Expedition Sun Hat UPF50+ (2024)

FAQs

Are UPF hats worth it? ›

A UPF rating of 50+ means that the hat blocks out at least 98% of UV radiation. In general, a UPF rating of 30 or higher is considered to be very good protection. You should also consider the type of activity you'll be doing while wearing the hat.

Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) indicates how much UV radiation (both UVB and UVA) a fabric allows to reach your skin. For example, a UPF 50 fabric blocks 98 percent of the sun's rays and allows two percent (1/50th) to penetrate, thus reducing your exposure risk significantly.

Of all colours tested, dark blue offered the best levels of UV protection, making it the best colour to wear in the sun. Contrary to the popular belief that they are the coolest colours in the sun, white and yellow were the worst performing colours in terms of UV protection.

Wear a hat that provides shade to your head, ears, face and neck. Broad-brimmed, bucket hats with a wide brim and legionnaire style hats provide the most protection. Baseball caps do not protect the neck and ears.

Dark or bright colors

Darker colors, such as blue or black, absorb more UV rays than lighter shades like whites and pastels. This means the UV rays are less likely to reach your skin. But bright colors, like red, can also absorb UV rays.

Your face and ears are still exposed to UV rays when you wear a hat! Yes, the amount is far less but you are still exposed. That's because UV rays bounce off of the ground and surfaces and into the shade under your hat. It's tempting to believe that shade totally protects your skin, but think about it for a minute.

Black and dark colors absorb more UV rays than other colors, which will ensure they don't hit your skin as much. Essentially, the darker the color, the more sun protection it will offer.

Choose dark and intense colors for sun protection

A study conducted in Spain found that fabrics with darker or more intense colors tended to have better UV radiation protection than lighter colors. Of all colors tested, dark blue offered the best levels of UV protection, making it the best color to wear in the sun.

As a basic rule of thumb, for maximum sun protection choose a downward angled 4" brim sun hat ... and, if you are comfortable, choosing a brim wider than 4" is even better. If you are not sure how wide a brim you would like you may want to consider a 3 1/2 brim.

What is the best hat to wear in hot weather? ›

Wide-Brimmed Hats for Maximum Sun Protection

Look for hats with brims that extend at least 2-3 inches from the edge of the hat. Additionally, wide-brimmed hats can also provide relief from the heat. The extra coverage helps to keep your head and face cool, especially during hot summer days.

Sun protection and comfort

Wide-brimmed cowboy hats are ideal for this, as they provide effective shade over the face and neck. Plus, being made from natural materials such as straw, they allow for greater ventilation and prevent your head from overheating.

The higher the UPF number, the more UV rays are blocked. So, a UPF 50+ sun hat will block out 98% of the sun's harmful UV rays.

Fabric wear: As a fabric becomes worn or faded, it also becomes less effective at blocking UV light. Fabric stretch: Stretched fabric can lose a significant amount of its UPF, so consider replacing any item that simply fits too tightly.

Even if a sun hat shades your face completely it may only reduce your sun exposure by around 50% as indirect UV can reach your skin depending on where you are by bouncing off the surfaces around you.

Typically, UPF clothing that is properly cared for will last 30 to 40 washes. This means most will last roughly one to two years under normal usage of a few times a month. However, poorly cared for items could see their UPF protection vanish far earlier.