Hats and golf go together like baseball gloves and, well, baseball. Adequate weather protection and a fashion-derived confidence boost can be clutch on the course. That’s why a good golf hat is one that either protects you from the natural elements we have no control over or adds style and credibility to your game. A great golf hat, however, delivers both.
So when it comes to golf hats, how do you separate the bad from the good and the good from the great? Well, for starters, read this article. We donned our thinking caps and conducted thorough research to find the best golf hats available. We read the specs, compared feedback, and, when the dust settled, compiled our list of the best golf hats in 2023.
Top 10 golf hats in 2023
Best overall: Titleist Tour Performance
Best baseball cap: Nike Men’s Legacy91 Tech Golf Hat
Best Birdie Juice: Birdie Juice Script Rope Hat
Best limited-edition: Nicklaus Rope Hat
Best rope hat: Palmer Umbrella Emblem Rope Hat
Best bucket hat: Ping Men’s Boonie Bucket Hat
Best for cold weather: Vice Golf Beanie Striped
Best straw hat: Dorfman Pacific Co. Men’s Rush Gambler
Best visor: Limited-Edition Birdie Juice Visor
Best for women: CALIA Women’s Golf Perforated Ponytail Hat
How we chose the best golf hats
Our research started with a wide net. We took an assessment of the number of golf hats on the market (there are a lot) and the different types of golf hats available (there are quite a few). We then arranged hats by style and sorted them based on how actual customers rated them. Once we knew the highest-rated caps across each of our selected categories, we cut our list down even further by evaluating each hat’s features and intended purpose.
Best overall: Titleist Tour Performance
All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team.
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Benefits
— Antimicrobial, moisture-wicking sweatband effective at odor reduction
— UV sun protection of 50+ UPF
— Customers note comfortable fit and quick-drying material
Drawbacks
— Pricey
Every golfer and golf fan worth their weight in Birdie Juice knows the Titleist Tour Performance Hat. Just go to any golf course or check out any sports broadcast of a golf game, and you’ll likely see a dozen of them in no time flat. But don’t let its abundance fool you — this hat is everywhere because it checks all the boxes for what makes a great hat for golf. And that’s exactly why it’s our top pick for the Best Overall.
The stretch clasp closure is designed to give a snug fit, and the recently added sweatband is made from lightweight, antimicrobial, and moisture-wicking material to keep sweat out of your face and offensive odors at bay. The hat is also UV treated for 50+ UPF sun protection.
Customers praised the hat’s high quality, durability, and comfortable feel. In fact, the more reviews we read, the more we understood why it’s the hat of choice for pro golfers and casual players alike.
Colors: 17
Best baseball cap: Nike Men’s Legacy91 Tech Golf Hat
Benefits
— Very effective at keeping you dry
— Comfortable, absorbent sweatband
— Adjustable backstrap with metal buckle
Drawbacks
— No UPF rating
The Nike Men’s Legacy91 Tech Golf Hat came in a very close second place behind our top pick. Based on customer reviews, it’s a lightweight hat that sports a soft and absorbent sweatband. It contains Nike’s signature Dri-FIT technology, which is designed to evaporate sweat, so you can stay dry and more comfortable on the course. And for added breathability, Nike included embroidered eyelets.
As far as fit goes, the hat has an adjustable backstrap that secures in place with a metal buckle, so a range of people can achieve a fit that’s neither too loose nor too tight.
Colors: 21
Best Birdie Juice: Birdie Juice Script Rope Hat
Benefits
— Embroidered eyelets add breathability
— “Birdie Juice” lettering in limited-edition color stitching
— Best-selling Birdie Juice hat
Drawbacks
— Limited color options
— A little pricey
Birdie Juice is a brand that golfers know and love. So much so that we decided to give it a category all to itself. The Birdie Juice Script Rope Hat features “Birdie Juice” lettering in limited-edition color stitching and a snapback enclosure for a secure fit. How much do customers love this headwear? Enough to make it the best-selling Birdie Juice hat ever. It’s definitely on the pricier end, but it’s worth a splurge for a limited-edition product. After all, who doesn’t want to stand out on the course?
Colors: 6
Best limited-edition: Nicklaus Rope Hat
Benefits
— Snapback enclosure
— Limited-edition item
Drawbacks
— Only available for a short period
— Limited color options
In honor of Young Jack’s hat style of choice for hitting balls around the course, the Nicklaus Rope Hat is a limited-edition model in very short supply. The hat itself is structured and deep fitting, so it retains its shape and won’t sit too high above your head. Jack Nicklaus hats are among some of the most highly-reviewed golf apparel online, often receiving high marks for quality and durability. Despite a limited color range, we suspect that the Nicklaus Rope Hat is no exception.
Colors: 4
Best rope hat: Palmer Umbrella Emblem Rope Hat
Benefits
— Adjustable for a secure fit
— Eyelets for breathability
— 100% cotton for solid moisture control
Drawbacks
— Only 2 color options
The Palmer Umbrella Emblem Rope Hat is designed to maximize all the classic hallmarks of the rope hat style — from its structured shape and all-cotton rope (in fact, the entire hat is made from cotton) to its soft feel and button on top. The hat is adjustable, so it can offer a secure fit for heads of all sizes. And when you’re showing off this hat on the course, its eyelets are there to keep you cool while looking stylish.
Colors: 2
Best bucket hat: Ping Men’s Boonie Bucket Hat
Benefits
— Wide brim offers full-coverage sun protection
— Holes and mesh provide ventilation
— Adjustable drawcord
Drawbacks
— Only comes in 2 colors
— Expensive
Bucket hats are designed to protect your skin and shield your eyes from the sun. Customers online said the Ping Men’s Boonie Bucket Hat not only offers full coverage from the sun, thanks to its wide and stiff brim, but it also has a high-quality and durable build.
The hat’s adjustable drawcord ensures a snug fit that keeps the hat in place on windy days. The mesh and precision-cut holes make the hat breathable and comfortable to wear all day. It’s also worth noting that the bucket hat is made from polyester (87%) for a lightweight feel and spandex (13%) for a touch of stretch.
Colors: 2
Best for cold weather: Vice Golf Beanie Striped
Benefits
— 100% acrylic wool
— Full-head coverage
Drawbacks
— Hand-wash only
The Vice Golf Beanie Striped is designed to keep your head warm during the cooler months on the course. Thanks to its 100% acrylic wool material, this beanie is soft to the touch and flexible enough to fit most head sizes. Vice Golf made the beanie’s inner lining breathable to ensure you won’t get too hot. And the pompom on top adds a little fashion flare.
Customers often praise Vice Golf hats online for their head-turning styles and excellent quality. With this beanie, that’s a trend we suspect will continue.
Colors: 4
Best straw hat: Dorfman Pacific Co. Men’s Rush Gambler
Benefits
— Wide 3-inch brim
— 100% rush straw
— Pull-on closure
Drawbacks
— No pull-cord
— Light enough to fly away in heavy wind
The Dorfman Pacific Co. Men’s Rush Gambler straw hat is designed for work and play in hot, sunny weather. It’s constructed from 100% rush straw material for durability, a firm fit that’s not too tight, and breathability thanks to the hat’s porous design in its oval crown. Its wide brim measures 3 inches to shade your face, ears, and neck. And the hat’s partial sweatband helps to keep perspiration out of your face.
Online reviews mentioned the hat’s tendency to fly off in heavy winds, which is attributable to its lightweight design. Aside from that, customers applauded the hat’s style and ability to protect them from the sun.
Colors: 1
Best visor: Limited-Edition Birdie Juice visor
Benefits
— Moisture-wicking, stain-repellent fabric
— Adjustable strap fit
Drawbacks
— Like all visors, it lacks protection for the top of the head
It’s embroidered with Colt Knost and Drew Stolz’s favorite golf saying — birdie juice — and features a baby blue-backed ditsy print of each of their bird caricatures. It’s a little loud, but that’s why we love it. While we can’t actually guarantee you’ll make more birdies by wearing this, the increased confidence you’ll feel is half the battle.
Colors: 1
Best for women: CALIA Women’s Golf Perforated Ponytail Hat
Benefits
— A well-placed cutout for ponytails and hair buns
— Perforated fabric for breathability and comfort
— Adjustable fit
Drawbacks
— Fabric isn’t stain-resistant
For anyone with long hair, visors are an obvious choice. But what if you want something that offers greater protection for your scalp? The CALIA Women’s Golf Perforated Ponytail Hat is designed to offer women (or anyone with long hair, really) a space to let their hair fly free while protecting the top of their head from the sun. It also sports perforated fabric that helps vent heat and keep the head cool, much like a visor would do.
Customers raved about the hat’s lightweight and breathability as well as its quality, stretchy fit, and perfect ponytail/hair bun cutout placement.
Colors: 4
How to pick the right golf hat for you
A great golf hat marries form and function. Decide what’s more important to you: style or purpose. For example, if you love the look of a quality visor but your scalp burns easily after hours in the sun, you may want to seriously consider other hat styles that better protect your scalp. We would err on the side of caution and say to ensure you have a hat protecting you from natural elements. But ultimately, the right choice is the one that makes you happiest and most comfortable.
FAQ
What hats do professional golfers wear?
Pro golfers wear hats of all styles and brands, from more traditional baseball caps to floppy-brimmed bucket hats. You’ll even see more than a few professional golfers sporting the tried-and-true flat cap.
What’s the best golf hat for hot weather?
Look for hats that are lightweight and breathable. You’ll want a hat with a good sweatband and some kind of mesh or perforated design to move heat away from your head. The best hot weather golf hats found in this article include the Titleist Tour Performance, Nike Men’s Legacy91 Tech Golf Hat, and Dorfman Pacific Co. Men’s Rush Gambler straw hat.
What does UPF sun protection mean?
UPF stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor. The UPF is a rating used to gauge how much UV radiation a piece of fabric allows to reach your skin. Let’s say a hat is made from material with a 30 UPF rating. This means the hat blocks around 97% of the sun’s UV rays.
The Skin Cancer Foundation gives its seal of recommendation to clothing with a UPF rating of at least 30. And for those keeping score, the Titleist Tour Performance hat boasts a 50+ UPF rating, meaning it blocks more than 98% of sun rays.
What brand is Bryson DeChambeau’s hat?
Pro golfer Bryson DeChambeau often wears a Puma Tour Driver Cap. Not too many pro golfers sport this style nowadays, teeing up DeChambeau to make the unique look part of his personal brand.
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