Most of the time, we go fishing in the sunshine, and did you know that when it’s cloudy, those harmful UVA and UVB rays can still cause UV damage to your skin.
Why Consider a Fishing Hat?
The best fishing hat will not only give you good shade and full UV protection, but it’ll also keep the rain off your face and sunglasses, and reduce the amount of light coming into your eyes so you can see fish better.
Every angler needs a fishing hat to protect them from the elements while they’re out on a fishing trip, and having used my fair share of hats over the years, I have rounded up the 10 best fishing hats for you below in my very own buying guide.
The Best Fishing Hats From The Review
A quick look at the top fishing hats from the review sorted by category…
Best Fly Fishing Hat
KastKing Sol Armis Boonie Fishing Hat
Full of features that help you stay cool and comfy while protecting you from the sun.
KastKing Sol Armis Boonie Fishing Hat
The best fishing hat for fly fishing is the KastKing Sol Armis Fishing Hat.
The hat comes with a large brim to provide full outdoor sun protection and it’s breathable to keep your head cool at the same time.
These fishing hats also repel water to protect you from any rain, have a cord to ensure the hat doesn’t fly off in the wind, and they fit most head sizes thanks to the adjustable drawcord.
Best Fishing Sun Hat
Ddyoutdoor Fishing Cap
A hat that comes with features to protect your face and neck from both UVA and UVB rays.
Ddyoutdoor Fishing Cap
The best fishing hat for the sun is the Ddyoutdoor Fishing Caps.
This hat not only has a wide brim for excellent outdoor sun protection for your head but the hat also comes with a removable neck and face cover to ensure they have protection too. The top of the hat is water repellent to help protect you from rain.
The hat is rated to UPF 50, so you can be sure of no sun damage.
The hat is also made from durable materials, is light, foldable, portable, and it’s breathable too ensuring your head stays cool on those hot fishing days.
Best Fishing Hat For Rain
Columbia Bora Bora Booney
Another great fishing hat with a wide brim to provide adequate sun protection on the water.
Columbia Bora Bora Booney
The best fishing hat for rain is the Columbia Bora Bora Booney Hat. These fishing hats have a large brim for outdoor sun protection and are water-resistant for rain protection.
The hat will keep a light shower from getting to your head, and on your sunglasses, but it will get soaked eventually, like all fishing hats.
But, they are quick-drying too, so it won’t take long until you’re wearing a dry hat on your head again.
Top Pick
ELLEWIN Fishing Cap
This hat comes with both a face and a neck cover that you can connect to the sides to give you maximum UV protection.
ELLEWIN Fishing Cap
One of the best fishing hats is the ELLEWIN Fishing Cap.
This hat is durable, comfy, fits all head sizes, and gives great protection from the elements.
The bill is long to stop sun or rain hitting your face and it comes with a removable neck and face cover to protect your skin from any reflected rays off the water.
This durable hat is also light for portability, breathable to keep your head cool on hot fishing days, and has a chin cord for securing it in heavy winds.
Our Best Fishing Hats
Here are all the products from the lineup…
CAMO COLL Outdoor Fishing Hat
A Boonie hat design with a wide brim that ensures both your face and neck are in the shade when fishing.
CAMO COLL Outdoor Fishing Hat
The CAMO COLL Outdoor Fishing Hat comes in a Boonie hat design with a wide brim that ensures both your face and neck are in the shade when fishing.
This wide brim hat provides adequate sun protection for all environments but it comes without a UV rating, so some light may get through.
Build
The fishing hat is made from a mixture of cotton and polyester making it soft and light. It’s comfortable to wear and the one size fits every head without worry.
The top of the hat features a mesh vent panel to keep you cool on hot days.
This fishing hat also comes with an adjustable strap so you can secure the hat under your chin ensuring it doesn’t blow away when the wind gets up or you’re in a fast boat.
Portable
This hat folds up small for portability and being so light so you’ll barely notice it in your bag or pocket.
This affordable fishing hat comes in 3 colors to choose from, including camo for any anglers who want to remain hidden from the fish.
Being so affordable, the hats aren’t so durable and you might experience some fraying or stitches coming loose after a few months of use.
Specs
- Type: Boonie Hat
- Material: Cotton + Polyester
- Colors: 13
- Chin Cord: Yes
Pros
- Wide brim for coverage to block the sun
- Adjustable chin strap to keep it in place
- Light and comfortable to wear
- Folds up for portability
- Mesh sections for ventilation
- Good range of colors to choose from
- One size fits every head
Cons
- Not certified UPF 50 sun protection
- Not so durable
Best Fishing Hat For Rain
Columbia Bora Bora Booney
Another great fishing hat with a wide brim to provide adequate sun protection on the water.
Columbia Bora Bora Booney
The Columbia Bora Bora Booney Hat is another great fishing hat with a wide brim to provide adequate sun protection on the water.
The hat has a UPF 50 rating ensuring no harmful sun rays can cause you damage while fishing.
Materials
The Columbia Bora Bora Booney is made from 100% nylon material.
Nylon material is both tough, durable, and breathable.
The hat will keep you cool by wicking away any sweat from your head, and the mesh side vents keep a breeze flowing over your head too.
The Bora Bora Booney is also light, portable, and comfortable to wear.
Sizing
It’s a one size fits all fishing hat, and it comes with a chin strap so you can secure it to your head on windy days.
The Bora Bora Booney hats are also made to last with excellent stitching and overall build quality.
Water Resistance
The fishing hat is also semi water-resistant to stop any rain from soaking in and it’s quick-drying too.
Overall, this is one of the best fishing hats around but the wide brim does flap around in the wind a bit, and if you’re balding, sun rays can come through the mesh side vents and cause sunburn.
Specs
- Type: Boonie hat
- Material: Nylon
- Colors: 9
- Chin Strap: Yes
Pros
- Light and comfortable
- Water-repellent and quick drying
- Durable and well made
- Folds up for portability
- Adjustable chin strap to keep it secure
- UPF 50 sun protection
- Breathable and moisture-wicking to stop sweat build-up
Cons
- Sun comes through the mesh material
- Brim flaps around easily
Best Fishing Sun Hat
Ddyoutdoor Fishing Cap
A hat that comes with features to protect your face and neck from both UVA and UVB rays.
Ddyoutdoor Fishing Cap
The Ddyoutdoor Fishing Cap is more than just a cap, it also comes with a face and neck flap ensuring your face and neck avoid both UVA and UVB rays from the hot sun and the water reflection.
This hat is rated at UPF 50 for full sun protection and is the perfect fishing hat for flats fishing where you need as much sun protection as you can get.
The Ddyoutdoor Cap is more of a Boonie style hat than a cap thanks to its wide brim design.
Materials
The hat is made from nylon poplin making it both light for portability and windproof to stop any cold winds from hitting your head.
The top of the hat also has a water repellent coating to keep your head dry when it rains and ventilation holes to ensure your head doesn’t overheat.
Features
The neck flap and face cover clip onto the side of the fishing hat with ease, and are removable so you can keep them in your pocket when you don’t need them.
There is also an adjustable strap on the fishing hat so you can cinch it down on your head when the winds get up.
Sizing
This fishing hat sizing is one size fits all, but it also has an adjustable flat top with a drawcord so you can ensure you get the perfect fit no matter your head size.
Overall this is one of the best fishing hats around thanks to the sun protection it offers, but the ventilation holes do let some sun in, which could burn your head if you’re a bit thin up there. The face-covering, or buff, can also be a little tight and uncomfortable for some.
Specs
- Type: Boonie Hat
- Material: Cotton + Polyester
- Colors: 13
- Chin Cord: Yes
Pros
- Wide brim for coverage to block the sun
- Adjustable chin strap to keep it in place
- Light and comfortable to wear
- Folds up for portability
- Mesh sections for ventilation
- Good range of colors to choose from
- One size fits every head
Cons
- Not certified UPF 50 sun protection
- Not so durable
DealStock Fishing Bucket Hat
A comfy bucket hat to protect your head from the sun with brass eyelets at the top ensures your head stays cool.
DealStock Fishing Bucket Hat
The DealStock Fishing Bucket Hat is quite small as fishing sun hats go, but it does the job when it comes to sun protection no less.
These sun hats are rated to UPF 50 ensuring your head, face and neck get ample shade and UV protection.
These bucket hats come in two sizes to choose from, small-medium or large-extra large, so you can pick the right size for your head.
Materials
These bucket hats are made from 100% cotton which is both soft, durable, and breathable,
It’s a comfy bucket hat to wear on your head and the brass eyelets at the top ensure your head stays cool with a bit of breeze too.
You can also change the brim style on this bucket hat by clipping up either side at a time using the buttons.
Adjustability
These hats also come with a strap so you can fasten them down when it’s windy, and not have your hat go flying off into the water.
These hats do have their faults though.
Being made of cotton they are quite heavy, absorb water, are not quick-drying, and get a bit sweaty on warmer days.
The brim is also a little floppy and blows around in the wind quite easily.
Specs
- Type: Bucket hat
- Material: Cotton
- Colors: 15
- Chin Strap: Yes
Pros
- Comes in 2 sizes to choose from
- Chin strap to keep it secure
- Light and comfortable to wear
- Durable and well made
- Affordable
- Full UPF 50 sun protection
Cons
- Gets a bit sweaty
- The brim is a little floppy
- Not quick drying
Top Pick
ELLEWIN Fishing Cap
This hat comes with both a face and a neck cover that you can connect to the sides to give you maximum UV protection.
ELLEWIN Fishing Cap
The ELLEWIN Fishing Cap is another sun hat that comes with both a face and a neck cover that you can connect to the sides to give you maximum UV protection.
The covers are removable too, so you can choose when to put them up or take them down, making this a perfect fishing hat for flats fishing.
Materials
This fishing cap is made from 100% polyester making it both light, breathable, and quick-drying.
These sun hats are also strongly built with solid stitching for durability and you can expect to use it for years without any fraying.
Polyester is also naturally water-resistant and the fishing hat will protect you from any light showers, but it will eventually soak through in prolonged rain.
Design
The bill on this cap is long for good face protection from the hot sun, it also stops light coming into your sunglasses so you can see better when you’re looking for fish in the water.
This fishing cap is light and folds up small for portability, and it comes with a chin strap, even though it’s a cap, so if it gets windy, you can rest assured the cap won’t fly off your head.
Neck Flap
The one flaw to this fishing hat is that the neck flap at the back is a little short for some people and doesn’t fully cover their neck area enough for full sun protection. But most fishing hats come without a neck guard, so this isn’t a major issue.
Specs
- Type: Cap
- Material: Polyester
- Colors: 4
- Chin Strap: Yes
Pros
- Comes with a removable buff and neck flap
- Full UPF 50 protection from the sun
- Large bill for good sun protection
- Durable and well made
- Breathable to keep you cool
- Chin strap for keeping it secure in heavy winds
- Light and comfortable
- Quick-drying when wet
Cons
- Neck protection isn’t very long
LETHMIK Fishing Sun Hat
A Boonie-style hat with a wide brim that provides ample shade for your face and neck.
LETHMIK Fishing Sun Hat
The LETHMIK Fishing Sun hat is made in a Boonie style with a wide brim for good UV protection for the sun.
The big brim provides ample shade from the sun for your face and neck, and the brim is quite rigid and won’t flap around in the wind.
Materials
This fishing hat is made from 100% polyester which is both light and durable. It’s also water-resistant but labeled as waterproof, and it does stop any rain from hitting your head, but after a while, it will soak up.
Luckily, this fishing hat also dries quickly, so any water that gets soaked into the hat will dry out pretty quickly.
Design
These fishing hats are designed to fold into themselves for portability.
They pack down small and neatly to fit into your pocket or the side pocket of a fishing backpack.
The hats are one size fits all, and they fit most people well.
Comfort
Once on, they are light and comfortable on your head, and the breathable fabric keeps your head cool too.
There is also a chin strap that comes with the fishing hat so you can keep it on your head in high winds or when cruising around in a boat.
Specs
- Type: Boonie Sun hat
- Material: Polyester
- Colors: 2
- Chin Strap: Yes
Pros
- Provides good shade
- Gives you full UPF 50 protection
- Adjustable wind chord to keep it on during heavy winds
- Foldable for portability
- Light and comfortable
- Fits well
- Waterproof for rain protection
Cons
- Not fully waterproof
MARKETTY Tactical Boonie Hat
A thicker and more durable version of your average fishing hat. Good for freshwater fishing where it’s a bit colder.
MARKETTY Tactical Boonie Hat
The MARKETTY Tactical Boonie fishing hat is a bit thicker and more durable than your average fishing hat.
It’s made from a combination of polyester and cotton with a thicker weave that makes it good for freshwater fishing where it’s a bit colder but you might get a bit heated if you wear it on the flats.
Design
This fishing hat comes with a wide brim to provide good shade for your neck and face. It is rated to UPF 50 for full UV sun protection too.
You can choose to clip up the brim on either side of the fishing hat, and there are brass eyelets in the flat top that act as ventilation holes to ensure your head gets a good breeze.
Around the side of the fishing hat, you’ll notice some webbing.
Storage
You can use this webbing to store fishing gear in your hat like flies so you have quick access to them without having to go into your tackle box.
There is also a strap on this fishing hat that you can use to secure it to your head in windy conditions so it doesn’t blow away.
Sizing
It’s also a one size fits all fishing hat but it does run a bit small, and if you have a larger head then it’s likely not to fit.
Apart from the head size issue, this is a great fishing hat that not only provides good sun protection on the water without a problem, but also has places to keep your flies, and is about as durable as a fishing hat can get.
Specs
- Type: Sun hat
- Material: Polyester and cotton
- Colors: 1
- Chinstrap: yes
Pros
- Durable and well made
- Full UPF 50 protection from the sun
- Light and portable
- Chin strap to keep it in place in high winds
- Provides good shade from the sun
- Very affordable
- Webbing for attaching fishing gear to
Cons
- Only fits a small head size
Best Fly Fishing Hat
KastKing Sol Armis Boonie Fishing Hat
Full of features that help you stay cool and comfy while protecting you from the sun.
KastKing Sol Armis Boonie Fishing Hat
The KastKing Sol Armis Boonie Fishing Hat is full of features that make it one of the top-rated fishing hats in the review.
Features
This fishing hat comes with a wide brim to ensure your neck and face have UV protection from the sun.
The fishing hat is rated to UPF 50, meaning both UVa and UVB rays will be blocked, so you have the most amount of sun protection possible.
You can also opt to get these fishing hats with a long neck flap for increased sun protection.
Materials
These fishing hats are made from a combination of breathable mesh panels and polyethylene fabric, both of which are light, durable, breathable, and dry quickly.
They are also naturally water-resistant and with this fishing hat, you’ll be protected from the rain as well as the sun.
The breathable mesh panel ensures your head gets a solid breeze and stays cool, while the moisture-wicking headband absorbs any sweat from your head and wicks it away so it doesn’t drop in your eyes while fishing.
Brim
The bottom of the brim of these hats is dark in color to reduce any reflection and stop extra light from coming into the side of your eyes.
This helps when looking for fish as less light will come in your sunglasses and you’ll be able to see through the water more clearly.
Portability and Sizing
These hats are also designed to be folded so you can roll up the brim and stuff it in your pocket with ease.
They’re also super comfy on your head and fit almost every head size thanks to the adjustable drawstring that lets you adjust the fit.
But, if you have a large head, you might not squeeze into this fishing hat.
The only annoying thing about these fishing hats is that the brim flaps in the wind, and it gets in your face sometimes.
Specs
- Type: Sun hat
- Material: Breathable Mesh and PE Fabric
- Colors: 9
- Chin Strap: Yes
Pros
- Adjustable drawstring for a perfect fit
- Full UPF 50 protection from the sun
- Light and breathable to keep you cool
- Provides good coverage for sun and rain protection
- Moisture-wicking headband to remove sweat
- Adjustable chin strap to keep the hat secure in high winds
- Dark bottom to reduce any reflection
- Foldable and portable
- Optional models with a neck flap
Cons
- Brim flaps in the wind
- Not great for big heads
What Is a Fishing Hat?
A fishing hat is a hat and can come in a range of styles from sports baseball caps to bucket hats but, the key difference is the in-built protection they provide from the sun, wind, and other elements that you can experience while fishing.
Why Do I Need A Fishing Hat?
Do I need a fishing hat? I always fought against a fishing hat as a kid, much to my mum’s dismay.
I found wearing a fishing hat uncomfortable and spent the rest of my fishing life avoiding them until I started guiding in Seychelles where on some days I felt my skin bubbling – Now I make sure I wear a good hat when I’m outside.
If you don’t have one yet, maybe it’s time to consider getting a new fishing hat to use on your fishing trips.
Protection
The sun and wind damage your skin, and you should make sure to wear head wear like a fishing hat to prevent your skin from aging and protect it from UV damage.
A fishing hat doesn’t just protect you, it’s also way more durable and comfortable to wear outdoors than a regular hat.
Here’s how UPF rating items work…
Advantage
They are made to be light, water-resistant, dry quickly, fold up for portability, come with chin cords so they don’t blow away in the wind, and breathe to keep your head cool on hot days.
A normal hat doesn’t have these features, and in terms of durability, won’t last very long against the war and tears of fishing.
Types Of Fishing Hats
Head wear comes in all kinds of styles, and the same goes for a fishing hat.
There are three types of fishing hat to choose from; bucket, wide brimmed (Boonie), and baseball cap or ball cap style.
What is a Bucket Hat?
A bucket hat has a small brim all the way around for sun protection, usually made with heavy cotton, and has metal eyelets in the top for ventilation.
It’s a perfect fishing hat for colder places with less sun but is not the best hat for the flats as they get warm and the brim could be a bit wider.
Why Wear a Wide Brim Hat?
A wide brimmed hat, aka a Boonie, has a wide brim for extra sun and rain protection.
They often come with mesh vents for breathability, a chin drawcord for securing them in high winds.
Straw Hat
Another type of wide brimmed hat that is made of straw. They are lightweight and perfect for a hot sunny day.
Why Wear a Baseball Cap Style?
Baseball caps style fishing hats are just like normal baseball caps but are made with lighter materials that dry quickly and are breathable to keep you cooler than normal baseball caps.
Baseball caps give your face good protection and are the best at reducing any light getting into your eyes so you can see fish better with your sunglasses.
Will I Need Face Covers And Neck Flaps?
Any hat style mentioned above can come with a clip-on face cover and neck flap for further sun protection.
It is a little overkill for fishing in the mountains but when you’re on the flats, neck and face cover is a must, the only bit of my body you can see out there are my hands, knees, and sunglasses (yes the tan lines are weird).
Things to consider when buying a fishing hat
Where are you going to be fishing most of the time?
Picking the right fishing hat comes down where you’re going to use it. What kind of fishing trip do you usually do?
Flats
If you live in the flats of Florida you’re going to pick a hat that is breathable, light, and has solid sun protection over a thicker hat with a smaller brim.
Rockies
The opposite applies when you spend all your time on the trout streams of the Rockies.
You’ll want a thicker hat with better wind protection to keep your head warm, and the need for a wide brim and sun protection is less of a factor.
Finding Fit & Comfort
A hat that doesn’t fit you is about as useless as a hat that is not comfortable.
You’re likely to get frustrated and take that hat off and willingly face the sun, I would at least.
A good hat will stay on your head without squeezing your head too tightly.
Most hats come in one size for all and some have a drawcord so you can adjust them to fit you perfectly.
TIP
It’s best to read the reviews and check if the hat you’re looking at has any comments around being too small.
Why Brim Size Matters
The bigger the brim on your hat, the more protection from the sun and the rain the hat will give you. You could also wear sunscreen for more protection against sun rays.
But large brims tend to flap in the wind, and there is nothing more annoying than a brim hitting your face consistently when you’re trying to concentrate.
Purpose
The idea of having a hat is to wear it so you can get your head out of the sun.
If a floppy brim is going to make you take your hat off, it might be wise to choose a hat with a smaller brim so you keep your hat on and your face protected.
Why use Chin Straps?
A good fishing hat will include a strap for your chin.
They come in useful and save your hat from flying off your head in high winds.
You don’t have to use them all the time, but when the wind picks up or you’re about to go fast in a boat, you can tighten the strap up so you don’t lose your hat and end up fishing without it for the rest of the day. There are some caps with a removable chin strap so that you can take it off when not needed.
Water-resistance
It always rains at some point when you’re fishing, not every day, but an uncanny amount of them.
Having a good fishing hat that is water-resistant means your head won’t get cold from the odd downpour.
NOTE
Don’t start thinking you won’t ever get wet though, no water-resistant hat is waterproof, and with enough rain, all of them become soaked.
How to Find a Quick Drying Hat?
Having a hat that dries quickly is a godsend.
You go from having a wet head to a dry warm one in less than half an hour.
TIP
Look for hats made from materials like polyester and nylon, as these dry faster than materials like cotton.
Why Use a Hat with Ventilation?
Almost every fishing hat comes with some kind of ventilation whether it’s a mesh section in the top to let air in or metal eyelets that create holes for hot air to leave your head from.
Make sure the hat you choose has features like this, especially if you fish in hot places. There is nothing worse than having a hot sweaty head and taking your hat off to face the sun.
Why Do People Put Fish Hooks In Their Hats?
There are two reasons people keep fish hooks in their hats, convenience and to avoid putting a wet hook in with fresh ones.
It’s a lot easier to cut a hook off your line and stick it in your hat than opening up a tackle box and slotting it back in there.
And, if you keep all the hooks you plan on using that day in your hat to begin with, then it’s a straight swap with no need to open your tackle bag at all.
Protection
Also, once a hook is wet, it’s covered in possible corrosion creating elements, like saltwater, and putting a wet hook in with your new hooks, is going to contaminate all of them.
I fly fish a lot, and as a rule, I have a used fly box and a fresh fly box.
Once a fly has left the fresh box, it never goes back in.
It’ll be on the end of my line, once I’m done with it, it’ll be in my hat, and at the end of the day rinsed and put into my used fly box.
Does the Season Affect The Hat I Need?
Yes. Having a proper fishing hat to keep your head warm in winter or cool in summer is part of a hat’s job and owning one for each season is not a bad idea.
I personally use the same hat all year round, but add a hood and beanie hat for extra layers in winter.
Summing Up
Thanks for reading my article about the 10 best fishing hats, I hope you enjoyed it. Everyone needs a fishing hat for protection from the elements.
Covering your face, head and neck is key to stopping wind and sun from causing havoc with your skin and dehydrating you.
If you haven’t made your mind up as to which one of the 10 best fishing hats reviewed is right for you, here are the ones I would go for and why.
Top Pick
If you’re fishing in colder climates, I’d go for the ELLEWIN Fishing Cap.
This hat has good coverage to ensure your head stays warm and has a long bill with neck and face coverings that offers you excellent wind protection and sun protection.
Best Fishing Sun Hat
For hotter climates like the flats of Florida, you’re going to need headwear that has protection for your head, neck, and face to avoid some major sunburn.
The best hat for that is the Dd Outdoor Fishing Cap.
This hat offers full UPF protection, is light and breathable, and comes with a removable neck and face cover that will give you maximum shade from the sun and its reflection off the water.
Best Fly Fishing Hat
If you’re looking for a hat to do it all with, go for the KastKing Sol Armis Boonie Hats.
This hat is light, durable, portable, and has a large brim for full sun and wind protection.
The hat is also water-resistant to shed off any small downpours and keep your head from getting cold or wet.
Stay Cool
Thanks again for reading my article, I hope you found the hat for you from the fishing hats reviewed.
If you found the article useful, please feel free to share it around with your fishing buddies or anyone looking for some head wear.
You might want to check out some of our other articles too. If it’s a product to do with fishing, we have covered it in detail here. Another good article to check out is the best fishing shoes review or this fishing gloves review.
