Caps & Sun Hats
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Caps and Sun Hats for Sun Protection on the Water and the Trail
A cap is a lightweight sports hat whose peak shades your eyes and face from direct sun. A sun hat with a wide brim or a neck flap also covers your ears and neck. Wear them for SUP, kitesurfing, the beach, hiking, cycling or in town. Quick-dry fabrics and ventilation keep your head cooler, even at midday.
Caps and sun hats are part of our sun protection range. For cold days on the water, see our neoprene caps, and for winter, our winter beanies.
Cap or Sun Hat: Which Should I Choose?
It depends on how long you'll be in the sun and whether it's windy.
| Activity | What to choose |
|---|---|
| SUP, cycling, running, hiking (on the move and sweating) | quick-dry sports cap with ventilation |
| Kitesurfing, wing foiling, windsurfing (wind and falls) | sun hat with neck flap, chin strap and leash |
| Long sea paddles (no shade) | wide-brim sun hat with neck protection, UPF 50+ |
| Beach, town and travel | straw hat or a cap |
Types of Caps and Sun Hats
Caps and hats differ in how much of your head they cover and how they stay put.
Sports caps
A sports cap is made from quick-dry technical fabric that dries fast after a fall in the water or a climb. Hidden ventilation and a moisture-wicking sweatband carry heat away, and an adjustable back strap fits it to your head. It's made for everything you do on the move: SUP, hiking, running and cycling.
Flat-peak caps
5-panel caps with a flat, stiff peak have a relaxed streetwear look for the beach, the skatepark or town. They're light, so they're easy to pack for a trip.
Sun hats with neck protection
A sun hat with neck protection has a wide brim and a flap at the back that shades your ears and neck, much like a legionnaire hat. Water sports styles have a chin strap, a leash to clip onto your rash guard or wetsuit, and they float if they end up in the water.
Straw hats
A natural straw hat lets air through, while its wide brim shades your face and shoulders. It's a hat for the beach, town and travel, not for jumping in the water.
How Much Sun Protection Does a Cap Really Give?
A cap shades your eyes, forehead and nose, but your ears, neck and cheeks stay exposed. That's why health guidelines recommend a wide-brim hat or one with neck protection for a full day in the sun. On hats rated UPF 50+, the fabric blocks around 98% of UV rays. On the water, light also reflects up from below, so protect your face with sunscreen and sunglasses too.
How Do I Keep My Cap or Hat On in the Wind?
On the water, wind is headwear's worst enemy, so the details matter.
- Chin strap – keeps the hat in place in gusts and waves.
- Leash – clips your hat or cap to your rash guard or wetsuit, so you don't lose it when you fall.
- Floating hat – if a wave takes it, you'll spot it on the surface.
- Adjustable strap – tighten the cap so it doesn't lift in the wind.
What Size Cap or Hat Do I Need?
Caps usually come in one size with an adjustable back strap. Hats are sized by head circumference, measured just above your ears and eyebrows. S/M fits roughly 55–56 cm and L/XL roughly 57–58 cm. If you're between sizes, go up a size and tighten the chin strap. You're welcome to try them on in our shop in Ljubljana.
Caps and Hats for SUP and Kitesurfing
On a SUP you're in the sun the whole time, so choose a light, quick-dry cap that dries fast after a fall, or a sun hat with neck protection for longer tours. When kitesurfing, wing foiling or windsurfing, a hat without a chin strap blows away quickly, so pick one with a strap and a leash.
Who Else Are Caps and Sun Hats For?
- hikers, runners and cyclists on hot days,
- anglers, boaters and anyone working outdoors,
- travellers heading to hot and tropical places,
- anyone with sensitive skin on their face, ears and neck,
- anyone who spends long hours on the beach without shade.
What to Wear with a Cap?
- On your body: a long sleeve rash guard to protect your shoulders and back.
- For your eyes: polarised sunglasses that cut glare off the water.
- Face and ears: a mineral sunscreen, which lasts longer in the water.
- On the water: a leash, so you don't lose your cap or hat.
How to Care for Caps and Sun Hats
Rinse fabric caps and hats in fresh water after the sea, hand wash them in cold water and let them air dry, never in a tumble dryer. Keep straw hats out of the water, as straw loses its shape when wet. Store them somewhere dry.
Related categories
Sun protection · Rash guards & UV shirts · Sunglasses · Mineral sunscreen · Neoprene caps · Winter beanies