Let’s be real: we all want sun protection hats that aren’t hideous.
Whether you’re on the hunt for a sun hat because your doctor told you to start wearing a hat, you’ve had a skin cancer diagnosis, you sunburn easily, or you want to keep your skin from aging prematurely, finding that perfect goldilocks combination of style and sun protection doesn’t have to be an epic challenge.
Like most things, having enough options to choose from makes finding something you look good in easier. We’ve rounded up a few of our favorite hats for sun protection from this season’s collection and put together a check list of what to look for when choosing a sun hat.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A SUMMER HAT
While it’s true that something is better than nothing, there are a few general rules to follow when choosing a hat for sun protection.
- The wider the brim the better. The American Cancer Society recommends a minimum brim width of 2 to 3 inches.
- Protect the back of your neck and shoulders, not just your face. Choose a hat with a brim all the way around such as a fedora, bucket hat, or classic sun hat rather than a baseball hat.
- Light colors reflect more light. Consider something in the white or off-white family or a natural.
- The greater the density of the material, the less light gets through. Synthetic materials like polypropylene and toyo braids offer the greatest density. In natural materials, look for a tightly woven panama, shantung, or raffia straw, which tend to be more breathable.
- Look for UPF rated hats. UPF ratings range from 15 to 50+, with 50+ blocking as much as 98% of UV radiation. https://www.brimonfifth.com/collections/upf-rated-hats.
- Not every brand does UPF testing, so even if a hat isn’t rated don’t rule it out. You can do a quick light test by holding the hat up to the light and seeing how much comes through.
- Most importantly, wear your hat when you’re in the sun.
OUR TOP FIVE HATS FOR SUMMER SUN
OUR FAVORITE BUCKET HAT |
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| VIBRANT CHECK BUCKET HAT | |
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Bucket hats are a great choice for everyday wear whether you’re running to the grocery or spending the day at the pool. They’re on trend, easy to pack or even roll up and put in your pocket, and, with their downward facing brims, offer a lot of protection with a relatively narrow brim. We love this one from Stetson Europe for its bold colors, breathable cotton, and wide size range (small through xx-large). |
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OUR FAVORITE PANAMA HAT |
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| CROCHET MANUEL | |
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Panama hats are easy to love – they’re breathable with a dense weave that blocks out most UV radiation and as classic as a linen button up. The crown of Crochet Manuel is crochet panama making it stronger and more resilient to abuse than regular woven panama (if you’re can’t stop yourself from picking hats up by the crown, this is the panama hat for you!) with the added bonus of being even more breathable. If you have thin hair or are bald, you’ll want to stick with a hat with a woven crown like Tessier or Raffia Maleo |
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OUR FAVORITE EVERYDAY STRAW HAT |
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| Eli | |
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Virtually indestructible – seriously this hat is crushable and water proof – if the toddler in your life grabs it and smashes it around in the kiddy pool just shake it off and put it on your head and know with confidence that you look good. Equally at home at a summer wedding or a beach day. If you’re only buying one hat this season, Eli is the hat for you. Available in four colors and four sizes and is vented for extra airflow. |
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OUR FAVORITE OUTDOOR HAT |
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| Dunraven | |
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With a broad 3” brim, loosely woven seagrass for breathability, and canvas reinforcement for extra sunprotection in the front brim and crown, Dunraven is a great choice for all day sun. Whether you’re hiking, gardening, paddling, going to a concert, or walking around town, you’ll get full sun protection and style. The details are great with a leather and horsehair band with a stamped metal Stetson logo. |
| OUR FAVORITE FESTIVAL HAT | |
| CLEVES | |
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Cleves is the kind of hat that just gets better with abuse. Drop it in the mud, roll it up and shove it in your pocket, add pins, a band, feathers, a bandana - whatever you find along. This tie dye straw hat has a solid 3" brim and is made from a flexible and durable paper and polyester braid. |
Remember to put on your sunscreen and wear your shades with your new hat and enjoy the summer!
