![\"(Photo\/Ben](\"http:\/\/setupjunkie.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Shelta_Seahawk_Brim-700x394-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The right fishing hat is a critical piece of gear for a successful day out on the water. <\/strong>While a ball cap might have sufficed in the past, your fishing experience will be better with the sun, wind, and rain protection only a quality fishing hat can provide. That doesn\u2019t mean you have to ditch the familiar ball cap, as several good fishing hats we\u2019ve handled are modeled after the classic ball cap. But, if you want to compare all the best options, read on. <\/p>\n Our experts have been landing fish for decades, testing a wide range of angling products from the best fishing glasses to the best hunting knives. Our lead tester, Ben Hickok, has over 2 decades of outdoor experience, including rock climbing, backpacking, and his great passion for fishing. <\/p>\n He lives on a few acres in Central Wyoming with his wife and daughter, enjoying unfettered access to Wyoming’s hunting and fishing opportunities. His combined experience and informed opinions let us narrow product selections to great products, separating mediocre products, gimmicks, and casualwear.<\/p>\n Finding a comfortable and useful fishing hat can be difficult, especially when shopping online and without the ability to try any on. Still, when you find the right one, you\u2019ll wonder why you\u2019ve waited so long to get one. We analyzed brim sizes, materials, fabric treatments, design pros and cons, special features, comfort, and fit to help you narrow your search and graduate from casual to performance wear.<\/p>\n Below are the top fishing hats based on our testing and evaluations. We have highlighted hats that fit different anglers and needs. We’ve also included a thorough buyer\u2019s guide<\/a>, a comparison chart<\/a>, <\/strong>and an FAQ<\/a> <\/strong>section for those who are trying to understand the what and why of fishing hats.<\/p>\n Editor’s Note: We updated this guide on August 26, 2024, by adding four new products, including our top pick for backcountry fishing, the Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure Hat<\/a><\/strong>. We also expanded sections of our buyer’s guide to make it more helpful.<\/em><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGreat ventilation<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tComfortable<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRigid bill<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRemovable chin strap<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tA bit pricey<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHeavier than other Boonie hats<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The Shelta Seahawk Performance Sun Hat<\/a><\/strong> ($75) is a great fishing hat, equally suited to kayaking, rafting, and other water sports as it is to all forms of fishing. Its no-flop brim is long enough at the bill and wide enough all around to provide adequate sun protection at any point in the day, from your head to your shoulders. It maintains just enough flexibility to remain comfortable. Yet, it stays in place and provides protection even when the wind picks up.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The adjustable headband allows you to get a secure and comfortable fit, without putting too much pressure on the ears, even when wearing sunglasses and a hoodie. An adjustable chin strap helps keep the Seahawk snug atop your head but is removable for those whose beards might get annoyed by a chin strap, or calm days where it just isn\u2019t necessary.<\/p>\n Breathable materials and ventilation grommets keep your head cool, and the lighter color is great for reflecting a light, without standing out unnaturally from the local environment. The Seahawk is made from materials with a UPF 50+ rating, and it floats, so you are unlikely to lose it while on the water.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve only fished wearing a ball cap, straw hat, or budget boonie hat, which all suffice, then the Shelta Seahawk will be the hat you didn\u2019t know you needed the whole time. This premium hat is expensive in the world of fishing hats, but it is worth every dollar if you value comfort, performance, and protection from the elements.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n You\u2019ll find even more value in the Shelta Seahawk Performance Sun Hat<\/a> <\/strong>if you enjoy fishing from a boat, inflatable, paddleboard, or kayak. You get sun protection benefits, but due to its floating brim, you won\u2019t lose your hat if things get a little hairy while drifting around the next bend in the river or awkwardly trying to land a fish.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tInexpensive<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGreat ventilation<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLightweight<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tComfortable<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFloppy brim<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n When you need a strong balance of performance and price in a lightweight gear piece for those backcountry-angling pursuits, the Columbia Bora Bora II Booney<\/a> <\/strong>($30) is an excellent choice. Its lower cost compared to the most premium fishing hats means you won\u2019t feel bad about folding it up and stuffing it in your pack. And, unlike many more modestly priced fishing hats, you won\u2019t have to sacrifice materials, comfort, or protection.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The Columbia Bora Bora II Booney may be a little more flexible than other hats and the brim may flop in heavy winds, but it still provides excellent sun protection overall. The adjustable headband and cinching chin strap keep the hat secure to your head and don\u2019t cause any discomfort. <\/p>\n Mesh materials and a wicking sweatband are effective in keeping your head cool, although the lighter-weight materials don\u2019t keep as nice a head shape as other heavier hats. The hat materials are rated to UPF 50, so you can feel comfortable that the parts of your head, neck, and shoulders that are shielded from the sun are adequately protected from UVA and UVB radiation.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Anybody who has fished in the high country and made multiday pack trips knows how irritating a hat can be when it rubs on the brain of your backpack or frame of your frame pack. We found that the Columbia Bora Bora II Booney<\/a> <\/strong>strikes a good balance in size and flexibility, which seems to reduce those collisions. It’s just small enough to avoid most collisions. But, when we did make contact with our backpack, the flexible brim was forgivable and didn’t feel like somebody slapped us in the back of the head with a stick.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nThe Best Fishing Hats of 2024<\/h2>\n
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\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\tBest Overall Fishing Hat\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tShelta Seahawk Performance Sun Hat\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\t\tSpecs\t<\/h3>\n
\n\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBoonie<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMedium<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t3.8 oz.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t100% Recycled Polyester body; Polyester mesh<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tUPF 50+<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tYes<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tYes<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tYes (Removable)<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tYes<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRigid Bill<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n\t![\"Product](\"http:\/\/setupjunkie.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/BestOverall_2024.png\")
\n\t\t![\"The](\"http:\/\/setupjunkie.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/seahawk-performance-sun-hat.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n\t\t\tPros\t\t<\/h4>\n
\n\n
\n\n\t\t\tCons\t\t<\/h4>\n
\n\n
\n
\n\tBen Hickok<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\t$80 at Amazon<\/a>Check price at Shelta<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\tBest Budget Fishing Hat\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tColumbia Bora Bora II Booney\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\t\tSpecs\t<\/h3>\n
\n\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBoonie<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMedium<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t2.6 oz.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNylon<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tUPF 50<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tYes<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tYes<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tYes<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tYes<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNone<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n![\"The](\"http:\/\/setupjunkie.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/columbia-bora-bora-booney-ii-hat-1.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n\t\t\tPros\t\t<\/h4>\n
\n\n
\n\n\t\t\tCons\t\t<\/h4>\n
\n\n
\n
\n\tBen Hickok<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\t$22 at REI<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
![\"The](\"http:\/\/setupjunkie.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/gurdens-waterman-straw-hat.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n