Sunday Afternoons Islander Hat Review

The Sunday Afternoons Islander Hat is a straw hat at its core. But unlike your granny's gardening getup of yesteryear, this hat boasts serious style along with reliable sun protection. Its classic fedora design looks just as good on the trail as it does on the streets.

Protection

The Islander offers solid, but not stellar, sun protection. It's generously sized 3.0-inch brim entirely circles the head, shading the eyes and cheeks. But without a cape or downturned brim, it struggles to provide coverage when the sun shifts low.

This isn't to say the Islander doesn't do an adequate job of blocking the sun. This 360-degree brim certainly keeps the bulk of the sun off your face. But, as the sun gets lower, a longer brim or vertically hanging neck cape will do a better job of blocking the sun. Still, compared to other full-brim hats, the Islander does a comparable job at protecting you from the sun.

The Islander has a stiff brim that won't blow up in the wind to expose your face to the sun. And, it has a leather chin strap to keep the hat from blowing away. It's UPF 50+ rated, and the straw is sewn together tightly, preventing UV rays from penetrating the material. Unlike other straw hats, this one actually provides excellent scalp protection.

The underside of the brim is not lined, though, so if you're wearing this hat near water, you might catch a glare. This hat reflected more light than others we tested, but we didn't find it annoying or detrimental. Still, it may be a consideration if your eyes or skin are particularly sensitive.

Comfort

The Islander is one of the most comfortable hats we tested. Although slightly bulky for backpackers, it's easily the type of hat that you put on and forget you're wearing for most casual outdoor endeavors.

The Islander's materials are soft and flexible, conforming to heads of all shapes and sizes. It's only offered in two sizes, but we found the fit forgiving enough to accommodate all testers.

The soft elastic sweatband gently squeezes your head to hold the hat firmly, yet still comfortably in place. The sweatband is slightly coned-shaped, so it matches the contoured shape of your head more naturally. This prevents any tension points or pressure buildup along the forehead.

The leather cord chin strap is also very comfortable. It feels soft against the cheeks and has no sharp angles to dig into your skin. The chin strap is tightened with a lightweight wooden bead, which helps hold the hat in place. We found this leather strap and wooden bead combo significantly more comfortable than the nylon cord and plastic toggle on other hats.

It's worth mentioning that the Islander Hat is fairly heavy. At just under 5 ounces, it's twice as heavy as ultralightweight performance hats. We didn't find the weight an issue for casual hikes and paddles, but for high-output activities like running or backpacking, you'll notice the weight and the brim bumping into your pack.

Breathability

The Sunday Afternoons Islander offers solid ventilation. It's not quite as breathable as other straw hats we've tested, but we certainly didn't overheat while playing in the sun.

Straw hats are incredibly popular in tropical climates because they keep your head cool. For the most part, this hat is no exception, though its tight weave is a little more restrictive than more loosely woven (and less protective) alternatives. Standing in front of a fan, we could feel air flowing, but it wasn't as breezy as the top scorers.

The elastic sweatband does trap a little heat. The best-performing hats have mesh sweatbands, which allow better air flow and wick away sweat more effectively. Still, it's plenty breathable for mellow adventures.

Packability

This somewhat bulky hat isn't the pinnacle of packability, but we were pleasantly surprised by its ability to fold down and pop back into shape. If you need to stash it in your bag from time to time, it'll spring back fast.

Most straw hats are brittle, easily cracking with the slightest twist. The Islander is not one of those straw hats, however. The straw bends, without breaking or cracking. This is because the straw is sewn together in strips, making it much more pliable and durable.

We were skeptical and concerned about what would happen if we stuffed this hat into a ziplock bag for our packability test, but it performed incredibly well. The straw didn't break or lose its form, but we did notice a clear, colorless material flaking off. With repeated packing, we worry that the flaking could weaken the hat and compromise its sun protection.

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Style

The Islander has an excellent style. Its dimpled crown, flat brim, and straw construction are a mix between a classic fedora look and a western cowboy vibe. This blend lends the hat excellent versatility, making it just at home on a trailhead as a patio brunch.

This was one of the few hats we could see ourselves wearing out into the world, to a bar or coffee shop, without feeling like we were dressed for a hike. We also liked that we didn't feel like we had to dress up to wear this hat; it styled well with sundresses, sunshirts, and everything in between.

Should You Buy the Sunday Afternoons Islander Hat?

The Islander is a great choice for anyone not looking to sacrifice style for sun protection. Its comfortable design makes it the type of hat you'll be happy to wear all day—from a morning hike to an afternoon on the beach to sunset drinks. It's not the best choice for backpacking or trail running, but for lounging in the sun and light outdoor activities, it's a total win.

What Other Sun Hats Should You Consider?

If you're looking for a more full-coverage sun hat for technical activities, check out the Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure Hat or the Outdoor Research Sun Runner Cap. Or, if you're looking for something a little less country Western, but still stylish, check out the wool Scala All-Season Crushable or the paper straw Furtalk Travel Foldable Brim.