Men's Sun Hats
Men's sun hats built to protect you through a New Zealand summer, from wide-brim hats with full neck coverage to packable bucket styles and technical fishing hats. Our range features The North Face, Patagonia and Columbia, made for long days in harsh UV.
The more skin a hat shades, the better. Wide-brim and legionnaire styles protect your face, ears and neck, which matters given New Zealand's extreme UV, and many use fabric with a UPF sun-protection rating for added defence. Look for breathability and a chin cord for windy or on-water days, and choose a packable style if you want to stash it in a pack. A sun hat protects far more than a cap, so it is worth having for serious time outdoors.
Come and find the right brim and fit at our Grey Lynn concept store, or order online for fast, tracked delivery across New Zealand.
Frequently asked questions about men's sun hats
Why do I need a wide-brim sun hat in New Zealand?
New Zealand has some of the strongest UV in the world, and a wide-brim hat shades your face, ears and the back of your neck, the spots most exposed to burning and long-term skin damage. A cap only covers the front, leaving your ears and neck out in the sun. For anyone spending real time outdoors here, a wide-brim sun hat is one of the simplest and most effective bits of sun protection you can wear.
What does a UPF rating on a hat mean?
UPF stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor, and it measures how much UV the fabric blocks. A UPF 50 fabric lets through only a fiftieth of UV rays, blocking about 98 percent. A UPF rating tells you the material itself is sun-protective, not just that the hat provides shade, so a UPF-rated wide-brim hat gives you protection from both the coverage and the fabric. Look for it if sun protection is your priority.
What is the difference between a sun hat and a bucket hat?
A bucket hat is really a type of sun hat with a shorter, downturned brim that goes all the way around, so it packs small and has a casual look. A classic wide-brim sun hat has a broader brim for more shade, and legionnaire styles add a neck flap. Bucket hats are great for everyday and travel; wide-brim styles give the most coverage for long, intense sun exposure.
How do I keep a sun hat on in the wind or on the water?
A chin cord or drawcord is the answer, and most technical sun and fishing hats have one so you can cinch the hat under your chin when it is breezy or you are on a boat. A snug fit helps too. If you spend time fishing, boating or on exposed tops, choose a sun hat with a chin cord so a gust does not send it overboard.
Are sun hats packable for travel and hiking?
Many are. Bucket styles and soft, crushable sun hats fold or roll into a pack and spring back into shape, which makes them ideal for travel and tramping where space matters. Stiffer wide-brim hats give more shade but are harder to pack. If you need to stash your hat when you are not wearing it, look for one described as packable or crushable.
How much of my face and neck should a sun hat cover?
As much as is practical for how long you will be out. For serious sun, aim for a brim wide enough to shade your face and ears, and consider a legionnaire style or a hat worn with a neck gaiter to cover the back of your neck. The goal is to keep direct sun off the skin that burns most easily, so more coverage is better on long, exposed days.
How do I clean a sun hat?
Most sun hats can be spot cleaned or gently hand washed in cool water with mild soap, then reshaped and air dried away from direct heat. Straw and stiffer hats need more care to keep their shape, while soft technical and bucket hats are more forgiving. Rinse off salt and sweat after big days to keep the fabric and its sun protection performing.