WHAT CAN YOU LEARN FROM A ONE-LEGGED GUY ABOUT HIKING, BACKPACKING AND GEAR?
Sun Protection: Hats, Umbrellas & Umbrella Hats
When you're out on the trail, protecting your head and face from the sun isn't just about comfort—it's about safety. Prolonged exposure can lead to sunburn, heat exhaustion, and dehydration. Fortunately, there are several types of headwear designed to keep you cool, reduce sweat, and shield your skin from harmful UV rays.
Let’s start with my personal favorites, umbrellas and umbrella hats.
While less common than hats, a lightweight hiking umbrella can be a surprisingly effective tool for sun and rain protection on the trail.
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Lightweight Hiking Umbrellas
These are designed to be durable yet lightweight, making them easy to carry in your hand or attach to your backpack. Look for umbrellas with a good canopy size to provide ample shade. Some even have a UPF rating for enhanced sun protection. I have an umbrella with a silver exterior to reflect the light and heat, in open terrain hiking this is what I use.
Pros of a Hiking Umbrella:
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Instant Shade: Provides immediate relief from intense sun, helping you stay cooler.
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Ventilation: Unlike a hat, an umbrella allows for air circulation around your head, which can significantly reduce sweat.
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Rain Protection: Doubles as rain gear, keeping you and potentially some of your gear dry during unexpected showers.
Cons of Hiking Umbrella:
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Hand Usage: You'll need to hold the umbrella, which might limit the use of trekking poles or your ability to have your hands free. Some hikers find ways to attach umbrellas to their backpacks for hands-free use, but this can affect balance.
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Wind: Strong winds can make using an umbrella difficult or even dangerous.
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Terrain: On narrow or overgrown trails, an umbrella might be cumbersome.
The Novelty of Umbrella Hats
For those who want hands-free sun protection with an umbrella, umbrella hats are an option. These wearable umbrellas attach to your head with a band. These novelty items can provide shade without needing to be held. However, they can be less stable in wind and might not offer the same level of coverage as a full-sized hiking umbrella or a wide-brimmed hat. I have a silver exterior umbrella hat that collapses to a 10 inch tube. It greatly reduces heat, gives me excellent shade and even keeps me dry in the drizzling rain.
Pros of Umbrella Hats:
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Hands-Free: Allows you to use trekking poles or keep your hands free.
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Ventilation: Provides good airflow around the head.
Cons of Umbrella Hats:
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Limited Coverage: The smaller umbrella hats might not fully shade your face, ears, and neck.
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Stability: Can be easily affected by wind.
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Aesthetics: May not be the most stylish option for all hikers. In fact, they have a certain ‘dorkiness’ to them.
BONUS: Here's my review of the umbrella hat - https://www.amputeeoutdoors.com/umbrella-hat-review.
BONUS 2: Here's my YouTube review of an umbrella hat - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tSgbngLsz4
Wide-Brimmed Hats
These offer the most comprehensive sun protection for your face, ears, and neck. Look for brims that are at least 3 inches wide all around. Materials like tightly woven nylon or canvas offer good sun blocking. Some wide-brimmed hats also feature vents or mesh panels to improve breathability.
Pros of Wide-Brimmed Hats
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Excellent Sun Coverage: Wide-brimmed hats protect the face, ears, and neck from direct sunlight, helping prevent sunburn in exposed areas.
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Reduces Glare: The brim helps shield your eyes from bright sunlight, making it easier to see in open, reflective environments.
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Cooling Effect: They can keep your head cooler by shading your scalp and allowing air to circulate.
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Versatility: Many wide-brimmed hats are made with breathable, lightweight, and quick-drying materials suitable for a variety of hiking conditions.
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Comfortable Fit: Adjustable bands and chin straps help keep the hat secure, even in windy conditions.
Cons of Wide-Brimmed Hats
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Wind Sensitivity: Wide-brimmed hats can catch the wind easily, sometimes blowing off or becoming cumbersome on gusty days.
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Weight and Bulk: Some models may feel bulky and less packable compared to smaller caps.
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Visibility and Mobility: The wide brim occasionally obstructs peripheral vision or interferes with backpacks and other gear.
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Style Preference: Not everyone likes the look or feel of a wide brim, and some may prefer other forms of sun protection.
Baseball Caps with Neck Flaps
While a standard baseball cap offers some protection for the face, it leaves the ears and neck vulnerable. Many hiking-specific caps come with detachable or integrated neck flaps made of lightweight, sun-protective fabric. These offer a good balance of visibility and protection.
Pros of Baseball Caps with Neck Flaps
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Targeted Sun Protection: The neck flap covers areas a regular cap misses, specifically protecting the back and sides of your neck and sometimes your ears from direct UV exposure.
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Lightweight and Packable: These hats are usually lighter and more compact than wide-brimmed alternatives, making them easy to carry and store in a backpack.
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Adjustable Coverage: Many designs offer removable or stowable flaps, giving you flexibility based on sun intensity or personal comfort.
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Secure Fit: The fitted style and adjustable straps make them less likely to blow off in windy conditions, unlike some wide-brimmed hats.
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Versatility: Can be converted into a standard baseball cap if you don't need sun protection for your neck, which can be preferable in town or in low-sun situations.
Cons of Baseball Caps with Neck Flaps
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Limited Face Coverage: The bill only shades the face’s front and may leave cheeks and jaw exposed to reflected sun, particularly as the sun angle changes.
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Neck Flap Warmth: The close fabric and flap can trap heat, sometimes making you feel warmer than expected, especially in sweltering conditions.
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Style Considerations: Neck flaps are practical but some may feel self-conscious about the look, and certain designs may not suit everyone’s style preferences.
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Less Coverage Than Wide Brim: The sides of the face and ears might still be exposed unless the flap is extra wide or combined with other protective gear.
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Potential for Flap Discomfort: Flaps that are too short, stiff, or not breathable can be uncomfortable or may not provide adequate coverage.
Bucket Hats:
Similar to wide-brimmed hats but with a more casual style, bucket hats provide all-around brim protection. Choose those made from breathable and quick-drying materials.
Pros of Bucket Hats
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Good Sun Coverage: Bucket hats have a downward-sloping brim that offers 360-degree sun protection for the face, ears, and, to some extent, the neck.
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Lightweight and Packable: Most bucket hats are lightweight, easy to fold or roll, and can be packed into a small space without losing their shape.
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Breathability: They are often made from breathable, moisture-wicking fabrics that help keep you cool in hot weather.
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Versatility: Their design is suitable for a range of outdoor activities beyond hiking, such as fishing, gardening, and travel.
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Secure Fit: Some models come with chin straps or adjustable features to help keep the hat on in windy conditions.
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Stylish and Unobtrusive: Bucket hats can be stylish and are generally less bulky than wide-brimmed hats, making them a good fit for those who want sun protection without a large or dramatic look.
Cons of Bucket Hats
Limited Neck Protection: The brims are usually shorter than those of wide-brimmed hats or boonie hats, so the back of the neck might remain exposed to sun, especially when the sun is high.
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Brim Size Varies: Smaller brims mean less shade and may provide insufficient protection during very intense sun or high-UV conditions.
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Can Get Warm: Thicker or less-breathable materials may trap heat, though most hiking-specific bucket hats are designed to minimize this.
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Less Rigid Brim: The brim may flop or blow up in the wind, reducing sun protection unless the hat has structural support or a secure strap.
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Coverage Not Adjustable: Compared to hats with detachable neck flaps or customizable brims, bucket hats offer less flexibility in increasing or decreasing coverage.
When you choose a hiking hat (or umbrella hat if you're unconvential), consider the environment and how much sun exposure you’ll face:
Open Terrain with No Shade
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Maximum Coverage Needed: Opt for a hat with a wide brim (3in or more) or one with a neck flap to protect your face, ears, and neck. Full sun means UV exposure from above and reflected light.
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Lightweight, Breathable Materials: Look for hats made of quick-drying, moisture-wicking fabrics to help dissipate heat.
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UV Protection Rating: Choose hats with rated UPF protection for best results.
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Secure Fit: Wind can be a factor in exposed areas—chin straps or adjustable sizing help keep your hat in place.
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Ventilation: Features like mesh panels can prevent overheating.
Mixed Terrain (Intermittent Shade)
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Adaptability: A bucket hat or baseball cap with removable neck flap might be best, allowing you to adjust coverage as light conditions change.
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Packability: Consider a hat that’s easy to stow in your pack if shade is frequent, or one that’s comfortable to wear all day.
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Balance of Features: Moderate brim width (2–3in) provides some sun coverage without being awkward in dense brush.
Forested Terrain (Mostly Shade)
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Comfort and Convenience: Prioritize lightweight hats and those with shorter brims or lower profiles, such as bucket hats or baseball caps.
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Mobility: Large brims can catch on branches and brush; choose a cap or bucket hat that won’t interfere with your movement.
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Breathability: Even in shade, strenuous hikes can build heat—look for ventilated or moisture-wicking designs.
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Bug Protection: In shady, damp forests, hats with mesh or built-in bug netting can help.
Whichever umbrella or hat you take with you, I hope you have a great hike and come home without a sunburn. See you out there!