin cord removes for more comfort
- Easy to pack
- Stay drier with:
- Water resistant to stay dry
- Breathable and lightweight
- Wicking
- Fast dry
- 86% Nylon; 14% Polyester
- UPF 50+
- $35 MSRP
Buy A Sun Bucket Hat
The North Face – Horizon Breeze Brimmer
Trail style meets must have features in the Horizon Breeze Brimmer Hat. With UPF 40+ protection, wicking fabric, and an elastic sweatband, you will easily handle sunny weather.
Features & Benefits
- Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) 40+ protects from sunburn
- Elastic sweatband with wicking and cooling performance
- Mesh venting with overlay keeps you cool
- Adjustable, removable draw cord for a better fit
- Mesh venting with overlay to stay cooler
- Protective, full brim hat for a wide range of outdoor fun
- Branded elastic sweatband to stay dry
- Ripstop nylon for long lasting hat
- Adjustable and removable draw cord for a better fit
- $40 MSRP
Shop For A Horizon Breeze Brimmer
Unisex Hiking Hats With Sun Protection
Columbia – Bora Bora II
This unisex sun hat built in UPF 50 to shield you from the sun’s harmful UV rays. The hat also has an ultra sweat wicking headband that keeps your forehead dry. A mesh vent panel helps keep you cool.
Features & Benefits
- A sweatband and mesh venting actively breathe and pull moisture away from your skin to keep you cool.
- Adjustable draw cord and toggle at back for a custom fit
- Chin strap adjusts for a better fit
- 3″ brim for best sun protection
- Unisex
- Nylon for durable hat
- UPF 50 keeps you from burning
- $30 MSRP
Shop For A Bora Bora II
GearTOP UPF 50+ Wide Brim Sun Hat
GearTOP’s wide brim sun hat gives you the most sun protection for your hikes. You have a breathable, lightweight hat with UPF 50+ sun protection! This is a perfect hat for hiking or other outdoor fun.
The hat comes with the GearTOP lifetime guarantee! ….. “In the unlikely scenario that customers should encounter any problems with any of our products, we’d be happy to issue a refund or even replace the product – COMPLETELY FREE OF CHARGE.”
Features & Benefits
- Wide brim sun hat protects your face from sun
- UPF 50+ sun UV protection for no sunburn
- Elastic draw cord for a custom fit
- Snaps at the sides for a better fit
- Adjustable draw cord/chin strap that secures your hat
- Vented with a breathable mesh band all around the hat
- Water resistant to protect your head from getting wet
- Quick drying, perfect for hiking or any other outdoor activity
- Lightweight and packable, easy to carry and store
- Unisex women and men
- GearTOP Lifetime Guarantee
- $21.88 MSRP
Buy A GearTOP Wide Brim
Sunday Afternoons – Ultra Adventure Hat
Sunday Afternoons updated the Ultra Adventure Hat.
The unisex hat now has a slimmer profile. Also, the hat has a Clamshell Brim to keep both your face and neck protected. The sunglass sleeve on the cap makes it easy to stash your sunglasses. The update keeps the original hat’s sun protection, ventilation, and moisture management.
Features & Benefits
- Wicking sweatband and vents to stay cool
- Water and stain resistant; easy to keep clean
- Folds for easy packing
- Strap for custom sizing
- Sun glass sleeve for easy access
- Unisex
- 88% Nylon; 12% Polyester
- UPF 50 prevents burning
- $42 MSRP
Shop For An Ultra Adventure
Tilley – LTM6 Airflo Hat Broad Brim
Be sure you have the real Tilley design.
The LTM6 Airflo Broad Brim hat is made with a long lasting Nylon. The Tilley protects you with a UPF 50+ rating. The design allows air to flow around your head. The hat’s durable water repellant finish keeps you dry.
Features & Benefits
- Lifetime guarantee
- Durable Water Repellent keeps you dry
- Hidden Pocket for secure storage
- Floats protects against loss
- Moisture wicking and mesh keep you cool
- Tuck away chin strap for a better fit
- BLUESIGN approved for sustainability
- Long lasting nylon
- UPF 50 keeps the sunburn away
- $99 MSRP
Shop For An LTM6 Airflo
Summary – Best Hiking Hats With Sun Protection
Remember, you want to think about the following features when you choose your hiking sun hat:
- Sun Protection (UPF) – protect from sunburn
- Brim’s width – more sun protection
- Brim’s Shape – keeps sun from burning
- Cape or long brim on the back of your neck – to shade from sun
- Color – for light for cooler
- Ventilation – to cool
- Material – for durability
- Proper fit – for Comfort.
- Chin Strap -to secure your hat
- Packable – for easy carry
Best Hiking Hats With Sun Protection – Quick View
| Brand | Hat | UPF | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women’s: | |||
| Columbia | Coolhead Booney | 50 | $45 |
| Outdoor Research | Mojave Sun Hat | 50+ | $49 |
| Outdoor Research | Solar Roller Sun Hat | 50 | $38 |
| Men’s: | |||
| Filson | Twin Falls | 50+ | $75 |
| Outdoor Research | Sombriolet Sun Hat | 50+ | $42 |
| Outdoor Research | Sun Bucket Hat | 50+ | $35 |
| The North Face | Horizon Breeze Brimmer | 40+ | $40 |
| Unisex: | |||
| Columbia | Bora Bora II | 50 | $30 |
| GearTOP | Wide Brim Sun Hat | 50+ | $21.88 |
| Sunday Afternoons | Ultra Adventure Hat | 50+ | $42 |
| Tilley | LTM6 Airflo Hat Broad Brim | 50+ | $99 |