Product

Beach Sun Straw Hat UV UPF 50

A hat with holes in it is a hat with holes in it — and a study of the top 20 sun hats sold online found the UPF labels cannot be trusted.

At a Glance

Mixed

A wide-brimmed hat is one of the best sun habits you can build, because it never needs reapplying. The face, ears, and neck are common sites for skin cancer, and they are also the spots people miss most with sunscreen. A good hat covers them all day.

The problem with straw is that it is made of gaps. A loose weave lets UV straight through, and a 2025 study of the top 20 sun hats sold online found the UPF labels were not a reliable guide. Some hats had mesh panels or crown holes, and a third failed stricter overseas standards. The US test also measures a flat piece of new fabric, not the finished hat with its holes.

So treat the number with care and judge the hat yourself. Look for a tight weave, a wide brim, and no vent holes. Even then, a hat cuts facial UV by only about three-quarters at best, because sun reflects and comes in at an angle. Wear sunscreen too.

Key facts

Key active	UPF 50 (claimed)
Texture	Woven straw
Best for	Shade, if the weave is genuinely tight
Approximate price	$15–$30

How it works

A wide-brimmed hat is one of the best things you can do for your face, and it needs no reapplication.

The face, ears and neck are among the most common sites for skin cancer, and they are the places people most reliably under-apply sunscreen.

A genuinely tightly-woven straw hat with a wide brim works well, and it is comfortable in heat in a way a fabric hat is not.

What both the AAD and the Skin Cancer Foundation recommend is a brim of at least 2 to 3 inches, all the way around. The Skin Cancer Foundation asks for 3.

Everyday habits

How to use it

Wear it any time you are out in strong sun, especially midday.Hold it up to the light first. If you can see through the weave, so can UV. A hat protects only what it shades. Your nose, cheeks, ears, and neck still need sunscreen. Choose a brim of at least 2 to 3 inches all the way around for real coverage. Keep it clean and in good shape. A crushed or fraying straw weave protects less.

Who should be careful+

⚠️ The UPF number on a hat is not reliable, and this is a documented finding — not a suspicion.

A 2025 study looked at the top 20 sun hats sold online in the US: 90% claimed a UPF of 40 or more. None would disclose which test protocol they used — even when the researchers emailed to ask. 33% failed the stricter UK and Australian standards. 25% had mesh panels, ventilation eyelets or crown holes — actual gaps in coverage.

The reason is that the US test measures a flat piece of the fabric, new and unused. It ignores the finished hat entirely — including the holes in it. The researchers' conclusion was blunt: "UPF claims for hats sold in the US online are not a reliable indicator for sun protection."

⚠️ Straw hats are the worst offenders, because a loose straw weave is made of gaps.

Even a good hat is not a force field. Modelling suggests hats cut facial UV exposure by around 76% at best — sun reflects and comes in at an angle. Your nose is poorly protected. Hat and sunscreen.

Questions people ask+

Can I trust the UPF 50 label?Not on its own. A study found sun hat UPF labels were not a reliable indicator, so check the weave yourself.

How do I test the weave?Hold the hat up to a light. The less light passes through, the better the protection.

Is straw worse than fabric?Often, yes. A loose straw weave has built-in gaps, which is why straw hats were the worst offenders in testing.

How wide should the brim be?At least 2 to 3 inches all the way around. The Skin Cancer Foundation suggests 3 inches.

Do I still need sunscreen?Yes. A hat shades only part of your face, and your nose is poorly covered.

References+

1. Availability of Hats Online in the United States that Meet Sun Protective Recommendations (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12710866/) — This 2025 study (J Clin Aesthet Dermatol) found that although 90% of sun hats sold online made UPF claims, those claims are not a reliable indicator of actual sun protection, and recommends focusing on a circumferential brim of at least 2.75 inches and crown coverage rather than the UPF number. 2. Sun-Protective Clothing - The Skin Cancer Foundation (https://www.skincancer.org/blog/sun-protective-clothing/) — The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends a hat with a brim of at least three inches to shade the face, neck and scalp, and notes basal and squamous cell carcinomas often appear on the head and neck. 3. Sunscreen FAQs - American Academy of Dermatology (https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/sun-protection/sunscreen-patients/sunscreen-faqs) — The AAD recommends wearing a wide-brimmed hat as part of sun-protective clothing and highlights the neck, ears and top of the head as commonly under-protected sites that must be covered.