When you’re headed to the beach, the best way to ensure skin protection is to wear great sunscreen and a sun-safe hat. A great sun hat allows you to hit the water without worrying about skin damage. Here are our favorite hats for the best surf hats to wear this summer:
1. Best Overall Surf Hat: Milan Men’s Straw Fedora Hat
The Milan Men’s Straw Fedora Hat is the ideal straw hat after a summer surf session. This stylish Panama toquilla hat features a teardrop fedora and perforated cap that ventilates and cools while protecting the head from sun exposure.
The straw fedora comes in many sizes to ensure a perfect fit and three neutral colors complimenting your style. It has a wide brim, sewn-in sweatband, and chinstrap to wear while surfing. A well-rated and top-selling hat, the Milan hat can hold up to the elements and ocean air.
Need a new sun hat for this summer? Shop our top-selling hats for men.
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2. Best Utility Surf Hat: Dakine Indo Bucket Hat
If you want a hat to wear while surfing, you may want to check out the Dakine Indo Bucket Hat. This bucket hat is built for active wear in or out of the water. It’s made of waterproof fabric and has a secure chinstrap to keep your hat in place while you surf.
This bucket hat is made from quick-drying nylon Taslan and polyester with a UPF 50+ rating for sun protection. The hat also comes with a removable neck covering and adjustable chin strap to secure the hat while you’re active.
3. Best Surf Cap: Kaiola Surf Hat
Designed by surfers, this baseball cap is made for surfing. The Kaiola Surf Hat has a chin strap, a strong visor for paddle vision, an internal headband, and lightweight, quick-drying fabric. The hat offers UPF 80 sun protection, and it floats, so you won’t lose it if it happens to fall off during a wipeout.
The hat comes in two fits that accommodate most sizes and a couple of color options. Its quick-drying fabric is made for water and the sun. Well-rated, this surf cap is beloved by surfers from around the world.
4. Best Surf Bucket Hat: Billabong Surf Bucket Hat
The Billabong Surf Bucket Hat is affordable and made for the water. With this trendy but functional bucket hat, you can wear 360-degree head protection. Made from a blend of polyester and elastane, the bucket hat will comfortably fit snugly on your head, so you don’t lose it.
It comes in a military-neutral color and a one-size-fits-all hat size. It has a reinforced brim to withstand waves and an adjustable neoprene chin strap to keep it secure. At a fairly affordable price point, the Billabong Surf Bucket Hat should be on your want list. And with bucket hats being a huge trend this year, you can’t go wrong.
5. Most Affordable Surf Hat: Quiksilver Bushmaster
The Quiksilver Bushmaster hat is your classic floppy wide-brim bucket hat with a chin cord. The perfect hat for being outdoors, on the beach, or paddling out in the ocean will give you 360-degree sun protection.
This very affordable bucket hat comes in sixteen different colors and five sizes so that you can pick the best surf hat that matches your style. The Quiksilver Bushmaster fits true to size and is made from 100% cotton. The hat isn’t waterproof, but it holds up well in the water. Just know the hat will fade from the sun and salt over time.
Aren’t sure which hat is best for you? Shop our favorite hats for men.
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What Type of Hat Gives the Best Protection From the Sun?
The best hats for sun protection have broad or wide brims that extend around the hat. So the best hats that protect 360-degree of your skin are:
- Cowboy
- Straw hat
- Bucket
- Legionnaire
- Fedora
Baseball hats are great visors for the face but don’t protect your neck and ears. We recommend getting a wide-brim hat if you plan to be outside a lot this summer.
What is the Coolest Material for a Sun Hat?
While unbleached cotton is the best for repelling UV, these hat materials will keep your head the coolest during the summer because they are the most breathable:
- Polyester
- Straw
- Nylon
- Cotton
- Wool
- Linen
Hats with perforations or vents help circulate the air and let in the breeze. So check that label tag if you aren’t sure what material the hat is before you buy.
Can a Hat Block UV?
According to the Cancer Council, a sun-safe hat will protect your face, head, neck, and ears. A hat can reduce the amount of UV radiation by 50%, which is enough to protect the skin from damage.
To be considered a sun-safe hat, it needs to have the following:
- A broad brim that can shade your head, face, and neck
- Close-weave material
- A dark lining also reduces UV radiation
- Good ventilation
Take One of These Best Surf Hats to The Beach
A great surf hat is essential for going to the beach. These surf hats on our list will protect your skin, stay secure on your head, and withstand the salt and sun. Whether you prefer a bucket, straw, or wide-brim hat, you can’t go wrong.
American Hat Makers is a leading American hat designer with exceptional quality you can see and feel in every stitch. We provide the best customer care on all our men’s, women’s, and children’s hats.
With over fifty years of experience, we focus on the details, ensuring that our hats have moisture-wicking sweatbands, stiff, rigid construction, and a lifetime guarantee. It’s no wonder our customers rave about our quality.
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