This is Golfer Geeks’ review of the best golf hats for sun protection on the market in 2024.
I spend a lot of time on the course and on the range (a little less in Houston’s 100+ degree heat this Summer) and I’m at the age where protection from the sun is a big deal. Truth be told, I should have taken up this cause at least a couple of decades ago.
I bought 11 of the best golf hats from top manufacturers to test for this list and have included the top 9 only. This number may increase as I try more hats.
Here are my ranking criteria for the hats on this list:
- Sun protection.
- Comfortable – light material w/ decent ventilation.
- Quality construction & material.
- Not too goofy looking.
Visit these pages for a deeper dive into golf clothing – golf apparel companies, golf shirts, golf hats, and golf pants. Golf shoes will follow shortly.
In this review of the best options for golf hats for sun protection, I discuss my experience with each hat, and its unique features, and benefits.
Our Top 3 Recommendations
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Editor's Pick
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1st Runner Up
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2nd Runner Up
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Primary Rating:
5.0
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Primary Rating:
5.0
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Primary Rating:
4.9
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Pros:
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Pros:
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Pros:
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Cons:
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Cons:
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Cons:
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- Good Face & Neck Protection
- Lightweight & Comfortable
- Quality Construction & Fit
- Nada
- Good Face & Neck Coverage
- Lightweight & Comfortable
- Quality Construction & Fit
- Nice Looking
- Nada
- Good Face & Neck Protection
- Lightweight & Comfortable
- Quality Construction & Fit
- Not the best looking of the bunch
Our Top Choices For 2024
- Adidas Wide Brim Bucket Hat (Editor’s Pick)
- Titleist Charleston Aussie Bucket Hat (Runner Up)
- Titleist All Tour Aussie Hat
- Adidas Golf Men’s Standard UPF Sun Hat
- Adidas Men’s Victory 4 Bucket Hat
- Adidas Men’s Victory 3 Bucket Hat
- Bridgestone Liberty Collection Bucket Hat
- Callaway Bucket Hat (2021)
- Adidas M Reversible Bucket Hat
Adidas Wide Brim Golf Hat
- Good Face & Neck Protection
- Lightweight & Comfortable
- Quality Construction & Fit
- Nada
The Adidas Wide Brim bucket hat is our current Editor’s Pick for best golf hats for sun protection this year.
What we like:
- The wide brim provides good face, ears, and neck protection.
- Lightweight and comfortable material.
- Well-ventilated, including mesh interior lining.
- Quality construction and good fit
- Best looking big hat we’ve tested.
What we don’t like:
- Stiff brim (though, not a big deal).
- Drawstring (can be easily untied)
This hat comes in two sizes: S/M and L/XL. I suggest you pick L/XL unless you have a small head.
The L/XL fits me perfectly and I guess my head’s about average size.
I love the light material and excellent ventilation. No hat can keep you cool in the kind of heat we’re having in Houston this Summer. But, the Adidas Wide Brim bucket hat helps more than most.
It protects everything but the base of your neck and looks and feels pretty good while doing it.
Bottom line – You’ll love it if it fits. Best if you’re looking for max sun protection.
Titleist Charleston Aussie Bucket Hat
- Good Face & Neck Coverage
- Lightweight & Comfortable
- Quality Construction & Fit
- Nice Looking
- Nada
The Titleist Charleston Aussie bucket hat is next on our.
What we like:
- The wide brim provides good face, ears, and neck protection.
- Lightweight and comfortable material. Four small airholes and inner mesh lining are especially nice.
- Quality construction and good fit.
- Nice looking for a wide-brim hat.
What we don’t like:
- Not a fan of the drawstring, but it can be removed easily. (and replaced)
The Charleston Aussie is a one-size-fits-all hat. It’s ever so slightly large for me, but I wear it without a problem.
I find it really comfortable in our stifling Houston heat this Summer and I love the face protection from most any sun angle.
There are only two color options, but I happen to like both. So, I’m good.
Bottom line – Good looking with light material and comfortable fit. Best if you’re looking for max sun protection.
Titleist All Tour Aussie Golf Hat
- Good Face & Neck Protection
- Lightweight & Comfortable
- Quality Construction & Fit
- Not the best looking of the bunch
The Titleist Aussie golf hat is next on our list.
What we like:
- The wide brim provides good face, ears, and neck protection.
- Soft, lightweight, and comfortable material with good.
- Quality construction and good fit.
- Can cinch the headband for a tighter fit.
What we don’t like:
- Not the best looking.
- Drawstring (which is easily removable and replaced).
- Not the best airflow
Most of the complaints center around one basic fact – it’s not as good as the prior model. I’ll have to take their word for it. I never tried the older model.
- That being said, this is a highly-rated hat and I agree with the high ratings.
It fits great, feels great, and provides good protection for your head, neck, hears, and face.
I’m just not a large fan of how it looks. A small quibble.
Bottom line – You’ll love the way it performs if you like the way it looks. Best if you’re looking for max sun protection.
Adidas Golf Men’s Standard UPF Sun Hat
- Good Neck & Face Coverage
- Lightweight & Comfortable
- Quality Construction & Fit
- Nice Looking...for a big hat
- Nada
The Adidas Standard UPF sun hat is next.
What we like:
- The wide brim provides good face, ears, and neck protection.
- The material is soft, comfortable, and light which allows a little better airflow.
- Quality construction.
- Best looking big hat we’ve tested.
What we don’t like:
- Runs small. I got the L/XL and it barely fits me.
The bulk of the complaints I’ve read online relate to sizing issues. The hat comes in two sizes – S/M (small/medium) & L/XL (large/ extra large). And, they both run a little small.
The S/M fit me too snugly. I simply returned the hat for the Larte/X-large. (though it too, fits snugly)
Admittedly, size options are limited, but that’s a company complaint in my book. Not about the product itself.
Bottom line – You’ll love it if it fits. Best if you’re looking for max sun protection.
Adidas Men’s Victory 4 Bucket Hat
- Partial Face & Neck Coverage
- Complete Ear Protection
- Lightweight & Comfortable
- Quality Construction & Fit
- Not full face & neck protection
The Adidas Men’s Victory 4 bucket hat is next on our list.
What we like:
- Good, but not complete head protection. Most of the face and neck are protected. Ears are completely covered.
- Soft, lightweight, comfortable material with excellent ventilation.
- Quality construction and good fit.
What we don’t like:
- Drawstring. Had to cut it off. (I can’t stand them when golfing)
- Runs ever-so-slightly small
There are two sizes: S/M & L/XL
- I ordered the S/M (small/medium). I can wear it and it will likely stretch with time. But, I would like it maybe 1/8 inch or so bigger.
I love the material, lightweight comfort, and ventilation of this hat. It doesn’t have the complete protection of the biggest hats, but it does a good job when the sun is highest in the sky. (Mid-day, not morning or late afternoon sun)
Like seemingly all Adidas hats specializing in sun protection; size options are limited.
Bottom line – Lightweight and comfortable. Best for mid-day sun protection.
Adidas Men’s Victory 3 Bucket Hat
- Partial Face & Neck Protection
- Lightweight & Comfortable
- Quality Construction & Fit
- Not full face & neck protection
The Adidas Men’s Victory 3 bucket hat is next to make our list.
What we like:
- Good, but not complete head protection. Most of the face and neck are protected. Ears are completely covered.
- Soft, lightweight, comfortable material with excellent ventilation.
- Quality construction and good fit.
What we don’t like:
- Drawstring. Had to cut it off. (I can’t stand them when golfing)
- Runs ever-so-slightly small
There are two sizes: S/M & L/XL
- I ordered the S/M (small/medium) and had to return it for the L/XL (large/extra large).
The S/M was really snug for me and the L/XL fits perfectly. The material is lightweight, comfortable and breathable with excellent ventilation. The brim is firm but not rigid so I can easily stick it in the side pocket of my golf bag.
Great for mid-day when the sun is highest in the sky. Your lower neck and face will be pretty exposed in the early morning or late afternoon sun.
This is the Victory 4 but with a very slight cosmetic difference and the sizes run smaller.
Like seemingly all Adidas hats specializing in sun protection; size options are limited.
Bottom line – Like the Victory 4, it’s a lightweight and comfortable hat that’ll serve you well in the worst of the Summer sun and heat. Best for mid-day sun protection.
Bridgestone Liberty Collection Bucket Hat
- Partial Face & Neck Protection
- Lightweight & Comfortable
- Quality Construction & Fit
- Kinda cool looking
- Incomplete face & neck protection
The Bridgestone Liberty bucket golf hat is up next.
What we like:
- Good, but not complete head protection. Most of the face and neck are protected. Ears are completely covered.
- Soft, lightweight, comfortable material.
- Quality construction and good fit.
- Classic bucket hat look.
What we don’t like:
- Incomplete face and neck protection in the early morning or late afternoon sun. (think angles)
The Liberty Bucket hat is one size fits all. I guess I can see that. It fits me well. I guess maybe you can’t pull it down as far if your head is much bigger than mine.
I didn’t think I’d like this hat, but I do. It looks stiff, rigid, and uncomfortable at first glance. It’s none of those. It’s light, comfortable, and fits well. There’s no ventilation like most of the hats on this list, but it’s not a hot hat.
Like the other pure bucket hats on the list – It’s great for mid-day when the sun is highest in the sky. Your lower neck and face will be pretty exposed in the early morning or late afternoon sun.
This is what I think of when I think “bucket hat”. Like from the 70s or 80s. I like it.
Bottom line – Comfortable and classic bucket hat. Best for mid-day sun protection.
Callaway Bucket Hat
- Partial Face & Neck Protection
- Lightweight & Comfortable
- Quality Construction & Fit
- Best looking of the bunch
- Not full face & neck protection
What we like:
- Good, but not complete head protection. Most of the face and neck are protected. Ears are completely covered.
- Soft, lightweight, comfortable material with good ventilation.
- Quality construction and good fit.
- Another classic-looking bucket hat.
What we don’t like:
- Incomplete face and neck protection in the early morning or late afternoon sun. (think angles)
The Callaway bucket hat is the best-constructed or dressiest hat on the list. Really nice construction and quality materials.
This hat also comes in two sizes: S/M (small/medium) and L/XL (large/extra large). I ordered the S/M and it fits perfectly. In fact, it’s one of my favorite hats of the bunch – based on looks alone. (though, I’m starting to get sweet on the Bridgestone Liberty)
It’s light and comfortable with good ventilation. I ordered the white so my main concern is staining it. I don’t do well with white clothes.
This is another great-for-mid-day hat when the sun is highest in the sky. Not so much late morning or late afternoon. Your lower neck and face will be pretty exposed in the early morning or late afternoon sun.
Bottom line – Comfortable, with a classic bucket hat look. Best for mid-day sun protection.
Adidas Reversible Bucket Hat
- Good Face & Neck Protection
- Lightweight & Comfortable
- Quality Construction & Fit
- Incomplete face & neck protection
What we like:
- Good, but not complete head protection. Most of the face and neck are protected. Ears are completely covered.
- Soft, relatively lightweight, and comfortable.
- Quality construction and good fit.
- Another classic-looking bucket hat.
What we don’t like:
- Incomplete face and neck protection in the early morning or late afternoon sun. (think angles)
- 100% cotton construction.
The Adidas Reversible is a one-size-fits-all all hat like the Bridgestone Liberty. They’re similar hats in general. Both remind me of the bucket hats of the 70s and 80s.
Here’s the reverse view: Not a fan (might be the model)
This puppy is made from cotton, not polyester, like every other hat on this page.
- So, I don’t love it for the hottest days (and likely not for Summer at all) – not here in Houston, anyway.
It’s not heavy or stiff, but there are better options for heat mitigation. It provides about the same shade protection as the two hats above.
It’s good for the mid-day sun when it’s highest in the sky. Not late morning or late afternoon. Your lower neck and face will be pretty exposed in the early morning or late afternoon sun.
Bottom line – Comfortable, with a classic bucket hat look. Best for Spring & Fall level heat and mid-day sun protection.
FAQs
What type of hat is best to protect face from sun?
The best type of hat to protect your face from the sun is a wide-brim bucket hat like this one.
Do golfers wear sun hats?
Yes, golfers do wear sun hats.
What color of hat is better for sun protection?
White is the best color hat for sun protection. Or some other light color.
Final Verdict
Because sun protection is the name of the game for these hats…
The Adidas Wide Brim bucket hat is our #1 Recommendation out. of some tough competition. It gets the nod because it does everything well, plus has the best fitting options.
Thanks for checking out our review of the best golf hats for sun protection in 2024. Let us know which one(s) you choose and how you get along.
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Editor's Pick
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1st Runner Up
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2nd Runner Up
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Primary Rating:
5.0
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Primary Rating:
5.0
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Primary Rating:
4.9
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Pros:
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Pros:
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Pros:
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Cons:
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Cons:
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Cons:
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- Good Face & Neck Protection
- Lightweight & Comfortable
- Quality Construction & Fit
- Nada
- Good Face & Neck Coverage
- Lightweight & Comfortable
- Quality Construction & Fit
- Nice Looking
- Nada
- Good Face & Neck Protection
- Lightweight & Comfortable
- Quality Construction & Fit
- Not the best looking of the bunch
