The Best hats of all types for hiking and backpacking
There are perfect hiking hats for any occasion. But all you really need is one warm hat, and one sun hat. Combined, those two offer the widest possible array of protection from the elements in 99% of backcountry scenarios. This buyer’s guide is dedicated to those two categories. We do not cover, and recommend against, rain hats. That base is covered by your rain jacket’s hood.
We ground this buyer’s guide in decades of experience gear reviewing, working in the outdoor industry, and wearing hiking hats. The recommendations reflect our team’s ultralight backpacking style preferences. However, unlike with tents and backpacks, there is minimal performance differentiation between the best hats, and good or even just average hats. Therefore, our recommendations are based more personal preference than deep market research and testing. We of course haven’t worn all of the hiking hats out there – nobody has – but we’re happy to suggest the ones that we have had the most success with.
Jump ahead to read about our preferred layering system of hats and hoods. And while you’re here, don’t miss our adjacent accessory buyer’s guides to running caps, sun gloves, fingerless gloves, hiking gloves, and ultralight sandals.
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Cover Photo: Outdoor Research Swift Cap
Quick Picks For Sun Hiking Hats
- Best Sun Cap: Path Projects Saguaro
- Best Sun Hat With 360 Brim: Tilley LTM6 Airflo Broad Brim
- Best Sun Cap With Cape: Outdoor Research Sun Runner Cap
- Best 360-Brim-Cape Hybrid: Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure Hat
- Best Neck Gaiter: Buff Original Multifunctional Headwear
Quick Picks For Warm Hiking Hats
- Top Pick Ultralight Beanie: Zpacks Octa Fleece Hat
- Top Pick Ultralight Beanie: FarPointe Alpha Drifter
- Top Pick, Classic Beanie: REI Co-op Lightweight Logo Beanie
- Top Pick Alpaca Wool Beanie: PAKA Cozy Marled Beanie
- Top Pick, Tech Beanie: Brynje Super Thermo Mesh Lined 70g
- Fleece Balaclava: REI Co-op Wind Pro Hinged Balaclava
Left: Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure, Right: Outdoor Research Sun Runner
Best Hiking Cap
Path Projects Saguaro Cap
2.4 oz | $38
The Path Proejcts Saguaro is our current editor’s choice cap thanks to the combination of a sun protective top and hyper-breathable side panel. And that’s in addition to the extra wide brim for angled sun protection. It meets or exceeds all of our criteria.
Best 360 Brim Sun Hat
Tilley LTM6 Airflo Broad Brim Hat
4.0 oz | $99
Choose Tilley LTM6 Airflo Broad Brim for the highest performance 360 brim hat on the market. This design features a mesh crown for increased airflow, a wide stiffened brim for full coverage and flop-prevention, a hidden pocket, and it even floats in water. Sure it’s expensive, but these last forever and, at time of publication, it scores a 4.7 star average on 631 reviews.
Best Sun Cap With Cape
Outdoor Research Sun Runner
2.8 oz | $40
The Outdoor Research Sun Runner Cap is the most classic option for any hiker who prefers cape caps to 360 brims. This is because it performs better in wind and low angle sunlight, while also offering better neck coverage without bumping into the top of your pack. Downside to all of that coverage is that it’s slightly warmer/less breezy.
Favorite 360-Brim-Cape Hybrid Sun Hat
Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure Hat
2.6 oz | $50
If you’ve ever worn a full 360 degree brim sun hat on a backpacking trip, you have probably experienced the omni-present, ever-irritating nudge of the back of your brim hitting the top of your pack. The Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure Hat does not have this problem. It is a 360 brim in a sense, but the back half is a soft UPF50 fabric that drapes over the back of your neck. This hybrid model offers a best of both worlds. Complete sun coverage with a full brim and good breathability. And all without the rear-brim-vs-top-of-pack issue. This sun hat is well-loved, and backpacker approved. We recommend it highly, and prefer the “Ultra” version to the base model as it is slightly lighter, foldable, and a bit sportier and more movement friendly.
Best Neck Gaiter
Buff Original Multifunctional Headwear
1.4 oz | $20
Oft copied but never bested, the Buff Original Multifunctional Headwear (AKA Neck Gaiter) is still the top dog in its niche. It has even achieved name-brand-as-category status. We like to bring a Buff for managing extreme sun, and especially for glacier travel when UV reflects back up at your neck. Plus, Buffs are useful in all sorts of modes. Headband, hat, face-cover, durag and much much more.
Best Ultralight Beanie
Zpacks Octa Fleece Hat
0.6 oz | $30
Two major factors differentiate the Zpacks Octa Fleece Hat from a crowded field of warm beanies. Firstly, it’s made with brushed Octa, one of two best-in-class ultralight fleeces (see also Polartec Alpha Direct). Octa is soft, hyper breathable, ultralight, and high warmth-to-weight ratio thanks to the hollow core yarns and brushed interior surface that trap dead air to hold heat. Secondly, this is a really thoughtfully designed beanie! Zpacks gave us a double layer fleece around the circumference of the crown to keep your ears warm, and a single layer on the upper half to encourage breathability. Furthermore, it is asymmetrical, with elongation over the middle and back half to ensure the entirety of your ears are always protected. Going forward, this will be our default warm hat!
FarPointe Alpha Drifter Cap
0.6 oz | $30
Polartec Alpha Direct has the highest warmth-to-weight ratio, highest breathability, lightest weight and quickest dry-time of any fleece on the market, narrowly beating out Octa, albeit with a slightly lower durability. So it follows that an Alpha Direct Beanie would be a natural top pick for ultralight headwear. The FarPointe Alpha Drifter in particular has subtle, rounded ear flaps for improved coverage. At just over half an ounce, it weighs virtually nothing and packs down small. Only downside is the lack of wind resistance, so pair this model with any hooded mid-layer or windbreaker for optimal performance in breezy conditions.
Top Pick Classic Beanie
REI Co-op Lightweight Logo Beanie
2 oz | $23
The basic-but-functional REI Co-op Lightweight Logo Beanie keeps your head warm and looking good at a great price. We like the wool/acrylic blend and found it comfy and cozy while hiking in the cold, and while at camp. The doubled back beanie cuff provides extra warmth around the ears, or can be pulled down for a deeper fit.
Top Pick Beanie
PAKA Cozy Marled Beanie
When choosing wool apparel like hats, we recommend alpaca because it is slightly warmer, softer, more breathable, more odor resistant, and more sustainable than merino. This is thanks in large part to the hollow core medullated fibers. And the fact that alpacas do less harm on grazing land than sheep. The PAKA brand Cozy Alpaca Marled Beanie is a treat to wear, looks great, and keeps your noggin extra toasty with a 65% baby alpaca 35% recycled nylon blend.
Top Pick Beanie
Brynje Super Thermo Mesh Lined Hat 70g
On the outside, Brynje Super Thermo Mesh Lined Hat 70g is your typical merino wool blend rolled beanie. But on the inside, it’s lined with Brynje’s signature Super Thermo Mesh, which delivers many benefits, including (1) trapped dead air pockets that insulate (2) moisture wicking and quicker dry times (3) keeps damp fabric off your scalp. Trust us, this beanie is much better than a replacement level alternative.
Best Fleece Balaclava
REI Co-op Wind Pro Hinged Balaclava
2.5 oz | $40
We prefer balaclavas to traditional beanies, since they cover more of your noggin and seal in more warmth without gaps. This hinged balaclava is extra versatile, since it can be pulled up and down as needed to insulate the face against wind and snow. Plus, who doesn’t love classic Polartec Wind Pro – such a great fleece.
Wearing a balaclava and fleece beanie
Example combination of hiking hats and hoods
For the typical hiking or backpacking trip, we utilize the following combination of hiking hats and hoods (or similar) to protect from the elements. Having access to all of those hoods, in combination with a beanie and sun hat, provides limitless customizable weather protection for nearly all situations.
- Sun Hoodie: Outdoor Research Echo Hoodie
- Fleece Hoodie: The North Face FutureFleece Hoodie
- Down Hoodie: Zpacks Goose Down Jacket
- Rain Jacket: Enlightened Equipment Visp
- Sun Hat Option A, For Mixed Weather Trips: Outdoor Research Swift Cap
- Sun Hat Option B, For 100% Sun Trips: REI Co-op Sahara Path Hat
- Warm Hat for Late Spring thru Early Fall: REI Lightweight Logo Beanie
- Warm Hat for Late Fall thru Early Spring: Outdoor Research Option Balaclava
Hiking Hats Conclusion
We hope you’ve found the hiking hats that you’re looking for in this buyer’s guide. We’ve used these models all over the world to great success. They’ve been comfortable, warm, protective, and served us well. Happy hiking and happy trails!
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