You can wear many hats when hiking, but a bucket hat is one of the best options. I wear mine on longer hikes and love how well it protects me from the sun. A bucket hat is the most common that you’ll find for a hiking hat.
Here are five bucket hats that you can wear on a hike. They all have floppy brims, chin straps, and are UV-resistant.
- GearTOP Fishing Hat
- Super Wide Brim Sun Hat
- Connectyle Kids Bucket Sun
- MISSION Cooling Bucket Hat
- Women’s Hiking Hat
Wearing a good hiking hat should help you stay cool and prevent sunburn. Each of these hats is a bit different. Which one you like will depend on the style and features you want.
Table of Contents
What is a Bucket Hat?
A bucket hat is a hat that has a brim that slopes down and extends the entire perimeter of the hat. The brim is usually wide enough to protect against sun and rain.
It was traditionally made of wool felt or tweed cloth, making them waterproof. Later they were made with thick cotton, denim, or canvas materials. For hiking, you will find they are made of much lighter polyester material, so you can remain cool in the sun.
Where Did Bucket Hats Come From?
Back in the early 1900s, Irish farmers would wear bucket hats to protect themselves while working in the sun and rainy weather. Fishermen would wear them also.
These hats were great because they could protect you while you were outside for long periods.
These hats have gone in and out of fashion but have always been a good choice for sun and rain protection. Now that most are made of polyester and have UFP built-in, a bucket hat will stay cool, lightweight, and protect you from the sun.
Some of the modern bucket hats are water-resistant and most have special cooling features.
Top Rated Bucket Hats
Most of the hiking hats that I found on Amazon.com are bucket-style hats. These are popular because they are a great hat for sun and water protection while hiking.
Most hikers like to have their face and neck completely covered when hiking. You might get by with using sunblock sometimes, but hiking over time may necessitate a good hiking hat with a wide brim.
1. GearTOP Fishing Hat
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Details
- Material: 100% Polyester
- Sun Protection: UPF 50+
- Water Protection: Resists water / Dries quickly
- Brim Width: 3.7 inches
- Flexibility: The brim is Foldable
- Breathability: Mesh Panel
- Fit: Adjustable Elastic Drawcord in the Band (22 – 23.5″)
- Wind: Drawstring closure
This should be a good hat for most hikers who need sun protection and a hat that will stay fairly cool. People like that it is lightweight has good sun protection, and has many nice features.
2. Super Wide Brim Sun Hat
Details
- Material: 100% Nylon
- Sun Protection: UPF 50+
- Water Protection: Resists water / Dries quickly
- Brim Width: 5.7 inches
- Flexibility: The brim is Foldable
- Breathability: Mesh Panel
- Fit: Adjustable Elastic Drawcord in the Band (22.83 – 24.2″)
- Wind: Drawstring closure
This should be a good hat for most hikers who need extra protection from the sun. Nylon can stay fairly cool when thin enough and is extra tough. People like it’s great sun protection.
3. Connectyle Kids Bucket Sun
Details
- Material: 100% polyester
- Sun Protection: UPF 50+
- Water Protection: Dries quick
- Brim Width: Should cover ears & neck
- Flexibility: The brim is Foldable
- Breathability: Mesh Panels
- Fit: Adjustable Elastic Drawcord in the Band (19.7 – 21.3″) Children age 2-6
- Wind: Velcro chin strap
This hat is great for kids out in the sun. It could be a good hat for child hikers and can dry quickly in the sun when used around water. People like that it has good sun protection works for a variety of ages, and is adjustable.
4. MISSION Cooling Bucket Hat
Details
- Material: 100% Polyester
- Sun Protection: UPF 50
- Brim Width: 3 inches
- Flexibility: The brim is Foldable
- Breathability: Cooling ability
- Fit: One size fits all
- Wind: Drawstring closure
- Cooling: Cools to 30 degrees lower in about 30 seconds when water is added
I personally like this type of technology because it really feels cool when it’s hot out. It could be a good hat when hiking on a hot day. People like that it keeps you cool in the sun for long periods, and it works.
5. Women’s Hiking Hat
Details
- Material: 100% Polyester
- Sun Protection: UPF 50+
- Brim Width: 2.5 inches
- Flexibility: The brim is Foldable
- Breathability:
- Fit: One size fits all (see reviews)
- Wind: Drawstring closure
If you are looking for a fashionable hiking hat, this one might work for you. It could be a good hat during all sorts of outdoor activities. People like that it looks good works in the rain, and is comfortable.
My Hiking Hat
I bought a hiking hat from Costco about five years ago. It works well to keep the sun off my head and neck. Like most of the hats above, my hat is made of polyester, has an adjustable elastic drawcord in the Band, and has a chin strap.
The nice thing about these hats is that they are foldable, and you can store them fairly easily, either flay like a Frisbee or fold them, although the brim may be hard to get back in shape after you unpack it.
You can also fold the brim into different shapes to suit your desire. Here you see, my hat brim is twisted down a bit.
I recommend using a bucket hat on sunny hots days and on days when you will be out in the sun for long periods.
You can soak your hat in the water and let it cool you off while you are in the sun. Some of the hats above are water-resistant, so I’m not sure how good it would be to do this, but I would likely try to do it on a hot hiking day.
Then it will dry off fairly quickly in the sun. You can hand wash most of these hats and then just hang them up after you are done and it should dry fairly quickly.
Different Kinds of Hiking Hats
If you prefer something different, there are other types of hiking hats you might like. I always just wear a baseball-style running hat when I go for a hike. It is breathable, washable, and dries fast. Sometimes a bucket hat can get hot quickly if it isn’t well-ventilated.
You can find a good selection of hats at sporting goods stores or online. Think about what your most important needs are and find a hat that can accommodate those needs.
I hope you can find the perfect hats for yourself and get out on a hike and enjoy the outdoors.
Thanks for visiting Helpshoe.com
References
crfashionbook.com – History of bucket hat (Update: Link no longer available)
en.wikipedia.org – History of bucket hat