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Best Women’s Sun Protection Hats UPF 50+ | Keep & Look Cool!

woman playing tennis with sun hat

If you are looking for a good sun protection hat to protect you while on the courts or doing other outdoor activities in the sun, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve researched the options and narrowed down a few of our top picks for the best women’s sun protection hats that are both stylish but also sporty.

As I mentioned on our page about Men’s Sun Protection UPF Hats, I wear and recommend the Outdoor Research Sombriolet Sun Hat. It’s a unisex UPF 50 wide-brimmed hat. If you want to read the full review you can click that link to check it out.  If you are looking for a hat specifically designed for women, continue below to see some other top options. 

Hats have been proven to help reduce your exposure to UV rays that can cause cancer. Fabric with a UPF of 50 allows only one-fiftieth (or 2%) of UV radiation to pass through it and so offers excellent protection. The best hat for maximizing shade and providing protection are wide-brimmed, bucket hats or “Legionnaire-style”.

Apart from the hat brand I wear (Outdoor Research) I can really recommend this sun hat from Coolibar as our next top choice since we are a fan of both their men’s and women’s sun protection clothing and apparel, but if you are looking for a more sporty looking baseball style hat, please see our other reviews below.

If you prefer a women’s tennis sun visor, we’ve covered those here.


Best Women’s Sun Protection Hats: Our Top Picks

Coolibar UPF 50+ Women’s Ultra Sun Hat Review

Coolibar UPF 50+ Women's Ultra Sun Hat - Sun Protective (One Size- Carbon)

Coolibar a very trustworthy brand when it comes to protection from the sun and this sun hat is made to their usual high standards. The material is rated as UPF 50+, so you have no need to worry about UV when you are wearing this hat. 

While the hat is not cheap, the quality of the quality of Coolibar’s outdoor apparel and they specialize in sun protection clothing. 

This hat has a few different options for how it is worn which makes it very versatile. It has a removable veil, which offers you’re a very high level of protection from the elements while you are playing. There is also a neck flap which covers your neck and ears from the sun.

This flap is permanently attached to the hat but can be easily rolled up inside the hat and secured with Velcro if you don’t want to use it. The back is similar to a “Legionnaire-style” cover over your neck with is especially helpful for protecting the skin on your neck which can easily get burned. 

The material of the whole thing is very lightweight and breathable, so even when you have the face veil and neck flap down it feels light and airy.

The hat comes with an easy to remove chin strap so you can decide if you want it on to help keep the hat in place as you play.


Adidas Women’s Adizero Cap

adidas Women's Adizero Cap, Black/White/Blaze Pink, One Size Fits All

This Adidas sports cap is a well-designed option for protecting your eyes and face from the dangers of the summer sun. It also comes in such a wide range of design (dozens of color combinations) options that you are bound to find the cap that fits perfectly with your tennis outfit. 

The cap is lightweight with built-in mesh panels that allow for good air flow as you move around the court. The mesh has been integrated into the design of the cap so actually adds to the look of the cap as well as providingmuch-neededd air flow

The underside of the cap is dark in color in all the color options, which means that any glare is minimized.

The fit of this cap is on the small side, even with the adjustable Velcro strap, if you tend towards needing a larger size cap then you might want to consider a different option.

The material is excellent at absorbing sweat and will keep you feeling fresh. It also dries quickly so if you remove the hat between sets it won’t feel unpleasantly damp when you put it back on.


Outdoor Boonie Sun Hat

Tough Headwear Outdoor Boonie Sun Hat - UPF 50 Protection for Men & Women. Wide Brim Summer Hat. Waterproof for Fishing, Hiking, Camping, Boating & Outdoor Adventures. Breathable Nylon & Mesh

If you are looking for a hat with a chin strap then this is a good option. This unisex sun hat has both a chin strap and a drawstring in the head band so you can feel safe that this hat is not going to fly off your head as you move around the court.

The material is lightweight so you can easily forget you are wearing it. It is also very breathable, with no inner lining to prevent air flow along with well-placed ventilation holes.

Despite the lightweight of the material it is rated as UPF 50+ so will keep you safe from the majority of the harmful UV rays.

It absorbs sweat well, but if you go for the lighter color option it will show, so you may be better off selecting the darker option.


iColor Sun Cap Flap Hat Review

iColor Women Sun Cap Flap Hats 360° Protection Outdoor Sports Visor Hats Wide Brim Caps UV Protection Summer Sun Hats For Girl Lady

This hat comes witha removable neck and face covers which snap securely into place. Similar to a This means that you can choose the level of sun protection that you want based on the situation, making it a very versatile option. It is rated as UPF 50+ so will keep you safe from both UVA and UVB skin damage.

The colors and designs available are very attractive and striking which is a real added bonus to the hat that already offers a great deal of sun protection. It even has a space for you to pull your pony tail through so it will still sit comfortably on your head.

I can see why some people don’t like the look of this one when they see it, since it has the face flap but if you are out in full sun it really can help to protect your face and the face cover is totally removable.

Many people prefer to remove the face flap but leave the neck cover since that is one of the most common places to get burned when on the courts in the sun. The hat has a chin strap which helps to keep the hat securely in place when you are on the move.

It is very good at absorbing sweat so will keep you feeling nice and dry.

The downsides of this product are that it is a little heavier than your average sun hat, so may feel a little warm and it can be difficult to add or remove the covers whilst you are wearing the hat, so you will most likely need to remove the hat completely whilst you make the changes. It is still a great choice as it folds up very small meaning that you can easily stash it in your pickleball bag or purse for when you need it.


Women’s Nike Featherlight Tennis Hat Review

NIKE Women's Tennis Featherlight Cap,White/Black/White/Black,One Size

This Nike Tennis Hat is designed for being on the court under the heat of the summer sun. The material is super lightweight, so you don’t feel like you are wearing anything too restrictive, and the fit is comfortable.

The material is designed to wick sweat away so it keeps your head dry and prevents your skin from becoming irritated as you play. As the material is double layered it can absorb a large amount of moisture which is a real plus.

The design of the hat includes perforated insets, which allow for good airflow as you move around, which adds to the feeling of coolness.

As you will undoubtedly want to wash this hat after its been used, you will need to take a little care. The visor can be somewhat prone to misshaping when washed, so you are advised to hand wash, or use the top shelf in your dishwasher to get the sweat out after a hard game.

This hat has a Velcro strap for adjustment so you may need to take care with the strap to avoid catching your hair in the Velcro. The sizing runs a little small, so if you tend to need larger or unisex has then this might not be the best option for you.

The wide range of color options is great and you are sure to find one that you really love.


Hopefully, this short list of our favorite hats gave you some ideas and options to choose from. If you are still interested in learning more about the benefit of wearing a hat while out in the sun, you may want to check out this article from Skincancer.org and this one by Everyday Health. 

There is also this quick 1 min video by the Mayo Clinic that explains UPF ratings:

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About Dan Langston

With experience in the ecotourism industry and time well spent as a fly fishing guide in the remote absaroka mountain range for 6 years, Dan brings a unique perspective to the digital world. As the operator, Dan is now committed to revitalizing Pickleball Portal and plans to build a support system for content creators and provide helpful information for the pickleball community. dan@pickleballportal.com

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