Best unisex: GearTOP Fishing and Safari Cap with Sun ProtectionBest for the beach: Furtalk Women’s Wide Brim Sun Hat with Wind LanyardBest sun visor: Simplicity Hats for Women Convertible Beach Visor HatBest for babies: SimpliKids UPF 50+ UV Ray Sun Protection Baby HatBest budget: Jane Shine Outdoor Sun Hat Bucket Hats
What the best sun hats can do for you
While sunscreen will always remain the No. 1 way to protect your skin against harmful UVA and UVB rays, there are additional measures you can take to ensure you have the utmost sun protection. This is where the best sun hats come into the picture. These summer hats will keep you feeling and looking cool, and will protect your skin, eyes, and hair from damage. They also will cover your ears and neck and those, let’s face it, are areas most likely to be only partially covered when applying sunscreen. Additionally, with the help of sunglasses, the best sun hats will prevent you from squinting in the sun, which will then prevent wrinkles around your eyes. Sun hats can be enjoyed by the whole family, too! If you’re still not sold on their importance, try out a versatile unisex sun hat and pass it around to multiple family members, assuming you all have similarly sized heads. Baby sun hats, meanwhile, will significantly protect your child’s skin when outside for long periods of time. If your little one isn’t too keen on hats, we’ve found one with a drawstring that will make it harder to remove. Whether gardening, beach and/or poolside lounging, or traveling are in your future plans, there are summer hats out there for you. And we’ve done the research, so you don’t have to!
A couple things to consider when shopping for these summer beach essentials
There are a few things to consider when shopping for summer hats. In general you’ll want something that breathes easily. Straw, cotton, mesh fabrics—these will all help keep you head cool from the beating sun. In terms of the shape of the hat, the wider the brim, the more protection it will give you. Additionally, look for sun hats that have a UPF level over 30. UPF, which stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor, is how much a fabric prevents UV radiation from hitting your skin. Most sun hats for protection have a UPF 50, blocking 98 percent of UV rays, which in turn reduces your exposure exponentially. If you want to take sun protection a step further, and purchase some sun protective clothing—consider darker or brighter colors over lighter colors because they will absorb the UV rays rather than allowing them to penetrate your skin.
Best unisex: GearTOP Fishing and Safari Cap with Sun Protection
Don’t let the name of this fishing hat/safari cap fool you—it’s great for more than just anglers and adventurers. But if it’s good enough to protect you for the prolonged time you spend in the open on a fishing trip or a safari, it’ll be just fine for long walks, gardening, or camping. This 100-percent polyester hat, with a UPF 50+ protection, has breathable mesh panels that allow for moisture and heat to escape your hat, keeping your head cool. It’s lightweight and quick-drying, so you can even wear it while you take a dip to cool off!
Best for the beach: Furtalk Women’s Wide Brim Sun Hat with Wind Lanyard
The Furtalk sun hat, made of eco-friendly recycled paper, has a UPF 50+—protecting you from the sun’s most harmful rays. To avoid being the person chasing their hat down the beach, this wide brim hat has a wind lanyard chin strap and an inner velcro band, both of which you can adjust to fit your head and face comfortably. Additionally, the velcro band is sweat resistant and will wick away moisture, keeping you cool and comfortable. The best part is that you can bring your new packable sun hat wherever you go, and won’t have to worry about folding it up to fit into your bag!
Best sun visor: Simplicity Hats for Women Convertible Beach Visor Hat
If you’re someone who can’t choose between a sun hat and a visor, this sun visor hat is for you. There is a zipper that removes the top part of the hat, allowing you either to rock a visor, or wide brim sun hat. Made of a cotton/polyester blend, this lightweight and breathable hat is quick-drying, so you can even take it for a dip. The adjustable velcro back closure is covered by an adorable bow. And yes, answering that $1 million question, it is UPF 50+ and can be rolled up (later to pop back to its perfect shape) for traveling.
Best for babies: SimpliKids UPF 50+ UV Ray Sun Protection Baby Hat
This best-selling UPF 50+ protective baby/toddler sun hat with neck flap and drawstring uses a moisture-wicking material that is breathable and quick-drying, keeping your kid cool in the summer. It is offered in sizes from newborn to 4T and with the wide selection there is sure to be a color or pattern that will be the perfect fit for your child (notable prints include a shark print and a pineapple print). The hat has an adjustable chin strap to secure the hat so it doesn’t fly away or get pulled off. It’s the perfect hat to take on-the-go, as it can be easily folded up and packed for you and your little one’s next big adventure.
Best budget: Jane Shine Outdoor Sun Hat Bucket Hats
This best-selling UPF 50+ bucket hat is made of 100-percent polyester, with a breathable nylon mesh top panel and an inner cotton sweatband, to keep you cool during camping, hiking, or biking. With the internal drawstring and rope chin strap, you can adjust the hat to fit your head comfortably. While this affordable sun hat may lack a bit in the flair department, it more than makes up for it in quality.
The final word on shopping for the best sun hats
The best sun hat will keep your head cool and provide additional protection from harmful UV rays. And remember while you’re shopping to keep in mind which activities you’ll need a sun hat for during the warmer months, and select the hat that has characteristics that best caters to that activity. Happy sun hat shopping!
