Golf is a super fun sport, but if you’re not careful while on the course, it can also be very dangerous.
Since the vast majority of golf courses are out in the open, there’s a risk of developing skin cancer due to extended exposure to harmful UV rays. Even if you’re just an occasional player, you still have to deal with sunburns, scorching heat, and annoying sweat.
Either way, it’s important that you invest in a quality hat to protect your head, face, ears, and neck. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, wearing a hat is one of the main sun protection habits on a golf course.
Today, we’re reviewing the best golf hats on the market to help you find the right one for your needs and budget.
Best Golf Hats Reviews
1. Sunday Afternoons Havana Hat
Kicking off our list, the Sunday Afternoons Havana Hat is made out of 90% paper straw and 10% polyester. The fabric weave allows for excellent breathability to ensure maximum comfort on hot days.
Not only does the tough and crushable structure of this hat support air circulation to keep your head cool, but it also makes it easily packable and suitable for various activities besides golf.
Additionally, the adjustable fit lets you loosen or tighten the hat then fine-tune the hook and loop fastener of the internal adjustment to secure your size. What’s more, the Sunday Afternoons Havana Hat has a rating of UPF 50+, which means that only 1/50th or less of harmful UV rays can pass through the hat’s material.
While it’s true that the 2 1/4″ brim isn’t as wide as most bucket hats out there, the Sunday Afternoons Havana Hat provides good sun protection. It’ll have you looking like James Bond on the golf course, so major style points for that!.
This golf hat is available in sizes small through X-large and comes in 3 colors: cream, tan, and black.
Pros
- Sleek look
- Reliable sun protection
- Good breathability
- The crushable structure makes for easy storable
- Can be used away from the course
Cons
- Not the best for dealing with sweat
2. Stetson Gambler Seagrass Outdoorsman Hat
The Gambler from Stetson’s Outdoors Collection is a fashionable cowboy hat featuring a 3 1/4″ brim and gambler crown. It protects you from the sun with a UPF 50+ rating, giving you a snazzy look while at it.
As a good cowboy hat, the Gambler is made out of straw to provide a lightweight yet sturdy construction for golfers. It’s also adorned with a genuine leather band on the crown for an extra touch of style.
The straw structure also offers enhanced protection from the sun while the sizable design blocks the exposure of your head, face, and neck. This hat will keep you cool thanks to the open ventilated weave.
Additionally, there’s a special layer of protection added in the form of a durable, sun-shielding fabric lining the underside of the front of the brim and top of the crown with UV protection. This hat is also equipped with a soft terry/stretch inner band that expands to make this a 2-sizes-fits-all product.
Pros
- Breathable weave material that keeps you cool
- Its style is guaranteed to turns heads
- Features a soft expandable inner band for size adjustment
Cons
- Not foldable or crushable
- You may frequently hit the brim on doors and windows
3. Puma Golf “P” Snapback Hat
Puma golf hats are available in a range of designs that are sure to suit the needs of just about any golfer. The Gold P Snapback Hat is one of the brand’s most popular options among golfers, and it’s not hard to see why.
Rickie’s go-to cap for the 2018-19 season, this baseball-style hat is constructed from a polyester and spandex material blend to provide maximum durability for long-lasting performance. Also, this fabric combination boosts comfort while wearing thanks to the built-in stretch it offers.
Additionally, the polyester material supports the breathability aspect of the Golf P Snapback Hat to allow airflow for cooling purposes. We also like the featured sweatband as it effectively gets rid of moisture during your entire round of gold.
This is backed up by the added dry cell technology that promotes quick drying to better your performance on the course. All in all, this Puma golf hat is a great option if you’re after high quality and comfort.
Pros
- Sturdy polyester/ spandex construction
- Good moisture-wicking properties
- Features pre-curve fit
- Dry cell technology
Cons
- Can be too high
- Not much UV protection
4. Coolibar Matchplay Golf Hat
The Coolibar Matchplay Golf Hat is a bucket hat that ranks as one of the best golf hats when it comes to sun protection thanks to its all-around extended brim. It comes with a 4″ brim, which is wide enough to shield your whole face and neck from UV exposure.
With a rating of UPF 50+, this hat blocks 98% of harmful radiation. The construction is 100% polyester to ensure longevity, with ultra-soft Lite fabric for a lightweight, cotton-like feel.
At the back of the crown, the closure is an elastic drawcord to let you create a more personalized fi. Additionally, there’s an internal sweatband to eliminate moisture to keep your skin cool and dry.
Available in sizes small up to XX-large, this bucket hat isn’t washing safe. It doesn’t look very fashionable or professional, but it does an excellent job protecting you from the sun while on the course.
Pros
- Blocks your entire neck and face from sun rays
- The wide 4″ brim offers great coverage
- The elastic cord at the back holds the hat securely in place
Cons
- Lacks in the appearance department
- It may not be ideal for traveling due to its stiff brim
5. DPC Outdoors Solarweave Treated Cotton Hat
The DPC Outdoors Solarweave Treated Cotton Hat has another fantastic option for golfers interested in wide-brim hats. It’s made out of 75% Cotton and 25% Nylon – a combination that delivers maximum sturdiness and comfort.
The hat features a mesh panel to promote better ventilation and keep you cool. It also has a chin cord with adjustable closure to help you achieve a secure fit and prevent the hat from falling off or flying with the wind.
What we like about this Dorfman hat is its construction using Solarweave – a lightweight fabric with a UPF 50+ rating. The hat was tested and proven to provide effective protection from harmful UV rays, even after 100 hours of exposure.
Additionally, there’s a built-in sweatband to keep the moisture from rolling down your face or into your eyes. The DPC Outdoors Solarweave Treated Cotton Hat comes in 3 colors (olive, oatmeal, and camel) and a few sizes including medium, X-large, and XX-large.
Pros
- Reliable sun protection with 50+ UPF rating
- Mesh panel for better cooling
- Affordable price compared to other hats in the same category
Cons
- Not foldable
- Runs small
6. Wilson Staff Visor
If you’re a golfer who prefers wearing visors while out on the course, then the Wilson Staff Visor should be a good match for your needs.
It’s made out of 100% polyester to ensure a breathable and quick-drying construction that you can rely on when hot, sweaty days roll in. It also features a curved brim to protect your face from harsh sun rays.
The Wilson Staff Visor also has a built-in Sweat Mesh headband to eliminate excess perspiration throughout your game. It’s available in a one-size-fits-all situation and your choice of black or white colors, complete with an adjustable closure to give you as much of a customized fit as possible.
Pros
- Quick-drying material
- Curved brim blocks lateral sun rays
- Comfortable if you have a lot of hair
Cons
- Lacks sun protection for the top of the head
7. TaylorMade Tour New Era 39Thirty Hat
TaylorMade offers an extensive range of golf hats to pick from, but their Tour New Era 39Thirty Hat is the winner in our eyes.
This baseball-style hat is built using Diamond Era moisture-wicking fabric, which repels moisture and prevents odor to keep you dry and fresh during your time on the course.
Additionally, this cap features a moisture-wicking sweatband to absorb perspiration as well as an adjustable back strap to let you achieve a better fit. The traditional perforated back panels are replaced by holes in each panel for ventilation and cooling purposes.
The Tour New Era 39Thirty Hat provides impressive sun protection with a rating of 50 UPF. It’s lightweight and comfortable to wear for long hours, available in 3 sizes and six color options.
Pros
- The material repels moisture and prevents odor
- 50 UPF UV protection
- Nice snug fit
- The dark underbill minimizes glare
- Budget-friendly price
Cons
- Absence of perforated back panels
How to Choose the Best Golf Hat
When shopping for the best hat to wear during your time on the course, there are some points you should first consider before deciding to make sure you end up with the right product for your needs. Below are the most important ones:
Type of Hat
There are a few types of golf hats for you to pick from, each with its own unique set of features, advantages, and disadvantages. We’ll talk in more detail about each style, so you can determine which one is worth investing in according to your needs.
Baseball Caps
Thanks to their comfortable feel, traditional look, and reasonable prices, a lot of golfers prefer to wear conventional baseball caps throughout games regardless of the weather. These hats aren’t just popular among average players, but also many professional golfers commonly wear them.
This type of hat covers most of the scalp and has a soft, round crown to keep your skin comfortable. There’s also a signature stiff, curved visor to prevent the sun from reaching your eyes and face.
Additionally, most baseball caps feature a sweatband on the inside to keep sweat droplets from traveling down your face and neck. The main downside to this type of golf hat is the lack of adequate sun protection at the ears and neck region.
Visors
Visors offer golfers the feel of wearing a baseball cap while leaving the top of your head exposed and providing more flexibility for adjusting the position of the hat up and down.
As such, visors clearly don’t protect your scalp from the sun. They can, however, deliver better protection for your face and keep the top of your head much cooler.
This type of golf hat is mostly popular among golfers with a lot of hair, such as female players, because the topless structure doesn’t get in the way. This is why visors aren’t a great choice for men with thinning hair up top as they’d be risking scalp burns.
Once again, the main downside to this type is the lack of sufficient sun protection since the top is completely open, leaving your ears and neck exposed. Still, if you’re known to sweat heavily or you’re trying to get a tan during your time on the course, visors could be a good option.
Bucket Hats
For golfers, bucket hats are probably the second most popular type after baseball hats. Unlike the two previous types, buckets provide full protection from the sun for the top of your head, face, ears, and neck thanks to the featured 360-degree sloping brim.
Additionally, bucket hats are often affordable and machine washable, which makes them convenient to own. The only real complaint about this type of golf hat is the not-so-stylish look.
Not a lot of players are convinced that they can pull off the bucket hat look while on the course. Luckily, more golfers value protecting themselves from overexposure to harmful UV rays more than their appearance, so they go for bucket hats and never look back!
Wide-Brim Hats
If you like wearing fedoras, then wide-brim hats can be your perfect match. They have a similar classy style and offer full protection from the sun, effectively shielding the top of your head, face, neck, and maybe even your shoulders as well depending on your choice for the width of the brim.
This type of hat is widely popular among senior golfers and players looking to get as much protection from UV rays as possible. If wide-brim hats sound right for your needs, be sure to pick one that features excellent ventilation and lightweight construction so you don’t end up sweating buckets.
Also, you should keep in mind that this type of golf hat can require some time to get used to wearing while on the course, especially if you buy one equipped with a chin strap as it may affect your backswing. Not to mention, the size of the brim could often be a distraction at first.
Flat Caps
Finally, when it comes to types of golf hats, we have flat caps. They’re also known as crook caps, driving caps, or ivy caps.
Flat caps are very stylish head toppers whether you wear them on or off the course. They originated in England in the 14th century and gained popularity in North America thanks to their low-profile design, comfort, and small stiff brims.
Typically, flat caps were made out of tweed or cotton, which classified them as part of winter wardrobes for the longest time. But nowadays, many manufacturers produce flat caps using materials that are suitable for warm weather, complete with breathable designs and vents.
As such, flat caps are a nice option if you’re a golfer searching for a fashionable hat that isn’t as “loud” as a wide-brim hat but is more stylish than a baseball cap.
Size
Once you settle on the type of hat you prefer to use while on a golf course, you need to think about its size, especially if you’re planning to buy a bucket hat or a wide-brim hat.
You see, the overall size of the hat will determine its ability to block out the sun. As a rule of thumb, the larger the hat, the more area of your head and neck it’ll cover.
Keep in mind that if you’ve never worn a larger hat before when golfing, you’ll need some time to get used to it. You may notice a bit of awkwardness as you stand over your shot.
That being said, if sun protection is your biggest concern, then go for the biggest hat possible.
UV Protection
As we explained above, the size of a hat plays an important role in the amount of sun protection it can offer. However, size isn’t the only factor — the UV rating is a huge indication of the level of protection a hat can offer.
Most golf hats provide a UV rating for this purpose, so be sure to choose one with a higher UPF to get maximum protection.
Material
Another aspect you should check in a golf hat is the material it’s made out of. The two most common materials you’ll come across are polyester and cotton.
Whatever you decide to choose, make sure it provides the hat with lightweight yet durable construction. Not only do you want to be comfortable while wearing the hat, but you also want it to effectively withstand weather conditions.
Also, be sure to look for a material with mesh vents to allow for improved airflow through the hat. This will help keep you cool throughout your time on the course.
Chin Straps
Adjustable chin straps are one of the main differences between the various types of golf hats. What’s more, not all hats that come with chin straps are the same; some feature a drawstring while others don’t.
Chin straps can be very useful to wear on windy days, but some golfers don’t appreciate the feel of a chin strap, let alone the effect it can have on your backswing.
Closure Type
Speaking of chin straps, don’t forget to check the type of closure on the hat you’re planning to buy.
If you’re set on a visor or a baseball cap, the closure system often consists of Velcro straps or slide buckles so it’s quickly and easily adjustable. You may also find plastic snaps, rivets, and brass buckles on such hats, but these closures are less versatile when it comes to adjustability.
As for wide-brim and bucket hats, they feature chin straps and/or inner straps to hold your hat in position.
Fitted vs One-Size
As you may have noticed from the list above, some golf hats are available in custom fits while others come in just one size. Fitted hats are usually sold in specific sizes, ranging from small to extra large and sometimes even bigger, while one-size-fits-all hats almost always feature a drawstring.
No matter what you end up choosing, make sure the hat fits you well. No golfer wants to deal with a hat that moves around in their backswing or easily flies away when it gets windy.
Purpose
Finally, if you’re planning to use your hat in other activities besides golfing, then you should factor that in.
For example, bucket and wide-brim hats can also be great for hiking or fishing as they provide a lot of sun protection for your head and neck. Flat caps and baseball hats, on the other hand, can be nice to wear on vacations or when hanging out with friends as they’re more fashionable.
Wrap Up
Choosing the best golf hat can be a very tricky task. Not only do you have to figure out the type of hat you’re most comfortable playing while wearing, but you also have to check for several features such as size, UV protection, material, and type of closure.
In our list, we made sure to include only the top-performing golf hats from various categories to make sure you end up with a reliable product no matter your needs and preferences.
That being said, we recommend the Sunday Afternoons Havana Hat if you’re looking for a quality wide-brim hat thanks to its slick look, adequate sun protection, and crushable structure. However, if you’re more into baseball-style golf hats, then the Puma Golf “P” Snapback Hat should be right up your alley.
