Last updated on September 4th, 2023.
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A fly fishing hat or cap can protect you from the sun, wind and rain. There are a few things you should look for.
Fly fishing hats, often also called fishing caps or fish hats, are an important piece of gear when heading to the water. Especially it warmer climate where the sun is strong. Not only does a fishing hat protect you from the sun, it can also help keep you dry and warm.
They come in different shapes and versions. When thinking of fishing hats, the style that probably comes to mind first is a hat with a wide brim. Some hats also feature a neck flap for extra sun protection.
Another model of the fly fishing hat that is very popular is the fishing cap. A cap, often also called fly fishing cap, is a cap that most often features a mesh fabric in the back. This increases ventilation in hot climate.
Besides these two most popular styles, there is the traditional straw fishing hat. The straw fishing hat has a long tradition in many cultures and is very popular to this day. The reason for this is the fact that straw provides a great climate and ventilation as well and is a natural fabric.
Table of Contents:
10 Best Hats for Fishermen Quick Answer List
What to Look for in Fishing Hats
Review of the Best Fishing Hats in 2023
Why You Should Wear a Fishing Hat
Taking Care of Your Fishing Hat
Conclusion on the Best Hats for Fishermen
10 Best Hats for Fishermen Quick Answer List
1. Best Standard Fishing Hat: Columbia Bora Bora Booney
2. Best Waterproof Fishing Hat: Simms Gore-Tex Guide Sombrero
3. Best Wide Brim: Super Wide Brim Sun Hat
4. Best Sun Protection: Home Prefer Mens Fishing Hat
5. Best Versatility: USHAKE Sun Cap
6. Best Fishing Cap: Columbia Unisex-Adult PFG Mesh
7. Best Traditional Hat: Sunday Afternoons Unisex Sun Guardian Straw Fishing Hat
8. Filson Mesh Snap-Back Logger Cap
10. Simms Bugstopper Net Sombrero
What to Look for in Hats for Fishermen
When buying a hat it is important to ask yourself a number of questions. Where are you going to use it? Do I need a wide brim or is a standard brim enough? Do I need extra sun protection in the neck? Should it be waterproof?
Most modern day versions are made of lightweight materials such as polyester or nylon. You can pack them easily and take them along on a trip. Basically all hats that come in the form of a hat with a brim feature a strap around the chin. That can come in handy when you’re fishing in windy surroundings and especially if you’re fishing from a boat, since there is basically no way to retrieve a lost hat on the ocean.
For this review we picked our favorites from different categories and tell you what we like and don’t like about them. We hope this helps you to make a good purchase decision.
Review of the Best Fishing Hats in 2023
We now want to show you our favorite fishing hats on the market. We made sure to review a wide range of different hats for fishermen so that you can make the best purchase decision.
Notice: The Wading List is reader-supported. We take part in the Amazon Associates Program and earn a small commission at no extra cost for you if you end up making a purchase. We only recommend products we are convinced of and use ourselves. Thanks!
Best Standard Fishing Hat: Columbia Bora Bora Booney
The Columbia Bora Bora Booney is our favorite standard fishing hat. Columbia has a several decades long tradition in producing fishing clothing and the quality of their products is great.
The Columbia Bora Bora Booney Hat comes as a one-size-fits all since you can adjust the size with the cord around your chin. If features a mesh vent panel on the side for extra ventilation.
The Columbia Bora Bora Booney Hat provides solid sun protection as it features built-in UPF 50 sun protection. It comes in a large variety of colors and weighs in at only 3.68 ounces. Its lightweight and high packability make it a great choice for travelling.
Best Waterproof Fishing Hat: Simms Gore-Tex Guide Sombrero
If you’re looking for a fishing hat with waterproofness capabilities, look no further than the Simms Gore-Tex Guide Sombrero. The American manufacturer is known for its world-class waders that offer the best in waterproofness and this hat holds true to that as well. Made from a Gore-Text 70D shell nylon fabric it makes sure that your head stays dry. The cordlock cinch further ensures that your hat stays in place even when the wind is blowing.
The Simms Gore-Tex Guide Sombrero is fully crushable which is a great feature after any kind of packing for a trip. Just take it out of your suitcase and in no time it will be back to its former shape. The black underbrim prevents glare in case you’re using it on a sunny day.
Best Wide Brim: Super Wide Brim Sun Hat
The Super Wide Brim Sun Hat is an excellent choice if you’re looking for an extra bit of sun protection. The brim is 5.7 in (14.5cm) deep and almost serves as a neck flap.
The Super Wide Brim Sun Hat is made of 100% nylon and comes in multiple colors. It is lightweight, washable and dries quickly. With an integrated UPF-50 sun protection it is the right hat to wear all day.
Besides sun protection, the Super Wide Brim Sun Hat is a good choice to protect you from rain as well, featuring a high-degree of water-repellency. Just like the Columbia, the Super Wide Brim Sun Hat has a cord to adjust the hat in size.
Best Sun Protection: Home Prefer Mens Fishing Hat
The Home Prefer is for you if you want the utmost in sun protection. Made from 100% polyester the very light Home Prefer features a neck flap that comes in really handy for example when your flats fishing from a boat with the sun beating down without you realizing it.
On top of the head the Home Prefer features a mesh part for extra ventilation. Like the other fishing hats, the Home Prefer features an adjustable cord.
With a UPF 50+, the Home Prefer blocks 98% of all UVA/UVB rays. You can choose from eight different colors.
Best Versatility: USHAKE Sun Cap
The USHAKE Sun Cap is a great crossover product providing the utmost protection from the elements. You can wear it only as a fishing cap. However, it provides ample opportunities for more sun protection.
If you only want more sun protection in your neck, you can clip a removable neck strap onto the USHAKE Sun Cap. If you also want extra protection for your face, there is another flap that can be attached to the cap.
The USHAKE Sun Cap provides great protection in changing environments. It also features integrated UVP 50 sun protection. The 100% nylon is highly breathable and dries quickly. And adjustable chin strap secures the cap on windy days. The USHAKE Sun Cap fits head sizes from 22.3 – 23.8 inches (56.8 – 60.6cm).
Best Fishing Cap: Columbia Unisex-Adult PFG Mesh
The Columbia Unisex-Adult PFG Mesh is our favorite fishing trucker hat. Made of 98% cotton, the back part of the fishing cap is made of a mesh fabric which provides excellent ventilation on hot days.
If you choose a fishing cap such as the Columbia Unisex-Adult PFG Mesh for your day on the water you have to be careful with your ears and neck since these two parts of your body are not protected by the hat.
The great thing about a fishing cap or fly fishing cap like the Columbia Unisex-Adult PFG Mesh compared to a fishing hat is the fact that you can easily wear it around town or on the beach without looking like someone coming straight from a safari. Comes in more than a dozen colors.
Best Traditional Hat: Sunday Afternoons Unisex Sun Guardian Straw Fishing Hat
The Sunday Afternoons Unisex Sun Guardian is our favorite classic straw fishing hat. Its shape and size are inspired by classic fishing hats that are part of many cultures around the world.
The Sunday Afternoons Unisex Sun Guardian is made of 100% natural straw and provides great ventilation since the air can flow through the straw. If you are looking for the utmost in lightweight you should not go for a straw fishing hat.
The dark underbrim of the Sunday Afternoons Unisex Sun Guardian Straw reduces glare on bright days. Adjustable chin strap keeps the hat on your head on windy days.
Filson Mesh Snap-Back Logger Cap
The Filson Mesh Snap-Back Logger Cap is another great mesh fishing cap. It was specifically designed with fly fishermen and women in mind, since it features a classic fly design on the front of the cap. The water-resistant cotton sail cloth feels comfortable all day-long.
The mesh fabric of the Filson Mesh Snap-Back Logger Cap makes sure this is a great fishing hat for hot summer days since the air can easily circulate at the back of your hat. The fresh yellow color nicely adds to any fishing outfit. A great choice for any stylish fisherman or fly fisherman.
fishpond Lowcountry Hat
If you’re looking for a laid-back traditional fishing hat, the Fishpond Lowcountry could be the right choice for you. The wide, flat brim offer great protection against the sun no matter where you are fishing. Straw is known to have great ventilation capacities, which makes the Fishpond Lowcountry a great choice if you tend to fish a lot in warmer regions.
The cordlock cinch will keep the Fishpond Lowcountry in place even in strong winds. Comes in various sizes that all feature the fishpond webbing accent giving this classic fishing hat a modern look.
Simms Bugstopper Net Sombrero
The Simms Bugstopper Net Sombrero is the right fishing hat if you need protection from bugs and mosquitos. The net mesh fabric keeps mosquitos out not matter how small they are. The wide brim provides great protection from the sun and features a DWR finish for increased water repellency.
The Simms Bugstopper Net Sombrero is also a great choice if you are fishing in tropical regions since it features a UPV-50 fabric that will prevent your face and neck from a sun burn. Even if you drop the Simms Bugstopper Net Sombrero in the water you want loose it since it floats.
Why You Should Wear a Fishing Hat
The more your skin is exposed to the sun, the higher your chances of developing a form of skin cancer later on in your life. That’s why is self-explanatory to use protection from the sun when you are outdoors. This starts with a quality pair of polarised fishing sunglasses and sunscreen and ends with wearing fishing shirts and pants with UPV protection.
Especially when you’re headed to tropical regions, even more so during winter when your skin is not as used to the sun, a fishing hat with a wide brim provides solid protection from UVA and UVB rays. As you saw in our review, there are also hats with additional capacities, such as bugstopping (Simms Bugstopper Net Sombrero) or waterproofness (Simms Gore-Tex Guide Sombrero). If you want to block out glare a cap such as the Orvis Ripstop Covert Trucker Cap or the Columbia Unisex-Adult PFG Mesh Fly Fishing Cap can be a great option as well.
If you’re a traditionalist, a straw fishing hat can be a great option. Straw has the natural ability to protect from the sun, plus it offers great ventilation. Make sure to check out the Fishpond Lowcountry Hat and the Sunday Afternoons Unisex Sun Guardian.
Taking Care of Your Fishing Hat
As you saw from our review, a hat is an essential piece of gear if you want to have fun at the water for years or decades to come. Since all products are made from different materials and fabrics, we want to give you a few basic guidelines on how to take care of your fishing hat so that it will last for a long time.
If you opt for a straw fishing hat, make sure to let it dry after every use in case it’s wet from rain or sweat. Otherwise you risk that it could get moldy. If you’ve used it in saltwater it’s generally a good idea to rinse it with freshwater after every use.
In case you go for a fly fishing cap, you can even put it in the washing machine after heavy use (make sure to read the instructions on how to wash it properly). If you travel a lot, a product such as the Simms Gore-Tex Guide Sombrero is a good choice since it’s fully crushable.
Conclusion on Fly Fishing Hats
As you can see from our review there are a number of options to protect yourself from the sun using a fly fishing hat. Depending on your requirements different styles and shapes can be the best option.
We hope this guide has helped you to gain on overview in terms of what’s out there on the market when it comes to fly fishing hats. No matter what option you choose we hope you’ll have fun at the water.
More resources:
A Guide to the Best Fly Tying Kits
Notice: We take part in the Amazon Associates Program and earn a small commission at no extra cost for you if you end up making a purchase. We only recommend products we are convinced of and use ourselves.
