Fishing Hats

One of the best ways to keep cool and sunburn free in the extreme heat of the Florida Keys, is to wear a fishing hat when out on the water, fishing from a bridge or from shore, or for that matter, when spending any time outdoors in the sun!
 
A baseball cap is one style that many people wear, just because it is a common style and most everyone has one, so it is easy to grab and go. Baseball caps are not the best choice for a fishing hat, for several reasons. First, being made of cotton, they absorb all of your sweat, along with any other moisture, and can quickly become smelly, uncomfortable and disgusting. Secondly, they do nothing to keep the sun off the back of your neck or your ears, two often overlooked areas when it comes to applying sunblock. In addition, baseball caps tend to fly off the moment a stiff wind comes along, and can be gone forever, if it flies overboard.
 
A good fishing hat is one that keeps the sun off of your face, neck and ears, is water repellent, dries quickly and won’t blow off in the wind. Following are a few things to look for when shopping for sun protection fishing hats. Look for a wide brim fishing hat that provides enough shade for your face. The outer shell of the hat should be waterproof, or at the very least, water resistant and fade resistant. Grommets or mesh in the crown for air flow are important cooling factors.

A fishing hat with neck protection is important, whether it is in the form of a hidden cape to be rolled down when needed, or a stationary part of the hat. You may not think that fishing hats with the cape look “cool”, but a red, sunburned neck doesn’t look too “cool” either. A chin strap would be a plus for windy days, as it will keep your hat securely on your head. On calm days, just tuck the strap up into the hat.
 
Many of the better-made fishing hats also have qualities such as being machine washable, blocking out UVA and UVB rays, and floating when in water.