The Best UPF Sun Hats for Women

The Best UPF Sun Hats for Women

Searching for the perfect sun hat for your next vacation or outdoor adventure? Look no further. Since 2019, we've tested dozens of sun-protective hats and visors to bring you the best UPF sun hats for women available. 

We get it; even if skin cancer isn't your top concern, keeping harmful UV rays off ultra-sensitive skin like your face, neck, and lips is a game-changer for reducing wrinkles, sun spots, and signs of aging. Yes, you read that correctly, you need sun protection for your lips, too! 

TLDR: Sun safety is the #1 way to keep your skin glowing and looking years younger. 

Our Top-Rated Sun Hats for Women

Without further adieu, let's dive into our top-rated UPF sun hats for women, why we love them, and where to purchase them. 

 

Best Luxury:  Eric Javits Squishee® A List Packable Fedora Hat, $295

Is there anything worse than having to wear your sun hat on a plane? Thankfully, the Eric Javits Squishee® A List Packable Fedora Hat is a stylish, UPF 50+ solution that easily fits into a checked or carry-on bag. Yes, we know this is a luxury product, but hear us out because it's worth every penny. 

Available on Eric Javits

Image via Eric Javits

Why We Love It:

  • Packable and rollable: Roll, pack, and travel with the Eric Javits Squishee® A List Packable Fedora Hat without fear of damaging the hat. 
  • UPF 50+ rating: This sun hat boasts a UPF 50+ rating, the highest rating given to apparel and accessories. 
  • 4" brim: The 4" brim surpasses the 3" brim recommendation from the Skin Cancer Foundation.
  • Squishee® straw material: The Squishee® straw material boasts a UPF 50+ rating and blocks up to 98% of harmful UV rays, all while keeping your cool on the hottest days.

Cons: 

  • Cost: There is no denying that this packable fedora hat is a luxury product. Eric Javits is a well-known designer and melanoma advocate redefining sun safety headwear for women. 

Looking for a more affordable solution? Read on. The Camptrace Wide-Brim Sun Visor from Amazon is also packable and a great value. 

 

Best for Vacation: San Diego Hat Company El Campo 5", $49

The San Diego Company El Campo 5" Brim Sun Hat has been a Low Ultraviolet favorite for several years. This unisex sun hat is perfect for the beach, gardening, or any outdoor activities. The 5" brim far surpasses the Skin Cancer Foundation's recommendation of at least a 3" brim for optimate protection for your face and neck. 

Available on Amazon and San Diego Hat Company

 

Video via San Diego Hat Company on Youtube

Why We Love It:

  • Adjustable & multiple sizes available: An inner stretch brand and multiple size offerings help you find your perfect fit. There is also an internal drawstring on the size small offering. 
  • 5" brim: The 5" brim far surpasses the 3" brim recommendation from the Skin Cancer Foundation.
  • UPF 50+ rating: This sun hat boasts a UPF 50+ rating, the highest rating given to apparel and accessories. 
  • Chin cord: A faux leather chin cord is perfect for keeping the hat in place, even during windy conditions.

Cons:

  • Not packable: The trade-off for a convenient 5" brim is that this hat is large and not packable, especially for flight travel. Looking for a slightly smaller option? The El Campo Sun Hat is also available with a 4" brim.

 

Best for Hiking: Lululemon All Sport Wide-Brim Hat, $68

Lululemon is a cult-favorite brand among high-performance athletes, and for good reason. While we can't speak for all of their products, the Lululemon All Sport Wide-Brim Hat is a top contender for one of the best UPF hats for women, especially for hiking, kayaking, and paddle boarding.  

Available on Lululemon

Picture via Lululemon

Why We Love It:

  • Water-resistant & moisture-wicking: The Lululemon All Sport Wide-Brim Hat features not only water-resistant fabric but also a moisture-wicking sweatband. 
  • Adjustable chin strap: The adjustable chin strap allows for ease of wear, even in wind and strenuous outdoor activities. 
  • Protective neck panel: The longer back neck panel is a great touch to protect your neck from harmful UV rays. 
  • UPF 40+ rating: This sun hat boasts a UPF 40+ rating. The website does note that the sun protection may be reduced with use or if it gets stretched or wet.

Cons:

  • Brim size: While the convenient, flat brim keeps your vision clear for hiking adventures, the exact brim size isn't disclosed online. We felt that the brim size didn't provide as much sun protection for the sides of the face and ears as we would like. 

 

Best Under $50: FURTALK Women's Wide-Brim Hat

Thankfully, you don't have to break the bank to find great UPF sun hats for women. Enter the FURTALK Women's Wide-Brim Hat. This sun hat not only features UPF sun protection but is super affordable and has over 10,000 5-star reviews on Amazon. 

Available on Amazon

Picture via Amazon

Why We Love It:

  • UPF 80 rating: UPF 50+ is the highest rating given to apparel. However, there is also a UV Standard 801 from Europe that awards UPF ratings of 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 60, or 80.
  • Adjustable chin strap: The adjustable chin strap allows for ease of wear, even on windy days. When not using the strap, it can be flipped up and placed out of the way. 
  • 3" brim: The 3" brim meets the Skin Cancer Foundation's recommendation of a brim of at least 3". 

Cons: 

  • Quality: Some reviews note that the hat started to show wear and rip after a few wears. While this wasn't the experience of 74% of customers, it is important to note that there may be some product inconsistency with the quality and longevity of the hat. 

 

Best Visor: Camptrace Wide-Brim Sun Visor

The Camptrace Wide-Brime Sun Visor is an Amazon find that is an insanely great value. The sun visor is super affordable, UPF 80 (more on this below), breathable, and packable. It's no wonder it has 4.6 stars on Amazon and has been purchased by over 500 people this month alone! 

Available on Amazon

Picture via Amazon

Why We Love It:

  • Wide brim: The brim on this sun visor measures just under 5" and surpasses the Skin Cancer Foundation's recommendation of a brim of at least 3". 
  • Packable and foldable: This visor is also extremely packable and foldable, making it perfect to throw in your carry-on bag for plane travel. 
  • UPF 80 rating: UPF 50+ is the highest rating given to apparel. However, there is also a UV Standard 801 from Europe that awards UPF ratings of 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 60, or 80.

Cons:

  • Visor design: By nature, a visor design doesn't allow for sun protection at the top of your head. While it's a convenient alternative for those who want to wear their hair in a ponytail or bun, it's also important to apply SPF to your hair.

 

How We Test UPF Sun Hats: 

Our criteria for testing all UPF clothing is pretty extensive. Here are the metrics we took into consideration when testing UPF sun hats and visors for women. These metrics included brim size, the UPF rating, quality, and external reviews.  

  • Brim Size: According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, the brim on a sun hat or visor should measure at least 3 inches around the circumference to offer optimal protection for your face and neck.
  • The UPF Rating: A UPF 50+ rating is the highest rating granted to textiles, it is viewed as the gold standard for sun safety. Throughout this article, we also talk about the UV Standard 801 that awards UPF ratings of 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 60, or 80.
  • Quality: One of our biggest questions is if the price matches up with the quality and longevity of the product. For each of the products featured, we believe the quality holds up to the cost of the UPF sun hat. 
  • Reviews: In addition to our own independent review, we also consult consumer reviews from this community and the product listing across multiple different retailer websites.

 

All products in this post are independently reviewed and purchased. If you purchase through our links, we may earn a small commission to help support our business. 

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