#10 Best Hiking Hats for Backpacking 2023

Should you still go hiking on a rainy day? Well, worry not. In the first place for the best sun hats for small heads, we have the answer for you. The waterproof polyester fabric of the LETHMIK Outdoor Waterproof Boonie Hat keeps your head dry regardless of the weather. The ventilation system ensures that your face remains dry when you’re logging miles. Also, this hat is a great fit for small head sizes!

Looking for something basic? But make it to the next level, said Sunday Afternoons Sun Tripper Hat. This small head sun hat looks and feels like a regular baseball cap, but it’s UPF 50+ polyester/nylon blend and is 2-inch foldable. Also, the clamshell brim makes it very useful for traveling and hiking. Its mesh side vents and sweat-wicking sweatband make it both practical and stylish. The next level? It has a hidden pocket on the inside where you can keep your ID.

On days when there is a lot of wind?  The best hiking hats for backpacking should keep your cool at bay. Thanks to the Coolibar Crushable Ventilated Canvas Hat’s adjustable chin strap and the elastic headband. You won’t mess up your hiking trip. This hiking hat has a 3″ brim and UPF 50+ rating will protect your ears, neck, and nose from the sun’s strong UV rays. The mesh ventilation on the top of the head will help keep you cool. It also has a panel on top. This does add some extra protection, but it also makes the product less breathable.

The Columbia Schooner Bank Cachalot III Hat looks and feels like a baseball cap, but no. One of the best hiking hats for backpacking should have a neck cape for extra protection. It is made of lightweight nylon fabric with UPF 50+ protection, a coolmax polyester lining, and an omni-wick sweatband. Plus, this hiking hat has an elastic drawstring that can be adjusted quickly and easily with a plastic toggle at the back.

Firebird V2 Hat from Shelta cannot be left out when you are out to find the best hiking hats for backpacking. This hiking hat has a 5-panel crown and a full brim to make a hat that fits well and protects the head from the sun. The front of the brim is three inches long, and the rest is a quarter-inch shorter. Also, the piece of molded plastic is built into the front of the brim so it doesn’t flap in your face when the wind blows. This hat has a retractable chin string to keep it from blowing off. You can also store the chin cord in the hat’s pocket!

The Tilley T5MO Organic Airflo Hat is also worth mentioning when it comes to being green for the best hiking hats for backpacking. This hiking hat has a full brim and is made of recycled organic cotton, polyester, and rayon. It is part of the brand’s “sustainable” line. The airflow technology is a polyester mesh built into the hat’s crown to let in as much air as possible which is a great option for hot days on the trail. Also, it is made of cotton, which is naturally a piece of breathable fabric.

Outdoor Research’s Cloud Forest Rain Hat is the best thing to bring on a hike in cold or wet weather. It’s the right mate as a hiking sun hat. Even though it doesn’t breathe as well as most sun hats because it has a Venita nylon shell and a PU-coated under brim, it is fully waterproof.

The hat also dries quickly and wicks away moisture. It has a 2 34-inch brim and an internal headband that help keep your vision clear in heavy rain or sweat. The Cloud Forest Rain Hat has a drawstring that you can adjust with one hand and a chin strap that you can take off.

When you don’t know if it’s going to rain or shine, the Buff Pack Trek Cap is the perfect hiking hat that fits in your pocket. It’s easy to fold up and put in a jacket pocket because it’s made to be portable. This hat is best for hiking in warm weather because it is made of ultra-light polyester fabric with UV protection and breathable mesh side panels. The velcro strap also makes it easy and quick to adjust, and the 4-way stretch moisture-wicking fabric makes it fit even better.

Sinsola Hat from Arc’teryx covers you for all that. For a very light, comfortable, and stylish product, this item should be listed as the best hiking hats for backpacking. This hiking hat is also easy to pack because it is made of light materials. So, this hat is easy to put away in a pocket when you don’t need sun protection. The brim is wide enough to shield your eyes and ears from the sun. When you need to see better, you can fold up the brim. Moreover, at the back of the hat, there is an elastic, which makes it sit well on your head without being too tight.

Even though there are a lot of beanies out there, we always go back to the Carhartt Acrylic Watch Hat. Yup. The only beanie that makes it to the best hiking hats for backpacking. This cult-favorite beanie comes in every (neon) color of the rainbow and is loved not only for how street-cool it looks but also for how warm and well-made it is. It’s much more durable and stretchy than other beanies, and it comes in one size that fits everyone. It’s also cheap, so there’s a lot to like about it.