Written by Michael VanDerLaan
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Are you looking for the best rain hat for golf?
You've come to the right place!
We have tested rain hats from all of the top brands during rounds of golf in the pouring rain. We ranked them on the following key features:
- Waterproof
- Breathable
- Comfortable
- Durablility
Here are the hats that performed the best:
Our Top Recomendations
Best overall
FootJoy HydroSeries Rain Hat
Editor's choice
Galvin Green Asher Rain Hat
Best With chin straps
outdoor research SEATTLE rain hat
Whether you’re playing a bucket-list round at one of the most famous courses on the planet such as St. Andrews or Bandon Dunes Golf Links or trying to finish one more hole during the best round of your life, weather is an integral part of the game of golf.
The best thing you can do is be prepared and have exactly the right gear to keep yourself versatile and comfortable during ever-changing conditions out on the golf course. This all starts from the top down - by addressing the piece of equipment that is closest to the sky! Here’s a review of the best waterproof golf hats on the market, and what to expect when you add one to your collection.
The Complete List
Best Golf Rain Hats For Men And Women
Best Overall: FootJoy HydroSeries Golf Bucket Hat
FootJoy is often the standard-bearer when it comes to golf apparel, and hats are no exception. There are certainly other great hats on the market, but FootJoy often represents the price-and-quality point against which all other products are measured. The HydroSeries Bucket style hat lives up to that reputation.
We spend a lot of time in south Florida, where the rainstorms can come out of nowhere and soak you to the bone. With the HydroSeries Bucket, we were able to stay on the course longer and keep drier. While there is no way to stay completely dry when the skies open up, this waterproof hat will help you keep your head and neck dry.
What We Like
What We Don't Like
Ultimately you can’t go wrong with the FootJoy HydroSeries Bucket Hat for a classic look and moderate rain protection. If you want a style that stands out or protection in more severe rain, you might want to branch out another offering. This is the perfect hat if you want to keep a hat stashed in your golf bag in case of an unexpected downpour.
Editor’s Choice For Men And Ladies: Galvin Green Asher Golf Rain Bucket Hat Wide Brim with Storm Strap
The Galvin Green Wide Brim Waterproof Bucket hat is a unisex design with the best coverage of any hat on our list.
We have found that the women love this rain hat. It is 100% waterproof, breathable and packable.
It has a chin strap to keep it on your head in windy conditions and works well as a sun hat too.
Five sizes to fit both men and women, including XXL for golfers with big heads.
What We Like
What We Don't Like
This is a great hat for rainy conditions on the golf course. The wide back brim makes it the best waterproof golf hat that will keep water from running down the back of your neck. Ladies, if you are looking for what to wear on the golf course when it is raining, look no further.
Best With Chin Strap: Outdoor Research Seattle Rain Hat
The Outdoor Research Seattle Rain Hat With Chin Strap is basically the Cadillac of all-weather golf hats. It has every feature the industry can offer, but all of that is also factored into the final bill.
Among these features, the most notable is the use of Gore-Tex fabric, which is a huge step up from the polyester designs of most of the hats available. It is also a step up in price. This represents the apex of breathability + waterproofing that the fabrics industry has to offer.
If price is not a factor in your decision, this hat rises straight to the top of the list of best waterproof hats.
This hat is a unisex design, so it is great for men and women.
What We Like
What We Don't Like
With this offering from Outdoor Research you will literally always be covered on the course. Gore-Tex is much more waterproof and can withstand heavy downpours without soaking through or “failing” like other materials are prone to even if they advertise “100% waterproof.” This is the full-feature option on the market. Learning how to clean your hats will help you extend the life of your rain hat too!
Best Traditional Style: Galvin Green Atlas Waterproof Golf Hat
You may have noticed all the hats up until now have one thing in common: bucket hats. Despite winning on the PGA Tour in 2021, Joel Dahmen has not yet replaced Bill Murray as the iconic “bucket hat golfer.” Because of this, bucket hats remain a fringe element on the golf course - unthinkable to many, and the ultimate carefree fashion statement to others. Unless, of course, there is a storm blowing in. And that’s for good reason - when it’s really raining, a bucket hat performs its function to keep the rain off far better than any other style.
That said, we understand that some people just cannot stand the style and prefer the look of a baseball cap. The firm brim may also benefit golfers with glasses who really need that coverage in the front to keep their vision clear during a tough weather day on the course. For them we recommend the Galvin Green Atlas Waterproof Golf Rain Hat for men and women.
What We Like
What We Don't Like
If you’re a “baseball cap guy or gal” then you’re going to want to invest in the Atlas waterproof golf hat from Galvin Green. The superior materials and construction of the Atlas Rain Cap will maximize your benefit from a baseball style cap without killing your style!
Things To Consider When Buying A Rain Hat For Golf
Bucket Style Hat or Baseball Cap?
The first choice to consider when buying a rain hat for golf is the style of hat.
While most don’t wear bucket hats day-to-day on the golf course, you can see that they take up the predominant space in the market when it comes to foul weather. Ultimately this is because they flat-out out-perform baseball caps when it comes to keeping you dry. However there are options if the bucket hat look is simply not for you.
Materials
When it comes to waterproof golf hats the main question is “to Gore-Tex or not to Gore-tex?” Gore-tex fabric (as opposed to the more standard-duty polyester offerings) represents basically the pinnacle of what the outdoors all-weather garment manufacturers have to offer.
With almost every fabric, there is a trade-off between waterproofing and breathability. Think: cotton - completely breathable, zero waterproofing. Versus: a rain poncho, 100% waterproof even if you dumped a bucket on your head, but literally 0 breathability.
Enter: Gore-Tex. The main advantage of this fabric is that it provides extreme waterproofing while still allowing you to not get soaking wet from sweat from the inside like you would with a rain poncho. The two downsides are Gore-Tex fabric costs top-dollar, and it also requires special maintenance over time to properly maintain it. That said many Gore-Tex products also come with lifetime warranties, so they are definitely a good investment.
The main factor is: if you are going to be playing in a consistent, steady rainfall for more than a few minutes or an hour, you absolutely are going to want to invest in Gore-Tex. If you are just trying to survive a passing sprinkle here and there, then choose any material you like.
Chin Strap?
One of the worst things that can happen is you get a brand new hat, and then the moment the first storm blows in on the course, you find your hat rolling down the fairway faster than your golf ball.
It’s for this reason that many rain hats also have wind in mind and provide an option with a chin strap. There are very few places where a breeze doesn’t come along with the rainfall, and if you’re planning on going out to golf in any kind of weather, getting a hat with a chin strap can be worth it’s weight in gold.
Do You Even Need A Rain Hat For Golf?
Why even wear a hat? Ask yourself - am I actually going to play golf in the rain, or go to the driving range in the rain? For most golfers who are not playing in golf tournaments, or aren’t playing golf in areas like the Pacific Northwest USA, it is very likely that you won’t actually play in the rain that often.
Almost always you are going to choose a different day to play, or come off the course before it gets too uncomfortable anyway. It’s always easy to get a cheaper hat, and see how often you use it in a season or two, and then upgrade or invest in a pricier model once you decide whether or not you actually need it.
Final Thoughts
Until somebody figures out how to build an astroturf golf course inside of the world’s-biggest-dome(it wouldn't surprise me if Golf Gear Advisor staff is working on this), golf is a game that is going to be fully intertwined with the elements. Most golfers are hard pressed to give up on their precious time on the course very easily. Due to that, a massive industry has been born catering to protecting golfers from the unexpected.
The reality is most golfers can get by with a backup option to throw in their bag in order to survive a few holes playing golf in the rain, but those dedicated to tournament rounds or going on that big golf trip where the weather is part of the experience, investing in a proper hat (along with other rain gear,) is essential and can make the entire difference between enjoying your time on the course and suffering through what should have been a dream vacation.
