The Best Sun Hats of 2023 – GWC Mag

If you’re planning on ticking off those summer bucket list hikes or spending your days on the river, then protecting your head, face, and shoulders from those blinding rays with a solid sun hat is key.

Sure, you could put on some sunscreen and hope for the best, but that won’t save your scalp, face, or neck from those UV (ultraviolet) rays all day. If you’re looking to protect yourself from an unwanted sunburn or need to shield your eyes from bright glare, a sun hat is certainly the way to go.

From the beach to the mountains — or even your garden — these sun hats are top-notch for keeping your head and face cool and plenty shaded.

We reviewed over 13 hats for this guide, putting them through a multitude of tests in different environments to craft our selection of the best sun hats on the market. We tested each hat with a mind for a number of different performance metrics, including UPF rating, durability, adjustability, and comfort. Our lead tester, Meghan LaHatte, has over five years of professional gear-testing experience, and brought each hat a variety of different adventures and travel scenarios to test each metric thoroughly.

To learn more about sun hats and all their bells and whistles, be sure to check out our comprehensive buyer’s guide, FAQs, and comparison chart below.

The Best Sun Hats of 2023

Sun Hats Comparison Chart

How We Tested Sun Hats

Here at GearJunkie, we spend more time in the sun than not, which is why we put a tremendous amount of time and effort into hand-selecting the best sun hats of 2023. From UPF protection to durability, we know how important it is to find the right hat to guard your scalp, face, neck, and shoulders from any risk of sunburn.

Lead tester and GearJunkie contributor Meghan LaHatte is certainly no stranger to the sun hat market. As an avid climber, hiker, dog walker, and gardener, she greatly understands the importance of protecting yourself from harsh UV rays. 

Meghan excitedly dove headfirst into testing over 13 sun hats for this guide, putting each model through the wringer over a three-month testing period. She focused on key factors such as comfort, adjustability, and UPF rating to help her determine the best picks for this roundup. From the highest alpine trails to the shadeless golf courses of Colorado — she put these hats to the ultimate test. Not only did she wear these hats in the sun, but also in wind, rain, and extreme heat. Each product was given specific focus, and tested to its limit.

Thanks to her expertise and experience, you can be assured that this guide is a helpful map that will lead you to your dream sun hat. Finally, this is an ever-evolving guide, with more designs and model iterations coming out each season, and we work hard to stay on top of the newest and best sun hats on the market to bring you the most relevant suggestions possible.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Sun Hat

We’ve all been there — you roll up to your local gear shop, ready to pick out a new sun hat, and all of a sudden you’re staring at a wall filled with options, totally unsure of what to get. Choosing a sun hat doesn’t have to be a hard process as long as you know what sorts of environments and activities you will be using it in. Keep reading below for our best advice on comfort, types, sun protection, and more for the best sun hats of 2023.

Types of Sun Hats

From classic hiking looks to more unique sedge styles, there are many different types of sun hats on the market. However, they all ultimately serve the same purpose — to protect wearers from UV(ultraviolet) rays, sunburn, and glare. 

When considering which type of sun hat to buy, think about where and how you’ll be using it. Let’s say you’re looking for a sun hat to bring along on a backpacking excursion — you’ll most likely want a hiking or bucket-style hat that has a shorter or softer brim and can be easily packed. If you want a sun hat to accessorize an outfit for a music festival or for a trip abroad, you may want something more leathery or fashion-forward like a safari hat. Or, if you are looking for a do-it-all model, then an activewear-style fedora might be your best bet. 

When we selected the best sun hats of 2023, we tested and considered a range of bucket, safari, cloches, fedora, straw, and other wide-brimmed hats in various environments while performing different activities.

If you’re thinking you may want a classic ball-cap style hat, be sure to check out our buyer’s guide for the Best Running Hats of 2023. 

Comfort

When selecting a sun hat, the most important thing to keep in mind is comfort. If you’re selecting a sun hat that you’re going to wear all day, everyday then be sure it feels soft, lightweight, and fits you well. 

A few factors go into what makes a sun hat comfortable, but typically its materials and construction are the main determiners. Sun hats manufactured with breathable fabrics like nylon, polyester, or mesh will stay light on your head, while also providing enough airflow that any sweat should be wicked away. If you’re wearing a sun hat in scorching or humid weather while hiking, fishing, or beaching, you’ll want it to feel feathery light and have plenty of circulation. 

In terms of construction and comfort, consider the different brim sizes, stiffness, accessories, and shapes a sun hat can have. Some sun hats have lots of toggles, cords, and bands to assist with adjustability. If you’re not too keen on these appendages potentially poking or prodding you, you may want to go with a simpler sun hat. However, if you need extra help to get the perfect fit, definitely snag a hat with these features. 

Stiffness and brim size can also impact how comfortable a sun hat is when worn. Stiffer hats with firmer materials and shapes can be easy to wear all day as long as they fit well and don’t have any protruding seams or bands. Larger, stiffer brims may help keep you shaded, but can be a bit cumbersome, especially if you’re wearing a backpack or in high winds. You may want to opt for a softer, floppier brim if you want more flexibility in your sun hat. 

Our pick for the most comfortable sun hat? The Tilley LTM6 Airflo Broad Brim Hat has just the right amount of stiffness and flexibility, while also being ultra-lightweight and breathable thanks to its 100% recycled nylon and polyester makeup. 

Brim Size

Depending on how much of your face, neck, and shoulders you want covered from the sun, you’ll want to consider brim size when choosing the perfect sun hat. Our selection of sun hats have wide brims that range from 2.5 inches up to 3.5 inches. While these numbers may seem small, these size differences can make a significant difference in how much of you will be shaded. 

Smaller and larger brims both have their pros and cons. Smaller brims that are shorter than 3 inches, tend to offer less protection from the sun, but are more compact and conducive to activities like strolling around town or heading to the local block party. Style-wise, they offer a subtle look and can be more easily thrown in a backpack or beach bag. We thought that the REI Co-op Sahara Bucket Hat still provided enough sun protection despite its smaller, more flexible brim. 

Larger and wider brims over 3 inches offer plenty of shade and are better suited for days that entail all-day sun exposure like an afternoon spent at the beach, or hours spent working in your garden. While wider brims are more practical thanks to their size, they can be a bit uncomfortable if worn with a backpack and tend to be harder to pack. However, wider brims are the best for providing protection from UV rays, and keeping your eyes safe from glare. The Patagonia Quandary Brimmer Sun Hat has a generous brim size that isn’t too cumbersome thanks to its flexibility. 

Some of the sun hats listed in this guide have unique brim sizes and functions. Take the Kavu Chillba Hat for example — this sedge-style hat has one large umbrella-style brim that encompasses the whole hat at 18 inches.

Whether you go with a smaller brim or a more full-coverage option, be sure to consider the sun hat’s intended use, style, and overall fit for you. Either way, it’s probably a good idea to throw on a pair of shades — so be sure to check out our guide for The Best Sunglasses for the Outdoors of 2023. 

Sun Protection and UPF

Along with brim size, a sun hat’s ability to protect you from the sun’s ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B rays is guaranteed by its UPF rating, or ultraviolet protection factor. A garment’s UPF is essentially determined by its fabric thickness, color, treatments, and the type of fibers it is made with. Typically, sun hats with thicker, darker fabrics will have a higher UPF factor than those that do not, meaning they are better at protecting their users from any UV rays. 

By now you’ve seen that many of these sun hats have varying degrees of UPF from 40+ to 50+. These numbers are determined by calculating how much UV they let in. For example, a sun hat with a UPF rating of 50+ only allows 1/50th (2%) of UV radiation to pass through the fabric. Any garment with a UPF above 40 is considered exceptional in terms of ultraviolet protection. 

UPF ratings for garments always fall between 15 and 50+. Keep in mind that anything with a UPF rating of less than 15 won’t protect you at all from those UV rays. Almost every one of the hats we’ve tested has at least a UPF of 40.

Some sun hats are designed with dark underbrims that help stop any light from reflecting onto your face. This added level of sun protection can be crucial if you’re hiking in the alpine or on snow.

With a UPF of 50+, a long cape to protect its wearer’s shoulders and a large frontal brim, we felt that the Sunday Afternoons Adventure Hat performed best in full sun exposure.

We love spending days in the sun, and we understand the importance of covering up with clothing and sunscreen for those adventurous days or even just running around town. With skin cancer being the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States, we can’t emphasize enough how important it is to cover up and lessen your UV exposure while outside. Be sure to check out our buyer’s guide for The Best Sun Protection Shirts if you want to add to your UPF-rated wardrobe. 

Adjustability and Fit

How well a sun hat fits will help ensure that you can wear it all day without experiencing any discomfort. Many factors such as size, adjustability, and shape can impact how a hat fits once on your head. A well-fitting sun hat should be comfortable without being too tight or too loose. Think like Goldilocks here — it should be just right. 

The crown of the hat, essentially the part on top of the brim, should comfortably rest above your brow and ears. If fitted correctly, the headband will be snug, without leaving any marks or putting pressure on your head. A well-fitting crown will ensure your sun hat will stay on, but also keep air circulating so you don’t get sweaty. If you try on a sun hat and find that it falls below your brows or is tight enough that it’s giving you a headache, you may want to try adjusting it or opt for a different size. 

Many of the sun hats listed in this guide have adjustability features like pull-cords, tieable strings, or velcro. If you want to be able to fine-tune the fit of your sun hat so it stays securely on during gusty days, be sure to grab a hat with these additions. To adjust your sun hat, simply pull the toggle on the crown, or tie it so it fits snugly without being too tight. Having a sun hat with adjustability has its major upsides — you can accommodate different hairstyles, throw a bandana underneath or let a friend borrow the hat for the day. 

The Outdoor Research Helios Sun Hat really stood out to us for its superb adjustability system thanks to its easy pull-toggle on the crown and removable chin strap.

Keep in mind that a few of these hats do not have any sort of adjustability, so it’s key to try them on and make sure they fit well prior to buying. Typically, hats with no adjustability features will come in more specific sizes, like the Filson Summer Packer which has sizes that range from small to 2XL. 

Breathability 

Whether you’re out on a multi-day backpacking trip or gearing up for a beach volleyball tournament, the last thing you want to worry about is your head getting too hot or sweaty. This is where your sun hat can truly save the day, especially if it’s breathable and able to circulate air. 

Sun hats designed with more porous materials or added mesh zones are fantastic for helping keep your head cool and dry. Fabrics like nylon, polyester or straw are typically woven in ways that allow air to pass through without sacrificing UV protection. Many of the hats listed have mesh panels or slits located on the crown to keep air moving and grooving through your scalp.

By keeping the air circulating, a well-ventilated sun hat can help prevent sweat, itchiness, or chafing in areas prone to perspiration like the crown, scalp, and forehead — even while in extreme heat. When selecting a breathable sun hat, be sure its material and construction is still well-suited for those super sunny days. If the hat is too porous and allows significant light leakage, it probably doesn’t have an appropriate UPF either. 

Some hats like the Kavu Chillba have an inner mesh lining to further keep the hat well-ventilated and lightweight when in use. By prioritizing breathability in a sun hat, you are ensuring that it can be worn all-day, without the risk of getting too hot or uncomfortable. 

Packability and Storage

A sun hat is pretty crucial to throw in your pack or suitcase when going on an adventure — no matter the season. When searching for a travel-friendly hat, you’ll want to keep a few things in mind: 

1. Packability: How well does your hat fold, roll, crush or pack down once in your bag? Sun hats made without wiring or stiff fabrics will always pack more efficiently than those with as they can fold to be quite smaller and take up less space. However, these styles of sun hat typically have floppier, smaller brims that may not be as practical for use in extreme sun. We particularly loved the easy packability of the Sunday Afternoons Ultra Storm Bucket due to its ultra-soft and structure-less design. 
2. Shape retention: When packing a sun hat, be sure that it can pop back into its original form without being creased or super wrinkled. Usually hats made with wrinkle-prone fabric like nylon will smooth out after a few hours in heat and humidity. Most hats designed with stiffer fabrics like straw should bounce back into their original shape like the Overland Crushable Aussie Mesh Breezer Safari Hat. 

If you’re not super keen on packing your hat in a suitcase, you can always snag a cheap hat clip that you can attach to your bag.

When storing your hat, we recommend hanging it on a hook via the crown, or keeping it upright on a shelf. To help retain its shape, we recommend stuffing some soft tissue paper in the crown. Keeping it rolled or crunched all the time could cause it to lose its structure and UPF value if you’re putting too much stress on the fabric. 

Price

When deciding on the best sun hat for you, don’t feel like you need to totally break the bank. No matter the price, a proper sun hat should be durably made, have a 30+ UPF and be comfortable enough to wear during activities throughout the day.

If you’ve got a little more in the budget to spend, then we recommend considering hats like the Patagonia Quandary Brimmer Sun Hat ($65) Sunday Afternoons Ultra Storm Bucket ($60) or The Overland  Crushable Aussie Mesh Breezer Safari Hat ($59). More expensive options like the Tilley LTM6 Airflo Broad Brim Hat ($99) and Filson Summer Packer ($85) are steeply-priced, but you can be assured you’re purchasing a hat that is made with quality and protection in mind. 

If your budget is more in the intermediate range, consider sun hats like The North Face Horizon Breeze Brimmer Hat ($45), Sunday Afternoons Adventure Hat ($42), Kavu Chillba Hat ($50), REI Co-op Sahara Bucket Hat ($40), Outdoor Research Helios Sun Hat ($40) and Outdoor Research Sunbriolet Sun Hat ($45). All at 50 bucks or less, these sun hats are superb options that are pretty reasonably priced. 

At the lower price scale and the most budget-friendly without sacrificing quality or practicality are the Columbia Bora Bora Booney II Hat ($26) and FURTALK Womens Beach Sun Straw Hat ($26). 

Keep in mind that when you purchase a sun hat, not only are you investing in a clothing item, but also in your health as you save your skin and eyes from sunburn, UV rays, and any risk of skin cancer.

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