Playing in the open for hours puts you at a dangerous exposure to UV rays and heat which can damage your skin or even cause dehydration, making it extremely difficult for you to play for long hours under the sun.
The problem is that low-quality hats won’t benefit you as they can’t stop the radiation and aren’t suitable for extreme temperatures.
Seasoned experts from our team have independently reviewed over 30 golf hats for sun protection before coming up with a list of the best ones you can get your hands on.
Our comprehensive review includes all the vital variables that golfers should consider before buying a golf hat. Our team of experts took into account factors like weight, waterproofing, comfort, wrinkling, and aesthetic appeal before creating this list.
You’ll find the top golf hats in this article and we’ll mention which type of hat gives the best sun protection. You can also view our top 5 picks if you’re short on time.
So, let’s dive right in!
Best Golf Hats for Sun Protection
Golfible Picks:
Editor’s Choice: Tilley Endurables LTM5 Airflo Unisex Hat (click to see)
Budget Option: Einskey Sunhat (click to see on eBay)
Most Durable: Coolibar Hat (click to see on eBay)
Best Bucket Hat: Nike Golf UV Sun Bucket Golf Hat (click to see)
Best Hat With Neck Flap: Home Prefer (click to see on eBay)
Golf Hats for Sun Protection Specification Table Comparison
| Golf Hats | Tilley Endurables LTM5 Airflo Unisex Hat | Einskey Sunhat | Coolibar Hat | Nike Golf UV Sun Bucket Golf Hat | Home Prefer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Our Rating | 9.3/10 Editor’s Choice | 9.0/10 Budget Option | 9.1/10 Most Durable | 9.0/10 Best Bucket Hat | 8.8/10 Best Hat With Neck Flap |
| Pricing | Jump To Pricing Section | Jump To Pricing Section | Jump To Pricing Section | Jump To Pricing Section | Jump To Pricing Section |
| Hat Type | Sun Hat | Sun Hat | Sun Hat | Bucket Hat | Sun Hat |
| Material | Supplex Nylon and Polyester | Polyester | Cotton and Polyester | Polyester | Polyester |
| UPF Rating | 50+ | 50+ | 50+ | 40+ | 50+ |
| Sizes Available | Extra-Small / Small / Medium / Large / Extra-Large | One Size (For 22″-24″ Head Sizes) | Small / Medium / Large / Extra-Large | Small / Medium / Large / Extra-Large | One Size (For 22″-23″ Head Sizes) |
| Brim Type | Medium | Wide | Wide | Small | Wide (With Neck Flap) |
| Packable/Compressible | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Adjustment Cord Available | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Colors Available | Khaki, Stone, Navy, Olive, Dark Tan, Off-White, Taupe, Sage Green, Rock Face | Army Green, Brown, Dark Grey, Khaki, Light Grey, Navy, Blue, Pink, Beige, Multicolor | Khaki, Narutal, Smoke Grey | White, Dark Grey, Black | Aqua Blue, Army Green, Black, Blue, Dark Grey, Ink, Ivory, Kelly, Khaki, Light Grey, Navy, Orange, Purple, Red |
| Water-Resistant | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Read Review | Jump To Tilley Endurables LTM5 Airflo Unisex Hat Review | Jump To Einskey Sunhat Review | Jump To Coolibar Hat Review | Jump To Nike Golf UV Sun Bucket Golf Hat Review | Jump To Home Prefer Review |
Tilley Endurables LTM5 Airflo Unisex Hat
Editor’s Choice
Rating: 9.3 /10
Pros
- Waterproof.
- Floats.
Cons
- Some customers said the brim of the hat varied on both sides and wasn’t heavy enough to stay on one plane.
The Tilley Endurables LTM5 is our selection for editor’s choice thanks to its many features including breathability, durability and protectiveness from the sun.
The hat is both 100% polyester and supplex nylon helping keep heads cool and comfortable. Tilley Endurables was founded in 1980 by Alex Tilley who loved sailing and was an outdoorsman. The hat is made to be wrinkle-free so someone can crush it up and pack it in a suitcase or backpack.
This model’s design is flexible and can be worn with casual attire such a golf polo or with outdoor hiking clothes on the trails.
The water-proof finish on the hat also makes it stain free from rainwater and enables users to keep their hair and faces dry during inclement weather. The hat also has a foam liner that floats in case it is dropped in the water at the lake, river or beach.
It also is anti-shrink so it can be washed or thrown in the dryer without worrying it won’t fit during the next use.
The hat weighs only three ounces and the brim size is as follows: Front: 2 5/8″; Back: 2 3/4″; Sides: 2 1/8″
Einskey Sunhat
Budget Option
Rating: 9.0 /10
uSA Suppliers (Also deliver to Canada)
 Amazon.com
|
$14.99
2 new from $14.99
|
View Deal |
 eBay
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$23.99 | View Deal |
Pros
- Features a chin-cord to keep hat snug.
- Crushable
- Lightweight.
Cons
- Brim quality is flimsier than other options.
- Customers said it wasn’t waterproof.
The Einskey sunhat is a casual hat that can be used for travelers or people who enjoy being outside. The hat comes in tan, navy, dark gray, light gray and khaki.
It includes an adjustable chin cord that helps keep the hat snug on the head during windy or rainy days. It also features a sweat band that prevents sweat dripping onto a person’s face or eyes.
The hat was designed to be used for a plethora of activities including cycling, hiking, hunting, camping, fishing, golfing or even while playing action sports. Its main use is to protect from the sun.
It is one size fits all and works both for men and women. The hat should fit adults who have head circumferences of about 22-24 inches.
The wide brim measures at 3.7-3.9 inches and helps keep the face and neck covered from rays. The polyester make is water-resistant.
Coolibar Hat
Most Durable
Rating: 9.1 /10
uK Suppliers
Pros
- Waterproof.
- Wrinkle-free.
- Multiple sizes.
Cons
- Some might say the hat appears too dressy.
- Some customers complained it fit too small.
The Coolibar hat is UPF 50+ and is designed to protect from 98% of sun rays. The style of the hat is reminiscent of an African safari hat.
It has a three-inch brim that helps cover a person’s neck, ear and face. Like many hats in this list it includes a chin cord to ensure a good fit. A mesh ventilated crown makes the hat feel comfortable and an internal elastic band secures the tightness around the head.
Coolibar designed the hat to be water resistant and crushable/wrinkle resistant so it’s ideal for vacations to both wet and dry destinations like islands or deserts.
The mission of Coolibar is “to keep the world safe from sun damage, to protect those with a sun-related medical condition and to prevent everyone else from developing one.”
There are three size options when purchasing the Coolibar: small/medium (22.5 inches), medium/large (23 inches) and xx-large (24 inches). There are also three colors to choose from: khaki, smoke grey or natural.
The hat is made of both cotton and polyester canvas to help its wearers keep a cool head.
Nike Golf UV Sun Bucket Golf Hat
Best Bucket Hat
Rating: 9.0 /10
uSA Suppliers (Also deliver to Canada)
uK Suppliers
Pros
- Athletic design.
- Dri-FIT technology helps keep users dry.
- Offers UPF, UVA and UVB protection.
Cons
- Smaller brim makes it harder to protect skin.
- Not available in Khaki colors.
Aside from our editor’s choice, our selection for “best bucket hat” is this hat. The Nike Golf UV Sun Bucket Hat has a sleek design featuring a large signature Nike logo in front and center.
The bucket hat is made up of 88% polyester and 12% spandex. The Nike Flex fabric it contains expands to help fit people’s heads. The Dri-FIT technology aids in keeping a person dry when sweating leading to more comfort.
The hat is designed to give UPF 40+ protection from the sun. Since it is a bucket hat and does not have a massive brim, less of a person’s neck will be protected compared to other hats that provide more shade.
Aside from UPF protection the hat also offers UVA and UVB protection from dangerous rays.
Nike included an Elastic drawcord that helps adjust the tightness of the hat so it fits about any size head and people can wear it tight or loose depending on their preference.
The hat is available in white, dark grey or black.
Home Prefer
Best Hat With Neck Flap
Rating: 8.8 /10
Pros
- Lightweight and polyester to prevent it from shrinking in the wash
- Removable and adjustable strap.
- Features a flap for added neck protection.
Cons
- Customers complained the hat was not deep enough so it only fit the top of their heads.
- Doesn’t appear as well-made as the other hats in this list.
The Home Prefer hat is one of the best golf hats for sun protection. It is UPF 50+ and blocks at least 98% of UVB and UVA sun rays.
The hat is one of the larger wide brim golf hats in this list and has a long and wide back flap to help protect your face and neck. It has small holes creating vents for air to enter and aid with breathability to keep a person cool.
One nice feature of the hat is its removable and adjustable chin strap. On a windy day the strap helps keep it on the head but on a non-windy day it might appear more stylish to ditch the cord.
The hat is unisex and is designed to fit people with around 22-23.5 inch heads. It can be used for various activities including golfing, fishing, hiking, camping, biking and more.
The hat is available in nine different colorways and is available at a low price.
Do you need a sun hat for protection from UV Rays?
According to cancer.org about 99 percent of skin cancers and 95 percent of melanoma are caused by an excessive amount of exposure to UV radiation. UV rays not only cause cancer but also premature aging of the skin, liver spots, solar elastosis and actinic keratosis.
Omitting visors and baseball caps from our list
We didn’t include visors or baseball caps in this list due to them being different kinds of hats. Visors and baseball caps do provide slight protection to a portion of a person’s head and face, but they do not offer as much as sun hats, which feature wider brims protecting more of the neck too. Visors and caps provide no protection to the back of people’s necks.
Features of good sun protection golf hat
There are different features of a good sun hat including its protective brim, how breathable it is as well as its portability.
Brim
Brims on golf hats vary in size and shape. Brims can be firm or floppy depending on preference. Firm brims are usually preferred because floppy brims can get in a golfer’s eyes and distract them when swinging. The brim’s shadow helps protect against the sun.
Breathability
Breathability for golf hats is important in keeping a player’s head cool. It would be an inconvenience if you were trying to keep your face covered from the sun but had to deal with a super sweaty head with sweat dripping into your eyes. That’s why most golf sun hats feature small mesh holes that allow air to seep in.
A lot of sun bucket hats are sweat resistant that aid in wicking the sweat off someone’s head and helping to keep them dry.
Portability
Golf sun hats that are wrinkle resistant are very useful for transporting easily. A player can stuff them in their golf bag or backpack without worrying the hat appears all wrinkly.
Having a lightweight hat is also key because no one wants to wear something heavy on their heads while they navigate the course.
Conclusion:
After reviewing the different options, our conclusion for best golf hat for sun protection is the Tilley Endurables LTM5 Airflo Unisex Hat. It was an easy pick for editor’s choice thanks to its wrinkle-free and protective design.
With its casual and athletic look, the hat is a good choice to wear on or off the course. Next time you head to the course remember to protect yourself from the sun.
FAQ
What color hat is best in the sun?
Dark colors are known to absorb UV rays more effectively than lighter colors. Dark blue, black, and crimson red is the most suitable colors to wear in the sun, with blue being more recommended.
Can you wear a sun hat golfing?
Yes, you can wear a sun hat golfing. Many golfers wear a hat while golfing. It is generally recommended to wear a hat in golf, especially when it is sunny. A hat can protect you against sunburn, excessive sweating, and other skin-related problems.
What type of hat gives the best protection from the sun?
Broad-brimmed bucket hats are an excellent choice as they provide shade to your head, ears, face, and neck. Look for a tightly woven hat instead of a loosely woven one because it will let the UV rays in, defeating the purpose of wearing a hat.
