Whether hiking or sitting by the water, sun hats are essential outdoor gear. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia

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If you’re anything like us, you spend a lot of time in the sun, both in and out of the water. With so much sun exposure on a daily basis, we do our best to stay protected. And while we’re certainly no strangers to sunscreen, the best sun hats do a lot more than just protect your skin: They can keep sun out of your eyes, corral messy hair, and add a few style points to boot.

There are lots of sun hats out there, so it can be tricky to decide which hat is the one for you. After two full summers of testing out a bunch of different brands and styles, we’ve rounded up our favorite sun hats out there to help you make an informed buying decision. For more information, check out our Comparison Table and Buyer’s Guide below our top picks.

Interested in hats specifically designed for surfing? Check out our guide to the Best Surfing Hats. 

The Best Sun Hats of 2024

Best Overall Sun Hat: Fjallraven Abisko Summer Hat
Best Sun Hat for the Beach: Hemlock Hat Co. Printed Hat
Best Sun Hat for Hiking: Outdoor Research Swift Bucket Hat
Best Budget Sun Hat: San Diego Hat Company Raffia Straw Sun Hat
Most Packable Sun Hat: Arcteryx Aerios Bucket Hat
Best Coverage: Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure Hat

Best Overall Sun Hat 

Fjallraven Abisko Summer Hat ($55)

Best Sun Hat For the Beach 

Hemlock Hat Co. Printed Hat ($45)

Pros: Handwoven, wide brim
Cons: Difficult to travel with

Hemlock Hat Co. has an expansive collection of traditional lifeguard-style hats with plenty of prints to choose from. Made from 100% straw, the hats have a wide brim and offer UPF 50+ protection to ensure you don’t get burnt. Each hat is hand-woven and features a drawcord to ensure it stays in place, even in windy conditions.

Although straw hats tend to get damaged if you’re not careful, all Hemlock Hat Co.’s hats are well-made and have everything you could want in a straw sun hat. Most straw hats sport straw all around, but we love that the Printed Hat has a pattern beneath the brim for a little extra flair. We found that the wide brim paired with the chin strap delivered secure sun protection even on windy days at the beach.

Straw hats have been around for decades and are a tried and true form of sun protection. Because they’re oversized and only moderately breathable, we feel that they’re best suited to less active endeavors like beach days, lounging by the pool, or working in the garden. They’re not the best pick for surfing or hiking, but we love them for complete sun coverage. We preferred this over the cheaper San Diego Hat Company Lifeguard Hat below because it feels more well-made and durable.

Best Sun Hat for Hiking 

Outdoor Research Swift Bucket Hat ($42)

Pros: Breathable, UPF 30 protection
Cons: No chin strap

If you like being active out in the sunshine the Outdoor Research Swift Bucket Hat is for you. The top portion of the Swift Hat is almost entirely mesh, so it’s super breathable and lightweight. The hat also has a sweat-wicking band, is quick-drying, and offers UPF 30 sun protection.

Instead of a chin strap, the Swift Hat has a drawcord at the back to cinch it tight — this isn’t quite as reliable in windy conditions but it is more comfortable and stylish. Finally, the Swift Hat packs down nice and small for your travels. Plus, the bright, popping colors are fun. It works well for beach days too but without a chin strap we wouldn’t recommend it for surfing. It is also a great option for travel as you don’t have to worry about it losing its shape, even when you smush it down into your bag.

If a chin strap is important to you, the Cotopaxi Tech Bucket Hat is also colorful and breathable but has a chin strap. It’s a similar price but not quite as breathable as the Swift hat, which is why we awarded the Swift the best hiking hat.

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Best Budget Sun Hat

San Diego Hat Company Lifeguard Hat ($26)

Pros: Built-in liner, affordable price point
Cons: Not super water resistant

Made from 100% straw, the Lifeguard Hat features a wide brim and is rated UPF 50, so it offers plenty of sun protection. Although the hat is advertised as a men’s hat, it comes in two different size options, so it works well for both men and women.

The hat includes a liner and is breathable and lightweight, making it comfortable enough to wear all day long. Like many straw hats, we could see it getting easily damaged if you’re not careful (take care to dry it out thoroughly should it get wet), but it’s a solid price for a nice hat. It works well for beach days, pool days, or farming/gardening but isn’t the best fit for hiking due to its size.

If you’re looking for a more durable albeit more expensive hat, the Hemlock Hat Co. has a similar design but slightly higher quality construction. Like the Lifeguard Hat, it also sports a fun pattern on the underside of the brim.

Most Packable Sun Hat

Arc’teryx Aerios Bucket Hat ($70)

Pros: Insanely lightweight, breathable
Cons: Pricey, no chin strap

At $70, the Arc’teryx Aerios Bucket Hat is not cheap, but it is exceptional. The Aerios was hands down the lightest of all the hats we tried — the tag weighed more than the actual hat. As such, you barely notice it on your head and if you do want to take it off, it’s easy to stash in your backpack, fanny pack, or pocket.

The Aerios is also super breathable, so it’s a great pick for hot days. The micromesh headband and quick-dry lining help absorb sweat and keep you cool. The Aerios doesn’t have a chin strap but it does have a toggle in the back for size adjustments. Thanks to its comfort, breathability, and insanely lightweight, the Aerios has quickly become our go-to hat for backpacking.

Ultimately, the Fjallraven Abisko Summer Hat took our top spot over this Arc’teryx option due to its lower price and drawstring.

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Best Coverage Sun Hat

Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure Hat ($50)

Pros: Packable, lightweight, neck flap
Cons: Kind of dorky

The Ultra Adventure Hat is nothing to write home about when it comes to style, but in terms of sun protection and performance, it’s a clear winner. One of the few hats on this list offering neck protection, this hat will keep you covered in the water and on the trail. It’s lightweight, comfortable, durable, dries quickly, and is packable, which is always a plus.

Additionally, the Ultra Adventure includes a couple of extra features, like a sunglasses keeper and an anti-glare material under the brim, which proved to be a great asset when surfing. If you’re looking for a stylish hat for lounging on the beach, the Ultra Adventure might not be the best pick for you, but if you’re looking for a versatile, adventure-ready hat, this one ticks all the boxes. The Ultra Adventure hat is nice and packable and performs well both on the trail and on the water. If you prefer a similar style without the neck flap, the Fjallraven Abisko Summer Hat is a good pick.

Best of the Rest

Runner-up Best Hiking Sun Hat

Cotopaxi Tech Bucket Hat ($40)

Pros: Sustainably made, breathable
Cons: Might not work for someone with a large head

Made from recycled nylon, the Cotopaxi Tech Bucket Hat is lightweight and breathable while providing ample sun protection. The soft structured brim is somewhat malleable and easy to pack without fear of damaging the hat. The adjustable chin strap is helpful to ensure the hat stays on and the mesh side panels help keep your head cool while you’re out doing whatever it is you do.

Our tester enjoyed this hat for hiking as it was light and unobtrusive but kept her face and ears covered. Our tester’s head is on the small side and it fits her well with a little wiggle room, but she worries it might be a tight fit on someone with a larger head.

If you’re looking for a hat that’s even more breathable, the Outdoor Research Swift Bucket Hat is another great option. That hat is bright and colorful and is super breathable, but it has a cinch on the back for size adjustments as opposed to a chin strap.

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Cotopaxi Orilla Sun Hat ($50)

Pros: Removable chin strap, made from recycled materials
Cons: Not super breathable

The Cotopaxi Orilla Sun Hat is a sturdy sun hat with a wide brim. Made from 100% recycled polyester, the Orilla Sun Hat was inspired by Panama hats in Ecuador. Although the hat is sturdy, you can easily roll it up for traveling.

The inside of the hat is lined with a sweatband and there are a few small holes for airflow, but the Orilla isn’t as breathable as say, a mesh hat like the Outdoor Research Swift Bucket Hat. The Orilla has a removable chin strap, which we greatly appreciated as we could attach it on windy days and leave it at home when we didn’t need it.

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Billabong Time to Shine Bucket Hat ($36)

Pros: Stylish, lightweight
Cons: No straps to secure the hat if windy

This one’s for the girls (and the guys who aren’t afraid to show some feminine flair). The Time to Shine Bucket Hat is a stylish take on a summertime classic. The hat features a dyed, woven unstructured design, so you can easily toss it into a bag or backpack without fear of it getting damaged.

The wide brim offers plenty of sun protection, and the hat is lightweight, breathable, and comfortable, making it perfect to wear between sessions. Wear it with your bikini or pair it with a dress to add a little style to your ensemble. If bucket hats aren’t your jam, another top “style” pick here at The Inertia has been the Carve Designs Dundee Crushable, a wide-brimmed sun hat with leather accents and a packable construction.

Hurley Santa Rosa Floppy Hat ($40)

Pros: Stylish, wide brim
Cons: Not very packable, small fit

The Hurley Santa Rosa Floppy Hat was made with the beach in mind. The wide brim provides ample sun protection while the loosely woven straw helps prevent your head from overheating. The frayed black polyester band adds some fun style points.

Because it’s a straw hat, the Santa Rosa isn’t as packable as some of the other hats on our list. The brim of the hat is flexible, so you can pack it down smaller, but you’ll want to be careful you don’t damage it. The fit is on the smaller side, which worked perfectly for our female tester, but you may want to look elsewhere if your head is on the large size. Like the Time to Shine Bucket Hat, the Santa Rosa Floppy hat is best suited for hanging around the beach or pool.

Dakine Pindo Straw Hat ($32)

Pros: Different size options, fun print under the brim
Cons: Not packable

The Dakine Pindo Straw Hat is a classic lifeguard-style hat with a fun pattern on the bottom of the brim. The wide brim provides ample sun protection and the integrated elastic headband and an adjustable cinch strap ensure the hat stays in place in windy conditions.

The Pindo straw hat comes in four different size options, which is nice for a more customized fit. The Pindo is well-made and comfortable, and the pattern adds a little bit of fun style to the hat. Price-wise it sits in between the Hemlock Hat Co. Printed Hat and the San Diego Hat Company Raffia Straw Sun Hat and features a similar construction.

Best Sun Hats Comparison Table

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Some of the many sun hats we tested. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia

How We Tested Sun Hats

In order to test these sun hats, we spent some time at the beach and on the trials when the sun was shining. Our tester Rebecca Parsons lives on Oahu, Hawaii where there is no shortage of sun. She also regularly takes trips to sunny Southern California and splits her time testing the hats in California and Oahu. With all the back and forth, she had ample opportunity to see how well these hats travel and hold up in a range of conditions.

This review originally ran in April of 2023. We updated this review in October of 2023. The bulk of our updates were formatting, but we did add in a new hat from Dakine. We updated this review once again in April of 2024. We removed a hat that was no longer available and then tested and added six new hats that we felt were more technical options for hiking. We also shifted around our awards section a bit as some of the newer hats we tried were deserving of extra acknowledgement. We did yet another touch-up in July of 2024, shifting around our top picks and adding some more detailed information about our experience testing each.

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The Dakine Pindo Straw Hat offers lots of sun protection. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia

Sun Hats Buyer’s Guide

Should I Choose a Straw or a Fabric Sun Hat?

There are pros and cons to both. A straw or raffia hat does a great job of holding its shape and avoiding floppiness in wider brims. But straw has a distinct lack of friendliness with water — get it wet and you risk the hat losing its shape, or even rotting if it isn’t dried properly. Straw hats also don’t travel well, so if you spend a lot of your life out of a suitcase, you’ll want to consider other options.

Fabric hats typically don’t hold their shape as well as their straw counterparts, but they pack well, and water is typically a non-issue. Straw hats are often bulky, so fabric hats can be a good choice when doing something active like paddling or hiking. However, fabric hats often aren’t as stylish and look silly when you’re away from the trail.

Best Sun Hat for the Beach

The Hemlock Hat Co. Printed Hat has everything you could want in a sun hat: It has a wide brim, UPF 50+ protection, and a drawcord. Available in multiple fun patterns, there’s a print for everyone.

Price: $45

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What Makes a Good Sun Hat?

In our book, there are a few things that make a good sun hat, but the number one most important factor to consider is how well it protects you from the sun. After that, we think about things like style and durability.

Sun Protection
It wouldn’t be a good sun hat if it didn’t protect your face from the sun. We want a sun hat to have a wider brim and offer plenty of coverage so we don’t have to worry about our faces getting burnt. It is also nice if the hat protects your ears (you’ll notice no ball caps made this list) and some neck protection as well. When buying a fabric hat, we’ll often check the UPF rating as well. However, some hats don’t have a UPF rating simply because their manufacturers haven’t run them through the standardized UPF testing, but they still can offer ample sun protection — something to keep in mind. We often pair our sun hat with a sun shirt and sunglasses to stay fully covered.

Sun hats make hikes even better. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia

Style
We’re not saying a sun hat must be runway-ready, but we don’t want to feel totally silly when we wear a hat. Whether it keeps up with modern trends or is a stylish classic, we want a hat that looks good atop our heads. Drawstrings can be helpful on the trail or the water, but it’s nice to have the option to remove them for added style when they’re not needed. Through this review, we tried to focus mainly on function but high-functioning hats like the Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure Hat lost some points because there’s really no way to make a neck flap look cool.

Who wore it better? Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia

Durability
Like most of our belongings, we want a hat that’s going to withstand the test of time. Considering our tester is not too gentle on her things, she needs a fairly durable hat if it’s going to accompany her on beach trips for years to come. Sweat and saltwater take a serious toll on the lifespan of a hat, so it’s also a good idea to regularly rinse your hat in freshwater to extend its life. The Cotopaxi Orilla Sun Hat is one of the more durable hats on our list.

Features like a chin strap can be helpful when it’s windy. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia

What Else Should I Look for in a Sun Hat?

Price
Surprisingly, there is a significant range in pricing for sun hats. Obviously, the cheaper, the better, but we don’t want to sacrifice quality, so we’re after a happy medium. At $26, the San Diego Hat Company Raffia Straw Sun Hat was the most affordable hat on our list whereas the priciest hat, the Arcteryx Aerios Bucket Hat, rang in at $70.

Adjustable chin straps allow for a secure fit. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia

Strings/Ties

Strings or ties on a hat are nice to have if it’s windy or if you plan on surfing in your hat. We think they take away a few style points, so if you just plan on lounging, we’d opt for a hat without them. But if you plan on hiking, surfing, or hanging in windy conditions, they’re a huge plus. Some of the hats on our list, like the Cotopaxi Orilla Sun Hat, had a removable chin strap which felt like a best of both worlds scenario. We wish the chin straps were always removable, so we could use them when we needed them and stash them when we didn’t.

The strings on the Cotopaxi Orilla Sun Hat are removable so you can use them when you want and remove them when you don’t. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia

Packable

Be it via planes, trains, automobiles, or our own two feet, we regularly find ourselves on the move. When purchasing a new hat, we consider how well it will fare on our travels and if it can easily be packed down in a suitcase or backpack. Straw hats are not very packable as they get easily damaged if smushed down. Fabric hats, on the other hand, are much more malleable and packable, making them a better choice when traveling.

The Arcteryx Aerios Bucket Ha is hands down the most packable hat on our list. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia

Waterproof/Water Resistant

Regardless of whether you plan on paddling out in your hat or not, you’ll want something that’s waterproof or at least water-resistant. If you spend a lot of time at the beach, odds are your hat is going to get wet, so you don’t want something that will get ruined if/when that happens. We’re big fans of hats that can take a splash and then dry out quickly like the Fjallraven Abisko Summer Hat.

Neck Protection

If your hat has a wide brim, it will naturally offer some neck protection. But, if you want your neck to be fully covered, you’ll want a hat that has some sort of neck flap like the Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure Hat. Sometimes the neck flaps are removable, which is our preference because they’re not the most stylish, and we’d prefer to only wear a neck flap when we need it.

Editor’s Note: Sun hats are great, but make sure you’re fully covered: Check out our guide to the Best Sun Shirts, the Best Reef-Safe Sunscreens, and the Best Sunglasses. Or, if you’re specifically looking for a surf hat, head to our guide on The Best Surf Hats. For more gear reviews and features on The Inertia, click here.

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