woman looking down with gardening hat on

4 Best Gardening Hats: Keep the Sun Off Your Face this Summer

Last updated by Ori Adler on

When flowers start to bloom, so do we, and there’s no doubt that spending time in the garden is excellent for your health. Not only does it get you outside and moving around more, but it also gets you ample fresh air. Tending to your garden also promotes the growth of beneficial plants that can improve your well-being.

But there’s one hazard of gardening that many people don’t think about: the sun. The sun can be mighty and dangerous long-term, and ultraviolet radiation from the sun can cause unwanted wrinkles, skin cancers, and other more serious age-related issues.

That’s why it’s crucial to protect yourself from the sun while gardening. One easy way to do that is wearing a good garden hat. A garden hat will keep the sun off your face and neck, preventing unhealthy skin damage.

Best Gardening Hats for Your Outdoor Protection

Soaker Wide Brim Sun Hat - American Hat Makers 

Soak up the glorious sun rays without sacrificing comfort in American Hat Maker’s Soaker Wide Brim Sun Hat for Men and Women.

This is the number one ideal summer gardening hat because of its water-resistant material and soakable liner. You can immerse the hat in ice water for a long-lasting refreshing afternoon spent trimming your roses.

Outdoor Research - Sunbriolet Sun Hat

Outdoor Research Sobriolet Sun Hat will protect your head and face while you plant your seeds. UPF 50+ fabric will shield you from intense sun, and the fabric crown will keep you cool and dry. The piping along the brim is unique to a Sobriolet Sun Hat, which offers a little wind resistance when the breeze picks up. 

Milan Straw Fedora Hat - American Hat Makers

The Milan Straw Fedora Hat is a more traditional-styled, natural-looking straw garden hat, with a large brim perfect for summer days and nights. An added hat band gives it a classy look, and the ends of the straw are left loose for a touch of something special aesthetically. 

Horizon Breeze Brimmer Hat - The North Face

Speaking of classics, North Face’s Horizon Breeze Brimmer Hat is a timeless look. Your more casual everyday-looking summer hat, but it still is breezy and comfortable. Although the brim isn’t very wide, it is still made for some quality UV protection. 

two women gardening

Why you Should Wear a Gardening Hat

There are a few reasons why you should wear a hat while gardening. First, as mentioned above, UV radiation from the sun can cause skin issues, including cancer. And gardening in the sun can be hot, and wearing a wide-brim hat will help keep you cool in the shade. 

Let's take a look at why you should wear a gardening hat when you are outside.

Protects Your Skin

As you may already know, exposure to the sun's UV rays can have harmful effects on the skin, and you want to do everything to protect yourself.

Gardening is an everyday activity involving spending long periods outdoors, often in direct sunlight, which can increase the risk of these adverse effects.

Wearing a gardening hat with a wide brim can help provide shade and protect the face, neck, and ears from the sun's harmful UV rays.

The wide brim can create a barrier between the sun and the face, neck, and ears, helping to prevent sunburn and reduce the risk of skin damage.

Sun damage to the skin can lead to premature aging, including wrinkles and age spots, and can also increase the risk of skin cancer.

In fact, the Skin Cancer Foundation recommends wearing a wide-brimmed hat with a 3-inch brim or larger to help protect the face, neck, and ears from the sun's harmful UV rays while outdoors.

By wearing a gardening hat while working outside, gardeners can help reduce their risk of skin damage, premature aging, and skin cancer, making gardening a safer and more enjoyable activity.

Keeps You Cool

Gardening can be a physically demanding activity that can cause the body to overheat, particularly during hot summer days.

Wearing a gardening hat made from lightweight and breathable materials, such as cotton, straw, or mesh, can help keep the head cool and reduce sweat build-up. In turn, it will make gardening more comfortable and enjoyable for you. 

Cotton gardening hats are a popular choice due to their soft and breathable properties, allowing air to circulate freely and helping to regulate body temperature. They are also absorbent to help wick away moisture and reduce sweat build-up on the scalp.

Straw hats are made from natural fibers that allow air to flow through the material and provide ventilation, keeping the head cool and comfortable. They are also lightweight and provide excellent sun protection.

Mesh gardening hats are made from a breathable fabric that allows air to circulate freely, making them an excellent choice for hot and humid weather. They are lightweight and provide excellent ventilation, helping to keep the head cool and comfortable.

By wearing a gardening hat made from lightweight, breathable materials, gardeners can help regulate their body temperature, reduce sweat build-up, and prevent heat exhaustion. This can allow gardeners to spend more time outdoors and easily tend to their plants.

Keeps Away Insects

Working in a garden can be a relaxing and rewarding experience, but it can also expose gardeners to various insects, including mosquitoes, gnats, and flies. Some gardening hats are designed with a built-in mesh veil or netting that can help protect the face and neck from these pesky insects.

The mesh veil or netting is typically made from a fine and breathable fabric that covers the face and neck, providing a physical barrier between the skin and insects. The veil or netting is designed to be lightweight and breathable, allowing air to circulate freely and preventing the hat from becoming too hot or uncomfortable. 

By wearing a gardening hat with a built-in mesh veil or netting, gardeners can reduce their exposure to insects and the risk of bug bites and stings, which can cause itching and swelling. Sometimes, these bugs can transmit diseases like West Nile virus and Lyme disease.

Protects Your Eyes

Gardening often involves various tasks such as pruning, weeding, and digging, exposing gardeners to various environmental factors that can irritate or damage their eyes. These factors can include exposure to sunlight, wind, dust, and debris, which can cause eye strain, irritation, and damage.

Wearing a gardening hat with a brim or visor can help provide a physical barrier between the eyes and these environmental factors. The brim or visor can help shield the eyes from direct sunlight. It can also protect the eyes from wind and dust, which can cause dryness and irritation.

In addition, wearing a gardening hat with a brim or visor can help protect the eyes from flying debris, such as small rocks, twigs, or leaves. This is particularly important when using power tools like lawnmowers or trimmers.

Keeps Hair Out of Your Face

A gardening hat is a type of headwear designed to provide protection and comfort to the wearer while working in the garden. It typically has a wide brim that extends around the head, giving shade and shelter from the sun, rain, or wind. One of the primary benefits of wearing a gardening hat is that it helps keep hair out of your face.

When you're working in the garden, especially on a windy day, your hair can easily get in the way of your vision, making it difficult to see what you're doing. This can be especially problematic when using tools like pruning shears or a rake, as you need to see what you're cutting or raking to avoid injuring yourself. 

A gardening hat can prevent this problem by keeping your hair securely tucked under the brim. The wide brim acts as a barrier between your face and your hair, ensuring that your hair stays put and doesn't interfere with your work.

Additionally, some gardening hats have chin straps or adjustable cords that can be tightened to secure the hat in place further and prevent it from falling off or shifting around on your head.

Offers Plenty of Stylish Features

Gardening hats are not just practical; they can also be stylish and fashionable. These hats come in a wide range of colors and patterns to match your style and personality.

You can choose from classic neutrals or opt for something more colorful, like red, blue, or green. Patterns can add a playful touch to your gardening ensemble. Some gardening hats feature embellishments, like ribbons, bows, or beads, that can add a touch of glamor to your look. No matter your style, you can find a gardening hat to match your taste and personality.

A person out in the garden working while wearing a hat.

What to Look For in a Gardening Hat

Sun Protection

When looking for a gardening hat, choosing one that offers good sun protection is important. According to studies, over 5 million cases of skin cancers have been diagnosed each year in the US alone. A gardening hat should have a wide brim to protect your face and neck from the sun. It should also have a shady lining to keep your head cool. 

Some hats even have built-in UV protection to protect your skin from the sun. Others have a strap or chin cord to keep the hat in place so it doesn’t fly off your head in the wind. 

Gardening hats are available in various colors and styles, so you can find one that suits your taste and personality. And most importantly, they’ll help keep you safe from the sun while you garden.

Comfort 

First and foremost, safety is important. Next to that is always going to be comfortability. You should always choose a well-fitting hat that feels good on your head. Spending long hours gardening is one of the best summer outdoor hobbies. However, we all know how uncomfortable the wrong hat can be, especially if you wear it daily during laborious afternoons. 

Easy Cleaning

If the garden hat protects you from the elements and fits nicely on your head, you are halfway there to having the perfect summer hat. A good garden hat is worth the investment, and a durable and well-made one can last many years.

Spending days sweating in dirt can cause attire to grow dirty and grungy. Find a hat that is both durable, holds its shape and is easy to clean. A water-resistant hat crafted with proper materials can make a difference. Look for things like cleanable material and removable sweatbands, and you will have a hat that will last you a lifetime. 

Breathable Functionality

For hot sunny days, a breathable hat is your best tool for gardening. Straw hats are lightweight and allow extra ventilation. Materials like environmentally friendly hemp made into mesh textiles can also be suitable for hot summer days. Looking for a hat that vents well will save your head and your hat from being hurt and save money in the long run.

Fashion

You want to feel stylish and feel a sense of safety and confidence when you go outside to enjoy the weather. Don’t be afraid to pick out a hat that feels like you and looks good on you. Garden hats can be classy, colorful, and creative, and it really is up to the wearer and personal taste. Fashion can be as vital amongst flowers as it is on the runway.

Find your next favorite hat at American Hat Makers. Shop now.

Stay Cool while Gardening

Gardening hats are a must-have for anyone who spends time in the garden. Not only do they protect you from the sun, but they also keep you looking and feeling cool and safe from the elements.

There are a variety of gardening hats to choose from, so you can find one that suits your style and needs. Mind your head this Summer with one of these stylish and functional gardening hats!

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