Columbia Unisex Bora Bora Booney Booney Hat

Product Information

This floppy hat by Cath Kidston is virtually guaranteed to put a smile on your face: just look at that pomegranate print! Before we explore the best hiking hats on the market, let’s discuss what to look for in a hiking hat and the three main types of hiking hats. The Kids' Play Hat is close to perfect, but it's not quite. It has a very rigid brim, which is great for protection. However, that rigidness in the brim carries inside to where the hat meets the head. This is less comfortable than some hats with a softer brim. Also, this doesn't have a liner, which would have made it even more comfortable than it already is. Overall, this is a great hat and a favorite among all our testers, both kids and adults.

This great piece of headwear is called a booney hat, or boonie hat. Booney hats have wide brims, providing you with total shade coverage. This hat was designed for fishing fans, but booney hats are also great options for other performance-focused activities. Bring one along when you’re going hiking with your family, paddleboarding with friends or any other outdoor pursuit. The Baseball Hat: These versatile hats provide sun protection without the bulk. While any baseball cap could be considered a hiking hat, many brands have created enhanced designs with hikers in mind. Safari Pants: We recommend neutral-colored pants as they’re great at hiding dirt and can match most shirt colors.Boots:While you don’t need to wear sturdy shoes every day, at least one pair of safari boots will make your trip nicer! It's made from 100% cotton poplin, with a soft foldable design you can carry in your bag and pull out when you need it.

Anything that mentions UPF 50 will give you added sun protection, while it's also important to pay attention to the size of the brim as this is what will keep you shaded. To find the best hiking hats, we spoke with Dr. Hadley King, M.D.,dermatologist at Dr. Hadley King Dermatology, Dr. Erum Ilyas, M.D.,dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group, Justin Rimon,outdoor guide and founder of Just Trek, Alicia Filley, PT, MS,physical therapist and hiking guide, and Michele Stanten, ACE-GFI, walking coach, running coach, and group fitness instructor. King and Ilyas walked us through the basics of sun protection, helping us narrow down which hiking hats had enough UPF protection. Rimon and Filley provided their expertise on other features hiking hats need, like durability, comfort, and fit. Stanten explained how these features can translate to a better hiking experience out on the trail. Hiking hats can keep you comfortable in a range of different conditions—protecting you from the sun, shielding you during downpours, and even keeping pesky bugs at bay. “A hiking hat can greatly improve your overall experience in the great outdoors,” Justin Rimon, outdoor guide and founder of Just Trek, says. “You want to feel as prepared and comfortable as possible on your adventures and not feel miserable from nature’s elements.” In addition to the sun, many hiking hats can also protect you from other elements. On hot days, Rimon and Filley recommend a sun-protective hat that’s breathable to prevent you from overheating. In the rain, Rimon advises wearing a hat with a waterproof Gore-Tex shell. And on windy days, he recommends a hat with an adjustable chinstrap to keep it from blowing away. During colder months, an insulated hat with sun protection will keep you shielded from the weather. And if you’re worried about bugs, look for a hat finished with a bug-repellent treatment, like Outdoor Research’s Bugout Brim Hat.Gore-Tex is a thin layer of Teflon in-between layers of nylon and polyurethane. When added to fabric, it becomes waterproof. Gore-Tex is also lightweight and breathable, so the waterproof shell doesn’t make this hat any less comfortable. It’s still lightweight, foldable, and easy to toss in your bag. And even though it's designed without any air vents, it won’t trap sweat and heat when you wear it. Travel Waterbottle: When we’re uncertain about the water supply we use our Grayl Purifier. It’s come in exceptionally handy around Africa. Unlike safari clothes or safari boots, we would say everyone needs a hat when on safari. Especially in East Africa! Most people coming on safari are from more Northern climates away from the equator and are unaware of the sun’s damage around Africa. The sun near the center of the earth is intense and can leave you sunburned in a matter of minutes.

Travel Insurance: We don’t travel without travel insurance and neither should you. You never know what can happen while traveling so it’s best to be prepared. HeyMondo provides excellent short-term and long-term travel insurance plans. Breathability: Having a breathable hat can help your head stay comfortable. Many hiking hats are built from breathable materials or include mesh patches to increase airflow.Comfort: Depending on the type of hiking you plan on doing, you may need to wear your hiking hat for eight or more hours a day. Therefore, look for something adjustable, as the fit is an important piece in comfort. The Sun Hat: This hat boasts a wide brim to protect you from the sun, and it’s especially useful for hikes without much natural shade. It usually has a chin strap. While the Islander is a great all-around sun hat, it's not the best technical performer. This isn't a light hat, either. At 6.2 ounces, this is one of the heavier hats we reviewed. However, we found this hat to be extremely comfortable, even at this heavier weight. We didn't notice the weight when wearing this hat all day, but the gram counters may want to consider a different hat to bring on their next ultralight adventure. This is an excellent choice for those seeking a good-looking, comfortable, all-around great hat.

This is hands down our favorite hat for kids because it's comfortable, looks good, and is very protective Not only does a sun hat provide much-needed shade from the strong rays of the sun, but many fabrics are treated with UPF which protects your skin from ultraviolet rays. The retro style continues with a chin strap that can be worn loose or tied up if it's a little breezy out. What you wear on your head says a lot about you. I had my idea of what the perfect safari cap would look like, and I was set on finding the perfect fit.Why do we hikers wear hats on the trail in the first place? To shield us from the sun’s pesky UV rays, of course. To cover all the bases, I’ve recommended a variety of hats that’ll provide varying degrees of sun protection.