Even if you only plan to spend a few hours at the garden every day, having the best gardening hat is essential. Not only will the proper hat keep you protected from the sun, but it will also keep you cooler and provide your face with adequate shade. The ideal gardening hat is lightweight, practical, and breathable.
We’ve rounded up some of the best gardening hats for men and women. However, these hats are also great on the beach, in the park, or anywhere you might be exposed to the sun for an extended period of time. Even though many of these hats have built-in UPF, be sure to wear a good sunscreen on your face as well!
These gardening hats are not ranked in any particular order, so pick whichever fits your style and price range. As always, prices are subject to change.
1. Terrain Cotton Crusher Hat – $36
This handmade cotton gardening hat by Terrain comes in 4 different colors, but we prefer the white to keep you cool. The hat is lightweight, packable, and stylish.
- Packable
- UPF 50+ Sun Protection
- Lightweight
2. Sunday Afternoons Unisex Hat – $39
This adjustable hat is breathable, UPF 50+, and stain-resistant. The cape on this hat makes it ideal for protecting the back of the neck while gardening. It also floats in the water, so you can stay cool and protected on your next kayak ride! This hat is available at Home Depot, but you can also check the price on Amazon.
- UPF 50 +
- Protects the neck
- Breathable and stain-resistant
3. Sloggers Braided Sun Hat – $25
If you’re an avid gardener, we’re sure you’ve heard of Sloggers. (We recommended them in our Gardeners Gift Guide.) This hat comes in a variety of colors to suit your style. The wind lanyard keeps it in place on those breezy garden days.
- Sloggers brand
- Lanyard to keep in place
4. L.L. Bean Tropicwear Outback Hat – $45
We love L.L. Bean for their high-quality clothing that lasts forever. This hat will protect the back of your neck when you’re gardening in the hot sun. If you’re looking for something colorful, it also comes in bright chili red.
- Moisture-wicking polyester sweatband
- UPF 50+ Sun Protection
- Protective neck flap
5. Terrain Woven Palm Sun Hat – $68
The asymmetrical shape of this hat provides a stylish twist while still being functional. This wide-brimmed sun hat is hand woven with sustainable palm fibers. The black bow sets this hat apart from the others. It can be worn in the garden, on the beach, or out to dinner. It even has UPF+, making it one of our favorite picks!
- UPF 50+
- Stylish and functional
- Water resistant
6. The North Face Horizon Hat – $26
If you’re looking for a ball cap style garden hat, you may be happy with The North Face Horizon Hat. This cap is made of nylon so its incredibly lightweight. It also offers sun protection which can be difficult to find in a ball cap.
- Made of lightweight nylon
- UPF 50 Sun Protection
- Adjustable clip closure
7. O’neill Men’s Straw Sun Hat – $20
This unique straw hat is perfect for the casual male gardener. It’s lightweight and made out of straw. This hat does have a cord to keep it in place. However, it does not offer sun protection so you’ll want to wear extra sunscreen on the face if you’re working long days in the garden.
- Made of lightweight straw
- Drawstring closure
- Offers no additional sun protection
8. L.L. Bean Men’s Aussie Breezer Hat – $45
We love that this Aussie Breezer Hat by L.L. Bean is made in the USA. With mesh side panels and UPF 50 sun protection, you’ll stay cool and comfortable all day. This highly-rated hat is great for gardening, hiking, or just poking around outside.
- UPF 50+ Sun Protection
- Made in the USA
- Mesh side panels for breathability
9. Sunday Afternoons Vivian Sun Hat – $42
This floppy sun hat is both practical and attractive. It’s made of 100% wool felt, so it may feel warmer than some of the cotton sun hats on this list. This hat would be perfect at the start of the garden season, or at the end when the temperatures are starting to cool down. We also like that this hat is versatile and can be worn for sun protection in the winter.
- UPF 50+ Sun Protection
- Adjustable band for custom fit
- Interior sweat band pulls moisture away
- Great for cooler weather
10. Field and Stream Evershade Hat – $20
This straw hat is an affordable option by Field and Stream. The vented crown and wide brim will keep you cool in the garden. This hat does not offer additional sun protection.
- Made of lightweight straw
- Affordable
- Vented crown
11. Stetson Mesh Covered Hat – $30
This mesh safari-style hat by Stetson provides great ventilation and is suitable any outdoor activity. It’s lightweight and breathable but will still hold up on windy days in the garden.
- UPF 50+ Sun Protection
- Coolmax sweatband
- Adjustable chin cord
12. Lattice Palm Hat – $58
Another gardening hat we love from Terrain. This asymmetrical palm hat is practical, stylish, and water resistant. Each hat is hand-woven with sustainable palm fibers.
- UPF 50+ Sun Protection
- Hand-woven palm
- Lightweight and breathable
We hope you enjoyed this list of our top gardening hats for the season. We’ll keep this list updated regularly. Let us know in the comments which one is your favorite, or if you’ve purchased any of them. In addition to a good pair of gloves, a good hat is an absolute essential in the garden!