The perfect hiking hat will quickly become one of your favorite and most used accessories on the trails. Made from lightweight and water-resistant materials, these hats come with UPF protection and wide brims to keep you well-protected.
Things To Consider With Hiking Hats
There are many different types of hiking hats to choose from, all of which offer some protection from the elements. Before you buy your next hiking hat, consider the following:
Style
There are 3 main types of hiking hats that most outdoor adventurers prefer to wear out in the wilds:
Sun Hats — With wide brims and ventilated crowns, these types of hats are just as suitable for use in the backcountry as they are in the park.
Lightweight and easy to wear, they come with adjustable drawstrings to ensure that they stay in place, and sometimes they also come with longer flaps on the back to protect your entire head from the ravages of the sun.
Baseball Caps — With a slimline silhouette and close-fitting design, a baseball hat offers protection while still allowing you to exercise and stay active in the sun.
With wide front bills, they can help to protect your eyes from the bright light of the sun, and ventilated crowns will help to keep your head cool.
A baseball cap also offers increased comfort for longer-haired wearers, as you can poke your ponytail neatly out of the back of the cap.
Boonie or Bucket Hats — These traditional-style hats are incredibly versatile and offer wide brims, ventilated crowns, and adjustable sizing, making them suitable for a wide range of uses.
With a more outdoorsy look about them, these types of hats are favorites with folks who like to hunt, fish, hike, and camp, and they have quite a masculine look and feel about them.
Climate
Your hat should be a comfortable addition to your outdoor wardrobe and not something that puts you off your game.
Before you buy, think about the climate of your destination to ensure that your head doesn’t feel all out of sorts while you walk.
For hot and humid places, look for hiking hats that feature plenty of ventilation and a wider brim to help keep your head cool while still offering protection. In cooler climates, consider a hat that offers water resistance and a drawstring to keep it on your head when the wind picks up.
Hot Tip: All hats should offer UPF 50+ protection as the rays of the sun are just as powerful even when they are tucked behind the clouds.
Size
Your hiking hat will obviously need to fit correctly on your head in order for it to be of any use to you, so pay close attention to the size guides.
For example, some types of hats, like caps, can easily be adjusted at the back to fine-tune the sizing, whereas sun hats and boonies may have a maximum head circumference that they are suitable for.
You may need to try on a few different styles and sizes before you find the perfect fit for you.
Material
If you are planning on wearing your hat out on the trails, you will need to make sure that the material is both comfortable and practical.
In hot weather, you will want a fabric that offers moisture-wicking properties and built-in UPF protection, and additional mesh panels will help your skin to breathe.
Some of our favorite hats also come with an innovative coating that becomes supercool when dipped in water and can remain that way for hours at a time for a truly cooling experience in more extreme conditions.
Bottom Line: You should also look for fabrics that offer some resistance to water and won’t crease when folded, as hiking hats are often stuffed in pockets or stashed in bags when not in use.
The 9 Best Hiking Hats
1. Wide-Brim Sun Hat for Everyday Adventures
DISCOUNT: 29% BEST OVERALL: GearTop Wide Brim Sun Hat A great choice for time spent outdoors, this option features a mesh design with drawstring closure and UPF 50+ sun protection. Ideal for fishing, this option is breathable, lightweight, and quick-drying.
GearTOP UPF 50+ Wide Brim Sun Hat
This impressive little sun hat offers 50+ UPF protection to keep you safe from both UVA and UVB rays and is well-ventilated to keep you feeling cool.
The adjustable drawstring helps to ensure that the hat remains firmly on your head, even when there is a breeze, and the mesh panels let your head breathe in the heat of the day.
With options for both kids and adults, the wide-brimmed design offers shade for your eyes, face, and neck area, and the fast-drying fabric makes it perfect for use in humid and wet conditions, too.
What We Like
- This hat is lightweight and comfortable to wear.
What We Don’t Like
- The clasp on the adjustable strap can work its way loose.
Hot Tip: A quality hiking hat is just one of many hiking essentials to pack on your next trip. Check out our complete guide for more recommendations!
2. Sun Hat for Ladies With Long Hair
UPGRADE PICK: Muryobao Women’s Sun Hat A chic choice that includes a practical ponytail opening to keep your hair perfectly in place while you’re out hiking or fishing. The style can be customized through the foldable snaps on the side.
Muryobao Women’s Ponytail Sun Hat
Perfect for ladies who like to hike, fish, and adventure in the great outdoors, this wide brim hat has a ponytail hole to ensure it stays comfortable for wearers with longer hair.
Available in a choice of smart-looking colorways, this hat comes with foldable side snaps that allow it to be worn in a variety of different ways, and the wider brim has been designed to protect your eyes, face, and neck from the harmful rays of the sun.
Lightweight and easy to wear, it is made from quick-drying, waterproof, and breathable material, and the versatile design allows it to be folded down small so it can be kept close by you at all times.
What We Like
- The ponytail hole is a superb idea.
What We Don’t Like
- This hat does come up a little small.
3. For Serious Outdoorsmen and Women
Columbia Bora-Bora Booney A unisex design made from 100% nylon featuring Omni-Wick moisture-wicking technology to keep you cool. It has a wide brim that can keep the sun away from your face and neck.
Columbia Unisex Adult Bora Bora Booney Hat
This high-quality hiking hat is made by the outdoor experts at Columbia and comes in a variety of colors for style-conscious hikers everywhere.
Made from quick-drying UPF 50+ fabric, it will help protect your face and neck from the sun’s harmful rays, and with built-in moisture-wicking qualities, it will also help keep you feeling cool.
With a mesh vent for increased breathability, as well as an adjustable drawcord for an almost customized fit, this hat is an excellent choice for anyone who likes to explore the great outdoors in any weather.
What We Like
- The hat is comfortable and convenient.
What We Don’t Like
- It tends to lose its shape very quickly if it gets wet.
4. Adjustable Hiking Hat for All-weather Wear
Jane Shine Outdoor Sun Hat A quick-dry mesh cap design offering UPF 50+ sun protection. It includes an adjustable drawstring to keep it on during windy days. It can be easily folded and stored in a bag while hiking.
Jane Shine Outdoor Sun Hat
With a 2½-inch brim width, this attractive sun hat offers excellent protection and shade from the sun. Made from high-quality, super-comfy polyester material, it is quick-drying, breathable, and incredibly easy to carry around with you everywhere you go.
With UPF 50+ protection, an adjustable rope buckle, and a drawstring to hold the hat on, this particular model comes in a variety of striking colors, and the innovative design allows you to wear the brim up or down as you see fit.
Perfect for use when you are out walking, sunbathing, hiking, camping, and so much more, this is a beautiful sun hat for ladies and teens.
What We Like
- This hat can be folded up small.
What We Don’t Like
- The colors are not always quite as bright as advertised.
5. Outdoor Sun Hat With Super-Clever Cool Capabilities
DISCOUNT: 20% Mission Cooling Bucket Hat This option includes a cooling effect that can be activated by wetting it and wringing it. The instant relief is not the only feature: it is lightweight, soft, and adjustable. You can fold it and store it when you don’t need to use it.
Mission Cooling Bucket Hat
Designed to offer incredible comfort in the heat, this hat cools instantly to 30 degrees below body temperature when submerged in water.
Super easy to activate, you only need to wet it, wring it and wave it around before enjoying 2 hours of ice-cool comfort every time.
Lightweight and easy to wear, it has a reinforced brim that offers an excellent amount of shade, and with an adjustable elastic cord chin strap and brass pin straps, you can wear it in a variety of styles for great-looking practicality.
What We Like
- The water activation technique keeps you feeling cool.
What We Don’t Like
- The chin strap isn’t as robust as the rest of the hat.
6. Sun Hat for Neck and Face Protection
Sun Cube Wide Brim Sun Hat Made from quick-drying nylon, this breathable and lightweight design fits most heads and has UPF 50+ sun protection. It is easily foldable into a small size that can be placed in a pocket while traveling.
Wide Brim Sun Hat with Neck Flap
Available in a range of pretty colors and cool camo designs, this super wide-brimmed hat comes complete with an 8.5-inch neck flap to keep your delicate skin protected from the sun.
With built-in 50+ UPF protection, this hat will allow you to safely enjoy a whole range of outdoor activities, and with a 24-inch head circumference and adjustable cords and chin strap, this hat can be worn by both men and women.
In addition, the moisture-wicking headband helps absorb sweat, and the mesh panels on the sides will help keep your head cool in the heat of the day.
What We Like
- The long neck flap material offers great protection.
What We Don’t Like
- The size of the hat can get in the way.
Hot Tip: If you’re heading from the trails to the beach, check out our guide to the best beach hats for travel.
7. Cooling Cap for Outdoor Exercise
Mission Cooling Performance Hat A 100% polyester design that features cooling technology when activated with water. This brings instant relief to a lightweight design with a practical hook and loop closure that is adjustable to give you the perfect fit.
Mission Cooling Unisex Baseball Cap
Enjoy being active in the heat for longer with this awesome baseball cap that actively cools your head as you move.
Activated by water, it cools to 30 degrees below body temperate and will stay that way for up to 2 hours at a time. Comfortable to wear, it offers built-in UPF 50+ protection, and the innovative design can be re-cooled by simply wetting the hat and wringing out any excess water.
Available in a choice of colors, this cap has a wide bill, a deep crown, and an adjustable Velcro panel, and it is suitable for use by both men and women.
What We Like
- This cap is super comfy to wear.
What We Don’t Like
- The adjustable Velcro strap has a habit of sticking to your hair.
8. Breathable Baseball Cap for Ladies Who Like To Move
Gaiam Women’s Ball Cap An adjustable and breathable option that can keep you cool, even in the summer heat. The moisture-wicking material helps keep you comfortable, as does the adjustable secure-fit strap on the back.
Gaiam Women’s Hat-Breathable Ball Cap
Perfect for men and women who like to work out in the great outdoors, this cap is made from super-breathable fabric that helps to keep your head cool no matter how active you get.
With a laser-cut ventilation design and moisture-wicking fabric, this cap has been designed to offer superior breathability, and with an adjustable secure-fit strap, it will stay comfortably in place while you work out.
Available in a choice of colors, this high-quality and incredibly practical sports cap is an excellent choice for everyday wear.
What We Like
- This cap stays firmly on your head.
What We Don’t Like
9. Innovative Sun Hat for Extended Protection
Sunday Afternoons Sport Hat A nylon design with crown mesh made from polyester. It is water-repellent and dirt-resistant, featuring a moisture-wicking sweatband on the interior. Includes a wide brim and a back veil for maximum protection.
Sunday Afternoons Sport Hat
This supercool sports hat is comfortable to wear and features an innovative design that offers incredible protection in the sun.
With a UPF 50+ rating, it helps to block up to 90% of harmful UVA and UVB rays, and the full brim offers excellent protection without impeding your view.
With a moisture-wicking sweatband, this hat will help to keep the sweat out of your eyes, and the dark brim has been specially designed to reduce glare while you are hiking, hunting, or fishing.
With an external size adjuster, this hat is designed to fit wearers of all sizes, and the convenient ponytail hole makes it comfortable for those with longer hair, too.
What We Like
- The wide brim and extended neck cover provide excellent coverage.
What We Don’t Like
- It is quite large in size.
Final Thoughts
From wide-brimmed hats to supercool caps, the very best hiking hat is the one you like the best. Stay cool and well-protected with built-in UPF protection while enjoying glare-free, moisture-wicking designs that are perfect for use in all kinds of climates.
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