Best Surf Hats: Bought and Tested by Me!
Last Updated on November 28, 2023 by Matt Hapgood
Best Hat
If you are after a wide-brimmed surf hat, The DaKine Indo Surf is our best buy. Really well made with quality materials:
You can’t really go wrong with this one.
Best Cap
The FCS Essentials Surf Cap was my favorite cap in the test. Folds/rolls up really small, but equally offers great protection from the sun.
A solid choice.
Highly Rated
I really like the FCS Essentials Bucket Hat too so it comes highly recommended.
I have used it out and about when not surfing – the modern shape looks great on land and in the water.
8-10 Minute Read
The Best Surf Hats
Living in Southern Portugal (where I do currently) the sun shines for pretty much 300 days out of the year. And while this is great for getting a suntan, its not so good for your skin when you’re out in the surf. So, I’ve been looking into buying myself a surf hat to keep the wrinkles at bay.
I went online to look for some product reviews – And guess what? All of the stuff I could find was regurgitated brand fluff on various big-name websites. So, what I thought would make a great blog post was if I went out and bought a few of what I think are the best surf hats and wrote down my thoughts.
Honesty Disclaimer: I was sent a hat by FCS and Kaiola free of charge which did not influence the results. The other hats were purchased at full RRP.
The first surf session when I tested these surf hats was in the Spring, which extended into the Summer. This allowed me to get maximum UV blasting. I tried to surf in various conditions: big waves, small waves, windy, and so on.
1. Decathlon Olaian Surf Hat
Product Description
OK, so first up is this offer from Decathlon – If you haven’t heard of this sports store you need to find out! In Europe Decathlon is MASSIVE. In a nutshell, Decathlon offer all sorts of sporting products at very, very good prices – cutting out the middleman, going from manufacturer direct to consumer.
This surf hat, branded as Olaian, is by far the cheapest in the test, but by no means a bad product.
Sure, they have cut a few corners to keep costs down, and this hat may not appeal to a hardcore surf customer base, but it does what it needs to do.
Cheap and cheerful!
Product Pros
Product Cons
Key Features
- Floating wide-brimmed surf hat
- UPF 50+
- Made from recycled materials
- Adjustable chin strap
My Thoughts
This is a great budget-friendly surf hat – the $20 price point is hard to beat!
The chin clasp is solid, the nylon material feels solid, and the brim at the front is stiff so you can fold it for paddling.
Having said that, the brim is a bit too big – which you notice when you need to duck dive – especially if the waves have any sort of power. I had to reposition this a few times after duck diving just small waves.
For infrequent use, in small longboardy waves, the Olaian surf hat is a great choice.
2. Kaiola Surf Hat
Product Description
Years in the making, the Kaiola surf hat is manufactured in a sustainable way in the North of Portugal. The company set out to make the best surf hat possible – and one that can be used in the water AND on land.
Very different in feel to the other hats in this test, it is very much like a traditional trucker cap, but the materials used are quick drying, soft and lightweight – which results in a really comfortable cap.
The other noticeable difference is the chin strap – it’s super thin and discreet but does the job sufficiently.
The peak flips up too, to give you more visibility when paddling or when riding a wave.
Product Pros
Product Cons
Key Features:
- Duck-dive and wipe-out proof
- UPF 80 provides excellent UV protection
- Signature chin-strap: nearly invisible, yet super strong. Non-chafing
- “Water to land” concept: interior tuck-away chinstrap function
- Super soft and padded internal headband
My Thoughts
I like a lot about this hat – the fact they are making it in Europe is a big positive. The company is also hot on the environmental impact they are causing, or not as the case may be. Suppliers, materials, and packaging are all sourced with Mother Nature in mind, which again is a big plus point.
It works well in the surf, and the chin strap is pretty sturdy even though it is super thin. The fact that you can tuck it away easily to wear your cap on land is also a nice touch, but personally, I don’t really like this ‘trucker’ style with the padded front panel.
Pretty pricey at $65, the most expensive hat in the test, but for something made in Portugal with the environmental credentials they have, I think it’s good value.
Overall, it’s a great cap, and if you like this style of trucker cap then it would be a great investment.
3. FCS Essential Surf Cap
Product Description
Super-light cap which packs away into a tiny space into your backpack – or even into a pocket in your boardies!
It has an adjustable chin strap and a simple but effective back strap (around the back of your head).
The shape of the cap is really nice, and the fact that it’s a cap allows a bit more peripheral vision compared to the bucket hat style.
Soft touch ear covers are really comfortable too.
Product Pros
Product Cons
Key Features:
- Floating lightweight surf cap
- UPF 50+
- Adjustable chin strap
- Soft-touch ear covers
My Thoughts
I really liked this cap – stayed on my head when duck diving, oh, and falling!
I like the fact that it’s really compact – so after a surf, you can stuff it into your boardies pretty easily.
I guess it’s a bit of a personal preference, but I prefer the cap style over the bucket hat style. Although not everyone will agree with me!
At the time of the test, this was €35 / $35 which is a pretty darn good price.
Solid choice with 4.5 stars.
4. FCS Essential Surf Bucket Hat
Product Description
Made with the same material and components as the Essential Surf Cap (above) the bucket hat version offers a little extra protection from the harsh UV rays.
It has a fairly stiff brim allowing you to flip it up for paddling, but it’s not too soft to flop down over your face when wet. It comes with a detachable neck cover, but I took this off for most sessions.
It also has a comfortable neoprene headband, as well as a soft chin strap and ear flaps.
There’s also a vented section at the back to help keep your head cool which i thought was a nice touch.
Product Pros
Product Cons
Key Features:
- Shallow brim all the way around
- UPF 50+
- Mesh panel at the back to help with ventilation
- Adjustable chin strap
- Lightweight, quick-drying material
My Thoughts
Solid product offer from FCS – One of the top surf hardware brands, and for good reason.
Well-made and lightweight, you can’t go far wrong with this surf hat.
The only gripe I have, is the quality of the plastic clips to connect the chin strap – only a minor gripe though!
A fine surf hat, and a great score with 4.5 stars.
5. Rip Curl Surf Series Cap
Product Description
On first glance this looks like a regular trucker cap – not for surfing or using in the water.
But, the hat features an option to flip up the peak for paddling, solid chin closure, and a sturdy, adjustable strap at the back.
It also has a hydrophobic coating on the material, an internal neoprene headband, and a removable neck flap – so a lot more than a regular trucker cap!
Personally, I’m not 100% sold on the shape of this cap compared to the others, but perhaps it’s just the shape of my head!
Well-made, high-quality cap from a much-loved brand.
Product Pros
Product Cons
Key Features:
- Hydrophobic material
- UPF 50+
- Floating brim
- Adjustable chin strap
- Soft internal neoprene headband
My Thoughts
This is a well-thought-out surf cap from Rip Curl. I know I mentioned the shape is not to my taste, but the features, price, and quality of the hat make it a really good option.
The only feature I would add to this hat is a small internal pouch to store the neck flap – Otherwise if you’re anything like me it will just get lost.
Overall it’s a really great surf hat so gets 4.5 stars.
A fine surf hat, and a great score with 4.5 stars.
6. DaKine Indo Surf Hat
Product Description
My first impressions are that this hat is made from much thicker material than the others in this test. I see that as a good thing – it will most likely last longer, but time will tell.
It’s a traditional surf brim hat style and comes with a removable neck cover, made from the same material as the hat too which is a nice touch, but some will maybe find this annoying.
The ‘peak’ section of the hat has a stiffer brim to prevent it from flopping around all over the place which I’ve tried to show in the images above.
It also has a small pouch in which you can store the neck protection in if you do not want to use it. I guess you could store other stuff in there too like a small sun protection stick, for instance.
Product Pros
Product Cons
Key Features:
- Floating wide-brimmed surf hat
- UPF 50+
- Adjustable chin strap
- Internal pocket for storing small, light items
My Thoughts
It’s hard to fault the DaKine Indo Surf Hat in all honesty.
The only thing I’m picky about is the neck covering, but you can simply not use it because it’s removable.
If you’re a surfer off to the topics, or looking for some extra protection from the sun, this one is a solid choice and it’s our top pick with 5 stars.
The Results
The Da Kine Indo Surf Hat gets our top marks – it covers all bases, is really well made, and is nice and comfortable to wear in the surf.
If you buy one, I’m confident you will not be disappointed.
That’s why I gave it a full 5 stars.
I love the simplicity of the FCS Essentials Surf Cap.
Really practical but at the same time, it can be packed away super small – easy to stuff into a pocket in your boardies or waistband when you are not in the surf.
My favorite cap in the test with 4.5 stars.
The FCS bucket hat comes in highly rated too – I have found this one really good to use just as a hat when out and about on land, as well as in the water.
I really like the shape, it has a tonne of great features, so it will be a really solid purchase for a lot of different uses – both on land and in the water.
Final Thoughts
I’ve tried to be as honest and open in this review as possible and not just copy and paste what you could have already read somewhere else on the internet.
I hope you got some value from it and if you did, reach out to me on X or Insta and let me know!
Surf Hat FAQ
Are surf hats worth it?
In my opinion, yes definitely! For a small investment of around $30 or so you get a hat made specifically for use in the waves – with a strap to prevent it from falling off, and protection from the sun.
And if you run out of sunscreen a hat will protect your face from harmful UV rays for a good few hours at a time.
What is a surfer hat?
A surfer hat or surf hat is normally made from polyester or nylon material and designed to be worn while surfing. Surf Hats are worn for protection from harmful UV rays, and to stop the glare from the reflection of the ocean into a surfer’s eyes. Surf hats will have a strap that extends around the surfer’s chin so that the hat doesn’t fall off after a wipeout.
To allow improved peripheral vision, the brim on most surf hats can be ‘flipped’ upwards.
How do you protect your head from the sun while surfing?
There are two main ways to protect your head from the sun – either by wearing a surf hat, or with high SPF zinc sun protection. Many surfers who are bald can seriously burn their head, so wearing a surf hat is a great idea.
If you are surfing in tropical climates, the sun can be really strong so it’s a good idea to double up and plaster your face with zinc AND wear a surf hat too.
How tight should surf hat be?
A surf hat should be fairly tight so that it doesn’t fall off easily in the water. Of course, if it is uncomfortably tight, then it’s probably too small and you should opt for the next size up.
Before you buy your surf hat, it’s a good idea to measure the circumference of your head and then check against the manufacturer’s size chart.
How to wear a hat while surfing?
Regular baseball caps are not really suited to surfing as there is no chin strap to prevent it from falling off into the water after a wipeout.
It’s best to buy a specific surf hat made to be worn in the ocean for a range of sports like surfing, SUPing, fishing and so on.
Why do surfers wear hats?
Surfers normally wear a surf hat at spots like Indonesia, Australia and other locations where the sun is particularly strong. Most surfers wear a surf hat to protect from sunburn and to reduce glare into their eyes.
Do people surf with hats?
Yes! If you are surfing in a tropical region or a spot where the sun is really intense surfers will often wear a hat to prevent sunburn, or sunstroke, and also to reduce the glare from the ocean into their eyes.
How effective are sun hats?
Sun hats are REALLY effective! Preventing the sun from directly hitting your face, neck and ears is a great way to stop sunburn and sunstroke. According to this website, by wearing a sun hat you can reduce UV rays by as much as 50%.
