Serious hikers and backpackers have many different hats for various weather conditions and seasons. You’ll be surprised at the variety, and they’ll be grateful to receive one or more of them as gifts. The most important gear on any hike is your brain, and hiking hats keep it in good working order —from sun- and rain-resistant hats to fleece beanies and down-insulated hoods.

1. Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure Hat

The Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure Hat is one of the most popular hiking hats ever made, even though it looks a little dorky. In addition to hiking, it can be used for many other activities, from fishing and gardening to going to the beach and the farmers’ market. With a UPF 50+ rating, it protects your head from the sun, with a 3″ brim and back cape to protect your neck. It has a lanyard, so it won’t fly away in the wind, and it even floats.

2. Outdoor Research Sun Runner Draped Hat

If you hike or run in the desert or another sunny locale, you need the extra ear and neck protection of a hat with a “drape”.  The Outdoor Research Sun Runner is the most famous hat of this type. Its 2.75″ brim width protects it from the sun, while external breathable mesh panels and internal UPF 40 fabric deliver a cool and comfortable feel while protecting it from the sun. The convertible design features a removable cape to protect the back of the neck, while the dark material under the brim reduces glare. The chin cord keeps the cap in place on windy days spent on the trail, and a headband wicks moisture away from the head and face.

3. Outdoor Research Insect Shield Brim Hat

The Outdoor Research Insect Shield Brim Hat is treated with EPA-registered Insect Shield to help repel mosquitoes, ticks, and other biting insects, and it really works. I’ve been using this hat for over 10 years myself! It has a UPF 40 rating, a 2.5″ brim, a lanyard, is easy to wash, and is entirely crushable.

4. Outdoor Research Seattle Rain Hat

The Outdoor Research Seattle Rain Hat is a great alternative to wearing an ill-fitting rain jacket hood, especially if you have to hike or backpack all day in the pouring rain. It’s waterproof, of course, with a wide brim to keep the rain off your face and glasses and a neck lanyard to secure it under your chin. The side brims can also be folded up rakishly for an edgy look.

5. Minus 33 Blaze Orange Wool Beanie

Autumn hunting season arrives just as temperatures start to drop. That’s when you want to wear a blaze orange hat so you’re not mistaken for a moose, deer, turkey, or bear. The 100% Merino Minus 33 Wool Beanie is double-layered to provide all the warmth you need on a cold day while remaining lightweight, comfortable, and packable.

6. Skida Alpine Hat

Skida Alpine Hats are fleece-lined beanies available in a gazillion different colors and patterns. They’re made in Vermont and wildly popular throughout New England. Their best selling Alpine Hat is fully lined with cozy mid-weight fleece – it wicks moisture, cuts the wind, and always leaves you high and dry. Great for chilly hikes or just cruising around town. This hat goes from casual to performance without skipping a beat. Check out their huge selection of Brim Hats and Headbands, too.

7. Patagonia Winter Duckbill Cap

Designed for cold-weather trail running and hiking, the Patagonia Winter Duckbill Running Cap has a water-resistant top, highly breathable fleece on the sides and flip-down earflaps, and a crushable brim for packable, on-demand warmth when you need it most. The ponytail pass-through is another value-add that people with longer hair will appreciate.

8. Tilley LTM6 AirFlo Broad Bill Hat

The Tilley LTM6 Airflow is another iconic hiking hat loved by thousands of hikers nationwide. Its wide, stiff brim keeps the sun and rain off your face and neck, offering excellent UV protection with a UPF 50 rating. The closed-cell foam on top keeps the hat afloat if it goes overboard, making it a great companion for boating. There’s also a hidden hook-and-loop pocket in the crown to store ID, a hotel key, or money.

9. Katabatic Gear Down Windom Hood

Ideal for three-season use (when there’s no snow on the ground), the Katabatic Gear Down Windom Hood is a perfect complement to a hoodless ultralight backpacking quilt. Elastic binding seals out drafts while being comfortable against the face and does not restrict your vision. The Windom Hood will keep a hiker warm while sleeping, walking, or being active in camp.  For temperatures colder than 20°F, get them the Down Crestone Hood. 

10. Stratus SureFit Anti-Fog Balaclava

The Stratus SureFit Stormcell Anti-Fog Balaclava Hat prevents your glasses or snow goggles from fogging up while protecting your face and head from frostbite. It has a special nose piece that directs your exhalations away from your face with a bendable wire to fit it to your faces dimensions. This is the balaclava I use in winter when climbing mountains where snow goggles are needed to keep blowing snow and wind from freezing my face off. This is a unique product. No other manufacturer makes anything as wearable or effective!

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