The 10 Best Kayaking Hats: A Go-Getters Buying Guide

If you’re in a hurry and still want to grab the best kayaking hat, go for the Columbia Bora Bora Booney, confidently.

Are you excited about your next kayaking adventure or maybe deciding to have fishing on it? You probably have selected your kayak, clothing, food, gears, and other accessories? So you are almost done with the prepara­tion. You didn’t miss anything, right?

Well, maybe you did! How will you find comfort with the ever-changing climate on a kayak without having a good hat? It’s going to be sunny which is going to tan your skin. Or maybe the winter wind is preparing to ruin your plans along with your lovely hair?

A simple hat can make everything fall in place and there’s absolutely nothing that you may fear about comfort after that.

It’s not an alien project to decide on a kayaking hat. Here I am to help you out pick the right one for you. I’ll review the top ten best kayaking hats. There’s also a guide later that will be beginner’s friendly. So let’s start!

Top 10 Best Kayaking Hats 2021 Reviews

To make your purchase journey easy, here is the list of the top ten kayaking hats that come with user-friendly features. Our team has spent their time kayaking with almost twenty hats that we chose on the basis of popularity.

After personal use and experience, we are finalizing these ten hats as the most suitable ones for kayaking. Here’s a brief table about them.

You should be able to distinguish your needs and requirements prior to reading these. If you totally have no idea about hat selection then I suggest you first have a look at the buyer’s guide section below. You’ll be able to pick a suitable hat this way without being perplexed.

So let’s begin with the reviews. Have patience and try to figure out what features will probably suit your wish list and requirements.

1. Columbia Bora Bora Booney Hat – The Moisture Wicking Fabric That Gives UV Sun Protection

Bora Bora II Booney is a Columbia hat product that is super popular with its breathable fabric and great UV protection power. This booney hat is beautiful and at the same time very comfortable to wear in any climate but mostly in summer.

The Columbia bora bora hat comes with very smart manufacturing that includes 100% nylon poplin fabric to make it better in quality. It’s a well-textured unisex booney hat that suits both men and women.

There is a total of ten gorgeous-looking shades that will suit both gender’s preferences. However, the Bora Bora II Booney hat comes only in one size option. This actually gives you about 92% fitting no matter what head size you have.

This fishing hat comes with a signature wicking fabric that can very well resist moisture or any kind of sweat while you go kayaking. It gives you UV 50 sun protection in summertime weather. It helps you to shield UVB and UVA rays easily.

The hat also comes with a design of mesh features that will help you to give enough ventilation. The breeze-inducing power is just the right amount to keep you calm and sound in hot weather.

There is also an adjustable drawcord and toggle within the back. So that the user can easily adjust it according to his or her comfort.

Choosing the Perfect Kayaking Hat for You: Buyer's Guide

So now you know about the ten best kayaking hats. How do you know which one would suit you the best? Here are some major considerations that you should keep in mind while deciding on a particular model.

Is Brand Reputation Important?

Of course, you cannot and should not get a hat on the basis of just the brand name. There are quite a few brands that are expensive for no reason, just because they hold a very reputed name in the industry. I definitely suggest people buy a hat that fulfills the requirements you have.

However, don’t just buy anything from anywhere. You should be concerned with whatever you are using or wearing. It should have some quality to make you comfortable. When we talk about quality, of course, some handful name is only available to go for. That’s why it’s important to give at least 60% priority to the brand name.

There are some brands that are actually renowned because they provide quality. They think about the user’s comfort. They make hats that go well with any kayaking situation you’ll ever have. So obviously they are loved and cherished by people.

The end line is, look for something that comes from a reliable source. So that you can be sure that whatever you are getting won’t be disappointing later. You are going to grab some delightful experiences while kayaking.

Is It Comfortable?

Okay, so you have your eyes on a particular hat that looks ravishing. It’s just the perfect type and design that would go fabulously with your aura. So obviously you’ll be jumping already on your seats to get and grab it. But wait for a minute and hear me out.

What if the beautiful-looking hat actually comes with a really uncomfortable material and manufacturing? Most of the time when the design is too fancy, the comfort becomes questionable.

Because the materials used for a classy looking and fancy design hat would mostly be something that is a bit rare and different. So there might be chances that it does not provide the breathability and comfort it should have.

Now maybe you would want to compromise the comfort because you love to fashionable and crave for good-looking stuff.

But believe me, if the hat doesn’t feel right on your head, you’ll be having a hard time doing your kayaking activities. There’s no way you’ll be looking nice with the discomfort showing on your face.

So of course when you are going to grab a kayak hat, look for comfort first, then check out the designs and colors available. Don’t compromise ease.

What Is The Protection Level?

If a hat can’t give you enough protection from the sun then it fails. Don’t go for it. As simple as that. You are wearing the hat for one particular reason, getting protection. It may be from winds or the dangerous UV lights of the sun.

So you must have a good look at the features that say about sun protection. Don’t just blindly trust that if you are getting a kayak hat then it means you won’t be affected by the dangerous radiations of heat.

There are so many hats that are only fashion accessories and comes with zero protection from the sun. Whatever brand you are looking at, see in the information about the UV ratings.

Most people will tell you to go for a hat that gives 50+ ratings. The range is good enough to give you flawless protection.

There are some brands that tell you a lie about the ratings. It claims to be of a certain amount of protection but can barely block the sun rays. So they won’t be able to hold you back from the sun damage.

The more the hat allows lighting to pass through it, the less effective the protection from sun rays would be. Remember, it’s barely a mechanical block from UV radiation in most of the kayak hats.

However, if you stuck into a particular hat that matches your every requirement but you really can’t be completely sure with the protection, get it. Just be sure to apply a good amount of sun protection hair cream on your scalp and sunscreen on your face before you wear that hat.

Never forget to apply the cream if you don’t have any hair on your head. Because then, your head scalp would be in danger and usually, this is riskier than people with hair.

What about Hat Sizing?

There are manufacturers with different size charts available. They varied in some aspects. The best way to find your perfect fit is to have the proper measurements of your head. When you use these measurements through the size chart manufacturers provide, you’ll be able to get a conversion on what size should suit you.

To get the right measurements, get a tape. Now figure out the largest area of your head. Take the tape and wrap it around that area in the back and right over your eyebrows. If there is no flexible tape available at your place, using a string piece will be okay as well. You can later lie it flat on a ruler and find out your measurement.

Don’t just avoid getting any fit. There is some particular hat that would suit everyone’s head size. These free-size hats are okay to get but for better comfort and results try to grab a kayak hat of your measurements.

What Color Should I Choose?

You’ll be happy to know that today there are various colors and designs available with each manufacturer. You would be able to choose a design and go for multiple color options on it. This is a great plus for fashion-conscious kayakers.

However, there are some certain rules you need to think about. Whenever you go kayaking in warm seasons you should not choose any darker shades for hats. Why? Because the darker shades will attract heat. Colors such as dark greys, reds, dark brown, and black tend to grab more heat which may result in heating up your head.

Now for summer kayaking, lighter shades are definitely the best choice. Colors such as light blues, beiges, creams, and whites, etc. would always keep your head cool and calm. Also, they don’t fade away too quickly.

But the bad side with light shades is these get dirty too soon. Also, the dirt is noticeable due to the shades.

Now according to when and how you go for kayaking get a hat that would do justice with the requirements.

What Material Should I Choose?

Most of the time, efficiency or comfort depends on the material used for making the kayak hat. So you should give enough attention to material or fabric while choosing a kayak hat. There are different manufacturers that use different types of material.

There are hats made of pure cotton. These are best for summertime kayaking. However, if you fall into the water then these may get wet. You’ll find some that use cotton and some other materials to give a mixed benefit. Cotton is the finest pick for hat material that will keep your head cool in summer. But for wintertime, these may not work so well.

For wintertime, kayaking choose Bennie made of wool or silk material. You may want to go fishing in wintertime on your kayak. Most people will go for such materials while doing fishing.

There are even some very reasonable hats that offer straw manufacturing. These give better breathability and wind flow inside the hat. These help to keep your head cool. However, due to the build method, it might not give you enough protection from UV rays.

Go for materials that are really quick to dry. Even if by chance there is a splash or you tip over, then the hat should be able to get dry soon.

Is There Any Use Of Lockage?

A hat that always slips from your head and does not stay in place will not work properly to give you the protection you need from the sun. So you need some support that would keep it attached to your head. There is a certain lock system within the hat that helps to keep it in place while you paddle.

There are hats with chin straps. Some even use the band. No matter what you pick be sure the lock system is adjustable and easy to use. Also, be certain that these materials don’t harm your face and head. They should be delicate to put on.

What Should I Do About Ventilation?

If you don’t want to feel suffocated inside the hat then please be sure to do something with ventilation. You need to have good breathability material in your head. Otherwise, during warm seasons you’ll be prone to having heat stroke and continuous sweats issue. These are not what hat is meant to do. They should give you comfort and support.

So go for hat manufacturers that give enough considerations to good ventilation properties in their hats. This is something you can’t ignore at all if you are preparing to go for summertime kayaking.

What about Women Hats?

All these considerations I discussed are suitable for women kayakers also. But there are some special thoughts too that I want to share. You should always keep some points in mind if you are a fashion-conscious lady. Some of them are also meant for man.

Go for a kayak hat that goes well with your face shape. It should give a flattering look to your face. Kayaking is something that looks stylish. So you too cannot sidestep being beautiful on the water. You should pick a style, size, and shape that goes well with your face sculpture.

It might help you to lengthen your face or even shorten it down. These also sometimes emphasize the whole structure. For oblong face shape, try styles that shorten your look.

This looks better by adding width to it. For females with a wide round face, have a raised crown-style hat. An irregular brim will also help to make your face look slimmer. Oval beauties can pick any style and it would go with them.

Also, pick a hat that would suit other activities as well as kayaking. If you are a very active lady, a hat might be a good accessory to add to your attire and looks.

So pick a design or look with the hat that will go well with other activities. Choose a wider brimmed and fancy option if you care about looks. A head-fitted hat with a chin strap is for ladies who enjoy wild rides.

Also, look for hats that easily fit into your purse or handbag. So that you can pull it out any moment for a sudden fashion requirement.

Kayak Attire Tips

Never Take Off Your PFD!

You should always keep yourself away from taking off the PFD when going on the water. Don’t take it along. If there is any need to adjust the top layer try to find a place for taking out. Another less desirable alternative is to get a raft-up. Don’t change your clothes with a partner holding the boat firmly for you. Only if there is totally no other way.

Ignore Fastener That Rust

When you go kayaking in saltwater there are chances that any metal you take with yourself will face corrosion. So instead of any metal fastener and hardware get rugged plastic. There are so many rules for metal rising which sounds oversimplified. You may be able to trust the metal components if it says the gear is for paddling. Then it might be made of rust-resistant materials.

Take Your Glass Retainers

When you take something to wear for your eyes stay away from fancy and expensive sunglasses or sun wears. It might sink and so you would probably lose it forever. Instead of such eyewear try to find a glass retainer. Something that will float and stay attached no matter what. A better idea would be to always have a spare retainer.

Now here are some pointers that you should fix in your mind when dressing for a kayak trip. These are

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

That’s it, folks! I hope now you have the complete knowledge that you should have to get the perfect hat for your kayaking needs. Get one of these from the best kayaking hats and you won’t regret it. These are reasonable, protective, and look beautiful for adventure.

However, everyone has their own preference and suitability. So it’s best to ask yourself and figure out accordingly about what requirements and comfort do you need from a kayak hat.

Hopefully, you’ll be having the best hat soon and enjoying your moments on the water. Happy Kayaking!