Best Sun Protection Hats To Buy On The Internet

Post Updated 4th March 2022. First published 5th Feb 2018.  The best sun protection hats should provide good shade from the sun for your scalp, face, neck, head and ears, and preferably have a high ultraviolet protection factor (UV (ultraviolet) barrier factor.)

You’ll find that sun protection hats come in all shapes and styles, and offer varying degrees of sun protection against harmful uv rays.

Best Sunhats Online – Keep your Hat On!

In this post we’ll look at beach hats, stylish hats with a fashionable design, a panama hat, a good straw sun hat, a great floppy hat, wide brim hats, legionnaire style hats, a packable sun hat, vintage style hats, and hats that feature an adjustable chin strap and neck flaps.

Living where I do, I’m in favour of hats with a super, extra-wide brim that offer extra-protection for outdoor adventures, so we’ll look at those too.

We want to introduce you to some of the very best sun protection hats you can buy to help keep your face, neck and ears safe from too much sun exposure.

So Please Keep you hat on this summer!

Protect your face, ears and neck and buy the best hat you can afford to shield you from the sun’s harmful rays.

So what is a UPF Rating and what is UV? According to the Skin Cancer Foundation: UPF measures the amount of UV radiation that can penetrate fabric and reach your skin. Sun Protection Factor, or SPF, is based on the time it takes for UV-exposed skin to redden.

Skin Cancer Foundation

How to Choose the Best Sun Hat

When choosing the best sun protection hat Sunsmart offers many sensible tips to follow, and I would add that it’s a good idea, and an added bonus for summer hats, especially those for beach trips, to be ones that are approved by the Skin Cancer Foundation.

• Look for the quality of sun protection the hat offers.
• Look for a wide brim with at least a 7.5 cm brim for adults.
• A bucket brim hat suitable for outdoor pursuits should have a deep crown with an angled brim of at least 6 cm and sit low on the head)
• Wearing a hat with a brim that shades the eyes can also reduce UV radiation to the eyes.
• If you’re active or sporty then look for a  legionnaire hat which will have a flap that covers the neck and overlaps at the sides of the front peak. These hats can also be worn under helmets and hardhats. They are good for UV radiation protection.
• Check the material. What is the hat made from? A tighter fabric structure is better.
• Does the material let a lot of light through? Does it provide dark shade? A fabric with UPF 15 offers good protection while one that is UPF 50 offers much better protection.
• Is the hat cool and comfortable? If it’s not, you’re not so likely to want to wear it.
• Is the hat going to stay on? Do you need one with a chin strap?
• For sun safety always wear a hat that provides good shade to the scalp, face, eyes, ears and back of neck.

Sun Protection Hat Reviews

I’ve bought lots of sun hats in my time and I’m especially careful to be sun smart and stay out of ultraviolet rays when possible, as I have had a melanoma and don’t want a repeat experience; a very good reason to always wear a protective hat offering great coverage.

I’ve found great hats in different styles, and not so great hats that have ticked all the boxes but not done the right job for me.

Some have been chucked out because they just don’t work, and others are old worn and tattered because they do

These days there’s no end of choice, and summer hats for women come in many different styles and prices.

To begin with you might like to check out the variety of hats available at the San Diego Hat Company which has a huge variety of really great hats you can choose from.

Now let’s look at some of the best sun protection hats we’ve found on the internet, and give you some of our top sun hat recommendations, then you can click through to see the customer reviews – a great way to get a feel for what to buy.

Best Hat to Protect Face From Sun

The best hat to protect your face from the sun is going to be the one you feel comfortable wearing and which you wear every time you go out in the sun. It needs to be a sun hat you just reach for automatically.

When it comes to style there are endless choices.

There’s the floppy hat, or the wide brim sun hat both of which will  look good and give you good protection.

If you’re going for a bit of style then you might rock a Panama hat, and don’t forget to tilt it an angle.

You might need a hat more suited to sporting action which offers high UV protection or something suitable for your hiking, travel or watersports.

The best styles should have an adjustable toggle to secure the hat, together with either a removable chin strap or a breakaway chin strap.

So I hope I can help you avoid the mistakes I’ve made in the past, so that you can buy right the first time.

I hope you can find at least three great hats to buy in the blog post!

One hat to wear when you want to look a million dollars, another to wear for outdoor pursuits and another to wear with your favourite swimsuit.

Read on for some sun protection hats reviews to help you decide which hats are best for you. I’ve picked out what I consider the best in each case. The product descriptions are by the suppliers themselves.

Have fun choosing your own best hat to wear for sun protection!

Best Ladies Sun Hats

We are so lucky that style doesn’t have to pay the price for skin safety when it comes to buying sun protection hats, because wide brimmed hats and floppy hats nearly always add va-va-voom to an outfit.

On the other hand baseball caps, as sporty as they are, do not offer a great option for everyday sun protection because they only protect your scalp and forehead but not your neck and ears.

Secondly you can hardly wear them with a pretty summer frock IMO 😉 Sorry, I’m not a fan of a baseball cap. But I’m all in favour of a wide-brim hat.

Best Hats to Keep Sun off Face, Ears, Neck.

Wide brim hats on the other hand, like the sun protection hat below, not only look great on women, but they  offer good sun protection for your ears and neck too.

Wearing a wide brim sun hat paired with sun protective clothing in breathable fabrics is one of the best ways to help protect your skin from harmful uv radiation.

Don’t forget to pop on a big pair of sunglasses too!

I love this Coolibar hat. It comes in black or natural.

Coolibar UPF 50+ Women’s Packable Wide Brim Hat

Click here for the Best Price

Product Description

• Polyester Knit
• UPF 50+
• Wide 4” brim; Approx. circumference: 22 1/2”
• Internal sweatband for comfort and a snug fit and crown lining for maximum sun protection
• Packable, crushable construction

Best Floppy Hat

A floppy hat is a must have in your wardrobe.

My personal favorite is a wide brim hat which I can fold up and put in my handbag, the best part being that I can then shake it out when I need it and it doesn’t look worse for wear.

If it doesn’t have a drawstring to tie around the neck then I look for a hat that has an internal drawstring to tighten.

Siggi Summer Flap Cover Cap Cotton UPF 50+ Sun Shade Hat

For Best Price Click HERE 

Product Description

• Cotton/ramie/polyester
• Free size with an adjustable string at back. Best fit for 55-58cm 21.6″-22.8″ 6 7/8 – 7 1/4.
• SPF 50+: this sun hat has passed a UPF 50+ test, it could block 97.5% or more of sun UV rays.
• 4.7″ brim that’s wide and long enough to shade forehead, eyes and cheeks from sun’s UV rays.
• Light and ventilated. Cool and comfortable for summer. The chin cord will help keep the hat on in wind.

Best Beach Hat

Looking for the best beach hat?

Then buy one with an ultra wide brim in a material which will keep you cool. Felt is definitely out!

The wider the brim the more of your neck, back and shoulders will be protected.

A beach hat should also be a great packable sun hat; one in a soft fabric designed for everyday use that you can scrunch up into your handbag or beach bag and pull it back into it’s original shape when you take it out.

Coolibar UPF 50+ Women’s Beach Hat – Sun Protective

Love This Hat – Buy Here

Product Description

• Cotton/Linen Blend
• Elastic closure
• UPF 50+
• Approx. circumference: 22 1/2”; Ultra wide 6” wired brim
• Fully lined crown with grosgrain sweatband and elastic string for adjustable sizing
• Travel friendly packable construction

Best Sun Protection Hat for Windy Weather

UV protection hats or spf hats offer the best shielding from the sun, as they are likely to be made from material that doesn’t let UV rays through.

Best sun protection hats for walking and being out on the water might be a legionnaire-style hat.

If you’re into hiking or love water sports then choose a hat which offers the highest UV protection and which will stay on in the wind.

Forget about drop-dead-gorgeous style by choosing a more practical and a less flattering hat, possibly with neck flaps and chin strap too.

You’ll be glad you did when you’re the one who doesn’t get a sunburnt neck.

Mens and Womens sun protection hats look the same so be careful to choose the right size for your head.

Again, for long days and outdoor activities it’s a good idea to look for one with a detachable chin strap, or at least a strap with a toggle to prevent the hat blowing off if the weather is windy.

These are the type of hats I walk in every day when I’m exercising in Western Australia. I think you’ll find some of the best sunscreen hats in the link below.

Best Hats for Outdoor Pursuits

Walkers and Hikers here’s a super selection of hats and caps for you – Browse and Buy Here

Best Sun Hat for Hiking

Hiking hats and hats for fishing should be made of water and rip-resistant nylon and fold up for easy storage in your rucksack or suitcase.

An adjustable chin strap to stop the hat from slipping off and a great option is to choose one with a built-in mesh sweat band to help with ventilation on hot days.

Here’s a favorite hat for windy days that comes in different colours.

The Safari Sun Hat.

Product Description

• Made from quick-drying, breathable polyester.
• Has mesh panels and moisture wicking sweat band.
• One Size Fits Most Women. Circumference of hat crown: 21.6″-22.8″(54-58cm). Size Recommendation: 6 3/4 — 7 1/4. Elastic buckle is for adjusting to fit head size.
• Sun protective: Strong
• Wide-brimmed Hat: 3.35 inch.

Buy the foldable Safari Sun Hat Here.

Best Hats for Watersports

If you’re into boating, kayaking, fishing or gadding about on the river in a ‘tinny’ then choose a good sun hat suitable for watery pursuits.

You need either a legionnaire hat, or a wide brimmed hat which will stay on like the one listed above.

It must protect your neck, face, ears and head from the sun. (Beware reflection from the water, so make sure to wear sunscreen and sunglasses too.)

The hat should preferably have an adjustable chin strap and neck flaps (some are removable) and a chin strap to protect you from the sun and wind.

It should also be a hat that dries quickly and folds up nice and small too.

The hat below takes the legionnaire hat one step further and is a favorite hat for windy days.

It has a face protector and is ideal for all outdoor summer activities when you spend a lot of time out in the sun.

It comes in different colours.

This is another hat that is a really good packable sun hat for any situation where you are travelling. It’s a sunday afternoons ultra adventure hat!

icolor Sun Cap Fishing Hats

Product Description

• 100% Nylon
• Lightweight and quick to dry. icolor Nylon Sun Cap Fishing Hats come with removable neck and face cover flap. Summer Outdoor Travel Beach Hat.
• Size: Head circumference about 21~24 inches (55cm~ 60cm) for adults.
• UPF 50+ Protection:
• Adjustable chin strap ensures the hat stays put even in windy conditions.
• Foldable and portable – packs well.

Buy the icolor Sun Cap here.

Best Wide Brim Sun Hats

A wide brimmed hat is a classic design, always looks stylish and offers a good barrier against the sun. Did you know that from the late 1920s it was fashionable for women to wear enormous straw hats while parading their latest fashions on the French Riviera?

Broad-brimmed and bucket hats provide good UV radiation protection for the face and head.

A wide brim sun hat offers a good buffer if you’re gardening, or at the beach or if you are at an outdoor food and wine festival or music festival.

However with a slightly stiffer rim than a floppy hat this sun hat isn’t the greatest on windy days, so choose one with a neck tie or an internal adjustable drawstring.

Some may not be quite so easy to pack in your suitcase and travel with on holiday so check they are squashable.

UPF 50+ Women’s Packable Wide Brim Hat – Sun Protective

Browse and Buy Here

Product Description

• Polyester Knit
• UPF 50+
• Wide 4” brim; Approx. circumference: 22 1/2”
• Internal sweatband for comfort and a snug fit and crown lining for maximum sun protection
• Packable, crushable construction
• Spot clean; Imported

Best Sun Hats for Travel

For me the legionnaire hat is the best hat for active travel. It should have a wide brim, chin strap and neck straps like the one mentioned previously in this article.

However, I will also probably pack a day hat like the one below – one that will scrunch up in my handbag but also look stylish – it must have a wide brim be made of a tight knit fabric in a fun colour, or be a neutral colour which I can wear with anything. This one is foldable and practical.

Verabella Womens Lightweight Summer Hat – Buy Here

Product Description

• Lightweight and breathable.
• Wide large brim, strong UV protection
• Zipper on the top so you can remove the top part to wear it as a simple wide brim visor.
• Foldable, packable, crushable and flexible.
• One size fits most. 56
• 4.5 inches wide brim.

Best Vintage Hats

Vintage Sun Hats

In the 1940s and 1950s it was customary for women to wear hats as a fashion accessory and as a mark of status, though they were not worn necessarily because of climate or weather.

Many styles of hats were popular including round pillbox hats. Brims were usually narrow. These styles of hats will offer the least sun protection, but they look good! So you have to decide when the cap fits or doesn’t!

I think this is a lovely vintage hat for a wedding offering a little sun protection.

These floppy straw sun hats have a little vintage appeal too.

I have two of these, one in straw colour and the other in oatmeal, and love them! See below …

Buy Floppy Straw Sunhats Here

Product Description

• 2 Pieces of vintage elegent design straw sun hat.
• Soft, breathable and comfortable, easy to fold, easy to pack, lightweight.
• Ribbon inside the sun hat can be adjusted for different head size.
• Big Wide Brim – Wide Brim 4 inch.
• Foldable

Best Panama Hat

At around the turn of the 20th century, Panama hats became popular as tropical and seaside accessories because they were easy to wear, stylish and they let the head breathe.

They are traditional straw hats which originate from Equador.

Panama hats are light-colored and  lightweight.

Their beauty is that they are breathable. 

For the best quality Panama hat look for a tight, fine weave and find the perfect fit – too large and it will tilt forward, too small and it will sit on the top of your head and look ridiculous!

Tumia – Fedora Panama Hat – White or Natural – Lightweight rollable version

Fancy a trendy Panama hat? Buy Here.

Product Description

• Genuine Panama Hat. Fedora Style. Hand woven in Ecuador. Light and breathable. Ethically Traded.
• Hand woven in Ecuador and hand finished in Bristol, England. By Tumia Panama Hats, the UK’s leading Panama specialist.
• Comfortable sweat wicking inner headband.

The Best Bucket Hat

A bucket hat is also known as a fishing hat or a beanie hat.

It’s a soft cotton hat with a fairly wide and downwards sloping brim.

Though in comparison to some sun hats this hat has quite a narrow brim, which helps prevent it being swept off your head in the wind!

The Rosoz 2 Pack Bucket Hat for Women below comes in different colours.

Product Description

• Material: Cotton. Soft and comfortable.
• Size: One size fits most. Hat circumference 56-58cm/22.1-22.8″.
• Lightweight and foldable for on the go while traveling.
• Perfect for casual daily and outdoor activities, such as fishing, hunting, hiking, camping and beach.
• Modern Style: Our cool bucket hat comes in different colors.

Best Straw Hat for Sun Protection

Now let’s look at the best straw hats.

Are straw hats good for sun protection?

Well, straw is a fabulous material for summer hats because it’s breathable and lightweight.

Some straw hats are quite malleable and can be scrunched up in your bag and then shaken out to wear.

Look for a floppy straw hat if you want one to travel with.

If you choose a natural straw colour it’s likely to look good with many outfits.

Furtalk Sun Hat

Buy a Furtalk Straw Sun Hat Here

Product Description

• Womens Sun Hat Material is high quality paper straw
• Fashionable, functional, brimmed beach hat.
• Adjustable size: 52-58cm,  20.5″-22.8″  Medium recommended for normal headsize with circumference of around 22.4 inches. Large for 23.2 inches.
• Hat size is adjustable using the wicking sweat band.
• Foldable, compact when folded up.
• Removable chin strap.

The great thing about sunny days is the sun! Which is also a bad thing when it comes to sun damage.

Your best bet for spending a long time outside in the sun is to find the perfect hat.

You need a comfortable sun hat (or two or three) that will protect you from harmful uva that you can take everywhere.

For sun safety please don’t just choose a sun visor.

In the long run if you are going to be getting plenty of sun then a better way to go is to ditch the sun visor and go with good quality women’s hats that are designed for sunsmart people.

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