The sunshine is out in full force! That calls for BBQs, walks on the beach, and having fun in the sun. However, all that fun can come with a price. If you’re not careful, the summer can be a damaging time of year for your skin. Are you protected with a bit of slip slop slap? No, not even close actually.A lot of people don’t realize that sun protection is about more than just sunscreen. Sunburn is caused by UVB radiation which can damage skin and lead to cancer. While sunscreen offers the best protection against some UV rays, it’s important to remember that there are two other ultraviolet (UV) types: UVA rays and UVC. They are both also harmful and contribute to aging, wrinkles, and breakouts.Sunscreen is important. But did you know that wearing a good sun protection hat can be an important part of protecting your face from the sun? There’s a wide variety of hats you could wear to protect yourself from the sun, but not all hats are suited for sun protection. Whether you're planning on hitting the beach or hitting the baseball field, it's important to know what kind of hat will keep your noggin' in top shape.Looking for the best sun protection hat? Check out Koala Outdoor's guide to finding the perfect hat for you.What type of hat is best for sun protection?A great sun protection hat protects your face and head from UV rays. We know that the skin on these parts of your body is thinner and more vulnerable, so it's important to protect them with the right sun hat. Experts recommend a wide-brim hat with a UPF 50+ rating is the best and most reliable way to protect your face, nose, head, neck, and ears from UV rays. to prevent skin damage and to keep it healthy.If you have a sunny vacation planned, consider investing in a wide-brim hat. Ready to shop for your sun protection hat? Below are the perfect sun hats for every type of activity.Wide Brim hatFor a classic style and exceptional durability, choose our wide-brim gardening hat, which is made from tightly woven, lightweight fabric that protects you from sun and rain. It’s available in a variety of colors, so you can find one that suits your taste.Sun protection fishing hatThis UPF 50+ fishing hat with rear flap is the perfect sun hat. The sun hat is designed for all-weather and rugged outdoor activities, protecting the head and neck from the sun's rays with a back flap and features mesh vents for cooling airflow and an adjustable chin strap.Bucket hatWhen you’re ready for some outdoor fun, but might not be sure about the weather, a packable bucket hat provides great sun protection.Boonie hatThis Boonie hat is ideal for all your summer outings. It is made of waterproof polyester and covers your neck as well as your head, so you can stay protected from the sun at the beach or while you’re exercising.Sun visorsIf you're planning an outdoor activity this summer, make sure to wear a sun visor. They're great for keeping the sun out of your face without allowing your head to get too hot. It is made of 100% cotton anti-UV material, which makes it soft and breathable, and the moisture-wicking feature offers good ventilation.Panama hatPanama hats are the latest innovation in sun protection. They're made from tight−weave polypropylene fibers to block damaging UVA and UVB rays, making them the ideal hat for travel or an afternoon on the beach. These crushable hats also come with a comfortable cotton sweatband that allows you to look cool in any weather.UPF baseball capIf you are looking for a comfortable cap while you are out in the sun all day, this UPF baseball cap is an excellent choice. It will not only keep the sweat lines that can form on caps to a minimum, but it also offers UV protection.Legionnaire hatsIdeal for spending time outdoors, the legionnaire hat's UPF 50+ rating is guaranteed to protect you in the sun. It's designed to be versatile and practical. The cotton fabric is fast to dry when wet, and its moisture-wicking sweatband keeps your head cool and comfortable in hot climates or when you're working up a sweat on the trail.How to choose the best sun protection hat?Choosing the best sun hat can be a challenge. You might not even find what you’re looking for unless you take the time to research all of your options. When choosing a sun hat to protect you from the sun, there are several factors to consider.UPF rating and SPF ratingSun hats with a UPF50+ rating will protect your skin from harmful sun rays better than those of lesser quality. Not all fabrics are equally sun-protective, so be sure to choose a specialist brand offering a top-rated UPF50+ hat. It is essential to choose a hat that has been rated UPF protection 50+. The UPF rating is a standardized rating system administered by the Australian Government.Sun Protection Factor (SPF) is a rating for sunscreens and cosmetics to measure how long you can be exposed to direct sunlight before getting red or early signs of a sunburn. For example, SPF30 means that you can be exposed to sunlight approximately 30 times longer than you could normally before experiencing redness or any early signs of sunburn.Brim lengthTo protect yourself from the sun’s damaging rays, you need to wear a hat with a wide brim to shade your head and face. The Australian Government recommends a brim length of at least 7.5cm for a broad-brimmed sun hat (for adults) and 6cm for a bucket hat.ShapeThe Australian Government recommends wide brim sun hats, bucket hats, and legionnaire style hats as the best way to protect yourself from the sun’s harmful rays. Baseball caps are not recommended because they only protect certain parts of the body and not the entire face.WeightThose who are traveling a lot should wear lightweight sun protection hats. A hat that is too heavy to carry can be uncomfortable.Moisture-wicking sweatbandProtect your head with a moisture-wicking sweatband inside the crown of the hat. This will keep you cooler, prevent you from dripping sweat into your eyes, and allow you to focus on whatever it is you are doing.MaterialWhen choosing a hat to wear outdoors, look for one made of material rated UPF 50+, which blocks 98% of the skin-damaging UV rays. Straw hats with a tight weave or fabric lining under the brim are good options for protecting your face from those damaging rays.How to wash your sun hatDon't let a hat stain get in the way of your style. It's best to always check care labels before washing a garment, but most clothes can be safely cleaned using a soft brush, a few drops of dish soap, and warm water. With the right treatment, you can have your hat looking good as new. Here's how to clean a sun hat before and after wearing it outdoors:Step 1: Pre-treat the StainSubmerge the hat in cold water, adding a mild detergent or soap. Let it soak for five minutes.Step 2: Scrub and SoakTo clean a stain, brush off the dirt with a soft-bristle toothbrush to work out any remaining grime.Step 3: Hand wash if necessaryWhen sun hats are not heavily soiled, a hand wash setting will suffice.Step 4: Soak to remove leftover soapy waterAfter light scrubbing, submerge your hat in the water again. After 5 to 10 minutes, take the hat out of the water and let it dry.Step 5: Air-dryAllow your hat to dry naturally in a place with good air circulation.What color hat is best for sun protection?The sun can cause serious health problems, including sunburn, skin cancer, and premature aging of the skin. One of the most effective defenses against these dangers is to wear a hat. Sun protective hats are available in every colour of the rainbow, but if you want to protect yourself from harmful UV rays, you should choose darker colors. If you’re more concerned about staying cool and comfortable, then you need an underside of the brim to be a dark colour.When choosing a good sun protection hat for long hours spent outdoors, look for one in a dark colour with a darker non-reflective colour under the brim. A dark colour under the brim to help with glare.How wide should a hat brim be for sun protection?On sunny summer days, it’s easy to get sunburned if you’re not careful. Even if you use sunscreen and reapply it often, the sun burns your skin (sometimes quite quickly) if you’re exposed to it for more than 3-4 consecutive hours. Protect yourself against sunburn by wearing a high-quality, broad-spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses whenever you’re outdoors.To protect your skin from the sun, wear a hat with a brim of at least 7 centimeters. It should shade the face, scalp, neck, shoulders, and back as well as spots that are often overlooked such as the tops of the ears and back of the neck if you have a moderate to high risk for skin cancers.What does UPF 50 mean in hats?The UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) rating system defines an upper limit (since fabric can’t block 100% of UV rays) for how well fabric protects your skin from UV exposure. The higher the UPF rating, the better: UPF 50 is the highest possible rating for sun protective hat, but that doesn't mean you're safe with a simple sunhat and T-shirt—you still need to protect your face, ears, and neck.Wearing a hat with a rating of UPF 50 will prevent 98% of harmful rays from penetrating the fabric, allowing only 2% to reach the skin. This is highly effective at preventing sunburn and reducing your risk of skin cancer.Does a sun hat need UPF protection?Wearing the best sun protection hats is one of the best ways to prevent overexposure to the sun. A good hat is made of fabric tested to confirm its UV Protection Factor (UPF). UPF is the system that rates a fabrics effectiveness against both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) light. The higher the number, the greater the protection.Now more than ever, people should take precautions to protect themselves from skin cancer and other complications that can be caused by UV rays. Studies have proven that wearing a UPF sun protective hat offers better protection and should be the first step in any outdoor activity.What is the difference between UPF and UV protection?People who spend time in the sun—whether it be a morning run, a day at the beach, or driving to work—are constantly exposed to UV light. While many people think that sunscreen is their only defense against skin cancers, the truth is that both UVA and UVB rays, which comprise UV light, can cause a number of harmful effects - this can lead to sunburn, premature photoaging, sun damage, and skin cancer. Everybody is at risk.The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) is the primary authority on radiation protection and nuclear safety in Australia. Each product or fabric must undergo strict in-laboratory testing which is not just a simple visual inspection of the products, as the human eye cannot see UV radiation - instead, testing notably includes light being shone through different parts of each sun hat to confirm that every inch offers full UPF50+ protection. The products that pass ARPANSA testing have been proven to block out at least 95% of the sun's UV rays.UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor)UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) measures the amount of UV radiation (UVR) that passes through the fabric. Consumer products with a UPF rating, usually in the form of a label, indicate that material has been tested for its ability to protect against sunburn by blocking UVR and reducing its transmission through to your skin.UPF ratings break down as follows:Good: indicates clothes with a UPF of 15 to 24Very good: indicates clothes with a UPF of 25 to 39Excellent: indicates clothes with a UPF of 40 to 50SPF (Sun Protection Factor)The SPF number indicates how long you can stay in the sun without burning. The higher the number, the longer your skin will be protected from burning. Only use products that have an SPF of 15 or higher, and reapply them after swimming or sweating.Whether you're a fan of SPF or UPF, it's crucial to protect your skin from the sun. Wear sun-protective clothing, a sun protection hat, and sunscreen for UV protection. Limit your sun exposure whenever possible, and check in with your dermatologist from time to time.Do sun hats really work?According to Australia’s Department of Health and Ageing, Australia and New Zealand have the highest skin cancer incidence and mortality rates in the world. That’s why wearing the best sun protection hats is essential—not just to protect your skin from wrinkles and sunspots, but also from melanoma and other types of skin cancer.For most people, it’s easier to toss on a sun hat than to reapply a broad-spectrum sunscreen every couple of hours. Yet even with a shirt, pants, and hat, many areas of the body will be exposed to UV rays. This is where sunscreen still comes into play.ConclusionWe’re all exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation every day of the year. It’s no surprise then that areas such as the ears, temple, lips, and nose are among the most common sites for skin cancer to develop. By choosing hats wisely, you can prevent your face, head, ears, and back of the neck from getting damaged by UV rays while also reducing the amount of UV radiation reaching your eyes by 50%.In addition to sun-protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen, wearing a sun-safe hat is an effective way to protect your hair, eyes, and skin from the damaging sun’s rays. While you still need to apply sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays, a hat can block the sun from your ears and neck.
