Fishing hats are a valuable accessory that many anglers ignore. Things like skin cancer can be avoided with the use of a good hat. Ideally, a hat should serve multiple functions. A hat should keep your face and eyes protected from water and sun rays.
In this blog, we’ll discuss some of the 2024 trendy hats for fishing. Together we’ll discover the best hat option with a blend of comfort and style. The aim of this blog is to help you make an informed decision in choosing the right hat for your fishing adventures.
Benefits of Wearing Hats When Fishing
Wearing a hat when fishing is vital if you want to stay safe during the summer days. Wearing hats protects your skin and scalp from harmful UV rays. It is also known to prevent heat strokes.
Most of the time when fishing, the sun rays shine down your eyes, making it difficult to see your line. Thus, wearing a hat is beneficial when providing shade onto your eyes.
Now that we understand the benefits of wearing hats, we can dive into some of the tips in choosing the right hat.
What To Look for in Fishing Hats
When looking for the right hat it is good to consider hats that provide better sun protection. Below are some things to consider when choosing a hat.
- Hat brim: A hat brim is an important feature when choosing a fisherman’s hat. The size of the brim is necessary in keeping the sun off your face and neck.
- Waterproof outer shell: When fishing, it is important to have a synthetic and waterproof shell. The hat should be kept above your head while allowing the flow of air to get in.
- Adjustable chin strap: With the help of chin strap, your hat should stay in place even in the windiest condition. An example of a good chin strap is leather.
- Cotton twill instep: An instep sewn into a hat not only makes it more comfortable to wear but also it serves as a sweatband from perspiration.
- Open mesh crown: A good hat should have a good air passage to avoid overheating. A mesh crown offers the best air exchange system. However, it is not advisable to use it when it is raining due to water passage.
- Hidden neck cape: Quality hats have neck capes sewn in to be able to protect not only the face but also the ears and neck. Some hats have neck capes that can be rolled and tucked away until needed.
- Size and fitting: One size fits all does not always work. When fishing, you should find a hat that sits well on your head. It should not be too tight or too loose. Even with chin straps, it is best to have a precise measurement to increase the hat’s comfort level.
- Style: Functionality and style should blend. You can choose a hat with a timeless design while complimenting your style.
A good quality hat is an important part of your fishing outfit. When choosing a hat, it is important to consider its basic features. More than style and comfort, your hat should offer protection against water and sun exposure.
Different Styles of Fisher’s Hat
There are different styles of hats and the takeaway is choose the one that gives you utmost protection and comfort. If these important factors are missing then you might end up having skin cancer in the long run, and I’m sure you don’t want that.
Let’s dive into different types of hats and see what works best for you.
Bucket Hats
If you are someone who prefers simple, you can go for a bucket hat. The Hat Depot offers 30 different colors of bucket hats to choose from. It also comes in two sizes to find the best fit for your head. The only downside is the brim is not wide enough to provide adequate sun protection.
Baseball Caps
Baseball caps partnered with good sunglasses is a go-to outfit when fishing. These caps are easy to use, lightweight, and breathable. With the right fitting these caps will stay on your head even with strong winds.
However, these caps don’t have enough sun protection. Without an added protection, you might have an excessive sunburn. You can get your baseball caps at a price of $10 – $45
Boonie Hats
Boonies feature a wrap around brim that gives a decent amount of sun protection. Although, this type of hat can get floppy during windy days. So make sure that your Boonies has a chin strap to prevent it from being thrown away in the wind.
Some things to consider if you opt for Boonies are their breathability, UPF and sweat protection. The cost of having a Boonie is around $15 – $40.
Jones Style
The Jones-style cap features a traditional look that holds up to fishing and duck-hunting needs. The fabric used is waxed, so your head still feels dry by the end of the day. Although this hat lacks protection around the neck area, it still provides warmth and breathability. This hat runs anywhere from $20 – $120.
Straw Hat
Straw hats feature a very decent look and also serve its purpose with sun exposure. However, you can’t expect much from it when it comes to durability. These hats are affordable ranging from $15 – $45, so it is recommended if you only fish often.
Seektop Hat
Seektop offers an affordable hat with an excellent UPF of 50+ . Aside from these hats features neck flap and face protector keeping your skin safe during summer days. You do not have to worry about not being comfortable, the face protector is made from mesh so you can expect a good airflow.
The neck flap on the other hand covers your neck and ears, so there’s no need in reapplying your sunscreen. This hat is the best option for frequent travelers as it is lightweight and easy to wear.
Piecees Fishing Hat
This hat provides high UPF protection with an adjustable chin strap for a perfect fit. While this hat doesn’t have a mesh panel, you can see some holes at the top for better ventilation. Since Peicees hat is made from breathable and waterproof material, it is best to use on both sunny and rainy days. The best part of it all is, it’s very affordable too
GearTop Fishing Hat
Made from polyester fabric this hat provides protection from UVA and UVB rays. With a wide brim, your skin is prevented from sunburn. With the mesh panel included, you can expect yourself to be comfortable even in scorching hot summer days.
Due to the adjustable chinstrap, the size is versatile for everyone.
Choosing a Hat in Bigger Size
For larger head types, it is best to look for hats with a stretchy material like nylon, spandex, adjustable cords, and others. Bigger hats have wider brims offering maximum sun protection while giving a smaller head effect.
Choosing a Hat for Better Sun Protection
Sun protection is something to take seriously. You might find that baseball caps are the most convenient and stylish hat to wear, but they don’t provide protection against the sun. A good fishing hat has a specific fabric designed to offer sun protection. Hats with a UPF rating of 15-24 are good, 25-39 better, and 40-50+ is best.
You might find that the best hat with a UPF protection rate of 40-50+ has holes for better airflow. Since the fabric of these hats are made to literally block the sun, you might
Hats with 40-50+ UPF protection rate are made with fabrics that literally block the sun. So you might find some holes in it for better air flow and comfort. However, holes counteract the sun-blocking capabilities of this type of hat.
Choosing a Hat for Rainy Season
Wearing hoods when fishing creates a limit on visibility. It is best to throw on a fishing hat that works well during the rainy season. Hats made specially for rain have a wide-brim that provides protection from water. However, it is important to note that waterproof hats are made of stiff fabrics.
Some of the best rainy fishing hats are the waterproof and breathable boonie hat from Frogg’s and the sombrero from Outdoor Research Seattle.
Frogg Toggs Bobbie Hat is a waterproof fishing hat made of Polypropylene material. This hat comes with a wide brim measuring approximately 3″ for comfort. The best thing about this hat is its neck cinch which keeps the hat in place even in the storm.
While Outdoor Research Seattle Sombrero has a Gore-Tex construction allowing a good airflow, keeping the head dry.
Choosing a Hat for Hot Season
During hot days, a wide brimmed hot is advisable to keep you comfortable and cooler. Some of the highly recommended hats are the Columbia Bora Booney Sun Hats, Simms Sunshield Fishing Hat, Under Armour’s Tactical Bucket Hat, and the DDYOutdoor Summer Hat.
Columbia Bora Booney Sun Hats are perfect for summer since they can retain water, keeping your head cool. These hats also feature a 98% sun blocking system preventing sunburn or skin cancer.
Under Armour’s Tactical Bucket Hat has an impressive quality. It has an amazing sweat band which keeps your face dry from sweat during the summer days.
DDYOutdoor Summer Hat has the best UPF rating of 50+. It has a guard neck for additional sun protection for your ears and neck.
Choosing a Hat for Cold Season
Before fishing on a cold day, it is recommended to keep your head covered. Our ears are highly sensitive, having long exposure to freezing temperature can have a potential damage to our hearing.
Here are a few beanie recommendations to keep you warm and protected during the cold season:
Simms Trout Camo Beanie has an impressively thick fabric and costs around $30.
Simms ExStrem Windbloc Beanie and Simms ultra-Wool Core Beanie feature a weather resistant outer shell. These hats are specially designed for fly fishing and cost around $50.
Choosing The Best Hat Color
Tans and browns are the go to color for fishing. Some fishes like trout can see colors up to 12 feet away, so you want to avoid colors like white, red, yellow, and orange. Hence the clearer the water, the more challenging fishing becomes.
Choosing a Hat to Avoid Bugs
As a fisher, you already know that most water is surrounded by bugs and insects. While bug spray or an electric bug repellant do its job, it is best to always have extra protection to keep the bugs away. Some of the recommended bug hats are the Bugstopper Net Cap by Simms and the Outdoor Research Bug Bucket Hat.
Bugstopper Net Cap is a high-quality bug hat featuring a removable mosquito net. While the Outdoor Research Bug Bucket Hat’s mosquito net which can be hidden easily.
Besides the net features of both hats, the main comparison is the price point. Bugstopper leans on a premium side costing at around $40. The outdoor Research Bucket hat on the other side is more affordable, with a retail price of $15.
Choosing a Hat for Your Kid
If your child is already into fishing, protect his skin by having a good fishing hat. Make sure that the hat you choose has the exact size of his head with a design well suited for a child. One of the recommended child hats is the Home Prefer Kids UPF50+ Sun Hat. This is a bucket style sun hat with 50% UPF for maximum sun protection. This hat is lightweight and durable with a wide brim to protect your child’s eye.
Choosing a Hat Below $6
A ball-cap style is a decent and most affordable type of hat. Usually, these types of hats are simple with straight out designs. One of the cheapest hats that’s under $6 is the Bass Pro Shops Mesh Cap. This cap features a mesh at the back which will keep your head cool during the summer days. Although, with its price point expect a low sun protection.
Conclusion
Having the right hat really makes a difference when fishing. With the evolving hat trends, you might be confused on what to get. That’s why we’ve put together this blog post to help you make the right purchase.
All the hats mentioned above ticked all the boxes required for what an angler needs during fishing day. Although when deciding which one to choose, it all boils down to your personal preferences.
If you have any reactions or suggestions, you can comment down below.
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