A good surf hat stays put. Here are our favorites. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia

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Without a doubt, a good surf hat is an essential accessory that can greatly enhance a surf session, whether that’s an afternoon log session staring into the sunset, or trying to escape the heat by any means necessary in Indo. Not only do surf hats offer sun protection for your skin, but they protect your eyes from the sun as well. While an old trucker hat will certainly do the trick on occasion, a hat specifically designed for the lineup can make a world of difference. For one thing, they are harder to lose! What follows are the best surf hats (that will actually stay put) according to our dedicated team of surfing writers and testers who have personally tested every product in this review, and a number of other options that didn’t make the cut.

If you wish to learn more about how these hats line up against one another, take a look at our Comparison Table. Or, if you’re curious about what makes a good surf hat, check out our Buyer’s Guide.

The Best Surf Hats of 2024

Best Overall Surf Hat/Best Surf Cap: Solite Convertible Watersports Hat
Runner-Up Best Surf Hat/Best Full-Brim: Dakine Indo Bucket Hat
Most Stylish Surf Hat: Patagonia Merganzer Hat
Best Surf Bucket Hat: Patagonia Surf Brimmer
Best Surf Hat for Sun Protection: O’Neill Lancaster Hat
Best Budget Surf Hat: Quiksilver Bushmaster

Best Overall Surf Hat/Best Surf Cap

Solite Convertible Watersports Hat ($50)

Style: Surf Cap

Pros: Rear adjustable strap, convertible visor
Cons: Pricey

With the Convertible Watersports Hat, Solite thought of everything. The one-size-fits-most sizing includes an adjustable chin strap and a rear webbing strap that facilitates a custom fit. While many hats have a chin strap, most don’t have a rear strap, which we really appreciated for sizing.

Our lead tester found she could easily flip the brim back while paddling and then flip it forward for sun protection between sets. That’s a feature likely to win over folks who don’t usually wear hats while surfing because of obstructed vision and the problem that hat brims can present when duck diving waves. Made from a blend of nylon, polyester, and neoprene, the hat is lightweight, comfortable, and dries quickly. To top it off, mesh ear flaps keep your ears covered from the sun’s harmful rays.

Due to its customizable fit and flipping brim design, we awarded the Convertible Watersports Hat our best overall surf hat award. It was a tough call between the Solite and The Dakine Indo, our runner-up which sports a wider brim, but the functionality of the Solite Convertible sealed the deal for us. If you’re looking for a similar surf cap that’s more affordable, the Ho Stevie Floating Surf Cap is a great pick, but the brim is fixed.

Runner-Up Best Surf Hat/Best Full-Brim

Dakine Indo Bucket Hat ($45)

Style: Full Brim/Bucket

Pros: Floats, detachable neck flap, velcro storage pouch  
Cons: Runs snug

If there’s one full-brim hat to rule them all, it’s this one. The Indo comes with a secure, snug fit and a chinstrap that has yet to fail us. And even if it were to get ripped free, it floats.

There’s a velcro compartment inside the top of the hat. And, if you’re not worried about looking like an absolute kook, there’s a detachable neck protector flap. The flap folds up inside the velcro compartment when you don’t need it, or completely detaches. Even without the flap, the hat provides great sun protection for your face and neck, although the brim is not the widest on this list.

We would point out that the hat runs on the snug side (all the better for staying put), but if you’re having any doubts, size up. If you’re willing to shell out a few extra bucks for a similar, albeit more eco-friendly hat, the Patagonia Surf Brimmer is an excellent option.

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Most Stylish Surf Hat

Patagonia Merganzer Hat ($45)

Style: Surf Cap

Pros: Made from recycled materials, brim floats, stashable chin strap
Cons: Chin strap digs in a little

The Merganzer Hat is made from recycled and Bluesign-approved materials. It features a low crown style that sits close to the head coupled with breathable mesh for maximum comfort.

To ensure it stays put while surfing, the Merganzer has an adjustable quick-release buckle and a minimalistic chin strap. The strap can be stowed when not in use, which does wonders for the aesthetic during your time on land.

Another surf-worthy feature is the brim, which features a dark underbill to reduce glare. The brim is also buoyant, meaning it will float should you lose the hat mid-session. Finally, the Merganzer has a quick-wicking internal sweatband with built-in odor control for warm days or landlocked adventures. Another minimalistic style surf hat that we love is the Waterproof Snapback from Everyday California, but it lacks a drawstring.

Best Bucket-Style Surf Hat

Patagonia Surf Brimmer ($55)

Style: Surf Bucket

Pros: Made from recycled fishing nets, fully adjustable
Cons: Pricey

Like most things from Patagonia, the Patagonia Surf Brimmer is sustainably made, durable, and delivers in the performance department. Fair Trade Certified sewn, the Surf Brimmer is made from a blend of 96% NetPlus postconsumer recycled nylon made from recycled fishing nets and 4% spandex. The hat also has a durable water repellant (DWR) that helps it repel rather than soak up water, which keeps it nice and lightweight.

Designed to be incredibly secure, the Surf Brimmer has a chin strap that is fully adjustable and removable – the material is thin so it doesn’t feel like it’s strangling you. It also has an adjustable buckle in the back of the hat, allowing you to fully customize the fit, making it super secure. There are two drain holes on the top of the hat that help with airflow and allow water to easily pass through. Another cool water feature is that the brim floats, so should you lose your hat, it’ll be easy to retrieve. We love that the Surf Brimmer performs well on the water but works nicely on land as well thanks to the removable chin strap and built-in sweatband.

If you’re looking for something similar but slightly more affordable (but not eco-friendly), The Indo by Dakine is another great option.

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Best Surf Hat for Sun Protection

O’Neill Lancaster Hat ($38)

Style: Full-Brim

Pros: Internal velcro pocket, UPF 50 protection
Cons: Flops around on bigger sets

O’Neill’s Lancaster Hat is a classic full-brim surf hat featuring a fun camouflage print as well as other colors. Made in the USA from 100% polyester, the hat boasts lightweight poly construction and offers UPF 50 protection. The hat features a moisture-wicking sweatband, which was much appreciated during hot days on the beach but easily soaked up water, resulting in some drippage while waiting for waves.

Although the wide brim flopped around a bit when turtling or duck diving on bigger sets, the detachable drawcord ensured the hat never made an actual getaway. Like the Dakine Indo, the Lancaster Hat includes an internal Velcro pocket, perfect for stashing wax, chapstick, or whatever else you may need. We chose the Dakine Indo as the Best Full-Brim as it has a bit better stay-put functionality, but the Lancaster offers more sun protection due to the wider brim.

Best Budget Surf Hat 

Quiksilver Bushmaster ($20)

Style: Full-Brim

Pros: Rolls up for travel, looks good on land
Cons: Flops around in heavier surf

Reminiscent of a day in the bush, the Quiksilver Bushman offers a classic surf style and full sun protection with a flexible wide brim that easily rolls up, making it well-suited to travel as well as on-and-off-the-water versatility. In fact, this hat is honestly more of an on-land hat that transitions well to the water, rather than a surf hat that transitions well to land. Made from cotton, it takes a bit of time to dry out. While the hat may flop around in heavier surf, the chin cord with a secure toggle makes it ideal for beach hangs or smaller days. For those interested in a more fashion-forward option, that transitions well to land, look no further. The Patagonia Surf Brimmer is another option that transitions well to land but has a few more water-friendly features.

If a wide brim isn’t your style, the Convertible Watersports Hat sports the style of a traditional baseball cap, but the brim flips back for full visibility while paddling.

Best of the Rest

Runner-Up Best Surf Cap

Ho Stevie Floating Surf Cap ($30)

Style: Surf Cap

Pros: Lightweight, floats
Cons: No wide brim

In our book, a good surf hat protects your face from the sun and has a chin strap for extra security. The Ho Stevie Floating Surf Cap does both. Plus, it floats.

The Floating Surf Hat sports a classic style. It’s a traditional cap that’s lightweight and breathable with a chin strap. It’s so light that you hardly notice it on your head. The chin strap comes down over the ears but the ears have plenty of ventilation so you can still hear your buddies. Should that thing fall off your noggin (which it shouldn’t), then it simply bobs up and down like a buoy until you retrieve it.

Because the Floating Surf Cap follows the design of a baseball cap, it doesn’t offer as much sun protection as a wide-brim surf hat. However, it does come with a removable neck flap if you don’t mind looking a little dorky. If you’re looking for a wider brim that will shade your neck, Ho Stevie makes a Surf Bucket Hat which is equally as awesome.

Runner-Up Best Surf Bucket Hat

Billabong Surf Bucket Hat ($36)

Style: Surf Bucket

Pros: Neoprene strap
Cons: Not a super snug fit

Billabong’s take on the classic surf bucket is a bit wider and floppier than the performance-oriented Indo. It stays put well with a neoprene strap, but the relaxed fit means you’re going to have less security when duck diving.

If you’re willing to shell out a few extra dollars, the Indo by Dakine sports a more streamlined fit and is more secure while shredding.

Everyday California Waterproof Snapback ($36)

Style: Surf Cap

Pros: Stylish, floats
Cons: No chin strap

While surf hats are ideal for sun protection, they are often lacking in the style department. Everyday California’s Waterproof Snapback looks like your favorite snapback, but it is waterproof  — and better yet, it floats. The adjustable hat is made from a non-absorbent satin fabric that prevents it from getting waterlogged during sessions. The absence of a drawstring means you may still be playing fetch from time to time,.

Insider tip: if you have long hair, pull half of your hair through the hole and secure it with a rubber band to the remaining hair to prevent ever losing your hat again. If you’d prefer to have a similar style hat with a chin strap, the Patagonia Merganzer hat is a great pick.

Awesome, But Expensive

Kaiola Surf Hat ($72)

Style: Surf Cap

Pros: Thin chin strap, floats, dries quickly
Cons: Pricey

Made by surfers for surfers, the Kaiola Surf Hat includes every detail you could want in a hat. Although the price is a little steep, the hat features a slim yet secure chin strap, a bendable but strong visor for enhanced paddling vision, a padded internal headband, and UPF 80 protection.

Additionally, the hat floats, is lightweight, and dries quickly. The chin strap can be easily tucked in, providing for a seamless water-to-land transition. Available in two different sizes and a variety of color options, the Kaiola Surf Hat fits securely even without the chin strap, but it’s there should you need it. If you prefer a hat with a bit more sun coverage, the Kaiola Surf Bucket Hat has similar features but a wider brim.

If you can’t justify spending $72 on a surf hat, the Merganzer Hat is more affordable and stylish, but not quite as secure as the Kaiola Surf Hat. Or, the Dakine W20 Surf Cap has a similar aesthetic and fit for less than half the price.

Minimalist Surf Cap

Dakine W20 Surf Cap ($30)

Style: Surf Cap

Pros: UPF 50+, mesh ventilation on the ears, brim flips up
Cons: Small brim

Be it overhead waves or blaring sunshine, the Dakine W20 Surf Cap is ready for anything and everything. Made from nylon or polyester, the cap is rated UPF 50+ and dries quickly. Standout features include an adjustable chin strap that doesn’t rub and mesh ventilation at the ears for better hearing in the lineup. Also on board — a brim that flips up for paddling and an adjustable back closure.

Although a fuller brim would offer more sun protection, the bill offers decent coverage while still maintaining a sleek design. If the bill bothers you while paddling, the Convertible Watersports Hat is a bit spendier but the bill flips back for easier duck-diving on your paddle back out.

Stylish Choice

Roxy Pudding Party Safari Boonie Sun Hat ($27)

Style: Full-Brim

Pros: Chin strap, fun color
Cons: Limits visibility while paddling

The Roxy Pudding Party Hat transitions seamlessly from surf to shore. It features a classic safari-style wide brim with a drawcord to ensure it stays in place while in the lineup. Made from 100% polyester, the hat is lightweight and dries quickly.

The wide brim offers generous sun protection, but our tester found that it sometimes limited visibility while paddling. Also, if the chin strap wasn’t cinched tight enough, the hat tended to flop back while on a wave. Our tester was a big fan of the electric blue color and loved wearing the Pudding Party hat both on and off the water. We chose the Lancaster Hat over the Pudding Party due to a stiffer brim and a more gender-neutral array of colors.

From Land to Surf

Manera Bobby Bucket Hat ($49)

Style: Full-Brim

Pros: Durable, saltwater resistant
Cons: Pricey

The Manera Bobby Bucket Hat is made from the same fabric as Manera’s board shorts.  The upshot? The Bobby is lightweight, fast drying, and UV and saltwater resistant. It also feels a lot heartier and more durable than some of the other hats we tested, leading us to believe it will be a surf companion for years to come.

The Bobby features an adjustable chin strap and a wide brim for generous sun protection. Like most of the wide-brimmed hats we tested, the Bobby can limit visibility a bit when paddling, but for the most part, we didn’t have any issues.

Surf Hats Comparison Table

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

How We Tested The Best Surf Hats

To test these hats, we did what we do best at The Inertia — we hit the waves. We considered how comfortable the hats were, how well they stayed put, the amount of sun protection they offered, and how stylish (or unstylish) they were. All while paddling out, sitting in the lineup, riding waves, and during wipeouts.

We first published this guide in 2020. At that time, the Dakine W20 topped our list. In early 2022, we tested the Dakine Indo Bucket Hat and realized there was a new sheriff in town.

In 2023, we did a complete retest of all the hats in this guide and also added options like the Patagonia Merganzer, among others. A couple of months after the review went live, we received an email from the owner of Solite claiming that they had developed “the best surf hat ever,” so we decided to give it a go. It proved to be an incredible hat, so we added it to our list. In this update, we’ve added updated testing information, a little more info about what makes a good surf hat, and some new original photography.

In the summer of 2024, we once again updated this review, adding in the Patagonia Surf Brimmer and the Ho Stevie Floating Surf Cap, which are both excellent surf hats. After another year of testing, we also shifted around our list a bit, bumping the Solite Convertible Watersports Hat to the number one position because it really is a great surf hat, and the best we have tested.

The Kailoa Surf Hat is a fantastic ball-cap-style surf hat. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia

Surf Hats Buyer’s Guide

Different Types of Surf Hats

Surf Caps

Surf Caps are the least obtrusive option, but they also offer the least coverage. Shaped like a classic baseball hat, they are usually the easiest to duck-dive with, but crucially, unless they offer a neck flap or a wider chin strap intended to cover the ears, the only coverage they provide is for the face. They’re the best option for higher-performance surfing and larger waves, besides perhaps the Dakine Indo, which does surprisingly well in heavier surf.

Full-Brim Surf Hats

Full-Brim Surf Hats offer the most sun protection out of any of the styles included here with a wide brim that provides shade for the full face and neck. The brim may be stiffened somewhat, but these are usually the lowest-performance surf hats and can be tough to deal with when duck-diving.

Surf Bucket Hats

Surf Buckets are the little brothers/sisters of full-brim styles, featuring a smaller brim that often angles down a bit more, and a deeper hat crown. These hats don’t offer quite as much protection as a full-brim hat, but they can be a bit less cumbersome for duck-diving.

Surf Hats: Performance Considerations 

What makes a good surf hat is a matter of opinion, but there are a number of factors that most surfers agree on. When judging the performance of the surf hats we tested, we considered the stay-put technology, the sun protection each offered, the style, and the comfort of each option.

The Patagonia Surf Brimmer has a removable chin strap that you can use when you want and ditch when you don’t. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia

Stays Put

The most essential criteria in a surf hat. When you’re surfing, you want to be focused on flow and not whether your hat is flying off your head. We want a hat that either has a chin strap or is adjustable so we can cinch it tight to our heads. If it doesn’t offer any way to secure it to our heads, then we want to make sure the hat floats. Because at one point or another, we know it’s going to go flying. The Solite Convertible Watersports Hat was our top-pick surf hat because that bad boy isn’t going anywhere.

The O’Neill Lancaster has a wide brim for maximum protection. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia

Sun Protection

Surf hats are pointless if they don’t offer solid sun protection. A wide, full brim will obviously offer the most sun protection, shielding your face, neck, and ears. A baseball-style surf cap with just a front brim will protect your face but leave your ears and neck exposed. Consider what type of protection you need and purchase accordingly. Many hats will include a UPF rating, which can also be helpful. The O’Neill Lancaster has a wide brim allowing it to shade both your face and your neck.

The Ho Stevie Floating Surf Cap is an affordable and functional surf hat. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia

Style

Style is a matter of opinion. But sometimes style comes at the expense of performance, and that’s quantifiable. In our opinion, wide brims and goofy chin straps aren’t the most stylish, but they are oftentimes the most functional. We appreciate hats where the chin strap can be stowed away when you’re not surfing so you don’t look like a total kook when hanging out on the beach post-session. The Patagonia Merganzer Hat is one of the most stylish hats on our list and looks good both on and off the water.

The Everyday California hat is great for surfing but also has utility on hikes. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia

Comfort

With most of our clothing and gear, comfort is a high priority. Surf hats are no exception. If a hat has a chin strap that makes us feel like we’re choking, it’s not a winner — even if it stays on after a wipeout. We want a hat that’s both functional and comfortable. The Everyday California is a great example of a hat that is comfortable enough to wear day in and day out.

Best Surf Hat

The Solite Convertible Watersports Hat is comfortable, secure, and the brim flips back for full visibility while paddling.

Price: $50

Buy Now

What Else Should I Look For in Surf Hats?

The Visor

The visor on a surf hat is essential for sun protection, but it can also limit visibility while surfing. We really appreciated surf hats where the visor could flip up or back so that it was out of the way while paddling. The Solite Convertible Watersports Hat was great for this. With that one, the entire hat flipped backward so that it was entirely out of the way while paddling.

The Solite Convertible Watersports Hat has an adjustable brim that you can flip forward for sun protection and flip back while you’re paddling. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia

Polyester

Although the materials used to make each hat varied slightly, the most common was polyester. Polyester is durable, lightweight, fast drying, wrinkle-resistant, low cost, and retains its shape well — a winner material for surf hats. Our runner-up hat, the Dakine Indo Bucket Hat, is made from 100% polyester.

The Manera Bobby Bucket Hat is perfect for surfing, hiking, and paddle boarding. Photo: Jenna Miller//The Inertia

Dry Time

Even if you’re the best surfer around, your surf hat is going to get wet at some point. Having a hat that dries quickly is a huge plus. If you plan on hanging out at the beach, taking a hike, or going out for burritos post-session, it’s nice to have a hat that dries quickly so you’re not walking around dripping all day. Wet hats can also stink up your car or get moldy, so having something that dries quickly is a huge plus. Lightweight hats like the Ho Stevie Floating Surf Cap dry nice and quick.

The Patagonia Merganzer hat is a great everyday hat and surf hat. Photo: Hunter Miller//The Inertia

Durability

Saltwater is extremely corrosive and will definitely take a toll on your equipment. Buying a hat specifically designed for surf and saltwater exposure is a good call, as it will usually hold up better. While a cheap gas station hat will get the job done for a few sessions, it likely won’t stand the test of time — something to consider when selecting your hat. An example of a durable hat is the Patagonia Surf Brimmer.

Return to Comparison Table | Return to Top Picks

Editor’s Note: Surf hats shouldn’t be your only method of sun protection while surfing. For cold water, don’t hit the lineup without one of The Best Wetsuits for Surfing or The Best Women’s Wetsuits. For cooler waters, check out The Best Springsuits or The Best Women’s Springsuits. If the water is toasty, you’ll want one of The Best Rash Guards or The Best Rash Guards for Women. For more gear reviews and gear features from The Inertia, click here.

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