The 12 Coolest Baseball Caps for Keeping the Sun Out of Your Eyes

No matter where you live, the baseball cap is a smart accessory for everyday sun protection. While the style hasn’t changed that much in recent years, more brands are now offering the staple style in warm-weather appropriate fabrics. Keep an eye out for breathable linen and washed-out cotton — they’ll keep your head both cool and shaded through the dog days.

How to Pick the Right Hat

Even if you have a favorite cap already, these seasonably appropriate options are well worth adding to your headwear rotation. They don’t don the logo of distant or deserted sports franchises, nor a company kind enough to gift you branded garb.

These features subtly render them both more casual and more appropriate for places beyond the ballpark. Invest in one that won’t lose its shape after a few wears. The style certainly isn’t going anywhere —the wildest innovations have been this ambitious bill — so stock up on ones you’ll own forever. Worst case scenario they become a sought-after vintage piece with a storied past life.

What These Avoid

Unflattering details like embroidered logos, weird tags or odd fits altogether aren’t always easy to avoid. In fact, you’d need to see most of these hats firsthand to know whether there’s a logo at the rear, a leather strap or a nylon one or extra fabric on top. Luckily we have, and we’ll point out potential problems as they arise.

How to Address Hat Hair

With consistent hat-wearing comes a serious issue: hat hair. You know, when you slip out of that warm hat and your hair goes every which way, or, on the contrary, it looks like you combed it straight down with super glue? There’s a fix, I promise, that isn’t just wetting your hair in your work’s bathroom or the restroom in the rear of the restaurant.

Try the Everyday Tonic by Fellow, a chain-of-barbershops-in-big-cities-turned-grooming-brand. It’s alcohol-, paraben-, and sulfate-free — vegan-friendly as well, meaning it wasn’t tested on animals — and it comes with a nice, all-natural barbershop-like scent; fresh and clean like Barbicide but more botanical (like ocean air, almost).

The Coolest Baseball Caps for Men

Huckberry

Best Overall Baseball Cap

Proof Rover Hat

• $35.00 at Huckberry

Material: 73% cotton, 25% Sorbtek, 2% Lycra

Colors: 3

Wide front panels make the Proof Rover Hat look rather unstructured once on, but that’s not a bad thing. A relaxed hat is easier to wear right away. It’s tonal all over except for the strap, which is black nylon.

Urban Outfitters

Best Affordable Baseball Cap

’47 New York Yankees Classic Baseball Hat

• $29.00 at Urban Outfitters

Material: Cotton

Colors: 6

The New York Yankees cap is one of the most iconic hats. This version has an adjustable buckle closure at the back and a curved brim for the perfect amount of sun-blocking.

Huckberry

Best Upgrade Baseball Cap

Ciele Athletics GOCap

• $45.00 at Huckberry

Material: 100% recycled polyester

Colors: 2

For those who need a little coverage when running, Ciele’s GOCap is built for high performance. It uses a lightweight, fast-drying COOLmatic fabric for an option that’ll keep your head breezy while you’re busy. The brim, front panel and back of the hat help to deliver UPF 40+ protection.

The North Face

Best Everyday Baseball Cap

The North Face Horizon Hat

• $30.00 at The North Face

Material: 100% recycled nylon

Colors: 5

The North Face’s Horizon Hat is a lightweight, durable and adjustable cap with a classic fit, meaning it doesn’t fit too tight. The Horizon Hat also comes with the brand’s FastDry-Pro moisture-wicking material.

American Trench

Best Corduroy Baseball Cap

American Trench Summer Corduroy Ball Cap

• $48.00 at americantrench.com

Material: 88% cotton, 12% linen

Colors: 4

This one isn’t made from your usual corduroy. Instead, it’s a cotton-linen mix woven into a durable weave called Bedford Cord. It’s textured but not too thick. There’s a green underbill and the rear strap is made from leather and antiqued silver.

Huckberry

Best Waxed Canvas Baseball Cap

Huckberry Waxed Canvas 6-Panel Cap

• $44.00 at Huckberry

Material: 100% cotton canvas

Colors: 5

This one is a whole hell of a lot like Proof’s Rover cap, but it’s made with sturdy, water-resistant waxed canvas instead. That gives it an interesting feel and plenty of character over time. It’s all-black all over.

Lululemon

Best Baseball Cap for Running

Lululemon Fast and Free Men’s Run Hat

• $38.00 at Lululemon

Material: 86% recycled polyester, 14% elastane

Colors: 4

Specifically designed for running, Lululemon’s Fast and Free Running Hat keeps your head dry and cool thanks to Swift fabric. The brand’s Swift fabric is lightweight, moisture-wicking and quick-drying. Also, you could use this hat during a late-night run due to its reflective embellishments.

Buck Mason

Best Canvas Baseball Cap

Buck Mason Craftsman Canvas Baseball Cap

• $45.00 at Buck Mason

Material: 98% cotton 2% spandex

Colors: 1

Soft suede canvas makes this logo-less lid super comfortable year-round. It comes in two colors, Maple (seen here) and Natural (a light khaki) and has an adjustable leather strap with silver hardware.

Huckberry

Best Collaboration Baseball Cap

Huckberry x Coors Banquet Corduroy Hat

• $22.00 at Huckberry
  $35.00 (37% off)

Material: 100% cotton corduroy

Colors: 4

Coors Banquet is definitely better than Coors Light. It’s even got better merch. This old, farmy-looking logo makes for a great addition to this blue cord cap. It has an adjustable blue snap buckle back to boot.

L.L. Bean

Best Worn-In Baseball Cap

L.L. Bean Cotton Baseball Hat

• $15.00 at L.L.Bean

Material: 100% cotton

Colors: 6

If you fancy baseball caps with that washed, broken-in look, grab this one from L.L. Bean, made with 100% cotton. It can easily go from the golf course to a football game tailgate while not losing any of its relaxed, vintage-inspired vibes.

Mack Weldon

Best Quick-Drying Baseball Cap

Mack Weldon Airflex Hat

• $38.00 at Mack Weldon

Material: 92% polyester, 8% elastane

Colors: 2

Mack Weldon’s Airflex Hat can handle anything you need to do, whether it’s running a 5k or running errands. It comes with a mesh sweatband and laser-cut ventilation holes to improve air circulation. Also, it’s quick-drying, making it a great option for all of your wet and wild adventures.

Patagonia

Best Hemp-Based Baseball Cap

Patagonia Tin Shed Hat

• $27.00 at Patagonia
  $45.00 (40% off)

Material: 55% hemp, 27% recycled polyester, 18% organic cotton

Colors: 2

The Tin Shed Hat from Patagonia has a six-panel design, and the brim is made with 100% recycled fishing nets. It also has a lightweight internal headband for moisture-wicking and softness to help fight that clammy, wet hair feeling while sweating.

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