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best fly fishing hats

5 Best Fly Fishing Hats – Quick Guide

Hey, fishing buddies! You are probably intersted in the best fly fishing hats on the market. Here, you will definitely find what you are looking for. 

First of all, before you hit the water for a nice fly fishing day, you should gear upright. While many fishermen know that they will be fishing for many hours in the heat, they forget to bring their fly fishing hat.

Or they just ignore to take some time to choose the right one. Fishing on a hot summer day can turn your fishing trip into a nightmare if you don’t protect your head and face! Imagine that you are in the middle of a lake fishing for bass and the sun is directly above your head!

The Ultraviolet sun rays cannot only damage your skin and cause sunburn, but also your eyes. Additionally, it is scientifically proven that it is easier to get sunburnt if you are close to the water. The reflections of the sun are not significantly different from the direct UV sun rays.

Unfortunately, skin cancer is a really common cancer and a fishing hat could definitely protect you. We compiled this guide in order to help you make a wise buying decision and we included the 5 best fly fishing hats on the market! Undoubtedly, there are numerous fishing hats out there and this may be overwhelming.

Putting on some suntan and special polarized fishing glasses are also good, but a fisherman’s hat is a must for every angler.

We hope that you will not have to look any further to find the hat that will meet your needs.

Reasons to Get A Fishing Hat

best fly fishing hats

It goes without saying that a hat protects you from the sun. But we would like to focus on fishing where you always need a good hat for many reasons. You may think, why fishing when it is really hot. Well, hot weather is not always the best option for fishing, but you should know that fish are hiding under weedy cover during hot days. 

Personally, I cannot fish without my favorite trout fishing hat for the following reasons:

UV Protection: The harmful sun rays can damage your skin and cause cancer. Not to forget that after a long fishing trip, you will get a severe headache! A hat will protect you not only from the sun but also from glare.

Storage Area: Many anglers use their fishing hat as a storage bag and they store fishing lures or hooks. However, we do not recommend it.

Rain Protection: You are an angler and that means you are going to be exposed to the elements of nature. The worst thing that could happen is rain! Fishing with a wet head is not the best thing in the world. Choosing a waterproof fishing hat could be a significant choice.

Things to Look for in the Best Fishing Hats

great fishing day

As an avid angler, I tried to put together this guide so you can select a fishing hat that will meet your fishing needs. Fishing headwear should be designed according to your needs and make you enjoy your fishing trip. These are the facts that you should take into consideration:

WATERPROOF

When you are planning a nice fishing trip and the weather forecast is not ideal, you should not cancel your fishing trip. The best fishing hats should be able to withstand harsh weather conditions like rain. Choose a waterproof material to keep you dry. The best fly fishing hats should be both water-resistant and breathable. 

HAT STYLE

Additionally, there are different styles and it depends on your personal preferences. There are bucket hats, hats with neck cover, or Boonie hats! The majority of anglers prefer a Boonie hat due to its wide brim.

Nevertheless, the style is up to you. The most important fact is to be careful while choosing a hat. Waterproof and breathable material is a must.

Material and Color

Sweating during a hot summer day is not uncommon so you should select a material that is appropriate for hot days. Cotton is a really good and breathable fabric and it will make you feel comfortable. Most fishing hats are made of cotton and have a waterproof polyester outer shell.

Best Fly Fishing Hats - TOP PICKS-

Nowadays, it is impossible to find the best fly fishing hats as there are multiple products on the market. We searched through the net, found the best products, and tested them during real fishing conditions! 

1.Fish Lure Baseball Cap Hat

 

This is a typical baseball cap hat designed for heavy-duty fishing and it is available in 8 colors. The all-round wide brim will protect you from the harmful sun rays. The hat is made of 100% cotton and it is extremely breathable thanks to the back mesh panel.

Key Features

Furthermore, there are several features that you should take into account. I would consider it as one of the best fly fishing hats as it utilizes an adjustable snap and there is a small lure logo! I think that it will be my next best bass fishing hat. 

This fashionable fishing hat will keep you cool and protected.

PROS

  • Breathable
  • Protects you from the sun
  • Great Design for anglers
  • Durable material and skin-friendly cotton

CONS

  • The wind can blow off the hat easily

2.KoolSoly Fishing Hat with Neck Flap  UPF+50

 

The next fishing hat is the unisex typical fishing hat with a flap to protect your neck.  True to its name, it keeps you cool during this hot fishing days. It’s a lightweight hat very comfortable to wear and it is available in four colors. However, we recommend dark colors for weedy fishing environments. 

On the other hand, the white version will keep your head cooler. 

Key Features

The hat dries up super-fast and it is very compact. You can fold the hat and put it in your fishing tackle box. You may think that it is not suitable for rainy days. I would like to disagree because I tested this hat and thanks to the combination of materials your head will not get wet.

Another great thing is that there is an adjustable chin strap that secures your hat. If you are fishing in windy conditions, you can easily lose your hat!

You can remove the shawl and neck flap if you feel more comfortable without them.

PROS

  • Breathable
  • Protects you from the sun
  • Chin Strap
  • UPF+50

CONS

  • The waterproof nylon fabric could irritate your scalp 

3.Columbia Bora Bora Booney

 

The next hat in our best fishing hats list is a Columbia fishing hat. It is 100% nylon which makes it waterproof and able to withstand several weather conditions. If you are looking for the perfect fisherman’s hat you should definitely consider it.

Key Features

First of all, it is able to block out the most harmful UVA and UVB rays (UPF 50) thanks to the special Omni-Shade technology developed by Columbia. If you are sweating, you will not face any issues at all!

The sweatband will absorb moisture and keep your head dry. This extremely attractive and durable hat will be your next fishing buddy. The special material will not only experience a comfortable way of fishing but also shade your head and eyes.

What is UPF?  Click here to learn more

PROS

  • Special Omni-Shade Sun Protection Technology
  • Waterproof
  • Premium Quality Material
  • Breathable
  • Ventilation Technology

CONS

  • No inner pockets

4.Sun Hat Wide Brim Einskey Best Fly Fishing Hats

 

When it comes to high-quality fishing hats, this is one of the top brands on the market. This is not just another hat, because it is the best sun hat for multiple conditions. We chose this hat because you can wear it both during the summer and winter.

Key Features

To be honest, this hat looks a little weird but if you take a closer look you will realize that it is a really practical accessory for every angler. It offers a 360-degree protection and features UPF +50 Sun Shade.

Moreover, it is made of a combination of materials and it is 100% waterproof. Another thing that you should know is that Einskey has excellent customer support. 

PROS

  • Waterproof
  • Wide Variety of Colors
  • Affordable

CONS

  • Some people may find it too small 

5.Lethmik Boonie Fishing Hat

 

Lastly, we included the Lethmik Quick Dry hat with the large brim and brass buttons.  A perfect fit for both freshwater and saltwater anglers. Moreover, it is a practical hat because you can just fold it and put it in your backpack.

Key Features

If you need a good hat specialized for fishing, you should definitely not ignore the Lethmik hat. It dries really fast and utilizes UPF UVA, UVB sun protection. There is no denying that the light fabric is both comfortable and waterproof.

Overall, it is an all-condition hat and Lethmik featured it with many details. The adjustable cord is a big plus if you are fishing during a windy day. 

Personally, I love the fact that it has a really wide brim that covers not only your face but also the neck. If you are fly fishing you definitely need this. 

PROS

  • Perfect Protection from the sun
  • Breathable Material
  • Quick Dry technology
  • Foldable
  • You can take it for fishing, hunting or hiking

CONS

  • The material could be slightly better

Wrapping Up

Summarizing, you will definitely need a hat when you are fishing. Personally, I cannot go out without my hat. What you need depends on your personal preferences. We tried to include the best fly fishing hats and we hope that you will not have to look further to make your decision.