7 Best Sun Hats for Men: Have It Made in the Heat in 2024

The sun is a useful but powerful orb of burning gas. Good for growing plants. Bad for human skin and eyes, for example. One way that we intelligent monkeys have solved the downsides is to place a bit of fabric on our heads. This helps block the sun’s damaging UV rays, provides shade for our eyes, face, and neck, and can help cool down the head.

As a member of said intelligent species, I’ve gone out of my way to find you the best sun hats for men. And unless you’re planning to reside in a cave this summer (I respect that), then you are probably going to need one.

Not only does it provide protection for your thinking-sphere, but it can also provide a cheap hair transplant. “You know some of those normcore guys weren’t wearing ball caps just because they thought they looked cool, right?” says Cynthia Leung, publicist at Native Agents (formerly Balenciaga), speaking to Interview Magazine about the whole “normcore” movement. “They were trying to hide their receding hairlines.”

Absolutely. I’ve seen it work wonders on some of my friends, and there’s no shame in that. Although I’m scraping by with my lid (hair), I find caps super useful if I’m having a bad hair day.

As a dedicated “cap guy” since 2016 and the owner of a small dome, I am continually on the hunt for the best sun hats. When I see a sun hat (for men) out in the wild, I am compelled to try it on. So, for that reason, hundreds of different styles of hats have passed over my head and that’s why I’m fairly confident in providing you a list of the best sun hats for men, outlined below. So, please heed my sun hat expertise and read on.

Key Takeaways 

First, I flicked through my memories of previous best caps to gather a few unmissable brands. Whenever I was at brand press events, on Instagram, or just people-watching, I’d take note of good sun hats.  Then, nearer the time of writing, I did my research online. I went to Reddit to hear what the chronically online were saying. Then, having read it, I moved on to other online articles, Amazon reviews, and e-commerce sites.

Overall, one of the best sun hats for men is Mango’s cotton visor cap. The style is deliciously simple. It comes with a luxurious leather rear buckle strap and is readily available.

Elsewhere I looked for products that were good value for money, had a distinctive style, were from reputable brands, had unique features, or used fabrics that added to the “sun hats for men ” canon. The runner-up is the MISSION sun defender cooling neck guard for its unparalleled ability to protect from the sun while remaining quite a cool garment in its own right.

Why it’s great: Mango makes a mean baseball cap. I bought my Mango cap in Barcelona 2023 after running a marathon (obviously I had to mention that) and like this design, it has a sturdy leather buckle. This gives a cap a certain durability and refinement not easily matched elsewhere. Thus, this Barcelona designed sun-blocker is one of the best sun hats and is now available in the sale for a veritable steal.

Who is this for? In a land of shouting logos, you can make a loud statement by wearing a baseball cap without one. This is for those who like their caps minimal and their style effortless. This minimalism means that it’ll pair smoothly with most, if not all, of your summer outfits.

Flaws but not deal-breakers: The style might be too basic for some. Perfectly classic for others.

Material: 97% cotton, 3% elastane | Colors Available: 2

Why it’s great: Who would have thought that such a basic plastic chair could be so alluring. That’s because it’s not just any chair. It’s the European summer holiday plastic chair. The one that’s been scolded by the sun, scuffed by the fury of a thousand children, and had a thousand gelatos drip down its legs.

The graphic conjures both nostalgia for holidays past and fosters an intense desire to go back. It’s grabbing a free table before someone else at a seaside restaurant/bar. It’s watching the sunset with a cold beer.

To ISTO, it means Património, who takes the slow, Portuguese approach to life. ISTO has also done the plastic chair embroidery on a cobalt blue denim cap, but there’s also a lovely small beer graphic and a seagull graphic to complete the set. Wow, I need a holiday now.

Who is this for? It has a laid-back European take on a preppy vibe. It’s one of the best sun hats, perfect for smart-casual summer outfits. Think billowy linen pants/shorts, Birkenstocks, a linen shirt, a desirable tote bag, suave sunglasses, a few stick ’n’ poke tats, and a pretentious literary novel under one arm. ‘Tis summer after all.

Flaws but not deal-breakers: Its thick denim construction, which is good for resilience and longevity but will add weight.

Material: 100% Organic Cotton (GOTS Certified), 435 g/sqm, Undyed | Colors Available: 4

Why it’s great: Despite hailing from Bezos’ warehouse, this cap is actually quite cool. Sure, it’s a bit GORPDaddy, but the simple mountain embroidery is effectively minimalist. It evokes freedom, mountains. and all things natural. It is the perfect tonic for your sweaty summer outings. The structureless cotton construction makes it lightweight and breathable for those warm summer days.

Who is this for? Anyone who needs a lightweight, daily-wear cap to potter about at the garden center. That’s not its sole use, of course, but it’s that sort of meandering weekend task that this hat thrives in.

Flaws but not deal-breakers: Made in China, plus, the price might suggest some quality issues, with some customers suggesting that the whole hat is crooked (perhaps just embodying the very mountains it depicts). However, it has more than 8,000 reviews, with an average of 4.6 out of 5. Those are very promising metrics.

Material: 100% cotton | Colors Available: 5

Why it’s great: When you hear the words “cooling neck defender guard,” there is no way you are thinking this is going to be stylish. Think again. The smooth edges make a sleek, desirable shape; plus, it has the impenetrably stylish GORP CORE elements of a lightweight, waterproof fabric, a toggle size adjuster at the back, and three breathable holes on either side of the head.

The fabric is a technical HydroActive wet-to-cool material, which means that it can be wetted, wrung out, and applied to the head to keep it cool in the blistering heat. I don’t want to push my luck, but I could even see this flopping down the runways of major metropoles.

Who is this for? It’s for those who want to take their GORPdaddy look to new, precipitous heights. Or, quite simply, for those who require more sun protection than a regular cap provides but don’t want to stray into the extremely dubious territory of the Panama hat.

If you know that you’re going to be out in the sun all day, i.e. a boat trip, then opting for this hat will mean that you don’t have to sacrifice style for practicality. You can have both. You can have it all. The world is yours.

Flaws but not deal-breakers: I get it. Some people might not be ready to dive into a very outdoorsy take on the GORPCORE style. But if you’re gonna do it, then this is the one to take you there.

Material: UPF 50 | Colors Available: 2

Why it’s great: Whisper it…despite Loro Piana’s best efforts, quiet luxury is still here, has always been here, and will always be here. But for quietness to thrive, some communication is still needed. For this Celine cap, it’s the “C”. This is the all-important $590 signal.

Of course, no cotton cap is actually worth $590 from a material perspective, but that misses the point. Thorstein Veblen’s theory of “conspicuous consumption” (1899) suggests that to achieve status, one must communicate that not only can one afford nice things but also that one can almost be wasteful with resources because they’re so rich. That’s what the ludicrous $590 price tag communicates.

It’s wastefully expensive. Quiet Luxury disguises this just enough so that only the people in “the know” understand that it is expensive. So, in some ways, a $590 cotton cap with a “C” on it is perhaps the most modern iteration of a luxurious item that you can buy right now. More practical news is that it comes in a range of sizes. Yay! So you can get one in each size, just ‘cuz. With the best sun hats for men, why stop at one?

Who is this for? For the city slickers who want to dress casually to the office but still communicate that they’re rich and (probably) in charge. Or, those hopping into handcrafted wooden speed boats to cross Lake Garda to lunch at a Michelin-star restaurant. Not specific at all, but then again, only very specifically wealthy people will be wearing this cap.

Flaws but not deal-breakers: Its flaw is also its sole purpose. Philosophical or what?

Brim Size: S, M, L | Material: 100% cotton gabardine | Colors Available: 2

Why it’s great: Wimbledon’s official brand merchandising is super slick. The collections deftly incorporate Wimbledon motifs while leaning into contemporary trends. Recently, Polo Ralph Lauren got into the act.

The cap’s succinct design features a turf-like chenille “P” and two crossed rackets. One of the best sun hats around, it is a perfect synthesis of two high-caliber international brands on one elegant cap.

Who is this for? You don’t have to be a tennis fanatic to swipe up this Wimbledon x Polo Ralph Lauren cap. The timeless design plus premium quality should be enough to give it a place in your wardrobe. From experience, this cap will fit medium to large heads only.

Flaws but not deal-breakers: When worn in America, expect inquiries into the tournament itself or your interest in tennis. In the UK, there’s little to no chance of interactions with strangers, so you’re all set (game and match).

Material: 100% cotton | Colors Available: 1

Why it’s great: This bucket hat loves to keep you dry. The CoolMax cotton has a phenomenally water-resistant WR treatment. The simple Baracuta branding, coupled with the tartan lining, gives it a distinctly British aesthetic and adds a little menswear-y IYKYK (“if you know, you know” (a very amusing phrase to have to explicate)) element to your sun hat range.

What’s not immediately obvious from online photos is the high quality of this hat. When touching the piece, you get a sense of an extremely well-made garment from a brand that cares about the clothes it makes.

Who is this for? This is one of the best sun hats for men, a perfect piece for when the weather is flip-flopping between sun and rain. It is waterproof and sun-protecting, and it provides insulation. Having said that, if you know it’s going to be all-out rain or blazing sun, it’ll do just as well.

Flaws but not deal-breakers: A bucket hat is a look. No doubt. But we implore you to try it out: it might bring that edge you have been seeking all along.

Material: 58% Polyester + 42% Cotton (Baracuta Cloth) | Colors Available: 7

Why it’s great: This SOAR running hat is brilliant for sweating in. That’s down to the lightweight, quick-dry fabric and large laser-cut holes for breathability when the miles (and sweat) build up. However, the toggle on the back gives such a tight fit that it will stay strapped to your head no matter if you’re bounding strides or facing gale-force winds.

This cap simply will not jig. The elliptical peak is a new design to keep rain and sunshine out of your eyes, ensuring that you won’t lose peripheral vision. This is especially ideal for urban running when you need to stay alert to traffic, dogs, children, maniacs on scooters, buses, etc. Finally, it’s machine washable, which is a huge bonus.

Who is this for? If you need a cap to exercise in, this is the cap.

Flaws but not deal-breakers: It really has a singular use. Please do not wear this out to restaurants.

Material: 100% Polyester (PES) | Colors Available: 7

Buying Considerations for the Best Sun Hats for Men

Material

This will determine its use for the large part. If you need a sun hat for exercise or sweating while wearing it, then a lightweight polyester fabric is going to be recommended. If you want a sleek, stylish, smart-casual cap, then cotton is the choice.

It’s best to have a mix of lightweight and heavyweight cotton (or denim) sun hats for men, which will suit different environments. Finally, a woolen sun hat, such as you might describe a flat cap, is best reserved for colder but sunny environments.

Style

The best sun hats for men span a wide range of styles. A baseball cap has generally been considered super casual. However, modern brands building baseball caps with refined fabrics, such as naturally dyed denim, gabardine, and shells, have elevated the look into the smart-casual realm.

A polyester sports cap is generally reserved for sweaty activities only, but the GORPCORE outdoorsy trend has brought that into street style, too. Panama hats and flat caps have a slightly anachronistic feel in today’s style. The bucket hat is being brought into more elegant styling by pairing it with tailoring and smart casual outfits – deftly exemplified by model and creative director Richard Biedul.

Fit   

This is crucial. The fit of a hat makes the hat look and feel stylistically in sync. You might know through experience what size your head is, but if not, get it measured and roughly equate that to a S, M, or L.

A brand will have either a single “one size” or an option of S, M, or L. If it’s a one-size, check the brand’s return policy to make sure that you can return it if it doesn’t fit without any qualms. Better still, go to a store and try it on first.

How We Chose

It is clear that each style of sun hat for men has its merits and negatives. So, it was my mission to go into each sub-category and find the best product within. Brands are in the business of selling their merchandise, often elaborating or overstating the product’s benefits. My job is to cut through the PR/marketing noise and decipher whether the product has integrity.

First-Hand Experience: As a lover of sun hats, I know that nothing can replace the hands-on experience with a product: the way it fits your head, the fabric it’s made of and the sense of build quality. Not to mention owning a product for months/years and knowing that it stands the test of time. I put this to use as much as possible in this article.

Company Reputation: A company’s reputation can be built quickly if it is very impressive or over many years if it is consistently good. A reputation can percolate through online forums, journalistic circles, conversations in bars, or customer reviews. Other than the budget choice, which was chosen for customer reviews, is a brand with great integrity and producing good products?

Price: Every product in this list is worth it. I have explained in the Celine choice that the point is that it is too expensive, which ironically, makes it worth the money, since it denotes its own unaffordability. A slightly philosophical approach to value, but a fair approach nonetheless. Also, a brand can only signal luxuriousness in this way, if it has the solid gold reputation behind it already.

Customer Reviews: Where first-hand experience and company reputation failed me, I turned to customer reviews. This is the closest I can come to ascertaining the worth of the product without getting my hands on it myself.

Why Trust Us?

Harvey James has more than a decade of modeling experience and more than six years of writing experience for the top fashion publications. He is also the proud owner of a very small head and, therefore a very efficient brain.

After becoming smitten with caps in 2016 (they look cool and are super easy to wear, i.e. one doesn’t have to do one’s hair), he has been chasing the perfect cap ever since. He defines himself as a capologist: an expert in the field of caps, bucket hats, and other sun-blocking headgear.

He’s trawled his way through vintage stores worldwide, scoured the pages of e-commerce sites, and put on hats in most high street/upmarket stores he’s been to. Harvey combines thorough research with personal insights, ensuring that his recommendations are both stylish and practical. His deep understanding of men’s fashion trends makes him an authoritative guide in selecting the best sun hats for men.

Final Verdict 

Of all of the best sun hats covered in this article, Mango’s cotton visor cap came out top in my opinion. I can readily recommend this to the largest span of men. This is due to its durability, affordability, availability, minimalist style and sophisticated addition of leather. For all-round quality, this cap is the best.