Wide brim sun hats

[mshills]

I shave my head, so that makes protecting the dome really important.

 

I’ve worn Tilley hats off and on over the years and they were made really well until most of their production moved to China. They are still okay, but IMO overpriced for what they are, and even the air flo models wear hot for me. The ones still made in Canada won’t work — too heavy and hot.

 

Recommendations welcome!

[BYK]

I like my mesh Titleist Aussie hat. 

[Even]

https://www.coolibar.com/men/mens-sun-hats/bucket/fore-golf-hat-upf-50.html

 

[Davidv]

Aussie Chiller Hat.

[caniac6]

I just got a vert nice Ping wide brimmed hat. Very light, and a lot of ventilation.

[chisag]

... The constant Phoenix sun is great for golf but brutal for your skin. For me the bigger the hat the better, within reason of course. I have about 12 sun hats but this one is my favorite and I have it in both light gray and white. 


https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/p/walter-hagen-mens-wide-brim-sun-hat-21whgmwhwdbrmsnhtapa/21whgmwhwdbrmsnhtapa

[NAM2212]

21 hours ago, BYK said:

I like my mesh Titleist Aussie hat. 

I second this.

[bluedot]

Coolibar is simply the best on the market if you truly want as much sun protection as you can get.  The Ahead Palmer hats are also a very good option.

 

I have written this before and there are those who disagree, but this is info direct from my dermatologist, who happens to be a single digit golfer. Do NOT buy a wide brim hat that is not labeled as SPF 50.  If it isn’t labeled, it either means that the hat isn’t sufficiently protective, or that the company chose for some reason not to submit it for testing.

 

Titleist wide brims usually are labeled; Ping and Nike usually are not.  My worst trip ever to the dermatologist was after a summer of wearing a Nike wide brim that was not SPF rated.  I got a lot of compliments on that hat, but none of those folks were around when was having everything short of MOHS done to my head.

[North Butte]

Just now, bluedot said:

Coolibar is simply the best on the market if you truly want as much sun protection as you can get.  The Ahead Palmer hats are also a very good option.

 

I have written this before and there are those who disagree, but this is info direct from my dermatologist, who happens to be a single digit golfer. Do NOT buy a wide brim hat that is not labeled as SPF 50.  If it isn’t labeled, it either means that the hat isn’t sufficiently protective, or that the company chose for some reason not to submit it for testing.

 

Titleist wide brims usually are labeled; Ping and Nike usually are not.  My worst trip ever to the dermatologist was after a summer of wearing a Nike wide brim that was not SPF rated.  I got a lot of compliments on that hat, but none of those folks were around when was having everything short of MOHS done to my head.

I sometimes see people wearing very lightweight pure white hats that look breathable and are probably comfy but it's obvious they can't be more than SPF 10 or maybe 20 because you can literally see daylight shining right through the material. I mean, that's better than going bare-headed but with a wide brim hat on you feel like you're protected so you'll trust it while you're out in the summer sun for hours and hours, never realizing you're gradually getting sun damage right through the hat. 

 

Here's a hint. When the sun is overhead, hold the hat up to where it blocks the sun. If you see through the brim or the lid of the hat and still tell exactly where the sun is, it's letting through some solar radiation. Consider getting a hat made from more sun-blocking material. 

[N8dogg2669]

16 hours ago, NAM2212 said:

I second this.

third this, I have multiple colors and wear them every time I am golfing. Love them. 

[cristphoto]

I use the Ping hat. My model is previous version of one shown in attachment (Ping text moved from side to front) but functionally identical.  Hat is vented in rear and one size fits all with a drawstring at rear to allow fine tuning.

 

PING - Boonie Hat

 

Edited May 3, 2022 by cristphoto

[Binson]

Not sure if these are available outside of Canada, but I have a few Wind River hats in rotation.  Lots of styles to choose from, fits a big head like mine, and some of them are bug repellant as well.  

[BIG STU]

17 hours ago, chisag said:

... The constant Phoenix sun is great for golf but brutal for your skin. For me the bigger the hat the better, within reason of course. I have about 12 sun hats but this one is my favorite and I have it in both light gray and white. 


https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/p/walter-hagen-mens-wide-brim-sun-hat-21whgmwhwdbrmsnhtapa/21whgmwhwdbrmsnhtapa

That is exactly like my Pukka brand hats I wear. Maybe Pukka makes them for DSG / Walter Hagen

[david.c.w]

Been wearing this for years.  Not really for golf, but for beach, lake, etc.  It is a little bit more "hiking" than golfing from a fashion perspective.  Brim is very flexible and never falls off in the wind, and my chrome dome never gets hot or sweaty.

 

Bora Bora™ II Booney | Columbia Sportswear

[jas904]

I am going on my third year with my Shelta.  I would highly recommend it.  I like the structured brim.   

[bluedot]

27 minutes ago, jas904 said:

I am going on my third year with my Shelta.  I would highly recommend it.  I like the structured brim.   

I have a Shelta that I use for days when it is windy and/or rainy.  My only complaint about Shelta, at least as compared to Coolibar or Ahead, is that sweat stains are an issue (same problem with Tilley hats), and washing with regular detergent degrades the DWR coating unless you use something like at Nikwax Tech wash.  In every other respect, it is a GREAT product.

 

And Shelta hats, like Coolibar, Ahead Palmer, and Titleist Aussie, and some of the Imperials, are SPF/UPF 50+.  The Columbia hats themselves are SPF/UPF 50+, but the mesh sections are NOT, which Columbia makes clear in at least some of their product info. 

 

I know I'm a broken record about the issue of whether or not a "sun" hat has a UPF rating or not, but it just seems to me to be a VERY big deal, given that the companies are advertising these as sun protective.

Edited May 3, 2022 by bluedot

[Is Golf Fun or Work]

I have an Aussie chiller hat, it's too heavy and consequently hot to wear when wet.....

 

Here in TX, I go with old school GN paper straw 'cowboy' hat, it have UV blocking material and breathes well.

[Austincountyag]

Imperial makes the best one in terms of comfort, and coolness. 

 

 

[bluedot]

19 hours ago, Austincountyag said:

Imperial makes the best one in terms of comfort, and coolness. 

 

 

I have a couple of logo Imperials that I’ve picked up at courses I’ve played.  Really good wide brims and SPF rated.  My only problem with them is that they run small compared to some of the others; if you have a melon head like I do, Imperials can get uncomfortable after awhile.

[mshills]

Solid recommendations here, thanks all and keep ‘em coming. 
 

I forgot all about Shelty, those are great for boating / fishing because the brim does not flop around.

[Ripper212]

1 hour ago, bluedot said:

I have a couple of logo Imperials that I’ve picked up at courses I’ve played.  Really good wide brims and SPF rated.  My only problem with them is that they run small compared to some of the others; if you have a melon head like I do, Imperials can get uncomfortable after awhile.

Imperial Mako tends to run a little small and also needs to be hand washed. The Imperial Coolcore fits much better and can be machine washed, altho wider brim can be a little tough on windier days. The Coolibar golf hat may be SPF 50 but brim with of only 2+3/4" on the sides is less than optimal.

Edited May 4, 2022 by Ripper212

[dcbogeyman]

Coolibar Fore Golf Hat. Been using since last June.  Keeps my bean nice and cool. 

[Austincountyag]

5 hours ago, bluedot said:

I have a couple of logo Imperials that I’ve picked up at courses I’ve played.  Really good wide brims and SPF rated.  My only problem with them is that they run small compared to some of the others; if you have a melon head like I do, Imperials can get uncomfortable after awhile.

buy a bigger size?

[caniac6]

On 5/3/2022 at 8:37 AM, cristphoto said:

I use the Ping hat. My model is previous version of one shown in attachment (Ping text moved from side to front) but functionally identical.  Hat is vented in rear and one size fits all with a drawstring at rear to allow fine tuning.

 

PING - Boonie Hat

 

That’s the one I just got, except I got it in grey. I’m at Hilton Head this week, and it is working fine.

[bluedot]

1 hour ago, Austincountyag said:

buy a bigger size?

Ha! I buy the biggest they make, but thanks…

[Davethegolfer]

We have the highest rate of skin cancer in the world here in Perth. So here are a few options you might want to look at

https://www.golfbox.com.au/search?q=sun hat

[JungleJimbo]

On 5/2/2022 at 4:54 AM, mshills said:

I shave my head, so that makes protecting the dome really important.

 

I’ve worn Tilley hats off and on over the years and they were made really well until most of their production moved to China. They are still okay, but IMO overpriced for what they are, and even the air flo models wear hot for me. The ones still made in Canada won’t work — too heavy and hot.

 

Recommendations welcome!

@mshills how “wide brim” do you need?

 

I recently bought these & the brims =almost too wide (almost “sombrero-esque ” 🤠👒)

 

 

[North Butte]

On 5/4/2022 at 1:53 PM, bluedot said:

Ha! I buy the biggest they make, but thanks…

A lot of small-headed folks, as well as a lot of hat companies, seem to not realize there are millions of people in the world with heads larger than 7-5/8". Not that size matters, of course🤠 

[dekez]

Every year we hope someone comes out with a hat that doesnt look ridiculous. Every year we remain dissapointed.  Shelta works the best for me, but I am not thrilled to wear it.  Instantly adds 10 years to your age.

[Hoodman22]

+1 to the earlier post on Ahead's Palmer hat.

Wide brim, comfortable, and SPF protection.

 

Would recommend