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I feel your pain if you have been fishing without a hat! We spend hours in the sun fishing, often without shade for several hours. Sunburn becomes inevitable without one, no matter how much sun cream one applies to your exposed skin.
Fishing hats aren’t just there for sun protection; they also play a vital role in shielding glare from your polarized fishing sunglasses. By removing the glare, a hat also lets you see more clearly, helping you spot fish and hopefully catch more of them!
My Top Fishing Hat Picks For All Types Of Anglers
Not all fishing headwear is made equal, and there are quite a few alternatives to choose from, which I am here to help with.
So, Join me as we review all the different styles of fishing hats on the market so you can find the right cap, boonie, and even a wide-brim straw hat for your next fishing trip!
- Ellewin Fishing Sun Cap – My Best Fly Fishing Cap Pick!
- Bassdash UPF 50+ Sun Fishing Hat – My Best Fly Fishing Boonie Pick!
- HUK Camo Patch Straw Wide Brim Fishing Hat – My Best Sea Fishing Hat Pick!
- Naicissism Fishing Trucker Hat – My Best Sea Fishing Cap Pick!
- Gloryfire Hat – My Best Coarse Fishing Hat Pick!
- KastKing Sol Armis Boonie Hat – My Best All-Round Fishing Hat Pick!
Ellewin Fishing Sun Cap
The Ellewin fishing sun cap is a great fly fishing hat that suits all climates, whether walking rivers in the mountains or poling around the flats on a skiff.
When you are fly fishing, you are always moving and, therefore, never in the shade, which calls for excellent sun protection. Fly fishing also requires sight fishing often; therefore, reducing glare as much as possible is key to spotting more fish.
This cap incorporates a long bill that provides great shade over your face for good sun protection and reduces glare so your polarized sunglasses can work their magic.
It comes integrated with a removable mesh face and neck cover. This allows you to protect your face and neck from the sun and the reflection coming off the water. If it is the full sun protection you need, this is one of the best options on the market today.
To top it all off, it is comfy, breathable to keep you cool, and durable. This is a hard fishing hat to beat!
Pros
- It looks good and is comfortable
- Lightweight and breathable
- Removable face and neck cover
- Long bill for more shade and glare protection
- The ultimate sun protection
- Durable and lasts
- Very affordable
Cons
- The face and neck cover can flap in the wind
Bassdash UPF 50+ Sun Fishing Hat
The Bassdash sun fishing hat is another excellent choice for fly fishing where there are limited shady areas.
This is a Boonie-style hat with a wide brim that provides a ton of shade and, thus, sun protection. Being built from UPF 50+ material also ensures that no sun rays will get through and damage your skin.
The removable neck flap feature that tucks into its own pocket on the brim is a very handy feature. This allows you to cover your neck for added sun protection when the sun is beaming down from behind.
The Bassdash also features a breathable mesh panel on the side to keep the airflow moving while it’s on your head, and there is an inbuilt moisture-wicking sweatband to keep sweat away.
The hat is comfy on most people’s heads and fits well, but larger-headed anglers like me may initially find the fit slightly tight and uncomfortable.
Pros
- Wide brim design for lots of shade
- Draw-string to keep it in place on windy days
- Removable neck flap for extra sun protection
- The neck flap stores in its own pocket
- Moisture wicking sweatband
- Breathable to keep you cool
- Vented for airflow
- Durable and well-made
- Great sun protection
- Very comfortable
- An amazing 19 colors to choose from
Cons
- It doesn’t fit larger heads well
This Bassdash sun hat matches perfectly with the Bassdash fleece fishing hoodie; this hoodie is my top pick for wearing when the cooler months are with us.
HUK Camo Patch Straw Wide Brim Fishing Hat
The HUK camo patch straw wide-brim fishing hat is a hat you’d want your skipper to wear as you search for marlin off the coast of Costa Rica – it looks like a really cool fishing hat, in my eyes, anyway!
This is an excellent choice for sea fishing, as it provides a load of shade while being very breathable, allowing airflow so your head stays cool while you’re on a boat. Due to its snug fit, It will stay on securely even when you are fishing in a strong wind.
It also comes with an adjustable chin strap, so it doesn’t fly off in the wind, and it is covered in a water-repellent coating, so it actively drives water away and dries out very quickly.
The Huk wide brim fits most head sizes and is usually super comfortable. The only downside is that it is a big hat, making it a little inconvenient to travel with.
Pros
- Wide brim for great coverage
- Awesome looking style
- Adjustable chin strap to secure it
- Good sun protection
- Water repellent coating
- Dries out quickly
- Comfortable
Cons
- It is a little large to travel with
Naicissism Fishing Trucker Hat
The Naicissism fishing trucker hat is a great choice for those who prefer a cap-style fishing hat. I actually prefer fishing with a cap and then adding a buff for extra sun protection when needed, as it is lighter on my head and doesn’t blow away as easily.
Made from cotton, it feels soft on your head, and the sweatband absorbs any sweat that might drip onto your face. The bill is wide and long for good sun and glare protection to keep your skin from being burnt, so you get better vision through your polarized sunglasses.
The side and top are open mesh, making it extremely breathable with excellent airflow, so your head stays cool. The mesh lets some sun in, so if your hair is thin, this might not provide all the protection you want.
Pros
- Good brow coverage
- Great glare protection
- Lightweight and portable
- Breathable mesh sides keep you cool
- Comfortable and adjusts to fit
- Looks cool!
Cons
- Less coverage than others
Gloryfire Boonie Hat
In my eyes, the Gloryfire boonie hat is a great choice for using when coarse fishing. When I go fishing on a river or lake, I tend to look at fishing spots with some shade for a little more sun protection, but I still need a hat. Even if I put up my fishing umbrella, there is limited protection on my head from the sun. Even if I’m spending a lot of time carp fishing in my bivvy, eventually, I have to venture outside.
This Boonie-style hat has an excellent wide rim that creates a lot of shade to protect you from the sun. A quality leather chin strap holds it in place during windy conditions, and it is built with breathable mesh panels to keep your head cool. Brimmed fishing hats give the best coverage from the sun, as they protect a larger area of your head and neck.
It is both light and portable, and there is even some molle webbing for adding small fishing accessories. While it is comfortable, the size doesn’t fit everyone, so look at the dimensions before buying.
It also comes in a camo color, which is always a great choice for anglers!
Pros
- Good sun coverage of up to UPF40+
- Lightweight and comfortable
- Made from quality materials
- Easy to carry around
- It comes in four different colors
- The Chin strap keeps it secure
- Breathable to keep you cool
- Molle webbing for holding fishing accessories
Cons
- Size doesn’t fit everyone
KastKing Sol Armis Boonie Hat
The KastKing sol armis boonie hat is a great all-around fishing hat with features for every situation.
It’s a durable and versatile option and has UPF 50+ sun protection. The wide brim is excellent at creating shade, and the bottom of the hat is dark in color to reduce glare and reflection in your fishing sunglasses.
This style of boonie hat also features a moisture-wicking headband to remove sweat, vented mesh panels to keep your head cool, and a chin strap top to keep it in place. The only downside to the Sol Armis is that it doesn’t fit everyone perfectly, so be sure to check the sizing.
The ocean blue and the ambush green are both great-looking colors!
Pros
- Wide full brim for good shade
- Gives protection of 50UPF
- It is lightweight and doesn’t get in the way
- The Chin strap holds it in place
- The Dark underside reduces any glare
- Moisture wicking headband
- Vented mesh sides keep you cool
- Cool looking and affordable
- Six different color options
Cons
- Not comfy if you have a very large head
What To Look For When Buying A Fishing Hat?
Several critical features make a fishing hat good or bad for an angler, and here are the three key areas that you should consider:
Sun Protection
Sun protection is the number one reason to wear a fishing hat. When fishing, you are in the sun with very little shade all day, and no one needs a dose of skin cancer from UV damage.
Look for a quality option that provides good coverage and is made from at least UPF 30+ material to block the harmful UVA and UVB rays. I recommend the Green People Organic Sun Lotion SPF30; check out my full review of the best fish-safe suncream for anglers anywhere.
Cooling
After sun protection, a fishing hat should actively keep your head cool. Look for breathable material, mesh panels, and vents that allow airflow so you stay cool. A hat with a moisture-wicking sweatband option also ensures your head stays dry and sweat doesn’t drip down your face.
Comfort
If your hat isn’t comfortable, you aren’t going to want to wear it very long, and wearing it is a must for sun protection. The last thing you need is to wear an uncomfortable hat that ruins your fishing day! Be sure to pick one that fits well and feels good.
Capping Out
Thank you for reading my article. I hope you found it useful and have discovered the best hat options for fishermen through the reviews above. Remember, shade, cooling, and comfort are the main considerations, and the style choice and color are totally up to you.
Whether you are looking for a men’s or a women’s fishing hat, all these options in my review will fit both, are comfortable, and look great with practical features for anglers.
Please share this article with your fishing buddies, and why not look at some of our other fishing apparel articles, including jackets and suits for keeping dry in the rain and my in-depth review of the best guide shirts for fishing in hot and cold weather.
Steve holds a special place in his heart for the mighty Carp and the elusive Tench
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