A new design we are testing for our Spring/Summer 2022 line is a LaaTeeDa reversible bucket hat ! Bucket hats have officially made the transition from dorky to in-fashion and we couldn't be more excited! The best part about bucket hats isn't just that they are trendy. Since they have a wide, circular brim, they also serve some serious summer sun protection.
While fashionistas may have resurrected the style made famous by
'90s street style icons
and hip hop artists, the best part about bucket hats isn't just that they are trendy. Since they have a wide, circular brim, they also serve up some serious summer
sun protection.
, board-certified dermatologist and vice president of the
, it's really important for people to recognize that, in addition to
sunscreen, there are other steps that can be taken to protect from UV rays, like wearing hats and
sunglasses
when outdoors. "Hats provide an easy way to keep sun off your face, while also protecting your vulnerable scalp, which is a common area for skin cancer," explains Dr. Hale.
According to Elizabeth Hale, MD , board-certified dermatologist and vice president of the Skin Cancer Foundation , it's really important for people to recognize that, in addition tosunscreen, there are other steps that can be taken to protect from UV rays, like wearing hats andsunglasseswhen outdoors. "Hats provide an easy way to keep sun off your face, while also protecting your vulnerable scalp, which is a common area for skin cancer," explains Dr. Hale.
Of course, wearing any kind of hat is better than not wearing a hat at all, however what makes bucket hats so great is that, unlike a baseball cap, they offer you a 360-degree protection. Hats that shade your ears, the sides of your face, and the back of your neck are ideal since these are all very common areas for squamous and basal cell carcinoma. The broader the brim, the better," says Dr. Hale. When selecting the best bucket hat to sport this summer, the best options for optimal sun protection are ones that are light-colored to reflect sun rays so you don’t overheat, and have UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) of 50 or higher.
This is why we have selected a couple different versions that are reversible with a lighter color option for those extra hot summer days!
Now available at LaaTeeDa.com!
We are often asked whether bucket hats or baseball hats offer better UV protection from the sun. While both offer sun protection, we recommend a UPF bucket hat instead of a baseball cap for a few reasons. Continue below as we compare the advantages of bucket hats and baseball hats. We'll look specifically at style, comfort, convenience and UV protection. By the end, we’re confident you’ll agree that the UV protection of sun protection bucket hats just can’t be beat!
Much of style is subjective, but we’ll highlight a few key differences and let you draw your own conclusion. Bucket hats feature a 360-degree brim, which turned upside down gives them a bucket shape, hence the name. Baseball hats, meanwhile, feature a single visor extending out in one direction. Both come in fitted or adjustable varieties, with bucket hats usually accomplishing this with a more discrete rear drawcord. Both types of hats actually come in a number of sub-styles and materials. When buying a hat for sun protection, look for styles that feature as few holes and mesh as possible. This is because every hole creates a way for UV rays to reach your head.
Rest assured that neither hat type is likely to ever go out of style. If either is trending, however, it's bucket hats making a resurgence as part of the athleisure and outdoorsy fashion movements.
The individual comfort of a bucket hat or baseball hat depends largely upon the specific fabric. Baseball hats typically feature a stiff visor, which might be less comfortable against your head. This would be especially uncomfortable when pressed against another surface, such as a car headrest or beach blanket. As far as fit, both style hats come in fitted and adjustable varieties, as mentioned above. Ultimately, the main comfort differences will be determined by the material used. At Rayward Apparel, we only use lightweight, outdoor-friendly fabrics to keep you cool even on the hottest of days. As a result, you know you’ll be comfortable in our sun protection bucket hat.
We would never describe baseball hats as “inconvenient,” but there are certain conveniences afforded specifically to lightweight UV bucket hats. For instance, the soft and shapeable brim of a bucket hat is easier to wash and pack. With baseball hats, you have to worry about protecting the shape of your visor. Additionally, bucket hats are typically made with breathable, moisture-wicking materials. This is opposed to the plastics and foams sometimes used in ball caps. Lastly, any bucket hat worth its weight (light as it may be) will also feature an adjustable neck strap to keep your hat securely in place. Consider how inconvenient it would be for your sun protection to blow away because it wasn’t properly secured. If this sounds far-fetched, just watch this video below:
If the other categories are close (and subject to personal preference), this is where our undisputed sun protection champion emerges. In terms of sun protection, a bucket hat is far better than a baseball hat. Since bucket hats feature a 360-degree brim, the wider of which the better, bucket hats offer protection for all sides of your head. Most critically, this includes UV protection for your ears, otherwise the biggest vulnerability exposed by only wearing baseball caps.
Wearing either a sun protection bucket hat or a baseball cap is better than wearing no hat. However, based on its especially strong performance in the categories of comfort and, most importantly, UV protection, the UPF bucket hat is our winner for best sun protection hat. If for some reason a bucket hat isn’t for you, or circumstances find you without one, at least wear a baseball hat. If that be the case, just make sure you pair your baseball hat with our UPF hooded shirt to protect your ears and neck. Alternatively, you could lather on a bunch of sunscreen, but sunscreen has its own downsides and will probably cost you more money in the long run.
Rayward Apparel has launched its first sun protection hat, the Sun Ops Bucket Hat, and it should come as no surprise that UV protection was our highest priority. With that in mind, we created the best sun protection bucket hat which, like everything else we design, doesn’t compromise style, comfort or performance to achieve the best in UV protection.
Shop Rayward Apparel's Sun Ops UPF 50+ bucket hat today!