9 Best Straw Hats for Sun Protection

Straw hats are one of the most popular types of sun hats for protecting one’s face from harsh UV rays.

In this article, we’ll dive into the pros and cons of straw hats for sun protection as well as review some of the best straw hats for men as our top straw has for women!

Benefits of Straw Hats for Sun Protection

Why do so many folks love straw hats for keeping the sun at bay? There are a few reasons why straw hats are so popular for sun protection:

• Stylish. There’s no denying the stylish look of straw sun hats, and the unique look of the straw hat is likely the biggest reason why so many find this type of sun hat attractive. Especially when lounging at the beach or the pool, there is something about a straw hat that perfectly matches the laid-back mindset of sunny summer days.
• Cooling Ventilation. Straw hats manage to walk that fine line between providing adequate shade and sun protection while also mantaining good ventilation due to the fine, cross-cross design of straw hat weaves, making them great for hot weather.

Drawbacks of Straw Hats

Where there’s no denying that straw hats can provide great protection against the sun, there are a few drawbacks to consider as well:

• Delicate Materials. Some straw hats feature delicate woven straw that can easily get destroyed if handled too roughly. There’s also a risk of the hat being damaged during shipping, so always check the hat once it’s been unpacked. However, this isn’t always the case – some straw hats merge the straw material with a more flexible fabric for a softer, more durable design. The flexible material seems to be more common with the women’s straw hats than the men’s versions.
• Might Require Hand-Washing. Because some hats are made of delicate hand-woven straw, you might be required to only hand-wash the hat, which can be a pain if you spend many days in the hot, sweaty sun! Keep in mind not all straw hats require handwashing, but the most fragile versions do.
• Usually Not Water-Proof. Another potential downside to straw hats is that they aren’t always waterproof. Make sure you don’t wear your straw hat while it’s raining or attempt to go swimming with one on! Getting a straw hat can compromise the hat’s integrity and lead to it breaking down over time.
• Some Straw Hats Can Be Uncomfortable. Some people find straw hats not as comfortable as soft fabric hats, as stray pieces of straw may itch and irritate your skin. However, opting for a straw hat with an internal headband can greatly improve comfort, as you won’t have any straw pieces digging directly into your forehead.

Best Men’s Straw Hats for Sun Protection

First we’ll dive in to some of our favorite straw sun hats for men!

1. Olly Lifeguard Beach Hat

The Olly Lifeguard Beach Hat is a unique, stylish straw has that with UPF 50+ sun protection that’s perfect for beach lounging or any sun-drenched outdoor activity.

The hats boast UV-protective straw material along with an internal headband to keep sweat from getting on your face.

The hat comes in four different sizes and also includes an adjustable pull string that allows you to tighten or loosen the brim for a more personal fit.

These hats are especially unique due to their fun and unique under-brim designs, which are custom printed on soft cotton and include many fun designs like fish, leaves, American flag, and pineapple patterns which make them extra stylish.

2. Quiksilver Men’s Pierside Sun Straw Hat

This straw hat from Quiksilver is another great easy-to-wear and stylish sun hat geared for men. The wide brim provides shade while the lined headband keeps sweat out of your face.

This woven straw hat also featured an adjustable drawcord chin strap and a Quiksilver patch detail on the crown.

3. BROOKLYN ATHLETICS Men’s Straw Raffia Wide Brim Hat

The Brooklyn Athletics Men’s Straw Hat offers a more affordable alternative to some of the straw hats detailed above. Made of raffia sea straw fibers, the hat boasts an extra-wide brim of 4.5″ for excellent shade coverage.

The adjustable drawcord chin strap makes it easy to customize your fit and comfort while you’re out on the beach. Plus, the internal under-brim band allows for more comfort while keeping you cool.

4. Stetson Gambler Seagrass Outdoorsman Hat

The Stetson Gambler Seagrass Hat is a premium, ultra-stylish straw hat that allows you to look handsome while protecting your face from the sun!

The hat’s 3 1/4″ brim and gambler crown provides plenty of shade coverage for your face as well as some of your upper neck. But if that isn’t enough, this hat also boasts sun-blocking fabric lining underneath the brim and crown for additional UPF 50 protection.

We also love that this hat is adorned with a genuine leather band for a truly classic and suave look.

This hat comes in two sizes, but the inner stretchy headband can expand and contract to ensure you get that perfect fit.

Best Women’s Straw Hats

Now that we’ve covered up the boys, let jump in to our review of the best ladies sun hats made from straw!

1. Simplicity Women’s Roll-up Straw Sun Visor

This Simplicity Straw Visor hat is a great option for protecting your face with a lighter weight, less-bulky hat.

The visor’s wide brim is great for shielding your face from harmful UV rays, and the built-in sweatband helps keep you cool.

The visor’s adjustable velcro closure means it’s easy to get on and off, and allows for a more snug, customized fit that should hold up better in windy conditions.

Best of all? This visor is designed to be rolled up and folded to make it ultra-compact and easy to travel with. It also comes in 14 different color and design variations!

2. FURTALK Womens Beach Sun Straw Hat

The FURTALK Women’s Beach is a 50 UPF hat with a foldable brim that’s ideal for travel. The straw hat’s wide brim is just the right size to protect your face and eyes from harmful UVA/UVB rays.

Some may lament purchasing another item from one of the Chinese manufacturers that are so commonplace on Amazon, but it’s hard to argue with the low pricing and cute styles produced by FURTALK and other, similar brands.

Like many other sun hats, this FURTALK hat also includes a wicking sweatband and a removable chin strap that allows you to keep this hat firmly attached and prevent it from blowing off on a windy beach!

The hat comes in two different sizes, and also includes an adjustable velcro swatch on the headband that allows you to issue fine adjustments to really get that perfect, ultra-snug fit.

This hat comes in 8 fashion-forward colors and styles to match any beach outfit, with a wide brim-wrap ribbon and bow for an added dash of flair.

3. FURTALK Womens Wide Brim Sun Hat

The FURTALK Women’s Beach Wide Brim Straw Hat is another great hat from the same manufacturer as above. It’s very similar to the hat listed above, with the major differentiating factor being that this hat has a different style of fabric brim decoration that some might prefer to the thicker ribbon used in the hat above.

This hat also comes in two size options and several different colors to suit your preferences.

Like the other FURTALK hat, there’s also a removable chin cord, an adjustable velcro swatch beneath the brim to get the perfect fit, and a sweatband that wicks away moisture so you aren’t left with sweaty hair.

This hat is also packable and crushable, making it a great choice for beach vacations where you’re trying to pack light.

4. Women’s UPF 50 Straw Fedora Cap

The Women’s Straw Fedora Hat is another straw sun-hat option in a cute fedora design! With a 2.5″ brim, this fedora offers plenty of shade coverage for sun protection. It comes in only one size, but the brim’s internal adjustable band allows you to tighten the hat as needed. While this hat isn’t designed to be folded and rolled up easily, the company claims the hat is very easy to reshape when needed by stuffing the cap with a towel and letting the hat adjust.

Plus, with 5 different colors to choose from, there should be a shade that has just what you’re looking for!

5. Simplicity Fedora for Men & Women

This unisex Simplicity Fedora features woven straw fibers in a classic, stylish fedora design.

The hat comes in two sizes so you can choose the best size for your noggin’. It also comes in a few different color choices we haven’t seen elsewhere, like navy blue and grey.

This style of hat offers a short-brim, which won’t provide as much sun coverage, but some may prefer the look.

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What makes you love straw hats over other styles of women’s sun hats or men’s sun hats? Is it the style? Or something else? Share your thoughts in the comments!