The Best Sunhats for Protection and Style in the Outdoors

Spring and summer are the seasons of camping, hiking, beach days, river trips and days on the boat. What does each of these activities have in common? Sun exposure.

To prevent all those nasty solar effects, we recommend recreating responsibly by investing in a quality sunhat, which will keep the sun’s rays off your face and provide just the right amount of cooling and protection. If you spend time outdoors, you’ll want a hat that can stand up to activity, dirt and grime while also maintaining your personal style.

What to Look for in a Sunhat

Just as shirts, shoes and shorts can differ wildly, sunhats can vary from lakeside loungers to lightweight caps made for outdoor training. Popular materials in sunhats include polyester, nylon, cotton, straw and canvas.

Picking your sunhat is based very much on the intended activity: If you’re going to be spending a day on the boat, an adjustable chin cord is indispensable so that your hat doesn’t go flying into the water. Heading from a day at the beach to the bar? A straw fedora is classic, cool and transitions beautifully from day to night. If you’re going to be hiking and camping, pick a hat with a high UPF rating, as well as breathable materials.

Speaking of: What is the UPF rating, exactly? Well, UPF stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor — the amount of protection from UVA and UVB rays that an item (in this case, a hat) provides.

UPF protection is great, but it’s not required for a sunhat to be effective; you’ll want to consider how much coverage the hat itself provides, as well. For days when you’ll be indoors and out and just want to keep the sun out of your eyes, a non-UPF option is just fine. If you’re going to be outside for more than a couple of hours and you’re concerned with sun exposure, go for a sunhat with a high UPF rating.

Below, we’ve rounded up the best sunhats for whatever the season of sun throws your way.

REI

Best Overall Sunhat

Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure Hat

• $50.00 at REI

• Materials: 88% Nylon, 12% Polyester Dobby
• UPF: 50+

The crème de la crème of sunhats, this versatile option from Sunday Afternoons won over our hearts and heads thanks to its functionality and attention to detail.

The sunglass locking integrated sleeves keep shades secure, the external size adjuster keeps the fit just right and the folding brim allows you to stuff the hat away without damaging its shape. The bluesign-certified material is rated UPF 50 and coated with a PFA-free durable water repellent finish for sun and water protection in the wild.

Columbia

best affordable sunhat

Columbia Bora Bora II Booney

• $30.00 at Columbia

• Materials: Omni-Shade 100% textured nylon poplin on top, sides and brim; Omni-Wick sweatband and mesh vents
• UPF: 50+

Columbia is known for reliable and affordable outdoor gear and apparel, and the Bora Bora II Booney continues the tradition. The classic sunhat silhouette is complemented by moisture-wicking, vented fabric and UPF protection. The Bora Bora is a no-frills, wallet-friendly option for anyone looking for a little sun cover this summer.

Smartwool

BEST CAMPING SunHAT

Smartwool Sun Hat

• $45.00 at smartwool.com

• Materials: Lined with Merino Sport 150 mesh
• UPF: 20+

Known best in the outdoor world for its high-performing and comfortable wool socks and apparel, it turns out Smartwool also makes hard-working headwear, too.

The Sun Hat features a merino wool lining, flexible foam brim and drawcord for crown adjustment. It comes in two colorways, navy and khaki, and comes in two sizes: Small/Medium and Medium/Large. For those looking for a no-frills, easy-to-wear camp hat, the Sun Hat is for you.

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Best Materials

Nocs Provisions Interesting Bird Twill Bucket Hat

• $45.00 at nocsprovisions.com

• Materials: 100% organic cotton twill
• UPF: None

Whether you’re sensitive to synthetic materials, like to go organic or just like interesting birds, this bucket hat is for you. The series from Nocs Provisions features six colorways, each with its own unique bird embroidered on the front.

The fit of this hat is oversized; it came down over my eyes, but when I wanted a little more visibility, I just flipped the front brim up. This hat is comfortable and breathable, but if you typically wear a size small in hats, be careful on breezy days: the oversized fit of this bucket means it’s prone to fly.

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Best Size Adjustment

Topo Designs Sun Hat

• $44.00 at topodesigns.com

• Materials: 91% polyester, 9% spandex
• UPF: None

The aptly-named Sun Hat is one of my favorites on this list, thanks to a few features: the material is very light and smooth, without being shiny or crinkly. The bungee adjustment on the crown and the adjustable paracord strap under the chin keep the Sun Hat securely anchored — I’ve even taken to wearing mine on runs, because I love the coverage so much, and the adjustable bungee and paracord make it literally a cinch to loosen and tighten as needed. The style is subtly outdoorsy, and works in a variety of environments — so long as the sun is shining.

Roark

Most Stylish Sunhat

Roark Tamaroa Bucket Hat

• $5.00 at roark.com

• Materials: 100% cotton
• UPF: None

Sometimes, the best bucket hat is the one you like to wear the most, regardless of features. If I have the choice between wearing a stylish bucket that still shields my eyes and blends with my daily ‘fits, versus a super-granola option that comes with all the SPF in the world but looks, for lack of a better word, dorky, which do you think I’m going to pick more often? I’m only human after all, and odds are if you’re reading this, you are too.

If the only wear you’re going to wear a sun hat is if it works with your sartorial tastes, it’s better than wearing no hat at all. Roark has the style-forward amongst us covered with its 100 percent cotton corduroy bucket hat. It comes in two size options, so the big and small-headed alike are set. It’s comfy, cool and easy to pack. I predict I’ll be wearing this all summer long, into the fall.

Amazon

BEST QUICK-DRY SUNHAT

Quiksilver Bushmaster Safari Boonie Hat

• $17.00 at Amazon
  $28.00 (39% off)

• Materials: 100% cotton
• UPF: No

For days out on the water, you need to bring apparel and accessories that dry quickly, breathe well and provide sun protection. Quiksilver’s wide brim option is made with cotton twill, which is lightweight without being flimsy, and the adjustable chin strap ensures it’ll stay put. The Safari Boonie Hat is available in three sizes and seven colorways, meaning there’s something for everyone. It’s simple, easy to wear and great for days on the boat, at the beach or grilling in the backyard.

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Best Mesh Sunhat

Overland Gulf Crushable Mesh Western Breezer Hat

• $115.00 at overland.com

• Materials: nylon/polyester mesh
• UPF: 50+

Sometimes, the call of the wild is answered with luxury. Who amongst us is immune to supple and high-performing fabrics shaped into high-end vessels of sophistication? For the aesthetically-minded outdoorsmen, this option from Overland blends lightweight, breathable nylon/polyester mesh and UPF 50+ protection with Western style, resulting in a hat that looks good, and feels great. The Gulf Western Breezer is made in the USA and features a braided band, matching trim and chin cord, bringing together class and function.

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Most Unique Style

Autumn Headwear Bell Bucket Hat

• $19.00 at autumnheadwear.com
  $38.00 (50% off)

• Materials: Denim
• UPF: No

I’ve been wearing this bucket hat all spring and summer, and so far, it’s been a crowd pleaser (to the point where people pull out their phones and buy one in front of me while I’m wearing it). The reason is pretty straightforward: Autumn makes headwear that’s undeniably cool, and its take on the classic bucket hat is no exception. The blue denim material has a vintage look to it, and the brim is just wide enough that my face, neck and upper chest are shielded from the sun’s rays. It’s low-fi, but that’s the charm of this hat: what you see is what you get.

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Best High-Tech Sun Cap

Melin Pace Adventure Hydro

• $79.00 at melin.com

• Materials: 97% recycled, four-way stretch polyester
• UPF: No

The Southern California-based founders of Melin Hats know a thing or two about protecting your face from the sun, and their over-engineered hats and caps are built to provide a premium experience. Made with a lightweight, four-way stretch recycled polyester material, the Pace Adventure Hydro features bonded seams, an integrated, antimicrobial sweatband and a proprietary honeycomb visor, all built with comfort and longevity in mind. The Pace Adventure Hydro is comfortable and style-forward; although the rubber built into the sweatband made me feel, well, sweatier, it didn’t allow moisture to drip down my face like less advanced hats have in the past.

Melin’s camper-style hat isn’t cheap, but the abundance of tech features makes it a worthy investment.

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BEST suncap FOR RUNNERS

Outdoor Research Sun Runner Cap

• $11.00 at outdoorresearch.com
  $38.00 (70% off)

• Materials: 100% Supplex nylon, plain weave
• UPF: 50+

Summer runners know that a traditional baseball cap just isn’t going to cut it, unless you’re running at dawn or dusk (when the sun’s rays are less damaging). That being said, you can’t just run in any old hat — it needs to be lightweight, have maximum breathability and a snug fit. This option brings all that and more: nylon fabric stretches and breathes, and the removable neck cord and cape allow for customization, depending on conditions. Mesh side panels keep things ventilated and cool.

Amazon

BEST COOLING TECH

Blubandoo Floppy Bucket Hat

• $35.00 at Amazon

• Materials: Polyester
• UPF: 50+

This floppy bucket hat may look low-tech, but don’t just a book by its cover. Hiding behind the super comfy vibes is an innovative cooling tech, which uses non-toxic polymer cooling crystals to dry the hat within minutes. When immersed in water, the proprietary crystals evolve into a gel, which absorbs the liquid. The hat stays dry, but the gel stays cool for a few days until it reverts back into crystals. It’s funky, it’s different and it’s surprisingly affordable.

The Floppy Bucket Hat also comes with a matching neckband for even more cooling coverage.

Amazon

BEST STRAW SUNHAT

Billabong Classic Straw Lifeguard Sun Hat

• $26.00 at Amazon
  $28.00 (5% off)

• Materials: 100% Raffia Straw Fiber
• UPF: No

Take a day at the beach to the next level with this lightweight, utilitarian straw number. The wide-brim wonder is made with 100 percent raffia straw fiber and features a drawstring closure for stability in breezy conditions. The silhouette has worked for lifeguards for generations, so if you’re concerned with sun exposure, this is a safe bet. It looks great on men and women alike, so don’t be surprised if your partner steals it from you every time the sun peaks out.

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