There are oh-so-many ways to address the idea of the "summer hat." You might think simply of baseball caps, because they're generally inexpensive, undeniably ubiquitous, and, yeah, they do the job in the summertime. Or you might think of panama hats, because they feel like the quintessential summer hat when you're making the distinction between a "hat" and a "cap." Or perhaps the phrase "summer hats" conjures images of bucket hats, with their all-around brim and eminently crushable (in a beach bag or a back pocket) construction.
coolest hat
Rowing Blazers x '47 Wide-Wale Yankees Cap
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Best Functional Hat
The North Face Class V Brimmer
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None of these are wrong, and you'll find them all and more on the list below. (There's only a few panama hats, though, because good ones are rare, the style tends to work better in theory than in practice, and like Paul Giamatti with merlot, we're not recommending any f*cking straw trilbies and trying to pass them off as one of their more acceptable cousins.) Oh, and there's also a gigantic sun hat or two for the folks out there who, like me, are ridiculously susceptible to sunburn. Slather on that SPF, for sure, but topping yourself off with a shade-giving hat is an essential line of defense at the beach, the park, or anywhere else people tend to congregate in the sun for hours on end.
But enough about us. Let's focus on you, and all the best hats you have at your disposal this summer. Time to get shopping, friend. Right this way...
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Best Outdoorsy Hat
Columbia Bora Bora II Booney Hat
Best Outdoorsy Hat
Columbia Bora Bora II Booney Hat
Now 15% Off
If straw ain't your thing, howsabout this technical option from the outdoors specialists at Columbia?
| Colors | 41 |
|---|---|
| Sizes | One Size |
| Materials | 100% Nylon |
Best Classic Hat
Carhartt Rugged Professional Cap
Best Classic Hat
Carhartt Rugged Professional Cap
Think of it as your trusty Carhartt beanie, just built for the warmer months ahead.
| Colors | 6 |
|---|---|
| Sizes | One Size |
| Materials | 100% Cotton |
Best Affordable Straw Hat
Quiksilver Pierside Straw Hat
Best Affordable Straw Hat
Quiksilver Pierside Straw Hat
A summer hat made especially for sitting on the pier, gazing at a waterfront view for hours on end.
| Colors | 6 |
|---|---|
| Sizes | S-2XL |
| Materials | 100% Raffia Straw Fiber |
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Best Wide-Brim Hat
Fishpond Lowcountry Hat
Best Wide-Brim Hat
Fishpond Lowcountry Hat
This wide-brim hat is just fishin' for compliments.
| Colors | Tan |
|---|---|
| Sizes | M-L |
| Materials | Guatemalan Palm |
If Indiana Jones was going to relax and not explore, this would be his hat of choice.
| Colors | Tan |
|---|---|
| Sizes | One Size |
| Materials | 100% Natural Fibers |
A black Champion dad cap? For less than 20 bucks? That's a no-brainer.
| Colors | 16 |
|---|---|
| Sizes | One Size |
| Materials | 100% Cotton |
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coolest hat
Rowing Blazers x '47 Wide-Wale Yankees Cap
coolest hat
Rowing Blazers x '47 Wide-Wale Yankees Cap
One of the coolest ways to switch up your summertime headwear? Corduroy. It makes a dad cap feel downright luxurious. Plus, that green Yankees look is a whole (very good) vibe.
| Colors | Green |
|---|---|
| Sizes | One Size |
| Materials | 100% Cotton |
Best Functional Hat
The North Face Class V Brimmer
Best Functional Hat
The North Face Class V Brimmer
With an adjustable drawstring, this Steve Irwin-esque hat is for the true summertime adventurers.
| Colors | 7 |
|---|---|
| Sizes | S-XL |
| Materials | 68% Recycled Nylon, 26% Nylon, 6% Elastane with FlashDry |
Best Bucket Hat
Adidas Victory Bucket Hat
Best Bucket Hat
Adidas Victory Bucket Hat
Now 44% Off
Basically, this bucket hat from The Three Stripes is winning. Just check out its name.
| Colors | Gray, Black, White, Beige Tone |
|---|---|
| Sizes | S-XL |
| Materials | 100% Polyester |
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Best Designer Hat
Gucci Straw Hat with Horsebit
Best Designer Hat
Gucci Straw Hat with Horsebit
Gucci's classic horsebit detail, now in hat form.
| Colors | Tan |
|---|---|
| Sizes | XS-XL |
| Materials | 100% Vegetable Fiber |
Best Reversible Hat
J.Crew Reversible Bucket Hat
Plaid one day. Abstract graphics the next. Bang for your buck, baby!
| Colors | Mixed Madras |
|---|---|
| Sizes | S-XL |
| Materials | Indian Madras Cotton |
Best Everyday Hat
Polo Ralph Lauren Logo-Embroidered Baseball Cap
Best Everyday Hat
Polo Ralph Lauren Logo-Embroidered Baseball Cap
Clean, simple, and classic. Your every day dad hat.
| Colors | 10 |
|---|---|
| Sizes | One Size |
| Materials | 100% Cotton |
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Best Straw Hat
Stetson Open Road Straw Hat
Best Straw Hat
Stetson Open Road Straw Hat
He'll be ready for the open road with this solid choice from Stetson.
| Colors | Cognac |
|---|---|
| Sizes | 6 3/4-7 5/8 |
| Materials | 100% Shantung Straw |
best relaxed hat
Câbleami Cotton Braid Cloche
best relaxed hat
Câbleami Cotton Braid Cloche
For long days spent out in the sun, this hat adds the perfect laid-back vibe to your fit. And the cotton fabric is nice and light, too.
| Colors | Beige, Navy, Black, White |
|---|---|
| Sizes | M-L |
| Materials | 100% Organic Cotton |
Why You Can Trust Esquire
We’re not going to say something is great unless it’s actually great. Every product in Esquire’s round-ups is carefully curated by our fashion and e-commerce teams.
When it comes to summer hats, you can rest assured that we’re hand-selecting styles that we’ve personally tested, tried, and loved, along with styles that the rest of our stylish colleagues here at Esquire endorse for their own wear. We’ve had to go through a lot of trial and error, and these summer hats are the ones that are simply the best.
Every pick on this list (and our other lists!) comes from years of wearing different things, seeing what we love and what we don’t, and going from there. No two tastes are the same, and no two men are the same. Your proverbial mileage may vary. But if you’re looking for the right place to start, with advice from folks who and care (possibly too much!) about this sort of stuff, this is the place to be.
