Know your holiday hats: The Best Headwear to Take on Vacation this Year

It’s the last item you pack when preparing for a vacation — perhaps you don’t pack it at all, you simply travel with it on your head — but it is so incredibly important if you are traveling to a hot, sunny country. The perfect vacation hat keeps the sun out of your eyes and off your skin, while looking incredible. From Panama hats to floppy sun hats, this list takes in the best headwear to take away with you this year.

Panama hats

These iconic designed hats are lightweight and breathable, keeping your head cool while a medium sized brim prevents too much sun from shining directly onto your face. The brim is all around the hat, so your ears and neck are protected too. These hats are stylish and superb for covering thinning hair, which would permit the sun to burn your scalp more. Treatment at Harley Street Hair Clinic can also help you in this regard.

Baseball caps

Quite possibly the most popular hat for wearing when not on vacation, baseball caps are actually excellent choices for when you do go away. A long peak casts a shadow over your eyes and face and their flexible structure means they pack away into bags and suitcases with ease. The only issue with baseball caps is their lack of all-around coverage. 

Straw hats

Coming in many different shapes and sizes, straw hats provide a more rustic approach to stylish sun protection. Straw hats often have much larger brims than their cotton or polyester counterparts and are frequently sold for low prices at your vacation destination. The only drawback, for those who like such logos, is they are rarely branded due to their more “authentic” feel.

Bucket hat

Bucket hats are famous in the United Kingdom for their association with music festivals, 90s culture and being worn with tinted sunglasses, but in the States and across the world they are a useful vacation option. The bucket hat flattens down well and is stylish, often coming in many different patterns, but they do not offer much sun protection as their brim is reasonably narrow. 

Fishing hat

Similar in appearance to the bucket hat, but often featuring a pull chord under the neck, the fishing hat is incredibly versatile. Whether you are going on a fishing holiday or simply venturing to warmer climes, these benefit from often being waterproof — useful for unexpected rain — and from thick, durable production quality.

Floppy sun hats

The floppy sun hat has the biggest brim of all the of the hats mentioned. The floppy brim does exactly what it says on the tin: it flops down around the neck giving it ultimate protection from UV rays. 

These fashionable hats are usually adorned with a ribbon tied in a bow or decorative flowers making them an attractive option for those looking to make a statement while on vacation. The main drawback of opting for a hat like this is their size when packing or traveling.