We tested the best hiking hats on the market today according to price, sun protection, breathability, and comfort. Read on to see how they performed, which is best for you, and get some valuable buying advice.
Table of Contents
Best Hiking Hats
The best hiking hats are:
- Best Overall Hiking Hat: SUNDAY AFTERNOONS Ultra Adventure
- Best Multi-Purpose Hiking Hat: OUTDOOR RESEARCH Sun Runner
- Best Wide-Brimmed Hiking Hat: OUTDOOR RESEARCH Sombriolet
- Best Budget Hiking Hat: COLUMBIA Bora Bora Booney II
- Best Hiking Hat for Trail Running: SUNDAY AFTERNOONS Aerial Cap
- Best Hiking Hat for Trail and Town: KUHL Renegade Hat
The product comparison table below is sortable. Click the arrow in the heading cell to sort the models by preferred spec.
| MODEL | PRICE | FABRIC | STYLE | SCORE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. SUNDAY AFTERNOONS Ultra Adventure | $46 | Nylon, Polyester | Caped | 9/10 |
| 2. OUTDOOR RESEARCH Sun Runner | $38 | Nylon | Caped | 9/10 |
| 3. SUNDAY AFTERNOONS Aerial Cap | $32 | Polyester | Cap | 9/10 |
| 4. TERRITORY RUN Long Haul Cap | $39 | Polyester | Cap | 9/10 |
| 5. KUHL Renegade Hat | $35 | Nylon, Spandex | Cap | 8/10 |
| 6. OUTDOOR RESEARCH Sombriolet | $42 | Nylon, Polyester | Wide-Brimmed | 8/10 |
| 7. COLUMBIA Bora Bora Booney II | $30 | Nylon | Wide-Brimmed | 8/10 |
| 8. TILLEY LTM6 Airflo Hat | $99 | Nylon | Wide-Brimmed | 8/10 |
| 9. SHELTA Firebird V2 Performance | $74.50 | Polyester | Wide-Brimmed | 7/10 |
Best Overall Hiking Hat
Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure
Price: $46
✅ Comfy
✅ Superior sun protection
✅ Breathable
❌ On the expensive side
KEY SPECS
- Fabric: Nylon, Polyester
- Style: Caped
- UPF Rating: 50+
- Mesh: Y
The Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure combines a wide-brim style hat on the front with a cape in the back. This gives the hat some of the best sun protection of all the models we tested. The cap-like fit on the top conforms to your head and is extremely comfortable.
We also like all the adjustment points, making this easy to use in all weather and wind conditions. The mesh strips running front to the back of the hat add breathability. We found this to be one of the most breathable hat options. The lightweight nylon and polyester fabric is one of the lightest on our list. The cost is slightly higher than average but still affordable at $46.
The only downside to this hat for us is the look. This is truly a backpacking hat only, and you’ll likely want to stash it in your pack before hitting the town. Fortunately, this hat is very packable. It even has a crease in the bill to easily fold in half. This is our pick for the best overall hiking hat.
Best Multi-Purpose Hiking Hat
Outdoor Research Sun Runner
Price: $38
✅ Great protection
✅ Comfy
✅ Lightweight
❌ Less breathable
KEY SPECS
- Fabric: Nylon
- Style: Caped
- UPF Rating: 50+
- Mesh: Y
The Outdoor Research Sun Runner is our pick if you need a versatile, multi-purpose hat. At first glance, this is a caped hat, but the cape is removable, so it easily converts into a regular ballcap when extra sun protection isn’t needed. Great for trail towns or trail running. With the cape attached, this hat provides some of the best protection from the sun of the hats on our list.
We like that the cape wraps to the brim and cinches together under your chin. And the cinch works as a chin strap to keep the hat from blowing away. It also works to keep your cheeks and the sides of your neck protected from the sun.
We love that this hat is made of ultralight, breathable materials and has mesh sections on the side of the hat to increase ventilation. However, this hat scores lower on our list for breathability because the mesh sections are partially covered with the cape when it is attached.
Best Hiking Hat for Trail Running
Sunday Afternoons Aerial Cap
Price: $32
✅ Inexpensive
✅ Lightweight
✅ Comfy
❌ Less protection
KEY SPECS
- Fabric: Polyester
- Style: Cap
- UPF Rating: 50+
- Mesh: Y
We love the Sunday Afternoons Aerial Cap for many reasons. First, it’s made of ultralight materials, making it the lightest hiking hat on our list. Second, at $32, it’s also one of the least expensive. Finally, it’s amazingly comfortable.
One of our testers commented that they forgot they were even wearing it. The fit adjuster works well and can be adjusted with one hand, too. This further adds to the comfort of the hat since you can easily adjust it to your needs throughout the day.
This hat uses the same crown as the Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure. The big downside for us is the lack of sun protection without a wide brim or cape. But if you’re looking for a trail running hat, the Sunday Afternoons Aerial Cap is our top choice.
Best Hiking Hat for Trail and Town
KUHL Renegade Hat
Price: $35
✅ Comfy
✅ Great for trail towns
✅ Lightweight
❌ Less protection
❌ Less breathable
KEY SPECS
- Fabric: Nylon, Spandex
- Style: Cap
- UPF Rating: 50+
- Mesh: Y
The Kuhl Renegade Cap is a longtime favorite in the outdoor community. This ball cap is constructed with lightweight stretch fabric, which we found very comfortable for wearing all day. It is constructed with lots of panels, 7 total, to dial in the shape.
It comes in one size, as is the case with most ball caps, and has an adjustable strap that can be tightened or loosened with one hand. We found it easy to make this hat fit comfortably on your head. As a bonus, we love that it comes with a DWR (durable water repellent) coating on it for rain protection.
Like all caps, we don’t like that it offers less sun protection. It lacks mesh vents which makes it less breathable too. Our favorite feature of this hat is the look. It’s a great choice if you need a hat for hitting the trails but also want to head to town after your day adventuring.
Best Wide-Brimmed Hiking Hat
Outdoor Research Sombriolet
Price: $42
✅ Good sun protection
✅ Stiffer brim
❌ Above average cost and weight
KEY SPECS
- Fabric: Nylon, Polyester
- Style: Wide-Brimmed
- UPF Rating: 50+
- Mesh: Y
The Outdoor Research Sombriolet full-brimmed hat is our pick for the best wide-brimmed hat. We love the wide, 3-inch brim that gives you good sun protection. And we love that the brim is slightly longer in the front and back, where you need protection the most.
Unlike some models we tested, the Sombriolet's brim is stiff enough to hold up to winds and rain, thanks to the piping around the perimeter and foam reinforcement. This also helps the brim not block your field of vision. As a bonus, we like that the underside of the brim is a dark color to help with glare coming off of water or snow. We found the breathability of this hat to be about average.
For sizing, we noticed that this backpacking hat tends to run a bit small. We recommend sizing up if you’re unsure. The elastic cinch cord helps dial in the fit around your head. It also has a removable cinch cord that tightens under the chin to keep the hat from blowing off in the wind.
Best Budget Hiking Hat
Columbia Bora Bora Booney II
Price: $30
✅ Inexpensive
✅ Lightweight
❌ Only comes in one size
KEY SPECS
- Fabric: Nylon
- Style: Wide-Brimmed
- UPF Rating: 50+
- Mesh: Y
The Columbia Bora Bora Booney II is a mouthful to say but comes at the great price of $30, the least expensive on our list. This makes it our best budget buy. This full-brimmed hat is a standard bucket hat. Its brim is wide, three inches all the way around. We like the mesh ventilation that wraps around the entire back half of the crown, which makes it breathable.
We don’t like that it comes in just one, rather large, size. If you have a larger head, this hat will be very comfortable. If you have a smaller head, this might not be a great option. As is the case with most bucket hats, the brim on this hat gets pretty floppy, which can get in the way of your vision.
The Other Noteworthy Models
Territory Run Long Haul Cap
Price: $39
✅ Lightweight
✅ Breathable
✅ Comfy
❌ Less protection
KEY SPECS
- Fabric: Polyester
- Style: Cap
- Mesh: Y
We love that this hat is loaded with all the features you would want in a trail running cap. Most notably, we like that this cap uses an elastic adjusting band to adjust the fit. This makes it very comfortable, even when you need to tighten the cap down so it doesn’t blow away. And when it gets too windy, stuff this hat in your pocket.
It has a crushable bill and is made of lightweight, packable materials, so you won’t have a problem stowing it away. It’s the second-lightest cap on our list too. And this trucker-style hat will look good in town too. The biggest drawback to us is the lack of protection. The mesh is breathable but doesn’t fully protect your head from the sun. And with just a front bill, your ears and neck remain exposed.
Tilley LTM6 Airflo Hat
Price: $99
✅ Good sun protection
✅ Breathable
✅ Stylish
❌ Heavy
❌ Expensive
KEY SPECS
- Fabric: Nylon
- Style: Wide-Brimmed
- UPF Rating: 50+
- Mesh: Y
We found the Tilley LTM6 Airflo Hat hat does a great job keeping the sun off your face while looking good in the process. This is thanks to the 3 ½ inch brim in the front and back, tapering to 2 ½ inches wide on the sides. Of all the hiking hats on our list, the LTM6 Airflow uses closed-cell foam throughout the crown and keeps its shape the best.
We think this hat is extremely durable and well-constructed. So, it will stand up to years of abuse. The material used in the hat is thicker than some, making it the heaviest on our list. We like that the hat’s crown has a mesh ring at the top, giving it excellent breathability. All this makes the hat comfortable, too. And we love that it comes in 10 different sizes.
You’ll be sure to get a good fit. While this is the most expensive hat on our list, it is a good long-term investment if you like the style.
Shelta Firebird V2 Performance
Price: $74.50
✅ Good protection
❌ Heavy
❌ Expensive
❌ Less comfortable
KEY SPECS
- Fabric: Polyester
- Style: Wide-Brimmed
- UPF Rating: 50+
- Mesh: Y
We like the Shelta Firebird V2 Performance’s 5-panel design along with a full brim to make a hat that provides great sun coverage. The brim is three inches long in the front and a quarter inch shorter the rest of the way around. And we like that the brim has a molded piece of plastic built into the front to prevent it from flopping in your face in the wind.
This hat is constructed with hot weather in mind. It has a wicking mesh liner and sweatband, along with large vented areas on both sides of the crown. Standard to other wide-brimmed hats we review, it comes with a cinch cord to tighten or loosen the hat as needed.
We like that it also has a removable cinch cord that goes under your chin to keep it from blowing away. We don’t like that this is the second most expensive and heaviest hat on our list.
Key Factors To Consider When Choosing
Price
Price can vary widely with a hiking hat. Simple caps can be found almost anywhere, often at a low cost. Design features like quick-drying materials, ventilation, and more stylish hats will add to the cost. Premium hiking hats have been designed for maximum performance and to look sharp on and off the trail.
Hiking hat that provides the greatest value:
Affordable hiking hat:
Premium hiking hat (most expensive):
Protection
Protection from the elements, most notably the sun, is essential in a hiking hat. Capped hats offer the most protection. Look for hats that have a 50+ UPF rating. For brimmed hats, we recommend a 2.5-inch or wider brim. Make sure the brim is rigid enough to shade the sun. Watch out for mesh which doesn’t offer full sun protection. Some hats offer a DWR coating to give water resistance in wet environments.
The hiking hats that offer the most protection:
Breathability
For maximum breathability, look for a hat that is made of breathable fabric and has good ventilation. Good breathability will allow your sweat to evaporate, cooling your head. Mesh is very breathable, but make sure to balance it with the sun protection you need.
The most breathable hiking hat:
Comfort & Fit
If you plan to wear a hat all day long, it needs to be comfortable. Quick-drying materials like polyester and nylon are lightweight while still offering protection. A heavier hat will become uncomfortable faster. A soft lining allows a hat to rest comfortably on your head and increases airflow to keep your head cooler.
Fit is another important aspect of comfort. If a hat is adjustable, you can adjust the fit throughout the day to maintain comfort and adjust for wind protection.
The most comfortable hiking hat:
Other Things to Consider
Style
There are 3 main styles of hiking hats that we tested.
- Wide-brimmed hats or sun hats are specifically designed to provide maximum shade for your head, great for hikes without much shade. These hats have a wide brim that goes around the entire head. If the brim is too floppy, it can obscure your vision. In windy conditions, the wide brim can get caught in the wind.
- Caped hats look like a ballcap with an extra piece of fabric attached to the back that drapes down over the neck. These caps often provide the most sun protection because the cape keeps the sun from hitting the neck and ears even when the sun is lower in the sky.
- Classic Cap hats provide the least sun protection but are the most versatile. These caps will stay on your head in all but the windiest conditions. Combine a cap with a Buff, bandana, or sun hoodie for extra protection in exposed areas. When you’re in town after a hike, your hat won’t announce to the world that you just finished hiking.
A NOTE ABOUT HIKING VS RUNNING HATS:
A good running hat will also make a great hiking hat. A running hat is designed to stay on your head while moving quickly and will also stay on your head comfortably when hiking. The opposite of this isn't true. A full-brimmed hiking hat won’t be a good running hat.
From left to right: wide-brimmed, caped, and cap.
Weight
A hiking hat should be lightweight. Try to keep it below 4 ounces since you’ll be carrying it in your pack if you aren’t wearing it. Also, lighter materials dry quicker. Lightweight hats also tend to be more comfortable to wear all day.
Packability
Make sure your hiking hat can be rolled up or packed down small when not in use. A good hiking hat won’t look smashed when you unpack it. Look for a hat that will maintain its shape even after being packed away.
Sizing (adjustability)
No matter what sizes are available in a hat, look for a hat that has adjustability. The ability to adjust over a long day as conditions change will keep the hat on your head and not in your pack. If you have a full-brimmed hat, make sure to size it correctly and that it has a cord to keep it from blowing away in the wind. Caps are usually one size fits all and have adjustment options on the back.
Ponytail coming through the back of a ball cap (Sunday Afternoons Aerial).
Fabric
Synthetic materials such as nylon and polyester are best here. Synthetics will dry quickly, which is something you want a hat to do since you’ll be sweating in it. For maximum durability and sun protection, get a hat that uses opaque and tightly woven fabrics. The tighter weave, the better the hat will stand up to abuse. And a tighter weave will allow fewer UV rays to pass through the hat onto your skin.
Avoid cotton and straw hats. Cotton will stay wet for hours if it gets wet. Straw hats aren’t woven tightly enough to provide substantial sun protection. Plus, a straw hat can’t stand up to the rigors of longer hiking trips.
Color
The best hat for wearing in the sun will be a light color with a darker, non-reflective color under the brim. Lighter colors will reflect sunlight and keep your head cooler. This is unlike dark-colored hats, which will do the opposite. But darker colors under the brim do help with glare. So, it is good to get a hat with a dark color under the brim, especially if you’re going to be walking over snow or out on the water.
Mesh vs. Non-mesh
As we mentioned above, the mesh will not protect your skin from UV rays. Mesh does breathe very well, though. So, if you want maximum airflow in a hat, a mesh is a good choice. But if you’re going for maximum UV ray blocking, you’ll need something to cover that mesh with.
Territory Run Long Haul mesh cap.
Brim
The best brim finds that happy medium of not too stiff and not too flimsy. A stiff brim will not flop in the wind. This will greatly improve the visibility of a hat. And, a stiff brim won’t sag in the rain. This will keep your face drier and make it easier to see in the rain. However, an extremely stiff brim can dig into your head and be very uncomfortable.
Lining
A lining can create an area between your head and the outside of the hat where air can circulate. This should keep your head cooler and more comfortable. If there are too many layers, though, it can trap heat generated from your head inside. Overall, the airflow through the lining should mostly have a positive cooling effect.
Insect Protection
Some hats come treated to repel insects, which is a nice feature if you’re hiking in places with lots of mosquitoes or other pesky flies. But you’ll want more than just insect protection treatment on your hat. Don’t expect a hat with insect protection to keep mosquitos from biting your arms and legs.
Sunglasses Lock
Where can you keep your sunglasses with a full-brimmed hat since you can’t put them on top of the bill and behind your ears? In a sunglass lock, of course. This feature is only available in certain hats. But it is a very useful feature if you’re the type who takes their sunglasses off periodically throughout the day.
Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure with a sunglass lock.
📸 Some photos in this post were taken by Jonathan Davis (@meowhikes).
650-Calorie Fuel
