If you’re heading to the beach this summer, don’t forget to pack the right hat! Bringing proper headwear can allow you to enjoy the beach more than you would otherwise. Plus, it will allow you to look stylish while doing so.
To help you decide which hat to bring, we’ve created a list of our top summer beach hat choices. These include some general recommendations for what to bring alongside the top picks from American Hat Makers in each category. All in all, this is a list filled with quality hats you’ll love.
Related: Best Beach Hats for Style and Sun Protection
Any Lightweight Straw Beach Hat
When you’re out enjoying the salt and sand on the beach, a beach hat is an obvious choice. In most cases, the beach hats you find will be made from straw. There is a reason this is the case, as straw is a great material for a beach hat.
Straw is light and naturally breathable. It won’t trap in hot air and keep it on your head but, instead, will allow air to pass over your head.
We suggest our Barcelona wide-brim straw hat. This has everything you could want from a beach hat. This includes a wide brim, a straw construction, and a stylish look that fits in anywhere. The hat even has additional ventilation holes to make it even more breathable.
A Bucket Beach Hat
If the standard beach straw hat has a little too large of a brim for you, a bucket hat is the way to go. Bucket hats have seen a comeback in recent years and show no signs of declining popularity. They’re here to stay, so wearing a bucket hat is a great way to stay up to date with some of the latest fashions.
Bucket hats have a lot of practicality to offer. They have a small brim, so they still offer some sun protection. Plus, they are versatile and work with many different outfits.
When it comes to picking out a bucket hat for the beach, our Tootie straw bucket hat is our top choice. This one offers all of the benefits of straw, as bucket hats made from cotton or synthetic fibers can be a bit suffocating in the summer. It also comes in cool colors that perfectly complement a hot day at the beach.
Looking for more women’s hat options in a variety of color options? Take a look at all of our women’s sun hats and choose the one you love!
A Stylish Beach Trucker Hat
You might not immediately think of a trucker hat as something you would wear at the beach. However, they work surprisingly well on the shore.
A big part of this is due to the hat’s construction. Trucker hats have a decently sized brim, so they help keep the sun out of your eyes while you’re at the beach. They also have a back that is almost completely open, which offers some seriously superior ventilation. Together, these factors make them a good choice for anyone heading out on the sand.
We suggest going with our camo snapback trucker hat. The camo colors and the US flag on the front make this hat very stylish.
A Beach Cowboy Hat
Looking to really make some waves when you head down to the shore? Try bringing a cowboy hat to the beach.
A cowboy hat has serious versatility. On the beach, the wide brim offers some sun protection. Meanwhile, on land, it looks incredibly stylish and allows you to stand out. So, you can go from lounging on the sand to ordering drinks at a beach bar without worrying about changing your hat.
We recommend our Austin straw cowboy hat specifically. This hat has a special section of ventilation holes designed to keep your head warm. Plus, the straw construction will be light and airy for your time at the beach.
Related: Best Sun Hats for Men: Find Wide Brim Sun Hat Protection
An Oversized Floppy Hat
Want to go all out when it comes to sun protection? A floppy hat is the way to go. With a brim wider than most other hats, it will block the sun’s rays from all angles. This means it prevents both your face and your neck from getting too much sun.
Plus, hats like this just look great. They have a fun, carefree vibe that is perfect for a day at the beach.
We recommend our Bisbee straw hat. The neutral design of this hat means that you can wear it with anything, so it will pair well with any bathing suit. The straw construction has all of the benefits we’ve already discussed about straw and, thus, is perfect for summer.
Any White Hat
Speaking of things that go with everything, a white hat should absolutely be a part of your wardrobe. As a neutral color, white is amazing because it can be paired well with anything else you wear. You can wear something packed with color or something white or black, and your white hat will still look great. This is true for men’s/woman’s beach hats equally.
When looking for a white beach hat, we recommend keeping the other important beach hat factors in mind. This means looking for one with a wide brim and a light build. That’s why we recommend our classic white Panama hat. This hat has a wonderfully classy look to it while also being designed to help you beat the heat.
Want to find a classic white or cream straw hat that is a great neutral option for the summer? Check out our men’s straw hats for a wide selection!
Any Black Hat
You might think a black hat would be something bad to wear on a hot summer day. After all, doesn’t black absorb sunlight and make you hotter?
It turns out that wearing black clothing doesn’t actually make you hotter and may work to keep you cool. Plus, like white, black is a very neutral color that you can use in plenty of different outfits. So, having one in your wardrobe is a must.
For a black beach hat, we suggest the black version of our Saunter straw hat. This hat is built in a way that emphasizes fashion and ventilation over sun protection. So, wear it on a day when the sun isn’t as intense, but you still want to stay cool.
Summer Beach Hats We Recommend
There are plenty of good summer beach hats out there. We recommend ones made from lighter materials, ones with a slightly wider brim, and ones that will suit the vibe of the beach. We also recommend hats that come with all of the quality you have come to expect from American Hat Makers.