Best Fishing Hats Reviewed and Compared

In a Hurry? Editors choice:
Camo Coll Outdoor
Test Winner: Camo Coll Outdoor
Amazon Link
As I like to say, anything that can keep me out on the dock for a bit longer is a welcome addition to my assortment of tricks and tools. Be it a great friend, a delicious beer, or a magical new lure. A fishing hat might seem like an afterthought, but the reality is that they will provide relief from the elements better than an ordinary hat and, that my friends, keeps you fishing longer.

So, in the end, with more time spent with the hook in the water, you can say that a good fishing hat will help you catch fish. That’s never a bad thing in my book!

Standout Picks

Camo Coll Outdoor
One size does actually fit all when you are talking about the Camo Coll Sun Cap.
Amazon Link
$19.99
Ddyoutdoor™
This hat has you prepared for just about any eventuality. Blazing sun, rain, wind, bugs, you name it. You won’t win any style points with this hat, but if it helps you fish longer than you won’t care.
Amazon Link
$15.99
Fantastic Zone Twill Aussie
You don’t need to be Australian to love this Aussie inspired cotton bucket hat. The side snap, slouch style hat isn’t just for a fashion statement. That side snap has a function that will actually help you fish.
Amazon Link
The Friendly Swede
Leave it to the Swedes to make a great fishing hat! They love the outdoors and know what a hat needs to be a great accessory.
Amazon Link
$24.99
Military Camouflage
I love hats that are convertible. When you have options then you only really need one hat.
Amazon Link
KBEthos
A classic bucket hat that is great for when you don’t need too much protection. Comfortable and soft, it gets the job done.
Amazon Link
APAS Outdoors
It won’t protect you from everything Mother Nature has in store for you, but, it is a great all around bucket hat. Since it’s small enough to fit into your pocket, it will be with you on most of your fishing adventures.
Amazon Link
G4Free Anti-UV
This hat is not only one of the most versatile fishing hats out there, it even looks great on a lady. If you are one of the lucky ones that has a wife or girlfriend that likes to fish then even she will appreciate a hat like this.
Amazon Link
Sun Blocker
Getting all around protection from just one hat is ideal. That’s why this hat is popular with people that fish in wet and windy areas. Good fly fishing cap too!
Amazon Link
$17.99
Stormy Kromer
Fish even when it’s cold outside with this very warm, wool fishing cap.
Amazon Link
$59.99

Criteria Used for Evaluation

Protection

The main reason to wear any hat is for protection. To protect yourself against the wet, cold, sun, wind. Whatever the elements are that you will face, you will need the right hat for the job. When fishing, the sun is usually the elements that you are trying to avoid. For this, you will want to check out the brim of the hat and make sure it's wide enough to cast a shadow over your face. If you are especially sensitive to the sun, you may also want to look for a hat that covers your ears and neck. As for wind, or any environment really, a chin strap is also worth looking into. After all this reseache and finally deciding on a great hat, it would be a shame to see it blown out to sea.

Comfort

A very close second place to protection is comfort. Just like a pair of great looking dress shoes, if your hat is not comfortable, then you’re not likely to wear it again when you need it. If it is soft. Keeps you cool or warm. Isn’t too tight or too loose. Is lightweight. A good fishing hat should be all of these things to be comfortable enough to want to wear even if the conditions are not even that bad. Luckily, hats don't tend to be too difficult and it's easy to find a size that will be comfortable on everyone.

Also read about best cold weather fishing waders

Breathability

If a hat traps in the heat from your head, then it will make you sweat and be uncomfortable. And when you sweat the moisture needs to go somewhere. Cheap hats will trap the heat and hold the moisture so you end up with a wet hat on your head. Not the most comfortable thing.

Good fishing hats will be made with material that wicks moisture away from your skin. It should also have either vents or mesh fabric to let the vapors out easily before they have a chance to get caught in the hat’s material.

Durability

Your hat will be put through some tough times. Rain, wind, salt, being thrown in a bag and forgotten about. It needs to survive the harsh treatment you will be throwing at it. Make sure it’s made with good, strong material so it can keep taking care of you even when you aren’t taking care of it. One of the best materials for hats to be made out of is polyester. This fabric is scratch resistant and can really take a beating. Another thing you may want to look into when buying a hat is how to wash it. Many styles can be thrown in the washing machine and come out good as new.

Top 10 Picks

1. Camo Coll Outdoor

Where to buy
Amazon Link
$19.99
Camo Coll Outdoor
Amazon Link

One size does actually fit all when you are talking about the Camo Coll Sun Cap.

Read more

Protection
This is a classic outdoors hat that is very versatile. Since it has so many of the qualities you need a hat to have when you go fishing, I think it’s great.

It’s is water resistant. If you are fishing, chances are pretty good it will get wet and that won’t be an issue. It also resists ,stains. Hopefully you have the chance to get the hat dirty from gutting a fish! If you catch it quickly enough most stains can be spot washed. It will stay on your head if it is windy since it has a handy chin strap. And, it won’t cause you to overheat. It doesn’t have a neck flap but the brim is so wide that it does a good job covering most people’s neck.

Comfort
Usually I like to stay away from one size fits all type of clothing. This hat is definitely exactly as advertised. The entire hate is stretchy since it is made with a combination of polyester and cotton. But the brim is adjustable and elastic. That will give you a nice, snug fit no matter your hat size.

The two different materials make it comfortable. The cotton is soft and stretchy and the polyester is lightweight and wicks moisture. If it were all polyester, it would probably make you heat up and all cotton would be terrible at wicking the moisture away from your head.

The brim has a firmness to it to keep it’s shape but it has some flex to it. You can move it around to how you like it so it’s a bit customizable.

Breathability
What I really love is the mesh around the top of the hat. It allows the moisture from your sweat to escape the hat and keeps you cool.

Amazon Link
$19.99

2. Ddyoutdoor™

Where to buy
Amazon Link
$15.99
Ddyoutdoor™
Amazon Link

This hat has you prepared for just about any eventuality. Blazing sun, rain, wind, bugs, you name it. You won’t win any style points with this hat, but if it helps you fish longer than you won’t care.

Read more

Protection
You get as much coverage as you need with this hat. Without the flaps, you get a oversized brim bucket hat with ample mesh vents. That alone makes this hat worth the little money that it costs.
Most fishing is done in the summer when the sun is strongest. You won’t get any exposure on your head, neck, nose or anywhere else really while wearing it. It’s great for all seasons though since the flaps are removable.

Add in the ability to add flaps to your neck, ears and face by simply snapping them on and you have a real winner here. No matter how sunny it is, or how windy, you have great all over protection.

There are two small negatives. One, the flaps don’t seal to your clothes so the may fly up over your eyes in certain wind conditions. The second problem is that it isn’t very water resistant. Though, the material is very quick drying if it does get wet.

Comfort
If it’s not that sunny, then just take the flaps off and fish with ease. One thing I will say about that all over protection is that is isn’t easy to see peripherally sometimes. So, when it isn’t necessary to have those flaps down, it’s nice to have the option to remove them.

With or without the flaps, the oversized brim will keep the sun out of your eyes and off of most of your face as well.

Breathability
Being so covered could cause you to overheat, but with the convenient vents around the entire perimeter of the hat and in front of the mouth, the moist air and heat have a chance to escape, keeping you cool. And being so covered can keep you warm since you get superior protection against the wind.

It’s lightweight even with all the flaps on it. The nylon material is also treated with UV protection up to 50 UPF. Some cheaper lightweight hats don’t offer much protection from the sun since the UV rays are able to get through. Luckily, that is not an issue with this hat.

Amazon Link
$15.99

3. Fantastic Zone Twill Aussie

Where to buy
Amazon Link
Fantastic Zone Twill Aussie
Amazon Link

You don’t need to be Australian to love this Aussie inspired cotton bucket hat. The side snap, slouch style hat isn’t just for a fashion statement. That side snap has a function that will actually help you fish.

Read more

Protection
The brim will keep the sun off of your face, but you may not be able to battle all of the elements that nature can throw at you with this fishing hat. You will have a great hat at a great price, though. Especially when you just need something that will be easy to wear and won’t get in your way.

Comfort
That little side snap was originally used on hats for Australian soldiers and has since become an iconic look.

Its purpose was to keep their rifle from knocking their hat off. Swinging the rifle upright was always knocking the wide brim hats off of their head so they made a snap on the side to lift the brim.

You may not need to leave room for your rifle, but you can see how swinging a fishing rod could easily knock your hat off. Even though it looks cool, it will also make it a bit easier to fish since you won’t be worrying about losing your hat. A chin strap also helps to keep it on your head.

Breathability
The lightweight cotton is comfortable and keeps you cool. When you just need a hat you can fold up and put in your pocket to take out when the sun hits, you can’t go wrong.

Amazon Link

4. The Friendly Swede

Where to buy
Amazon Link
$24.99
The Friendly Swede
Amazon Link

Leave it to the Swedes to make a great fishing hat! They love the outdoors and know what a hat needs to be a great accessory.

Read more

Protection
You get great coverage on your face and even back of the neck to keep the sun off. The brim is nice and wide. It’s so lightweight and easy to stow that you will always be able to find a place for it even when you are loaded down with gear.

Comfort
For a hat to make the cut with all of your other fishing gear, you have to want to pack it. When a hat is as comfortable as this one, you will not want to leave without it. It will be an integral part of your fishing routine to pack it up with you.

It’s a one size fits all hat that actually is. It has an adjustable cord that runs along the inside of the hat that can be pulled and tightened to give a snug fit on just about any sized head.
When your hat brim gets in the way, it’s nice to have the option to snap the sides up to give yourself some room. A swinging rod or even using a cell phone is easier to negotiate when you can lift the brim up on either side of your hat.

Breathability
The hat is made out of a light polyester, but the lining is cotton. You get that comfort and breathability of the cotton but the polyester wicks away any moisture. The mesh around the hat will also let any vapor from your sweat whisk away into the air and allow any breeze to cool you off in your hat.

Since there is a lifetime warranty with this hat, I don’t see a reason to not get one. Or two, I should say, since they give two for the price of one. These hats are made by people who love the outdoors and knows what it takes to make a great hat that you will look forward to wearing when you are out fishing.

Amazon Link
$24.99

5. Military Camouflage

Where to buy
Amazon Link
Military Camouflage
Amazon Link

I love hats that are convertible. When you have options then you only really need one hat.

Read more

Protection
In most situations, you only need a wide brim hat to stay protected from the sun. What’s nice about this hat is that you have a neck flap if you need it. It doesn’t detach, but it can be folded up into the hat giving an added layer of protection within the hat itself.

The flap itself is long enough to fold under your jacket or shirt so if it is windy it won’t blow around. When you don’t really need the neck flap you still get plenty of shade on your neck from the wide brim.

Comfort
Rather than a one size fits all hat, there are various sizes available for purchase. Make sure you have an idea of your head size before you buy.

Having options like the neck flap and side snaps are great to have when you want to keep things as minimal as possible. Since you can crush this hat up and it won’t lose its shape, it is easy to take along with you.

With such a low price you can have a couple so you don’t have to worry about losing one or forgetting it at the fishing site.

Breathability
It is a perfect blend of 60% cotton and 40% polyester. Cotton keeps you cool and the polyester keeps you dry. With a couple of mesh grommets, your sweat will be able to escape from the hat and evaporate away keeping you nice and dry.

Amazon Link

6. KBEthos

Where to buy
Amazon Link
KBEthos
Amazon Link

A classic bucket hat that is great for when you don’t need too much protection. Comfortable and soft, it gets the job done.

Read more

Protection
When you need to have a cheap hat that can take lots of abuse then you could not do much better than this classic bucket hat. It won’t offer as much protection as the other hats reviewed here, but it gets the job done when you just need something to cover your head and keep the sun out of your eyes.

Comfort
When you need a no-frills, easy to wear fishing hat, a classic bucket hat works great. This one is 100% cotton and fits heads from medium to large. It is stretchable so it will fit most people.
Since it is cotton it is very soft and comfortable. It is totally crushable so it can be folded and put wherever you need to keep it. When you are short on space with all of your gear, it’s nice that it doesn’t take up much room. It’s also washable, but be careful when drying. It’s cotton so it could shrink a little.

Breathability
There are a couple of brass holes for ventilation so you don’t overheat.

Amazon Link

7. APAS Outdoors

Where to buy
Amazon Link
APAS Outdoors
Amazon Link

It won’t protect you from everything Mother Nature has in store for you, but, it is a great all around bucket hat. Since it’s small enough to fit into your pocket, it will be with you on most of your fishing adventures.

Read more

Protection
The cotton polyester blend is also UV rated to keep the harmful rays of the sun from penetrating the hat. Some hats allow UV rays through which defeats the purpose of wearing a hat to begin with.

Comfort
An adjustable chin cord cinches up to where you like it and will keep your hat on your head in windy conditions. And having snap up sides allow you to keep the sides of your head free to use your cell phone or just keep the brim of the hat out of the way when you are casting a rod.

Since it is a hat that was made for the military, it is durable enough to really get put through the wringer and still last you a long time. It will do a great job at keeping you protected from the sun and keep you cool at the same time.

This hat can fold up to a size just slightly larger than your cell phone. Put it in your pocket and be on your way. The chin cord doubles as a wrap around to keep it folded in a compact little packet.

Breathability
Four grommets will allow the heat from your head to escape the hat and keep you cool. Some people prefer to have mesh to allow the vapor out of the hat, but if it is windy it’s better to just have a few grommet holes so your head still stays warm.

Amazon Link

8. G4Free Anti-UV

Where to buy
Amazon Link
G4Free Anti-UV
Amazon Link

This hat is not only one of the most versatile fishing hats out there, it even looks great on a lady. If you are one of the lucky ones that has a wife or girlfriend that likes to fish then even she will appreciate a hat like this.

Read more

Protection
When a hat can do it all and really offer up a lot of protection you have hit on a real winner.
The wide brim in the front keeps the sun out of your eyes. The neck flap covers your ears as well as your neck and snaps up if you don’t want to use it. To give yourself a snug fit, there is a cinch on the back that is easily adjustable. There is mesh on both sides of the hat to let all the moisture out as you sweat.

Comfort
It blocks UV from the sun at a 40+ rating so even though the material is thin enough to be lightweight, you are still protected.

The chin strap is adjustable and cinches tightly. Since the cord attaches to your shirt, there’s no need to worry about it flying off on windy days.

This could very well my favorite fishing hat. It has all the bases covered while still looking stylish. I know I said style shouldn’t be a consideration. Fish don’t care what you look like! It still is nice to have something that works extremely well and still looks nice, however.

Breathability
The material is nylon so it’s lightweight, dries easily and wicks moisture away from your skin to keep you dry.

Amazon Link

9. Sun Blocker

Where to buy
Amazon Link
$17.99
Sun Blocker
Amazon Link

Getting all around protection from just one hat is ideal. That’s why this hat is popular with people that fish in wet and windy areas. Good fly fishing cap too!

Read more

Protection
This is another all-in-one hat that really gets the job done. It is really big when it is opened up, but it does fold up nicely to store it away. You get an oversized neck flap that also protects the ears. If it’s rainy, you won’t have that water end up running down your back or getting into your ears.

The huge brim does a great job at shielding your eyes from the sun and the UV coating will protect your head from the harmful rays of the sun.

Comfort
This may not be a fishing hat that you wear every time you go out no matter the conditions. It is a one-size-fits-all hat and seems to be fully adjustable. It’s really a great hat to have in your arsenal for when the weather isn’t cooperating. Whether it’s from too much sun, or rain or wind, you are covered, however.

Breathability
This hat features a moisture depressing sweatband to keep the sweat off your forehead and out of your eyes. Additionally, it is made from nylon it can be bunched up and stowed very easily. Keep it handy from then the weather changes on you. And since it is waterproof, rain and mud roll right off of the lightweight material.

Amazon Link
$17.99

10. Stormy Kromer

Where to buy
Amazon Link
$59.99
Stormy Kromer
Amazon Link

Fish even when it’s cold outside with this very warm, wool fishing cap.

Read more

Protection
Fishing in the cold is obviously a challenge. When you are wearing the right gear it can be quite pleasant. And, you usually have the fish to yourself since not many people will brave the cold conditions to catch fish.

The brim is just the right size to keep any winter sun out of your eyes. If it’s raining it will also keep the rain from getting on your face. Since it is wool it is also essentially waterproof. It will get wet, but it won’t soak through getting your head wet. That’s a big reason wool has been so popular with sailors for thousands of years. It’s a great material for many weather conditions.

Wool also resists mildew and is hypoallergenic.

Comfort
An added bonus besides making for a great fishing hat, is that this hat works great even when you are just out and about and it’s cold and wet. All the same properties that make it a wonderful hat for fishing will also help if you are out doing your shopping!

For those that want to be out fishing no matter what time of year it is, then you need a hat like this that will keep you warm and dry. You will get all the protection you need against the wind and rain, and even sun, with this classic wool hat.

Breathability
This hat will extend your fishing season and keep you catching those fish. It’s wool so it does a great job at keeping you warm, but also dry. It wicks moisture away and stays warms even if it’s wet. With an added layer of Thinsulate inside, it heats up nicely.

Amazon Link
$59.99