Buying guide for Best sun hats
A sun hat adds an element of style to your summer attire, but you’re doing much more than making a fashion statement when you wear one. That’s because in addition to looking good, sun hats are designed to provide protection from the sun’s skin-damaging rays.
But when it comes to shielding yourself from the sun, not just any hat will do. Sun hats are made of protective materials and have wide brims that keep rays from reaching your face, eyes, and neck. They also come in a wide range of styles, so whether you want to look elegant strolling along the beach or need a rugged hat for hours of fishing, there’s a design to fit your look and lifestyle.
Materials, colors, structure, and more — there are a lot of features to consider in order to choose a sun hat that you will love. But you don’t have to get bogged down sorting through the details because we’ve done the research for you.
Key considerations
Sun protection
Sun hats are versatile when it comes to the protection they provide. They’re available for all ages and for every member of the family, including men, women, kids, and even toddlers and babies. It’s the sun hat’s combination of a wide brim and sun-blocking fabric helps to keep the sun’s rays from the face, ears, neck, and shoulders.
Brim: The brim of a sun hat is one of the most important factors when it comes to blocking UV rays. The brim is typically at least two inches wide (think of a fedora) to provide some protection, but it can be as wide as eight inches for more coverage. A hat with an extremely wide brim (in excess of five inches) is stylish and provides extensive protection, but it can interfere with some outdoor activities. Brims measuring approximately three to four inches offer the best balance of protection and comfort. Some brims have a bucket-like shape for added protection for the face and neck. Most sun hat brims are also flexible and can be shaped for targeted coverage or a specific look.
In addition to a wide brim, some sun hats also come with detachable front and back panels that provide added coverage to the face and neck. These accessories are designed for wearers who spend extended amounts of time in the sun.
UPF rating: The materials that make up sun hats are designed to keep out the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Quality hats have ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) ratings that indicate the degree of effectiveness at blocking radiation from the sun. Similar to sun protection factor (SPF) that’s used to indicate the level of skin protection provided by sunscreen, UPF indicates how well a fabric blocks the sun’s rays. For example, a rating of UPF 50 is very good; it means that a mere 1/50 of the sun rays can penetrate the material. In other words, fabric with a UPF 50 rating prevents 98% of potentially harmful UVA and UVB rays from reaching the skin.
Expert Tip
A braided sun hat with a wide brim is perfect for beach days and looks great paired with a swimsuit or sundress.
STAFF
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Sun hat features
Materials
Straw and synthetics: The first material that comes to mind when you think of a sun hat is probably straw. Many traditional sun hats are crafted of natural or synthetic straw or a paper blend woven together in a braided design. Typically, straw and other woven sun hats are more fashionable than fabric options, and are made to be worn with casual warm-weather attire and for leisure activities. They tend to be less durable than sun hats made of fabric. Woven straw and faux straw hats typically come in neutral shades including white, shades of tan and beige, and black.
Fabric: Fabric hats made of cotton, canvas, or synthetic materials like nylon and polyester are often designed to be worn during more strenuous outdoor activities like fishing, running, or hiking. However, some fabric sun hats are just as stylish as those made of straw and look great topping off a summer outfit. You’ll find sun hats made of cotton or synthetic fabrics in various colors. Dark-colored materials absorb more heat than lighter hues, so many sun hat enthusiasts prefer lighter colors because they’re somewhat cooler on the head. However, light-colored sun hats can be quick to show dirt and stains, so they may not be practical to wear for some outdoor activities.
Cord
Do you spend a lot of time outdoors in windy conditions? If so, there are many sun hats made to accommodate your lifestyle, thanks to a drawstring cord or chin cord that can be adjusted to secure the hat on your head even when the weather doesn’t cooperate.
Size
Many sun hats come in just one size, but others offer a choice of sizes. For the best fit, choose one that’s designed specifically for your gender, or opt for a unisex style. When it comes to choosing a sun hat for a child, consider the age range the particular style is intended to fit.
"Soft, flexible sun hats made of polyester, nylon, or canvas are the most practical for travel because, unlike straw hats, they won’t lose their shape after being folded and packed in a bag. "
STAFF
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Sun hat prices
You can find sun hats for as little as $5 and as much as $100 or more. You won’t get top quality in a cheap hat, but you don’t need to spend a lot of money for a stylish one. Fabric and straw hats are available across the price spectrum.
Inexpensive
Sun hats that cost between $5 and $20 tend to be fairly basic, and they may have some durability concerns. Most kids’ sun hats fall into this price range.
Mid-range
Most consumers can find well-made sun hats that will last many seasons in the $20 to $50 price range. Numerous styles are also available.
Expensive
These sun hats are stylish and well made, but you don’t need to spend top dollar to get a quality hat. Keep in mind that if you spend between $50 and $100, you may be paying for a brand name as much as you are for quality.
Expert Tip
Do you spend a lot of time hiking, fishing, or camping? Wearing a sun hat is a great way to block out some of the UV rays when doing activities that require spending a lot of time in direct sunlight.
STAFF
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Tips
- Choose a sun hat with mesh panels. If you’re concerned about your head getting too hot in the sun, you can find sun hats with portions made of mesh. However, keep in mind that the mesh isn’t likely to provide adequate UPF protection.
- Suit the sun hat to the activity. Sun hats made of light-colored materials aren’t practical for heavy-duty activities, but they are suitable for outdoor events when stylishness is a priority over functionality. They look great worn with summer shirts, shorts, and sandals, too.
- Spot-clean your sun hat. Thoroughly washing your sun hat too frequently can cause the material to wear out prematurely. Unless your hat is heavily soiled, stained, or soaked with sweat, occasional spot-cleaning should do. In fact, this is the only way that some UPF materials can be safely cleaned.
- Keep sun hats on hand for every member of the family. Take them along the next time the gang heads out for an outdoor adventure.
- Pick a hat with a sweatband. Do you sweat easily? If so, consider a sun hat with a interior sweatband that soaks up perspiration.
FAQ
Q. How do I wash my sun hat?
A. The answer depends on the type of sun hat you have. Many hats made of materials like polyester, nylon, and canvas can be machine washed, while those made of braided materials like straw or synthetic straw can’t be submerged and require spot-cleaning. Keep in mind that the correct method for cleaning a sun hat depends on the recommendations for care provided by the manufacturer. You should always check the hat’s care instructions before you wash it.
Q. What’s the best way to store a straw sun hat?
A. One factor that can lead to the breakdown of the materials used to make a straw sun hat is improper storage. If you crumple it, pile other items on top of if it, or cram it in a drawer, it could very well lose its shape and structure. The best way to protect a sun hat made of straw, straw-like material, or braided paper blends is to hang it on a hook or rack or store it in a hatbox.
Q. Do I still need to use sunscreen lotion if I wear a sun hat?
A. A well-made sun hat with a wide brim will do a good job of blocking the sun from many parts of your upper body, but it’s still a good idea to add extra sun protection by using a sunscreen lotion, cream, or gel on exposed skin. This is especially important on areas of your body that the sun hat’s brim can’t cover, as well as on days that you plan to spend extensive amounts of time outdoors. Use a shampoo with UV protection to protect hair.
