Clothing > Accessories
10 Best Bucket Hats for Men
The right blend of form and function is crucial in any well-curated wardrobe, from the cut of your T-shirt or chino shorts to the durability of your canvas sneakers. And among those style essentials for summer rests your choice of headwear, a critical move in keeping the sun off your face and the sweat out of your eyes. The best bucket hats do both handily, with aspects of performance and style built right in.
- Form balanced with function: The bucket hat was first worn by fishermen and outdoorsmen in locales like Ireland, and it retains much the same shape today, yet with modern fabric at the forefront.
- Classically cool: Brands like Kangol turned the bucket hat into a style icon all its own, with colors and patterns made to mix and match as a statement piece for your wardrobe.
- Find your fit: Whether you seek a bucket hat for performance-focused situations, like a day on the course, or a bucket hat made for laidback looks, there’s an option out there.
There’s a sense of retro flair from the best bucket hats for men, and a range of brands – from performance-minded companies to daily style favorites – deliver the style with ease.
Whether on the water or on the links – or on a brewery patio – a bucket hat could the style solution your summer headwear game needs.
In my experience, the brands making the best bucket hats harness a mix of function and fashion, and that’s what RAINS also does expertly. The brand is already a standout at making durable, sleek rain gear, and its bucket hat uses the brand’s signature fabric to easily shed storms in minimal fashion.
Try these:
Jack Reacher, James Patterson, Brandon Sanderson
Rains Bucket Hat
RAINS takes the small details seriously, as well as the major attributes of its streamlined bucket hat. That means paying careful attention to the positioning of the rim for maximum protection, plus the use of its durable, weather-fighting fabric.
Patagonia Surf Brimmer Hat
Gear up and hit the trail with Patagonia, in more ways than one – its moisture-wicking T-shirts and shorts are nicely complemented by a classically functional bucket hat, of course.
The use of durable, breathable recycled nylon helps wick away sweat and acts as a coolant from sunrise to sunset.
Uniqlo UV Protection Bucket Hat
Uniqlo is best known for its highly affordable takes on menswear staples, one of the best bucket hats very much included.
This one, despite its low price, is a steal of a deal and pairs well with Uniqlo rain gear and of course, super-soft T-shirts for sunny days (note the use of UV protection in its fabric).
Adidas Victory Four Bucket Hat
Adidas knows the demands of the sweltering sun with the rest of its athletic gear, so it only makes sense that the sportswear giant would produce a moisture-wicking, perforated bucket hat.
The added ventilation is also aided by a helpful sweatband for sporting pursuits.
Utmost Cotton Bucket Hat
Bucket hats, in my experience, come in handy when you need more coverage than a traditional ballcap can provide.
This Utmost bucket hat, with its sturdy cotton construction, delivers that added coverage, along with useful ventilation via brass-toned eyelets.
The North Face Class V Reversible Bucket Hat
The best bucket hats for men are downright useful in terms of protection, but a bucket hat that’s really two hats in one? That just about takes the cake in my book, and The North Face uses its technical expertise to deliver a handy option made from proprietary material.
Kangol Stripe Lahinch Bucket Hat
Kangol is a modern purveyor of some of the coolest hats for men, with retro style points spanning decades, and its iconic stripe bucket hat is no exception. The instantly recognizable logo makes this an easygoing style move alongside a classic polo.
Here’s a solid version as seen in the photo at the top of the article.
Nike Apex Swoosh Bucket Hat
Arguably the most famous sporting logo in the world gives a boost of confidence to this performance-minded bucket hat, one that’s made from sustainable materials and a soft woven twill. Pick a color, any color, because it’s hard to go wrong with Nike, in my experience.
James Perse Camo Palm Print Bucket Hat
For ultra-casual style situations, especially on the beach or on the water, turn to an eye-catching, super-stylish camo printed bucket hat.
James Perse takes much the same approach to this soft cotton bucket hat as its classic tees, and that’s expertise I surely appreciate.
Lululemon Both Ways Reversible Bucket Hat
Keep things minimal and subtly stylish with Lululemon’s bucket hat, a simple design that packs a punch in terms of performance. It’s powered by lightweight, four-way stretch fabric and is quick-drying for all-day comfort from the first tee to the 19th hole.
WERD has been reader-supported since 2009. When you buy through a link on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. We do not accept compensation for reviews.
