Your Guide to 17 Best Gardening Hats

Are you searching for the best gardening hats for you or your family? 

We, gardeners, spend a lot of time under the sun and while many people enjoy the feel of the sun against their skin, it can also be harmful and could put you at risk for cancer.

There are some important things that you can do to protect yourself from the sun when you are gardening. One of the things that you can do to protect yourself from the sun is to use a gardening hat. 

This article will cover all the important things you need to know to find the best gardening hats to suit your needs.

The 17 Best Gardening Hats

1. Best Overall For Women: Sunday Afternoons Adventure Hat
2. Best Overall For Men: Home Prefer Mens Hat with Neck Flap
3. Best Overall For Kids: Sunday Afternoons Kids Play Hat
4. Best Budget-Friendly For Women: Muryobao Women’s Ponytail Sun Hat
5. Best Budget-Friendly For Men: Wmcaps Outdoor Sun Hat for Men
6. Best Budget-Friendly For Kids: Home Prefer Outdoor Kids Sun Hat
7. Best Sun Protection For Women: HITRO Sun Hat
8. Best Sun Protection For Men: PanPacSight Super Wide Brim Sun Hat 
9. Best Sun Protection For Kids: icolor Kids Sun Hat
10. Best Wide Brim For Women: Wide Brim Sun Hat for Women
11. Best Wide Brim For Men: HUAMULAN Super Wide Brim Men Sun Hats
12. Best Wide Brim For Kids: Camptrace Kids Sun Hat
13. Best Bucket Hat For Women: Ordenado Waterproof Bucket Hat 
14. Best Bucket Hat For Men: K.Z. Bucket Sun Hat for Men
15. Best Bucket Hat For Kids: Connectyle Kids Bucket Sun Hat
16. Best Straw Hat For Women: Simplicity Women’s Wide Brim Straw Sun Hat 
17. Best Bug Protection: venterior Bucket Hat with Net Mesh for Men/Women

DISCLOSURE

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The Top 17 Best Gardening Hats

1.Sunday Afternoons Adventure Hat

The best women’s gardening hat might just be the Sunday Afternoons Adventure Hat. 

It has a 4-inch brim and a 7.5-inch protective neck flap that will provide all the sun coverage you need while gardening.

Sunday Afternoons has many other hats including a selection of women’s hats.

Pros:

• Lightweight
• Wide brim
• Mesh panels
• UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor)  50+ 
• Water-resistant
• Adjustable chin strap
• Protective neck flap
• Adjustable sizing strap
• Available in 5 sizes
• Available in 9 colors

Cons:

• More expensive

2.Home Prefer Mens Hat with Neck Flap

The Home Prefer Mens Hat with Neck Flap is a great choice for men who are looking for the best hat for gardening.

The mesh panels and breathable material make this hat a very comfortable hat to use while gardening as there will be sufficient airflow.

This hat may not be suitable if your head circumference is larger than average.

Pros:

• Affordable
• Lightweight
• Wide brim
• Mesh panels
• UPF 50+
• Adjustable chin strap
• Protective neck flap
• Available in 13 colors

Cons:

• Not water-resistant
• Only 1 size

3.Sunday Afternoons Kids Play Hat

This Sunday Afternoons Kids Play Hat is a really cute gardening hat for your kids.

With 17 different patterns and colors to choose from, you are definitely going to be able to find a hat that your child will love to wear while they are helping you in the garden.

Sunday Afternoons has several other gardening hats for your kids.

Pros:

• Lightweight
• Mesh panels
• UPF 50+
• Water-resistant
• Adjustable sizing strap
• Adjustable chin strap
• Protective neck flap
• Available in 7 sizes
• Available in 17 colors

Cons:

• Some patterns/sizes are more expensive

4.Muryobao Women’s Ponytail Sun Hat

If you are looking for gardening hats for women that have a ponytail hole, look no further than the Muryobao Women’s Ponytail Sun Hat. 

This gardening sun hat has an elastic buckle that you can use to adjust the head circumference for a better fit.

The Muryobao store also has more ponytail hats and other sun hats for you to check out.

Pros:

• Affordable
• Mesh panels
• Adjustable chin strap
• Built-in sweatband
• Available in 14 colors

Cons:

• Not water-resistant
• No protective neck flap
• Only 1 size

5.Wmcaps Outdoor Sun Hat for Men

In your search for the best mens gardening hat, you have to take a look at the Wmcaps Outdoor Sun Hat for Men.

This is the best sun hat for gardening because it has really good sun coverage and is very durable.

Wmcaps has other types of hats such as straw hats and kid’s sun hats.

Pros:

• Affordable
• Lightweight
• Wide brim
• Mesh panels
• UPF 50+
• Water-resistant
• Adjustable chin strap
• Protective neck flap
• Available in 9 colors

Cons:

• Only 1 size

6-Home Prefer Outdoor Kids Sun Hat

This Home Prefer Outdoor Kids Sun Hat is a very affordable option if you are looking for the best gardening for your kids.

This sun hat has a wide brim and a neck flap to provide full coverage for your child as they do gardening.

This gardening hat is suitable for children aged 3-7 years.

Pros:

• Affordable
• Lightweight
• Wide brim
• Mesh panels
• UPF 50+
• Adjustable chin strap
• Protective neck flap
• Available in 4 colors

Cons:

• Not water-resistant
• Only 1 size

7-HITRO Sun Hat

The HITRO Sun Hat provides great protection from harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun with its UPF 50+ protection, 4 ¾ inch brim, and neck flap.

This gardening hat has detachable hat tops and neck flaps so you can adjust it based on your needs.

Pros:

• Lightweight
• Wide brim
• Mesh panels
• UPF 50+
• Water-resistant
• Adjustable chin strap
• Protective neck flap
• Available in 6 colors

Cons:

• A bit more expensive
• Only 1 size

8-PanPacSight Super Wide Brim Sun Hat 

One of the best mens gardening hats is the PanPacSight Super Wide Brim Sun Hat. 

This waterproof and windproof gardening hat also has a wide brim and is made from UPF 50+ material that will provide amazing protection from the sun.

Pros:

• Affordable
• Lightweight
• Wide brim
• UPF 50+
• Water-resistant
• Adjustable chin strap
• Available in 11 colors

Cons:

• No protective neck flap
• Only 1 size

9-icolor Kids Sun Hat 

If your kids often join you when you are gardening, you should get them the icolor Kids Sun Hat so that they are well protected from the sun.

The wide brim and neck flap provides good coverage and will keep your child safe and comfortable.

With its adjustable sizing strap, children aged 4-12 years will be able to wear this gardening hat.

Pros:

• Affordable
• Lightweight
• Wide brim
• Mesh panels
• UPF 50+
• Adjustable chin strap 
• Adjustable sizing strap
• Available in 7 colors

Cons:

• Not water-resistant
• Only 1 size

10-Solaris Wide Brim Sun Hat for Women

The 5-inch brim on the Solaris Wide Brim Sun Hat for Women will provide great protection from the sun.

The hat is suitable for people who have trouble finding hats that are not too tight as it is a little roomier. 

Solaris has other wide brim hats and also hats with neck flaps.

Pros:

• Affordable
• Lightweight
• Wide brim
• Mesh panels
• UPF 50+
• Adjustable chin strap
• Available in 10 colors

Cons:

• Not water-resistant
• No protective neck flap
• Only 1 size

11-HUAMULAN Super Wide Brim Men Sun Hats

Men’s gardening hats with wide brims can sometimes be hard to find but the HUAMULAN Super Wide Brim Men Sun Hat has you covered with its 6-inch brim.

This gardening sun hat is suitable for those with a head circumference of 22-24 inches.

HUAMULAN has a large collection of other hats that you could choose from to use while gardening.

Pros:

• Affordable
• Wide brim
• Mesh panels
• Water-resistant
• Adjustable chin strap
• Available in 23 colors

Cons:

• No protective neck flap
• Only 1 size

12-Camptrace Kids Sun Hat

The Camptrace Kids Sun Hat checks all the boxes when it comes to sun protection and additional features.

This gardening hat has a wide brim and a neck flap as well as mesh panels and an internal moisture-wicking sweatband.

The sizes are suitable for infants, toddlers, and kids up to 10 years.

Camptrace also has a variety of hats for women and more kids hats.

Pros:

• Affordable
• Lightweight
• Wide brim
• Mesh panels
• UPF 50+
• Water-resistant
• Adjustable chin strap
• Adjustable sizing strap
• Protective neck flap
• Available in 2 sizes
• Available in 5 colors

Cons:

• May not fit older kids

13-Ordenado Waterproof Bucket Hat 

The casual Ordenado Waterproof Bucket Hat is a great option for people who prefer using bucket hats.

The mesh panel provides great ventilation to keep you cool and the dark underside of the brim helps with glare by reducing reflected light.

Pros:

• Affordable
• Lightweight
• Wide brim
• Mesh panels
• UPF 50+
• Adjustable chin strap
• Available in 5 colors

Cons:

• Not water-resistant
• No protective neck flap
• Only 1 size

14-K.Z. Bucket Sun Hat for Men

The K.Z. Bucket Sun Hat for Men is the best hat for yard work because it has the bucket hat shape that a lot of people like as well as a variety of features that make it comfortable and effective.

This hat is made with a double fabric design that makes it very durable while its sweat-absorbing features ensure that the hat can be used for a long time even when it is hot outside.

Pros:

• Affordable
• Lightweight
• Wide brim
• UPF 50+
• Water-resistant
• Adjustable chin strap
• Available in 3 colors

Cons:

• No protective neck flap
• Only 1 size

15-Connectyle Kids Bucket Sun Hat

The Connectyle Kids Bucket Sun Hat is the perfect bucket hat for kids.

It comes in a variety of colours and has an adjustable cord so that you can find the perfect fit for your child.

This hat generally fits children aged 2-6 years.

Connectyle also has hats for men, women, and kids.

Pros:

• Affordable
• Lightweight
• Wide brim
• Mesh panels
• UPF 50+
• Adjustable chin strap
• Adjustable sizing strap
• Available in 13 colors

Cons:

• Not water-resistant
• No protective neck flap
• Only 1 size

16-Simplicity Women’s Wide Brim Straw Sun Hat 

If you are looking for women’s straw gardening hats, you need to check out the Simplicity Women’s Wide Brim Straw Sun Hat. 

With its wide brim and adjustable chin strap to keep it in place, this is the best straw hat for yard work. The straw is woven quite tightly together so that this hat can provide good coverage and protection from the sun.

Simplicity also has a variety of other styles of sun hats for you to choose from.

Pros:

• Affordable
• Wide brim
• Adjustable chin strap
• Available in 5 colors

Cons:

• Not water-resistant
• No protective neck flap
• Only 1 size

17-Venterior Bucket Hat with Net Mesh for Men/Women

The venterior Bucket Hat with Net Mesh for Men/Women is for you if your garden has a lot of bugs and you are tired of them always flying into your face or getting caught in your hair.

The soft net mesh protection will provide a barrier that bugs will not be able to get through. When you don’t need it, the net can be rolled up and secured to the top of the hat with the drawstring.

Pros:

• Affordable
• Lightweight
• Adjustable chin strap
• Net mesh protection
• Available in 2 colors
• 1-year warranty

Cons:

• Not water-resistant
• No protective neck flap
• Only 1 size

What Is a Gardening Hat and Why Do You Need One?

A gardening hat is a type of hat that you can use while working in your garden. 

Did you know that too much exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet light can make your skin age faster and even increase your risk for skin cancer?

Since a lot of people do gardening during the daytime, you must take measures to reduce how exposed your skin is to the sun. 

Apart from wearing long-sleeved clothes and using sunscreen to reduce exposure to the sun, you can also use a gardening hat while gardening. 

A gardening hat can protect you from the sun by keeping your head, your face, and even your neck out of the sun. This will help prevent you from being affected by the harmful effects of too much sun exposure.

The Different Types of Gardening Hats

A Bucket Hat

The bucket hat gets its name because it is shaped like a bucket. 

Bucket hats are popular among gardeners because they provide great sun protection and are very durable. 

Bucket hats are made from fabric and are often washable and packable.

A Straw Hat

Many people are familiar with straw hats and this may be the kind of hat that comes to mind when you think about gardening hats.

While straw hats often have wide brims that can provide shade, they are often not able to block harmful rays as they are often made from woven materials that have small gaps.

To provide the best protection from the sun, the best straw hat for gardening will have a fabric lining.

Visor

Visors are often chosen as gardening hats as they are very flexible and may be more comfortable for people who don’t like to wear full hats or those who put their hair up in a ponytail.

However, since visors are usually open at the top, they can’t provide much protection from the sun. This may be fine if you have thick hair or if you use sunscreen on your scalp.

5 Benefits of Using Gardening Hats

1. Minimizes Sun Exposure

Gardeners often spend a lot of time under the sun and over time this can cause damage to your skin.

One of the biggest benefits of using gardening hats is that it will help minimize sun exposure, which could harm your skin.

A gardening hat will block the sun’s ultraviolet rays from reaching your skin and as a result, your skin won’t experience as much damage.

2. Help You Stay Cooler 

Gardening can be hard work especially when you are working under the sun for hours at a time. It is very easy for people to feel hot and even get overheated in these circumstances.

Since you are being protected from the sun while using a gardening hat, your body can stay cooler and you can probably work for longer in your garden.

3. Provide Shade For Your Eyes

Apart from damaging your skin, too much exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun can also damage your eyes.

For this reason, some people may choose to wear sunglasses while they are working in the garden but not everyone will feel comfortable wearing sunglasses while gardening.

Wearing a gardening hat could help solve this problem and reduce your exposure especially when you are using a wide brim gardening hat.

4. Protection From Rain

Weather can be unpredictable and you may find yourself caught in the rain while you are working in your garden.

Most people would just give up and call it a day. But with a gardening hat that is made from water-resistant materials, you can continue working in the rain because you will have some protection from the rain.

5. Protection From Bugs

Encountering insects is a regular part of being a gardener and spending time working in your garden but not many people enjoy having bugs flying at them or getting caught in their hair.

Using a gardening hat can provide some protection from bugs especially if you use a gardening hat with net mesh.

5 Things to Look For in a Good Gardening Hat

1. Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF)

Ultraviolet Protection Factor or UPF is a measure of how effectively the material can shield you from harmful ultraviolet rays. The higher the UPF number, the more protection the material offers.

The best gardening hats are made from materials that have a UPF of at least 30 to ensure that you are getting adequate protection.

Materials such as canvas, wool, and synthetic fibres tend to offer more protection.

When you are looking for hats for gardening, do this easy test to know whether the fabric offers protection from UV rays. Hold it up to the light and if you can see through the fabric, it means that radiation from UV rays can reach your skin. 

2. Color

When choosing the colour of your gardening hat, try to pick darker coloured hats like black, brown, grey, and dark green. 

Dark colours can protect you from harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun more effectively than lighter colours.

3. Material 

Since you are going to be working outside in your garden when you are using your gardening hat, you should choose gardening hats made from materials that are lightweight, waterproof, and washable. 

4. Brim Size 

The brim size of your gardening hat will determine how much protection you will get from the hat. 

If you have a gardening hat with a small brim, it may not offer enough coverage to protect you from the sun or the rain.

Choose a gardening hat with at least a 4-inch brim so that you have adequate protection. Depending on your size and height, you may even want to find a gardening hat with a wider brim.

5. Extra Features

When you are looking for the best gardening sun hats, look for ones that have additional features that meet your needs so that you can find the best gardening hat for you. 

Mesh Panels

Some gardening hats have mesh panels that provide ventilation and help to keep you cooler. 

The openings from the mesh panels might reduce some sun protection, so consider this when choosing a gardening hat with mesh panels.

Adjustable Chin Cord

Have you ever worn a hat and had it move around or fall off if you moved too much or bent over?

An adjustable chin cord can prevent this from happening by securing the hat in just the right position for you.

Protective Neck Flap

While most hats will protect your face, it’s also important that you don’t forget that the back of your neck may be exposed while you are gardening. 

This is especially true for people with short hair or who like to put their hair into a ponytail while gardening.

Gardening hats that have a neck flap can help ensure that your neck is also protected from harmful UV rays.

Conclusion

I hope that our list of the best gardening hats will help you find the best gardening hat so that you can spend a lot of time working in your garden without worrying about being too exposed to the sun. 

All the best on your quest to find the best gardening hat!

Your Guide to 17 Best Gardening Hats