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7 Best Gardening Hats for Plenty of Sun Protection
Keep your skin looking just as good as that gorgeous garden.
If you ask us, there are few things in life quite as nice as an afternoon spent getting your hands dirty in the garden, except when that afternoon results in a week's worth of painful sun burn. While sunscreen can help, it can be difficult to remember to apply every two hours, and the best form of protection is always a physical barrier between you and the sun's harmful UV rays. That's why owning a good gardening hat is as important as having the right gardening shoes and gardening tools in your arsenal. And on sunny days, it's necessary not only for protection but also to keep you comfortable!
And as simple as it may seem to just pick up a gardening hat at your local superstore, you'll quickly find out that they aren't all made the same. From hats that fly away with the slightest gust of wind to those that, quite frankly, just don't work, there are tons of sub-par gardening hats on the market. But we consulted with Carmen Johnston, the founder and owner of Carmen Johnston Gardens and Bespoke Garden Plans, to get her advice on the best gardening hats—and she would know, she spends an average of six to eight hours in the field every day!
"I always want something lightweight that still provides sufficient sun coverage. It’s worth splurging and investing in quality when it comes to sun protection," she shares. "A great hat is something I will use daily from one year to the next. Plus, I am obsessive about protecting my face from UV rays."
Below, you can get Carmen's top pick, as well as a few reviewed by our own team and those with tons of happy Amazon customers. You'll even find an option with a face net for mosquito prevention.
FURTALK Womens Wide Brim Sun Hat
FURTALK Womens Wide Brim Sun Hat
Blending the lines of comfortable, cute, and efficient, this sun hat will keep your face protected while you garden and have you looking super cute at the same time. We love the lanyard tie with hook and loop enclosure that'll keep the hat in place no matter the wind gusts. This straw hat also claims to have UPF 50+ and multiple reviewers attest to their sun-burn free skin.
Eric Javits Daphne Broad Brim Straw Fedora
Eric Javits Daphne Broad Brim Straw Fedora
Carmen's pick for the best garden hat, this fedora has been field-tested time and time again and always proves to be her go-to. "My all-time favorite gardening hat is the Eric Javits “Daphne” Broad Brim Fedora. It features a 4 ½-inch-wide brim," she says. "...it truly works. I have the non-sunburn to prove it! The brim is so large that it keeps the sun off my face, even after an all-day install."
San Diego Hat Co. Women's Visor
San Diego Hat Co. Women's Visor
While we love the look of a straw hat, it can get a bit stuffy with no airflow on your head. If you live in a hot or humid climate, you might prefer this visor instead. It has a wide 4-inch brim and also offers UPF 50+ protection, but you'll definitely need to apply some sunblock to your scalp. Reviewers also love how packable this visor is, saying it rolls up well and then quickly retakes its original shape.
GearTOP Wide Brim Sun Hat for Men and Women
If your main concern is utility, then this sun hat will fit the bill perfectly. It not only provides whole-head coverage but also has a mesh front panel for airflow. We love the lanyard tieback for protection against wind gusts and the extra-wide brim. No to mention, it also provides UPF 50+ protection against the sun.
If the sun doesn't get to you in those hot, humid climates, then the bugs definitely will. This hat provides all the protection you could ever want, with a mosquito net face covering, neck sun blocker, and a lanyard tieback. The best part? The face and neck coverings are both removable, so you can take them right off on more pleasant days.
If you're not into the traditional sun hat style, then you'll probably enjoy the more laid-back feel of this sun cap. And if you need more protection than just the UPF 50+ cap, then you can add the snap-on neck and/or face covering. It even has an optional tieback you can snap on.
Communitie Marfa Surfer Hat
Communitie Marfa Surfer Hat
Our Food and Crafts Director and avid gardener Charlyne Mattox loves this wide-brim hat from Plant Material. "Normally I have to have a gardening hat with a tieback," she says, "but this one fits so well that it stays put even when I kneel over." Handcrafted from cooked straw, it's a sustainably made choice that'll provide plenty of protection from the sun.
Hannah Jones is the Commerce Editor for Country Living. Her eye is always on the next up-and-coming products to include in gift guides and she's ready to test everything from dog beds to garden tools for product reviews. When she’s not scoping out the latest and greatest items on the market, you can find her hanging with her two rescue dogs.
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