Hikers encounter varying weather conditions while outdoors.
Thus, they need to have all the necessary equipment to shield them from the elements.
The sun is an unforgiving force of nature that doesn’t bow down to anyone.
As such, you would want the best hiking hat to protect you from its harmful rays.
There are plenty of hiking hats in different styles that will suit every hikers’ personality and requirements.
Below are five hiking hats for you to consider.
Comparison Chart
Best Hiking Hat Reviews
1. Columbia Store Bora Bora Booney Hat
Columbia’s Bora Bora Booney Hat is a proper headgear made of 100% nylon.
It is packed with handy features built to last a long time.
Product Highlights
Columbia’s affordable Bora Bora hat provides sufficient protection from the sun, making it suitable for fishing and hiking.
When it comes to performance, it offers superior ventilation, superb comfort, and utmost protection.
The hat comes with a three-inch brim for extended protective coverage.
It uses Columbia’s signature Omni-Shade with a UPF50+ rating.
It effectively keeps you safe and protected from the harmful UVA and UVB rays, preventing sunburns and other sun-related skin damage.
The large mesh panels on the crown provide excellent breathability and ventilation.
It is also fitted with Omni-Wick, a moisture-wicking sweatband around the crown.
You will notice that it’s a loose-fitting hat similar to those worn during collegiate events, offering the right amount of comfort.
It has an adjustable toggle at the back and an attached drawcord that you can tighten to keep it in place.
Combining quality materials, craftsmanship, and the expert stitching used in its construction, you can trust that this hat will last a long time.
What We Like
This booney hat from Columbia offers excellent protection against the sun’s rays.
Add to that the mesh vents placed on the crown, and you get enough airflow to keep you cool.
It fits most heads, too, as you can easily adjust the fit through the back toggle and the attached chinstrap.
For storage, the hat's floppiness makes it easy to fold and insert in a bag or pocket.
In other words, it’s a lightweight and collapsible hat that’s easy to pack and bring along to your outdoor activities.
What We Don’t Like
The hat does not hold its shape and may get limp and deformed quickly. It’s also not suitable for small-headed folks.
Sunburn is also a possibility due to the mesh vents made from materials without UV protection.
Lastly, this hat is not for those looking for fashionable headgear as it has a generic style.
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CONS
2. GearTOP Fishing and Safari Hat
This fishing and safari hat from GearTOP provides the perfect sun protection, thanks to its premium quality materials and craftsmanship.
Product Highlights
GearTOP’s high-quality hat provides adequate and reliable sun protection.
With its drawstring closure, this hat promises to keep you safe and protected from damaging UVA and UVB rays.
The wide brim ensures that your face, head, and neck are safe from the sun’s harmful rays without blocking your vision.
You will also appreciate its UPF50+ rating.
It is made from 100% polyester and is specifically designed for the outdoors, effectively protecting your face and head from the searing sun and heat.
For windy ways, you’ll find the adjustable drawstring and drawcord useful for keeping the hat in place.
This breathable hat fits various head sizes from 22 inches to 23 and a half inches. It comes available in four color varieties.
There are also breathable mesh panels that provide sufficient ventilation to your head, keeping it cold and dry.
You can quickly bring this lightweight and quick-drying foldable hat anywhere you go, as it is easy to pack without occupying too much space.
What We Like
We love the mesh panels surrounding the hat’s crown, providing ample ventilation to keep the head cool and dry.
We also appreciate the drawstring and drawcord that let you adjust the fit according to your preference.
Hikers will also be impressed with the hat’s design and the amount of coverage it offers to protect their faces.
With the hat’s affordable price, you can have sufficient sun shade anywhere you go and anytime you need it.
Its lightness and comfortability make this hat the ultimate outdoor companion.
What We Don’t Like
You might have issues with how this hat fits your head, as there’s not enough space before the top of the head contacts the hat’s crown.
There are also some color discrepancies between what is pictured and the actual product.
There were instances where the snap buttons on the hat’s sides do not function accordingly, making it useless.
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CONS
3. Quiksilver Men’s Bushmaster Floppy Bucket Hat
Quiksilver is known for producing apparel for the action sports industry.
Its Bushmaster Floppy Bucket Hat is one of its best sellers when it comes to affordable sun protection.
Product Highlights
This imported bucket hat made from 100% cotton fabric is available for head sizes measuring 22 ¼ to 23 inches.
It has an adjustable chinstrap closure to guarantee a comfortable fit for all head sizes.
In turn, this ensures you are protected against the sun throughout the day.
This wide-brimmed hat also features Quiksilver’s logo prominently embroidered in front.
You can stay cool and under the shade with this versatile floppy hat. Indeed, it’s the perfect accessory for all your sunny day adventures.
Quiksilver created this reasonably-priced floppy bucket hat to last for years.
They also recommend hand-washing it to make it last longer.
What We Like
We are happy with how the hat protects the head when outdoors under the sun’s scorching heat.
It also provides a comfortable fit and is easily adjustable using the attached cloth chinstrap.
Also, the adjustable drawstring ensures that the hat stays firmly placed on your head even on windy days.
It’s made from a quality thick canvas with air vent holes for breathability and sweatbands that wick away moisture.
What We Don’t Like
Unfortunately, the fabric tends to bleed, and there’s a noticeable fading after washing.
You might also notice some color discrepancies from the picture against the actual hat.
It runs small for the average size head and feels tight when worn.
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CONS
4. Dukars Wide Brim Sun Hat
If you are looking for the ultimate sun protection, you will never go wrong with this large-brimmed hat from Dukars.
Product Highlights
This wide brim sun hat from Dukars is the perfect accessory to protect you as you explore the outdoors.
Its UV-protected fabric has a UPF50+ rating that can block harmful UVA and UVB rays for up to 98%, far different from other brands.
You can use this versatile hat for all types of outdoor activities, including hiking, fishing, camping, traveling, or even gardening.
You will like that it is foldable and lightweight, making it easier to bring along as you go out and enjoy the outdoors.
This lightweight hat is fitted with mesh panels and air vents on each side, ensuring that your head remains cool and ventilated throughout the day.
This one-size-fits-most casual unisex hat provides a snug and comfortable fit for head sizes from 22 to 23.6 inches.
Its adjustable elastic drawstring at the back allows you to modify the hat’s fit according to your head size for enhanced comfort.
The adjustable chinstrap helps in keeping the hat in place even with constant movements.
Dukars guarantees that its products are made of high-quality materials, as it vouches for 100% satisfaction from customers.
What We Like
It’s the ultimate headgear for people who love spending most of their time outdoors, as it’s constructed with high-quality craftsmanship.
The pre-shaped brim does not collapse, ultimately holding its shape.
Its comfortable fit and excellent ability to block out the sun from the face are fantastic features, too.
You get superb coverage from this soft and lightweight hat without any visual interference.
In short, it’s a useful hat that promises outstanding performance at a very affordable price.
What We Don’t Like
It would have been helpful if there were a moisture-wicking sweatband added to the bucket hat's interior.
The part of the chinstrap attached to the hat might come undone easily, too, showing poor stitching.
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5. EINSKEY Wide Brim Bucket Hat
This EINSKEY hat offers much-needed protection against the sun’s damaging rays.
Enjoy all your outdoor adventures minus the risk of sun damage wearing this wide brim headgear.
Product Highlights
EINSKEY offers this unisex hat specifically designed for the outdoors.
Its large brim feature ensures the ultimate protection against the sun and the elements.
The bucket hat is made from water repellent 100% polyester fabric, allowing you to wear it even under drizzling rain.
Both men and women who enjoy outdoor activities will appreciate this hat’s one-size-fits-most construction.
If you need to adjust it, you will find the elastic drawstring at the back useful. It can fit head sizes from 22 to 24 inches.
There is an adjustable chin strap, too, keeping the hat firmly in place even on windy days.
The built-in moisture-wicking sweatband is an excellent addition to keep sweat from reaching your face and stinging your eyes.
You will see mesh vents on each side of the bucket hat, allowing air to circulate inside and keep your head cool and dry.
Whatever your choice of adventure is, this will be a good accessory to bring. You simply fold it and put it in your bag without taking up too much space.
This affordable headgear is available in five color choices to match your mood and personality.
What We Like
What’s great about this is that the hat’s brim does not flap even if the wind got too strong, as with other brands.
We also love the brim’s wideness, helping to protect the head, face, and neck from the sun.
It uses a quick-drying fabric that allows the sweat to evaporate faster, keeping your head cool and dry.
The fabric repels water, too, and won’t affect the hat’s shape even when wet.
This hat is too lightweight and comfortable that you may sometimes forget you’re wearing one.
It also doesn’t get blown away by the wind, as you can adjust it to achieve a more secure fit.
What We Don’t Like
Sadly, there are limited color choices for this hat.
You may also have issues with the fact that it can only be hand-washed.
Lastly, the hat has a mesh top under a sheer fabric instead of a solid one, which may expose your crown and not block the sun’s rays.
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Buyer’s Guide
Choosing the best sun hat as part of your outdoor gear ensures your face and head are well-protected from the sun.
To find the best hat for hiking, you’d have to keep in mind a few things.
Below are some features you want to note when looking for the best outdoor hat:
1. Sun Protection
Some hats come with a UPF rating, which indicates how much radiation it can block to protect your head and face.
However, not all hiking hats come with a UPF rating.
In this case, the wide brim and the hat’s overall design provides the protective coverage you need.
2. Material
The hat’s material plays a vital role in how effective it is in protecting you against harmful UV rays.
Moisture-wicking fabrics help keep the sweat away from your face while outdoors so that it doesn’t enter your eyes and interfere with your activity.
Some look for water-resistant fabrics to protect them from the drizzling rain while hiking.
Tightly-woven fabrics are the ones that can provide excellent protection from the sun when outdoors.
3. Breathability
Hiking is a strenuous activity that exposes you to the elements; hence, it’s crucial to wear a breathable hat to prevent overheating.
Look for a hiking hat that allows proper airflow and ventilation, such as the ones with mesh paneling.
Unventilated hiking hats will trap the hot air inside, making it more exhausting to complete your adventure.
Quick-drying materials also help in providing sufficient breathability to your hat.
4. Comfort
Determining your hat’s comfort stems from various factors that add to the overall performance of the hat.
A well-fitted hat ensures superb comfortability.
Loose-fitting ones may pose a risk of being blown over by a strong wind, while tight-fitting headgear can cause headaches.
Hats made from lightweight materials also add to the hat’s overall comfort since you will not notice that you are wearing one.
5. Brim Width
The brim’s width is also vital when choosing a hiking hat.
Most outdoor enthusiasts suggest you choose a hat with a width of at least 2.75 inches.
Hats with a smaller brim may not be able to provide you with sufficient protection against the sun.
On the other hand, hats with extremely wide brims block out your view, which may be dangerous when hiking on unfamiliar terrain.
Hiking Hat FAQs
1. What should I wear on a long hike?
Having the proper hiking gear will help you enjoy the adventure more.
Here are the essential items you need to have before heading out to the trail:
Underwear
Your undergarments are the closest item to your skin.
Wearing the proper underwear makes a big difference in your enjoyment.
Choose a material that can wick the moisture away from your skin, like merino wool, nylon, and polyester.
Shirt
Just like underwear, look for hiking shirts with moisture-wicking and quick-drying abilities, so you don’t have to endure wearing wet clothes.
Additionally, wear shirts that provide ample UV protection to block the radiation emitted by the sun.
Bottoms
For bottoms, quick-drying materials are a given but choose one that provides enough freedom of movement, whether it’s pants or shorts.
Think of natural hazards you will encounter as you hike.
It will better equip you to make the right decision on what type of bottom to wear.
Jackets
Choosing a jacket depends on the weather and season you intend to go hiking.
The unwritten rule is to choose a packable one that is also waterproof and windproof.
Shoes
Choosing hiking shoes depends on your preference, the terrain, and the season.
If you are concerned about the budget, we have a list of the best hiking boots under $100.
Hats
Whatever season you intend to hike, you will always need the best hat for hiking.
With one, your head stays warm during winter, protected against the harmful sun’s rays in summer, and stays dry even when it’s raining.
2. Is a Tilley hat worth it?
A Tilley hat is an expensive brand, but those who have the budget choose to buy it because of its durability.
It also holds its shape well and comes with a lifetime warranty.
Spending a small fortune on the best outdoor hat is worth it, such as a Tilley hat, as you can use it for years to come.
3. What should I look for in a sun hat?
The best sun hat must have the ability to block at least 98% of UVA and UVB rays.
This can be achieved by using a material with a high UPF rating and the right brim width.
The material type also contributes to the sun protection level a hat can offer, like cotton canvas.
4. What is the best color for a sun hat?
According to most hikers, dark-colored fabrics offer better UV protection than light-colored ones, specifically dark blue.
5. Is a hat better than sunscreen?
Sunscreens come with different SPFs to protect your skin from harmful sun rays.
However, medical doctors suggest that wearing hats and clothes with UV protection is better.
Conclusion
Including the best hiking hat as part of your gear is essential to your protection against harmful UV rays.
Look for a hiking hat that offers significant UV protection while providing breathability that keeps your head cool.
One of the best examples of a hat with these features is the Bora Bora Booney Hat by Columbia.
This hat keeps you dry and protected while enjoying the outdoors.