A wide-brim UPF 50+ hat is the only real choice.

Yes, that simple.

Baseball caps leave your ears and neck exposed. Visors leave your whole scalp. Straw hats look great but have gaps in the weave—UV gets through. You want a hat with a brim at least three inches all around, made from tightly woven fabric, labeled UPF 50+.

Material matters more than brand. Cotton canvas, polyester, or nylon with a tight weave blocks UV. Some hats have a neck flap or chin strap for windy days. That is optional but nice.

You do not need a fancy brand. A $15 boonie hat from a surplus store works as well as a $60 “sun hat” from a beach shop. The important thing is coverage: ears, back of neck, top of head.

Your future skin will thank you.