REASONS TO BUY
Small
Comfortable
Lightweight
Packs down very small
Decent protection
Good in wind
REASONS TO AVOID
Size of brim
Breathability
Outdoor Research Sun Bucket Review
A lightweight, durable, and comfortable hat for backpacking; but with its short brim, it falls short in the sun protection category
Credit: Outdoor Research
RELATED: Best Sun Hats of 2024
Our Verdict
The Outdoor Research Sun Bucket is one of the lightest and most packable hats that we tested, as is among the coziest and most comfortable. It offers surprisingly good protection for its weight and is quite durable. We brought it on some rugged backpacking adventures, and it was an excellent choice because it provides decent sun protection and we could jam it in your pack when we didn't need it. If you are looking for a hat that can fold up practically into your pocket and can be busted out when the sun gets going, this hat is for you.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Outdoor Research Sun Bucket | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Sun Hat For Kids |  Best Bang for Your Buck | Best Straw Hat For The Beach | | |
| Price | $40.00 at Dick's Sporting Goods Compare at 2 sellers | $18.00 at Amazon Compare at 4 sellers | $40.00 at REI Compare at 3 sellers | Check Price at Amazon | $21.83 at REI Compare at 4 sellers |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | Lightweight, small and packable, the Sun Bucket is durable but provides less sun protection than others | This hat is comfortable enough that kids won't take it off and comes in tons of colors | What it lacks in the style department, it makes up for in protection, versatility, and excellent value | Great for wearing at the beach or on the water, this hat is stylish and protective | One of the most comfortable, breathable, and affordable hats that we tested |
| Rating Categories | Outdoor Research Su... | Sunday Afternoons K... | Outdoor Research Su... | Billabong Classic P... | The North Face Hori... |
| Protection (30%) | |||||
| Comfort (25%) | |||||
| Breathability (15%) | |||||
| Durability (15%) | |||||
| Style (15%) | |||||
| Specs | Outdoor Research Su... | Sunday Afternoons K... | Outdoor Research Su... | Billabong Classic P... | The North Face Hori... |
| UPF rating | 50+ | 50+ | 40 | Not Specified | 40+ |
| Brim Size | 2.38" | 2.75", with 5.5" neck cape | 2.75 brim, 7.25" neck cape | 4.25" | 2.9" |
| Material | 86% nylon, 14% polyester | 100% Polyester | 100% nylon | 100% Seagrass straw | Nylon Ripstop, 97% recycled polyester mesh lined |
| Cinch Cord | Yes - removable | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Packable/Compressible | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Weight | 1.9 oz | 2.2 oz | 2.8 oz | 4.8 oz | 2.9 oz |
| Size Tested | S (6 3/4 - 7 1/4) | Medium | L | One Size | L/XL |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
The Outdoor Research Sun Bucket ranks overall in the middle of the pack and had lower than average performance, but is very comfortable and durable. This lightweight, comfortable hat offers a reasonable level of sun protection. And, it is a good, non-committing choice for adventures where you may need a hat, but want to be able to stow it away as well.
Performance Comparison
The OR Sun Bucket is versatile and cute.
Credit: Jessica Haist
Protection
The brim is 2.5 inches all the way around, giving you just enough protection to keep your face covered and a little on the back of your neck. This is the least amount of protection of all the hats we tested. However, we love the material Outdoor Research used for the brim. It is completely crushable for any amount of time and has a slight angle to it so that it slopes down from the top. This is great because it gives you protection throughout the day as the sun is moving, unlike the flat-brimmed hats that are only good at a certain angle. This hat also stays on your head well, protecting you from gusts of wind. It has a cinch at the back that will tighten down the hat around your head for particularly windy days.
The OR Sun Bucket's small brim offers decent protection and can be crushed in your pack and bounce right back.
Credit: Jessica Haist
Comfort
This contender is among the most comfortable hats in our test group. The light, stretchy and breathable materials of these hats are a huge contributor to this rating. It almost feels like you are not even wearing a hat, but it's still there, sitting snug on your head. The small flexible brim on this competitor prevents it from flying off in the wind, and with the cinch cord around your neck, it will never fall off. The cinch cord on the neck also can be detached, which can be nice if you don't want it to get caught on anything. The band around your head absorbs sweat and keeps you comfortable, and we have not noticed any sweat stains.
The Outdoor Research Sun Bucket has a drawcord to tighten around your head when things get windy.
Credit: Ian McEleney
Breathability
The material used for this hat is fairly breathable, but what makes a hat breathable is its mesh ventilation. This hat is only equipped with two small holes on either side for ventilation, whereas the most breathable hats have large mesh panels on either side. The holes on the Sun Bucket only slightly help with breathability. However, this hat is still great for high output activities; you'll just be a little hotter than if you were wearing a hat with mesh ventilation. The hat's material itself is quite thin and breathes relatively well. If you know you have a boiling head or just like to have a cool head, we suggest a more breathable hat.
The OR Sun Bucket does not have the greatest coverage but makes up for it in comfort and weight savings.
Credit: Jessica Haist
Durability
The durability of this hat was exceptional. In fact, this was the most crushable hat we tested; its lightweight, durable brim can be crushed for any amount of time without any damage as opposed to some others which need to be stored flat to avoid permanent creases. We always had this hat with us because it's so light; the fact that we could just stuff it into our bag or pocket is great, too.
The OR Sun Bucket has the smallest pack size in this review and is can be crushed, no problem.
Credit: Jessica Haist
Style
This hat isn't the most fashionable, but its small brim is more subtle in its style than some of the hats we tested. It looks good on some people and slightly dorky on others, but no more so than most of the other similar hats. We like that you can flip up the brim in the front so that you can see better, but it also changes the style. There are dorkier hats out there and this one is right in the middle.
The Outdoor Research Sun Bucket is a great choice for alpine backpacking trips.
Credit: Jessica Haist
Value
The Sun Bucket is one of the most inexpensive models we tested, and provides a great value. If you're looking for something with a little more sun coverage, check out our other reviews.
Conclusion
This is an ideal little hat that will give you ample sun protection in a comfortable, lightweight package. It is a very durable and crushable hat to throw in your pack. A great choice for backpacking and day hiking, the brim is not so wide that it will hit your pack when backpacking, like some other wide-brimmed choices. Shove it in your pack and you have a lightweight solution for sun protection.
—
Jessica Haist
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