The 14 Best Hats to Wear All Summer Long (2024)

There are oh-so-many ways to address the idea of the "summer hat." You might think simply of baseball caps, because they're generally inexpensive, undeniably ubiquitous, and, yeah, they do the job in the summertime. Or you might think of panama hats, because they feel like the quintessential summer hat when you're making the distinction between a "hat" and a "cap." Or perhaps the phrase "summer hats" conjures images of bucket hats, with their all-around brim and eminently crushable (in a beach bag or a back pocket) construction.

None of these are wrong, and you'll find them all and more on the list below. (There's only a few panama hats, though, because good ones are rare, the style tends to work better in theory than in practice, and like Paul Giamatti with merlot, we're not recommending any f*cking straw trilbies and trying to pass them off as one of their more acceptable cousins.) Oh, and there's also a gigantic sun hat or two for the folks out there who, like me, are ridiculously susceptible to sunburn. Slather on that SPF, for sure, but topping yourself off with a shade-giving hat is an essential line of defense at the beach, the park, or anywhere else people tend to congregate in the sun for hours on end.

But enough about us. Let's focus on you, and all the best hats you have at your disposal this summer. Time to get shopping, friend. Right this way...

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Best Outdoorsy Hat

Columbia Bora Bora II Booney Hat

The 14 Best Hats to Wear All Summer Long (11)

The 14 Best Hats to Wear All Summer Long (12)

Best Outdoorsy Hat

Columbia Bora Bora II Booney Hat

Now 15% Off

If straw ain't your thing, howsabout this technical option from the outdoors specialists at Columbia?

Colors41
SizesOne Size
Materials100% Nylon

Best Classic Hat

Carhartt Rugged Professional Cap

The 14 Best Hats to Wear All Summer Long (13)

Best Classic Hat

Carhartt Rugged Professional Cap

Think of it as your trusty Carhartt beanie, just built for the warmer months ahead.

Colors6
SizesOne Size
Materials100% Cotton

Best Affordable Straw Hat

Quiksilver Pierside Straw Hat

The 14 Best Hats to Wear All Summer Long (14)

Best Affordable Straw Hat

Quiksilver Pierside Straw Hat

A summer hat made especially for sitting on the pier, gazing at a waterfront view for hours on end.

Colors6
SizesS-2XL
Materials100% Raffia Straw Fiber

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Best Wide-Brim Hat

Fishpond Lowcountry Hat

The 14 Best Hats to Wear All Summer Long (15)

Best Wide-Brim Hat

Fishpond Lowcountry Hat

This wide-brim hat is just fishin' for compliments.

ColorsTan
SizesM-L
MaterialsGuatemalan Palm

Best Vacation Hat

Guanábana Panama Hat

The 14 Best Hats to Wear All Summer Long (16)

Best Vacation Hat

Guanábana Panama Hat

If Indiana Jones was going to relax and not explore, this would be his hat of choice.

ColorsTan
SizesOne Size
Materials100% Natural Fibers

Best Dad Hat

Champion Ameritage Dad Cap

The 14 Best Hats to Wear All Summer Long (17)

Best Dad Hat

Champion Ameritage Dad Cap

A black Champion dad cap? For less than 20 bucks? That's a no-brainer.

Colors16
SizesOne Size
Materials100% Cotton

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coolest hat

Rowing Blazers x '47 Wide-Wale Yankees Cap

The 14 Best Hats to Wear All Summer Long (18)

coolest hat

Rowing Blazers x '47 Wide-Wale Yankees Cap

One of the coolest ways to switch up your summertime headwear? Corduroy. It makes a dad cap feel downright luxurious. Plus, that green Yankees look is a whole (very good) vibe.

ColorsGreen
SizesOne Size
Materials100% Cotton

Best Functional Hat

The North Face Class V Brimmer

The 14 Best Hats to Wear All Summer Long (19)

Best Functional Hat

The North Face Class V Brimmer

With an adjustable drawstring, this Steve Irwin-esque hat is for the true summertime adventurers.

Colors7
SizesS-XL
Materials68% Recycled Nylon, 26% Nylon, 6% Elastane with FlashDry

Best Bucket Hat

Adidas Victory Bucket Hat

The 14 Best Hats to Wear All Summer Long (20)

Best Bucket Hat

Adidas Victory Bucket Hat

Now 44% Off

Basically, this bucket hat from The Three Stripes is winning. Just check out its name.

ColorsGray, Black, White, Beige Tone
SizesS-XL
Materials100% Polyester

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Best Designer Hat

Gucci Straw Hat with Horsebit

The 14 Best Hats to Wear All Summer Long (21)

Best Designer Hat

Gucci Straw Hat with Horsebit

Gucci's classic horsebit detail, now in hat form.

ColorsTan
SizesXS-XL
Materials100% Vegetable Fiber

Best Reversible Hat

J.Crew Reversible Bucket Hat

The 14 Best Hats to Wear All Summer Long (22)

Best Reversible Hat

J.Crew Reversible Bucket Hat

Now 19% Off

Plaid one day. Abstract graphics the next. Bang for your buck, baby!

ColorsMixed Madras
SizesS-XL
MaterialsIndian Madras Cotton

Best Everyday Hat

Polo Ralph Lauren Logo-Embroidered Baseball Cap

The 14 Best Hats to Wear All Summer Long (23)

Best Everyday Hat

Polo Ralph Lauren Logo-Embroidered Baseball Cap

Clean, simple, and classic. Your every day dad hat.

Colors10
SizesOne Size
Materials100% Cotton

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Best Straw Hat

Stetson Open Road Straw Hat

The 14 Best Hats to Wear All Summer Long (24)

Best Straw Hat

Stetson Open Road Straw Hat

He'll be ready for the open road with this solid choice from Stetson.

ColorsCognac
Sizes6 3/4-7 5/8
Materials100% Shantung Straw

best relaxed hat

Câbleami Cotton Braid Cloche

The 14 Best Hats to Wear All Summer Long (25)

best relaxed hat

Câbleami Cotton Braid Cloche

For long days spent out in the sun, this hat adds the perfect laid-back vibe to your fit. And the cotton fabric is nice and light, too.

ColorsBeige, Navy, Black, White
SizesM-L
Materials100% Organic Cotton

Why You Can Trust Esquire

The 14 Best Hats to Wear All Summer Long (26)

We’re not going to say something is great unless it’s actually great. Every product in Esquire’s round-ups is carefully curated by our fashion and e-commerce teams.

When it comes to summer hats, you can rest assured that we’re hand-selecting styles that we’ve personally tested, tried, and loved, along with styles that the rest of our stylish colleagues here at Esquire endorse for their own wear. We’ve had to go through a lot of trial and error, and these summer hats are the ones that are simply the best.

Every pick on this list (and our other lists!) comes from years of wearing different things, seeing what we love and what we don’t, and going from there. No two tastes are the same, and no two men are the same. Your proverbial mileage may vary. But if you’re looking for the right place to start, with advice from folks who and care (possibly too much!) about this sort of stuff, this is the place to be.

The 14 Best Hats to Wear All Summer Long (2024)

FAQs

What is the best hat for a 60 year old man? ›

Q: Which iconic hat styles are perfect for the discerning senior man? A: The Fedora, Panama Hat, Trilby, Newsboy Cap, Homburg, and Bowler are all classic hat styles that offer elegance, versatility, and a touch of individuality.

What hats to wear in sunny weather? ›

Breathable Hat Materials for Hot Weather

Materials like cotton, linen, and straw are all excellent options when it comes to breathability. Cotton is particularly good at wicking away moisture, which can help keep you cool and dry.

What is the coolest material for a sun hat? ›

Choose a hat made with UPF-rated fabric to block harmful UV rays. The higher the UPF rating, the better the protection. Look for a hat with a breathable material such as Nylon, Cotton or Linen to keep you cool and comfortable in the sun.

What hat has the most sun protection? ›

Broad-brimmed, bucket hats with a wide brim and legionnaire style hats provide the most protection. Baseball caps do not protect the neck and ears.

What is a summer hat called? ›

A sun hat (also known as the floppy hat, harvest hat or field hat) is any hat or headgear specifically designed to shade the face, neck and shoulders from direct sunlight, usually with a circumferentially-protruding semi-rigid brim that can range from small to large, but as a general guideline around 4 to 7 in (10 to ...

What hats do 50 year old men wear? ›

For example, choices like dad hats, Trilby, fedora, Panama, and flat caps, are considered excellent for your age.

What color hat looks best on men? ›

Usually favored by men, adding a gray hat to a bright outfit is an easy way to neutralize an otherwise attention-grabbing look. Brown hats, like black and gray hats, look great with any outfit. If worn formally, they look best paired with green or brown suits and coats. Blue hats are a stylish choice for everyday use.

Does wearing a hat help with wrinkles? ›

Avoiding UV exposure reduces skin damage. Dermatologists recommend wearing a hat and clothing to protect the skin and using a sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher every day. Moisturizing regularly. Moisturizing prevents dryness, which reduces the chance of wrinkles forming.

What color hat is best for the sun? ›

If you are looking for a hat that provides the most sun protection, choose a wide-brimmed hat made from tightly woven fabrics. If you are more concerned with fashion, choose a hat in a dark colour like black, dark blue, or a dark grey and avoid shades of lighter colours.

What do you wear to 70 and sunny weather? ›

70 degrees is still sweater weather, depending on your location, so you can't go wrong with a knitted bandeau and cardigan set. If you're not afraid to show a little skin, pair the knitted pieces with baggy low-rise jeans. Not really your style? We also recommend high-waisted jeans or a midi skirt for more coverage.

What to wear 62 and sunny? ›

What to Wear in 60-Degree Weather for Every Type of Dresser
  • Cozy Sweatsuit + Duster Jacket. ...
  • Lightweight Turtleneck + Trousers + Vest. ...
  • Denim + More Denim. ...
  • Mid-Length, Long-Sleeved Dress + Tall Boots. ...
  • Sweater Dress + Emergency Top Layer. ...
  • Leather Jacket + Crop Top + Jeans. ...
  • Oversized Suit + Bra + Sandals With Socks.
Apr 15, 2024

What is the coolest material to wear in sun? ›

5 best materials to wear in summer
  1. Summer cotton fabric. The number one for summer, there's nothing like a soft cotton T-shirt, a flowing cotton skirt or light chambray denim to keep you feeling fresh and cool. ...
  2. Cool linen. ...
  3. Flowing silk. ...
  4. Bamboo and lyocell. ...
  5. Stylish wool.

Which cap is best for summer? ›

  • Alexvyan Round Hat Sun Visor Hats. ...
  • Electomania Sun Protection Cap for Men. ...
  • Alexvyan Beige Round Crown Hat Sun Visor. ...
  • CLOTHERA Fashion Fedora Hat for Mens. ...
  • SELLORIA Brand A Cotton Adjustable Unisex Cap. ...
  • Bengaluru caps. ...
  • WANDERLOOMS Caps for Men. ...
  • ILU Cap for Men Topi Unisex.
Apr 25, 2024

How to choose a flattering sun hat? ›

How to Choose the Right Hat for Your Face Shape
  1. The best sun hat for a round face is a hat with a high crown and a wide brim. ...
  2. If you're looking for the best hat for an oval face shape, you're in luck–almost any style of hat will look good on you. ...
  3. If you have a square-shaped face, go for a soft, floppy hat.
Aug 31, 2022

What color hat keeps you cool? ›

The answer may surprise you: it's actually dark blue. Dark blue hats reflect most of the UV away from your head and face, which helps to keep you cool and protected from harmful UV rays. Of course, not everyone likes the look of a dark blue hat, especially when you like different colours.

Is a white or black hat better for summer? ›

Conclusion: An umbrella to provide shade will give one the coolest head, but a platinum / white hat is better in the summer than a black hat, while a black hat may be better in the winter. Next up: Adding a micro USB fan to a hat to provide wind flow.

Is wool or straw hat better for summer? ›

Straw hats are favorite options for casual wear—especially during hot summer months, thanks to the extra airflow the material and construction techniques offer, and wider, sun-blocking brim designs.

Do hats keep you cool in the summer? ›

Hats can protect your scalp from radiant heat, but they can also lessen evaporative and convection cooling. “Most research shows that although skin head temperature increases and you feel hot, core body temperature does not,” Steinmetz says.

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