The 12 Best Packable Sun Hats, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Madewell Packable Braided Straw Hat

View On Amazon $40 View On Nordstrom $16 View On Madewell.com

Maybe I'm a little too into the 'coastal grandmother' aesthetic, but in my opinion, a trusty sun hat is an essential part of every beach trip. This one from Madewell has just the right amount of everything: Structure, sun protection, and style. Thanks to its 95 percent paper straw composition, the hat has just enough stiffness so that the sides stay upright, while still having a considerable amount of flop. The brim offers three and a half inches of protection — aka enough to cover your face — but you're still able to see what's ahead of you. It comes with a multipurpose elastic ribbon that, aside from adding a subtle stylish detail to the hat, ties around the hat and keeps it secure when it's folded in your bag. Beauty expert and content creator Kristina Rodulfo wore a similar version on a 10-week trip through Europe, and says, "I absolutely love how the hat covers my face but is made from a lightweight material that doesn't trap heat," she says. "I always pack a straw sun hat with a wide brim for added protection from UV rays and it looks at home on the beach or matches with a sundress."

Material: Paper straw, elastic | Size: S/M, M/L | Colors: 4

Best Value

Lands' End Packable Visor

View On Landsend.com $32 View On Kohls.com $24

Lover of long walks on the beach? Spend hours tending to a garden? The visor, a total classic, checks all of those boxes. As Rodulfo tells InStyle, "Visors are great for when it's so hot you need to wear your hair up but still want shade over your face." For under $20, you can snag this elegant-looking, incredibly comfortable sun hat that shields your face from the sun without making an updo feel complicated. The paper and polyester straw blend are smooth to the touch (instead of scratchy or itchy like other straw hats), and, thanks to a hidden band sewn into the interior of the hat, it stays where it's supposed to and doesn't contribute to hat hair. When you're ready to pack it up, simply roll it into a cone shape, then tie it in place.

Material: Paper, polyester straw blend | Size: One size | Colors: 2

Best Splurge

Janessa Leone Hamilton Hat

View On Janessaleone.com $267 View On Revolve View On Fwrd.com $267

If you're going to splurge on a packable hat, let it be this one. Chloe Anello, Senior Commerce Editor at InStyle, recommends this hat, which was gifted to her, for hot summer days because she describes it as "very lightweight, which is great for days when hats are necessary but can easily make your head sweaty," she says. "I shoved it in a bag to take to the pool on two separate occasions, and each time I went to grab it from my overpacked tote, it unfolded as if I never touched it." She notes it takes a little more finagling to get it back to its original shape than others, but for how nice it looks, it's easy to look past. It also offers a UPF rating (like SPF but for textiles) of 45+ to really protect your face from the sun. It comes in four different sizes, each with the same folding capabilities for a proper fit, but you can only purchase it in two neutral shades. However, the brand offers a plethora of other styles in case you would like to shop around.

Material: Straw | Size: S, M, L, XL | Colors: 2

Best Straw

San Diego Hat Company Arizona Packable Wide Brim Hat

View On Freepeople.com $68

The bohemian aesthetic has come back around once again. Outside of just wearing flare jeans and jackets in dark earthy tones, the accessories truly can make or break this style. We love to add a large tote bag or chunky shoe, but the easiest of them all might just be a large, floppy hat, especially for warmer weather. We personally love this Arizona Packable Wide Brim Hat because the 100 percent paper straw material allows it to bend easily for packing. It folds up into a small bunch that can easily be thrown into your suitcase. And for warmer days, the terrycloth sweatband on the inside of the hat will absorb any wetness, ensuring your hat will remain fresh.

Anello tried out this hat but notes after you take it out from being folded, you’ll need to readjust the decorative band on the outside of the hat, which easily slides around. However, the band is connected to the strap that goes underneath your chin, so you won’t have to worry about it shifting around once you’re wearing it.

Material: Paper straw | Size: OS | Colors: 5

Best Visor

Hat Attack Roll Up Visor

View On Amazon $96 View On Hatattack.com View On Saks Fifth Avenue $51

If you're looking for a packable sun hat that protects you both during action and leisure, you can't go wrong with Hat Attack's Roll Up Visor. I recently wore this hat (which I was kindly gifted by the brand) during an afternoon filled with sports and lounging around. Made with 100 percent raffia straw, it has more structure than the Lands' End visor but was still surprisingly lightweight. The texture feels a bit rough to the touch, but thanks to the attached sweatband (aka the area that hugs your forehead), it never scratched my skin, keeping me comfortable the entire time. The brim extends out almost five inches, covering my whole face while laying by the pool yet still allowing me to comfortably read my book without needing to contort my neck in an awkward way.

Material: Raffia | Size: One size | Colors: 1

Best Fedora

Cuyana Folding Panama Hat

View On Cuyana.com

Most of the hats on this list look particularly floppy and large. For anyone interested in a small, structured brim that’s more along the lines of a fedora, we love this handmade hat from Cuyana. By partnering with artisans in Ecuador, Cuyana offers us a well-made straw hat made from a softer weave that lends itself better to being compressed and flattened for travel without permanently altering the shape of the hat. Even though it comes in four different hat sizes, the interior band can still be adjusted for a more customized fit with velcro hidden underneath the lining (to ensure the velcro doesn’t irritate your skin). The classic straw color goes with just about anything, but we only wish it came in more color options — or fabric trim choices — to add to our collection.

Material: Straw | Size: 56–59 centimeters | Colors: 1

Best Wide Brim

San Diego Hat Company Women's 4-Inch Brim Ultrabriad Sun Hat

View On Amazon $33

For those uninterested in big, floppy hats, this sun hat from San Diego Hat Company has got you covered (literally). The hat, which is woven from paper and polyester, has a structure with a hint of bohemian flair synonymous with a bigger-brimmed hat. After trying the hat (which the brand gifted to me), I immediately appreciated the sewn-in band that absorbs sweat and ensures a more comfy fit. Although the hat comes in three sizes — small, medium, and large — the brim might be too large for smaller face shapes. Nonetheless, it packs down to a small size, unfolds easily, and feels as light as smaller hats, which is pretty impressive.

Material: Paper, polyester | Size: 3 | Colors: 7

Best for Boating

Baggu Packable Sun Hat

View On Baggu.com View On Moma.org $36

Out on the open water with no shade? No problem. This packable sun hat from Baggu packs into itself and then bursts open like a tent when you need it. And the adjustable headband and chin straps secure the hat to your head, making it ideal for windy situations. Although it only comes in one size, it can be altered to fit most head shapes, up to 23.5 inches (about 1 inch larger than the average adult head). The 100 percent cotton hat packs into its own circular pouch for easy carrying and storage, no matter how much room you have in your bag. The machine washable fabric comes in nine patterns, ranging from a mod floral to trippy checkers, so you can pick one that best suits your aesthetic. We noticed that it looks a bit stiff on our heads, though — unlike straw hats, this one has a wire around the brim, which keeps it in place. It made for uniform protection around our heads when we tried it on, which we appreciated, but we would love to see a little more flexibility.

Material: Cotton | Size: One size | Colors: 16

Best for Hiking

Wallaroo Hat Company Victoria Sun Hat

View On Amazon $47 View On Wallaroohats.com

Designed to join you on all of your outdoor adventures, this hat (and its three-and-a-half-inch wide brim) from Wallaroo works to protect your face, neck, and ears from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays. Because it's made of a poly-straw weave material that's ultra-lightweight, comfortable, and breathable, we can ensure you won't overheat while on the trail. "It blew my mind how lightweight it is," Anello shares. "Because of the hat's hidden drawstring closure, you get a custom fit and never have to worry about your hat flying away." The best part is that the hat folds up into a tiny ball that can be squeezed into that overstuffed backpack without causing damage to the hat.

Material: Poly-straw | Size: One size | Number of Colors: 22

Best Floppy

San Diego Hat Company Shady Character Packable Wide Brim Hat

View On Freepeople.com $68 View On Anthropologie $60 View On Walmart $54

The trouble with large, floppy hats is you can rarely travel with them. Enter: this hat from the San Diego Hat Company. The hat folds up just as well as the others on this list despite its extra-large size. It won’t be as compact, but it can be easily tucked into the corner of a suitcase or weekender bag. When you unfold it, it bounces back to its regular size in order to properly cover your face and shoulders. It comes in six different shades of mostly neutrals, like chocolate brown and natural straw, plus one sunny yellow that more or less screams summer. Anello also tried this hat, sharing that the cap portion fits a bit large. It only comes in one size, though, so maybe skip to the next one if you think you have a smaller head size than most.

Material: Paper, polyester | Size: OS | Colors: 6

Best Colored

Nordstrom Packable Floppy Hat

View On Nordstrom $39

If you’re over the neutrals, opt for a hat with a bit of color like this one, which comes in a light blue, sage green, and lavender, instead of your basic tan. We appreciate It’s not too big or floppy like its other counterparts, but it still offers tons of character outside of its color selection, like the small bow wrapped around the crown, which we think adds a dainty touch. It does look a little less sophisticated than other hats on this list with tie details. But thanks to it being made from the same colored straw material, it still looks subtle. You can also adjust the fit of this hat by a small (unnoticeable) string to make sure its snug against your head.

Material: Paper straw | Size: One size | Colors: 5