The Best Fishing Hats to Go Fishing With
There are few better ways to spend a sunny day other than fishing. Be it in a lake, in a river, or even in the ocean, fishing can be a relaxing activity to do by yourself or with friends. To do it properly you need proper equipment — you need a fishing hat.
In this article we’re going to help you choose the best fishing hat for your needs.
Table of Contents
Why Wear a Fishing Hat?
Fishing is an outdoors activity, therefor the fisherman will be invariably exposed to the elements. Good protective gear is a must for safety and health related reasons.
Sun Protection
The most obvious reason as to why you should wear a fishing hat is the sun. Leaving your head exposed to the sun’s full glare may result in serious sunburns or worse issues, like skin cancer.
A good fishing hat will protect your head and neck regions from the sun and prevent major burns, but that’s not all. Good fishing hats protect your eyes as well from excessive sunlight, helping you see better and preventing long-term eye damage.
You need sun protection even on overcast days. Sunburns don’t happen just when the sun is shining bright. You shouldn’t leave your fishing hat at home just because it’s cloudy. UV rays pass through clouds.
Other Elements
But protecting from the sun is not all that a proper fishing hat does. Good fishing hats protect you from every other element as well.
When it inevitably rains during one of your fishing trips, you’ll be thankful to have a rainproof fishing hat.
They can also protect you from humid environments, or windy ones. They can even keep your head and neck warm on colder days.
Some of the best fishing hats even protect you from bugs, and we all know how pesky those can be.
Style
Another good reason to wear a fishing hat is to look good. There are plenty of types of fishing hats available on the market, and even though some of them offer similar protections, they look differently.
You can buy a fishing hat that compliments your style, or that just looks cool overall. The best thing is that you’re not forgoing safety for style. You’re having both.
The 8 Best Fishing Hats
We’ve made a list of what we consider to be the best fishing hats currently available. In this list you will find several types of fishing hats and our brief review of each of them.
The GearTOP fishing hat is a safari-style fishing hat that blocks 98% of UVA and UVB rays.
The hat features a breathable mesh panel which allows your head to keep cool and ventilated throughout your fishing expedition. It’s also very lightweight and quick to dry — it’s made of 100% polyester.
Since it’s made of a lightweight fabric, the GearTOP fishing hat can easily be folded and placed in any bag.
Its design is rather simple, but effective. The hat has an easily adjustable drawstring and a 3.7” brim, which will prevent the sun from hitting your eyes directly. The brim is also big enough to protect your ears and the back of your neck.
Highlights
- Lightweight and quick to dry
- Big breathable mesh vent ensures your head will stay cool.
- Wide brim protects your face, ears and neck.
- Its safari-like design makes you look like you’re ready for adventure.
The Tough Headwear Outdoor Boonie fishing hat features a breathable mesh panel alongside the entire circumference of the hat and allows for great airflow.
Since it’s made of nylon, the Though Headwear boonie hat is very lightweight. It also dries off rather quickly.
This fishing hat has UPF 50 and blocks up to 98% of the sun’s harmful rays. However, the brim is not very wide and may not protect the back of your neck in its entirety.
One of the main advantages of the Tough Headwear fishing hat is its price. The hat offers a great cost / benefit ratio, but not without its drawbacks. Besides the brim not being very wide, the hat doesn’t look nor feel very premium, but it does its job.
Highlights:
- Great airflow due to its big mesh vent.
- Very lightweight.
- One of the most affordable fishing hats.
- Tough Headwear offers a lifetime warranty for the product.
The ICOLOR fishing hat is very similar to a baseball cap — when it doesn’t have its flaps attached.
The main selling point of this ICOLOR hat are the face and neck flaps, which protect your entire head and neck regions. The face mask is made of the same breathable mesh that’s on the side of the hat, allowing you to breathe easily.
Since it’s 100% nylon, this fishing hat is completely waterproof. The mesh absorbs sweat but is still able to breathe, which means it’s quick to dry-off.
It’s also windproof, due to the chinstrap which guarantees that the hat will stay on your head during strong gusts of wind. The hat also has UPF 50+, which means you won’t get any sunburns.
When it comes to size, this ICOLOR fishing hat fits any head with a circumference between 21.5” and 24” (or 55 and 60cm), and has a 3.7” brim.
Besides the fact that the flaps are removable, the brim of the hat is also easily foldable. This means that you can store your hat in any small bag.
Highlights:
- Removable breathable flaps provide 360° sun protection, while still allowing air to circulate.
- Nylon makes this hat completely waterproof and quick to dry.
- Breathable mesh on the sides of the hat and on the mask shawl ensure you won’t overheat.
- Foldable brim makes the ICOLOR fishing hat easy to store.
- Available in a multitude of colors.
The EINSKEY Wide Brim Bucket Hat is a water resistant boonie hat which protects your face, neck and ears.
It’s made of water repellent polyester and is suitable for rainy days — just not too rainy. The hat also features a breathable mesh on each side, which are obviously not water resistant.
This hat is suitable for any head with a circumference of 22 to 24 inches, and features a drawstring which allows you to adjust the fit. There’s also a chinstrap which ensures that the hat will stay on.
This EINSKEY hat features a 3.9” brim, which is wide enough to protect most people’s necks. Like most fishing hats, this hat also blocks up to 98% of ultraviolet rays.
The flexible and lightweight material ensures that the EINSKEY fishing hat can be easily folded up and packed into small-sized bags.
Highlights:
- Water resistant fabric makes it a good choice for light drizzles.
- Wide brim protects most of your head.
- Two breathable vents allow your head to remain cool.
- Easily packable.
The main feature of the Solaris Outdoor fishing hat is its neck flap, which protects the entirety of the back of your neck.
This Solaris fishing hat has a 4” wide brim, which is large enough to keep the sun out of your face. As that weren’t enough, the hat also features a 8.5” neck flap and has UPF 50+. Sun burns won’t be an issue with this hat.
An adjustable drawcord makes this hat snug enough for most head sizes. A chinstrap further improves the fit of the Solaris Outdoor fishing hat.
The hat features a moisture-dispersing sweatband on the inside which helps you keep cool during hotter days. There are also two large ventilation holes, which further improve the air circulation of the hat.
This Solaris hat is made of lightweight and breathable materials, which make it water-resistant and quick to dry.
One thing to note, though, is that unlike other hats, the Solaris neck flap isn’t removable.
Highlights:
- 5” long neck flap protects your entire neck region.
- 4” wide brim protects your entire face from the sun.
- Adjustable drawcord and chinstrap ensure the hat stays snug.
- Water-resistant and quick to dry.
- Puncture-resistant PVC tarpaulin shell material is durable
- At 13 feet long this kayak is able to handle open water and rough conditions
The RUNCL Fishing Sun Hat is a bucket hat which features a removable neck flap and a mask shawl.
Unlike most face masks bundled with other hats, the RUNCL face mask is entirely made of mesh. This means that you won’t have any trouble breathing and that you’ll stay cool whenever you use the shawl.
This bucket hat has a 3” wide brim, which is enough to prevent the sun from hitting most of your face. The added neck flap and face mask ensure that you have 360° protection.
The RUNCL Fishing Hat is entirely made of premium polyester, which makes it very comfortable and quick to dry.
The hat has a 28.8” circumference and a 10.2” long neck flap. The face mask is 8.1” long.
A breathable mesh vent goes around the entire hat’s circumference and allows for great ventilation and moisture wicking.
This hat is available in grey, dark grey and army green colors.
Highlights:
- Removable neck flap and mask shawl.
- Mask shawl is entirely made of mesh.
- UPF 50+
- Easy to pack.
This DDYOUTDOOR fishing hat is another great choice when it comes to removable flaps. This wide brim hat also features a mask shawl and a neck flap for added protection.
The water resistant nylon fabric and the 98% UVA and UVB protection make the DDYOUTDOOR Trade fishing hat a good choice for most types of weather.
This hat features an elastic drawstring that allows you to fine-tune the hat’s fit, and a chinstrap for added protection during windy weather.
The DDYOUTDOOR hat has a large vent mesh around the entire circumference of the hat, which makes it a great choice for hotter summer days.
The hat is easily packed and is available in five different colors: gray, army green, dark gray, khaki and rose red.
Highlights:
- Removable neck flap and face mask.
- Large ventilation mesh around the entire head.
- Water resistant and UPF 50+.
- Available in several colors.
The LETHMIK Wide Brim Boonie Hat main selling point is its oversized brim. This hat features a 5.9” wide brim, which is more than enough to protect your head from the sun.
The LETHMIK Boonie hat is waterproof and keeps its water-proofing abilities for at least 10 minutes after getting wet. This hat is made of 100% waterproof polyester fiber.
When it comes to adjustments, this LETHMIK fishing hat is a one-size-fits-all hat. It only has an adjustable chinstrap, but it is big enough to fit most heads comfortably.
This hat also features two large vents, one on each side, which allow for great air circulation.
Although it is a big hat, the LETHMIK wide brim boonie hat is easily foldable, which makes packing a breeze.
Unlike other hats on this list, this hat should not be machine washed.
Highlights:
- Huge brim keeps the sun away from your face, neck and ears.
- Foldable and easily packable.
- Waterproof for at least 10 minutes.
- Very stylish.
The WELKOOM Sun Hat relies on the simple, but trustworthy boonie design.
It has a 2.95” wide brim and fits best on heads between 21 and 25 inches circumference-wise. The hat also features a drawstring to keep it secure.
The WELKOOM Sun Hat doesn’t really innovate, but it offers great quality for a very affordable price.
It’s made of lightweight polyester and nylon mesh, which guarantees it will dry quickly, and features a two-sided vent around the entire top portion of the hat.
It’s foldable and UPF 50+. It’s also available in several different colors.
Highlights:
- Very affordable.
- Intemporal design.
- Dries quickly.
On the plus side, the ear and neck flap is very comfortable and protects the entirety of the back of your head with ease. Since the hat is UPF 50+, you won’t be getting any sunburns.
This hat is very stiff and offers no added protections such as chinstraps. But then again, it doesn’t lie about its purpose either.
It’s a great hat if you rarely get any rain and are more concerned about having the sun hitting the back of your head.
Highlights:
- Although not waterproof, the cotton blend makes this hat very comfortable.
- Available in a multitude of colors.
- Flap easily protects the back of your neck.
10 Best Fishing Hats - Comparisons
Image | Fishing Hat | Waterproof/ Quick Dry | Removable Flaps | Price |
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| Yes | Yes | ||
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| Yes | No | ||
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| Yes | Yes | ||
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| Yes | Yes | ||
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| No | No |
How to Choose the Best Fishing Hat
Despite the fact that they might make you look good, buying a fishing hat is not the same as buying another type of hat. Fishing hats are both protective and functional, and that should be your priority. Good looks should come at the bottom of your priority list.
There are several things you should take into consideration when buying a fishing hat:
Fishing Hat Type
There are several types of fishing hats available. They have different looks and different functionalities. Not every fishing hat offers the same amount of protection, and you should choose the right one for you.
These are the most common types of fishing hats:
- Bucket Hat — The bucket hat is what people usually think of when they think about a fishing hat. They’re usually made from cotton and are similar to a boonie, but with a shorter brim.
The shorter brim means that it offers low neck and ear protection, and shouldn’t be the choice for long fishing trips.
- Boonie — A fishing boonie is similar to a military boonie. They’re hats with a wide brim around the entire circumference of the hat.
The wide brim makes them an adequate choice for an entire day of fishing.
- Wide Brim Fishing Hat — These type of hats are just like a boonie, but with extra width and a downwards angle on the brim. Wide brim fishing hat’s brims are usually between 4 and 6 inches.
The wide brim protects the face, the neck and the ears from the sun. Their biggest downside is that they might limit your peripheral vision.
- Sun Skirt and Neck Flap Fishing Hats —These hats have added protection for when the weather is more severe. The skirts are made of lightweight fabric that hang down over the neck, while the flap is a drape that protects the neck from sunburn.
The sun skirt and the neck flap can usually be removed or folded up inside the hat when they’re not being used.
- Baseball-type Hat — Fishing hats that resemble baseball caps aren’t the most protective hats. They offer good protection on the top of the head, but not anywhere else.
Their main advantage is that they are securely attached to your head. That’s why fishermen on speedy boats favor them — they aren’t going anywhere.
- Legionnaire Hat — These hats are similar to baseball caps as well, but they have a flap or a veil attached.
They offer good protection to the neck and face areas and are suitable for long trips.
Ventilation
Whether it’s a sunny, hot day, or a warm, humid one, sweating is unavoidable. Having a fishing hat with good ventilation is essential and can make or break your fishing expedition.
Fishing hats with good ventilation allow air to circulate and guarantee that your head will remain cool even on the warmest days.
You can tell if a hat has proper ventilation by the type of fabric it uses and by the presence of ventilation holes.
Well-ventilated hats typically use some sort of mesh fabric. They should be made from breathable materials and allow sweat to evaporate.
Cotton keeps you cool, but it quickly drenches with sweat. On the other hand, polyester guarantees you’ll stay dry but will make you overheat. You should look for a hat with a blend of both.
The ventilation holes should be located at the sides of the hat and shouldn’t be too large. You should avoid hats with ventilation holes located at the top of the hat.
The color of the hat is important too. Lighter colors are better at reflecting heat. Dark-colored hats absorb the heat and are quicker to make you uncomfortable.
Adjustability
Having a hat that allows for minor adjustments throughout the day is very important.
A good fishing hat will allow you to quickly adjust its fit. You should look for hats that have adjustable chinstraps and drawcords.
Fishing hats that have removable portions are usually good buys as well. They allow you to customize the hat according to the weather, and they guarantee that you’ll always have the right protection.
Hats with removable masks and flaps are excellent choices when it comes to adjustability.
Fit
Following adjustability, you should consider the snugness of the hat on your head. You want something that will withstand strong gusts of wind.
Even a tightly-secured hat can be blown to the sea, so you should look for a hat that also has a chinstrap. Chinstraps keep your hat on you, even if it’s no longer on your head.
Lightweight and waterproof hats are also a secure investment. Even if they end up in the water, they’ll end up floating and can easily be retrieved.
Size
Size has everything to do with fit and adjustability. You want a hat that’s not too loose nor too tight.
A loose hat will annoy you with the amount of adjustments it needs to stay on your head, and a tight hat can give you headaches.
Unfortunately, most fishing hats work on a “one-size-fits-all” basis. It can be difficult to find a properly sized hat for your head.
You can measure the circumference of your head and compare it to the size of the hat. This will give you an estimate of how well it will fit you.
In the case that you end up between two sizes, you should always pick the bigger one.
Adjustable hats are also safe choices, but you need to make sure that the adjustable parts won’t need constant fiddling around.
Waterproofness
There’s no way to avoid water when fishing. Having a good waterproof hat is never a bad idea.
There are several types of water protection. A hat can be fully waterproof, water resistant or just quick drying.
Waterproof hats keep your face dry while not getting drenched themselves and are great for torrential outpours or extended periods of raining.
Water resistant hats remain afloat when they fall into the water. These types of fishing hats are usually quick drying as well.
Quick drying hats do not repel water, but, as the name indicates, they dry quickly. They’re a good choice if you aren’t planning on fishing during the rain. They withstand small drizzles and then dry off quickly.
You should avoid materials that offer no type of water resistance at all, such as cotton. Cotton drenches easily and takes a long time to dry off.
Stylishness
As we’ve said, this should be the least of your worries. Still, it’s possible to buy a functional, but cool fishing hat.
Even though they’re the epitome of function-over-form, there are still plenty of looks available when it comes to the different types of fishing hats.
If you’re unsure about two equally comparable hats feature-wise, you should probably go with the one that looks the best to you.
But, again, you can’t tell if a fishing hat is good just by how good it looks. You should focus your analysis on everything else on this list first.
Can You Use the Same Fishing Hat in the Summer and in the Winter?
Even though it seems more logical to just use a fishing hat in a sunny, summer day, fishing hats are a necessity as well when you go fishing in the winter.
In the winter, UV rays are still present and harmful to you. A good winter fishing hat has the ability to shield you from UV rays while still keeping your face, neck and ears warm.
If you buy the right fishing hat, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be able to use it both in the winter and in the summer.
If you think that a certain fishing hat is too hot for summer use, try to buy one with detachable flaps. That way you can leave them at home during the summer, and attach them back to your fishing hat during the winter.
That being said, there are season-focused fishing hats which might make sense to buy.
A good summer fishing hat is lightweight and made of breathable fabric, with the ability to offer great UV protection.
A more winter-focused fishing hat is well-insulated and windproof, with neck flaps and face masks attached. Great winter fishing hats are made from combinations of neoprene, polyester, cotton and nylon.
Is a Fishing Hat the Only Protection You Need?
Even though a good fishing hat is one of the most important pieces of protective equipment when it comes to fishing, it is not the only protective equipment you need.
If you fish on a boat you will also need a lifejacket, which is probably more important than the fishing hat.
Even if you keep yourself to the river banks, you also need to use sunscreen. A fishing hat, however good it might be, is not the only sun protection you should use. Sunglasses are a good idea too.
Sunburns are no joke, and you should use everything in your power to prevent them. A combination of a good fishing hat and a high-SPF sunscreen are the best ways to avoid major sunburns.
Conclusion
Although at very similar price-points, most hats on this list offer very different features. It’s up to you to decide which features you’d like best on your fishing hat and whether you’d prefer a wide brim or a removable neck flap.
However, if we were to advise you to buy one of the fishing hats on this list, we would have to tell you to buy the ICOLORS Sun Cap.
We found the ICOLORS Sun Cap to be the best fishing hat on this list due to its quality and the best overall removable neck flap and face shawl. When you’re not using the removable flaps, you can use the ICOLORS Sun Cap as a simple baseball cap.
Either way, most hats on this list offer some kind of waterproof features and will protect you from 98% of ultraviolet rays. There’s no wrong choice — we’ve only compiled the very best fishing hats.
Hope you enjoy your fishing trips and remember to keep safe. Let us know in the comments below which fishing hat you found to be the best!
