Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure Review

The best kind of sun hat is the one you'll wear, and we'll wear the Ultra Adventure again and again. At a mere 2.5 ounces, this hat is feather light, yet still manages to provide full-coverage protection like a champ.

Protection

Excellent sun protection — that's what you can expect with the Ultra Adventure. The UPF 50+ material, wide brim, and neck cape provide outstanding 360-degree coverage to the head and neck. Could the brim and cape be larger? Sure, but we love how the Ultra balances protection with weight and overall comfort.

The brim has a gentle downward slope, which helps shield most of the face as the sun moves throughout the day. Its 3.5-inch (front) to 3.0-inch (side) dimensions don't quite measure up to gigantic 4.5-inch beach beasts, but it's still better than most hats. And when the wind picks up, a chin cord holds the hat firmly in place.

Previous Next

There is potential for the cape to blow up in the wind, but we didn't find it to be a significant detriment. The Ultra's cape and brim work together to shield the back and sides of the neck, offering more coverage than classic bucket hats.

This hat also provides top-notch scalp protection. Unlike most sun hats, the mesh in the Ultra's crown is lined, which prevents nearly any rays from penetrating the fabric and reaching the top of the head. This is especially important for anyone with fine or thinning hair.

The Ultra Adventure features added enhancements for improved performance and protection, including a storage space for your sunglasses and a dark lining on the underside of the brim, which helps reduce glare when traveling over reflective surfaces like water or snow. This means this hat is an excellent option for paddling or glacier travel.

Comfort

It's hard to imagine a hat more comfortable than the Ultra Adventure. It's incredibly lightweight, super adjustable, and amazingly soft. Even when hiking with an overstuffed pack, we forgot we were wearing it.

After testing dozens of hats, this is the one we'd reach for every time. It's one of the lightest we've ever used, and it's built for long, strenuous days in the glaring sun. At times, the brims of other hats dug into our heads, but the Ultra never dug in at all, even when fastened down tight. This is thanks to its unique flat webbing cinch system, which offers a higher level of comfort than more typical toggle tightening systems. The flat chin strap feels great too, avoiding tension spots on the cheeks, jaw, or ears.

Breathability

This hat maximizes airflow, allowing us to feel the breeze on our hikes and making high-intensity activities in the sun much more enjoyable.

We could wear this hat all day and never feel like our heads and necks were overheating. The strips of mesh and lightweight nylon/polyester materials built into the crown allow plenty of air to pass through. Plus, a soft and supple mesh sweatband wraps all the way around your head, wicking away sweat and keeping your head cool. The neck cape can trap a little heat, but the Ultra Adventure's tapered cape allows for better circulation than other cape-style hats we've tested.

Packability

The Ultra Adventure earned top marks in packability. It can easily be packed away into a pocket and magically pop back to life as if it were never stowed away at all.

Sunday Afternoons uses a “Reverse Split Brim” which allows you to fold the hat in half without worry of damaging the brim. This feature, along with its lightweight, compact package, makes the Ultra an excellent backpacking and traveling companion, enabling you to stuff it into the tiniest of crevices. We did notice some creases in the brim if it was folded in other locations, but the brim eventually bounced back to its original form.

Previous Next

Style

There's no sugarcoating it—the Sunday Afternoon Ultra is not exactly stylish. While other trail goers won't judge you, you may get a few lingering stares if you walk into a bar sporting this caped sun blocker.

The Ultra is for those who care more about function than style, favoring ultimate sun protection over passing a fit check. Its smaller dimensions make it not quite as dorky-looking or embarrassing to wear as other cape-style models, but still, it requires a certain level of confidence to rock.

Should You Buy the Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure?

If you're going on an ultra adventure, reach for this hat. The fabrics are light and breathable, while still remaining highly protective from the sun. If you're a hiker, runner, or paddler, you'll love how cool this hat keeps your head during high-output activities. The cape style ensures backpackers won't annoyingly hit the back of their pack, while its ability to compactly fold down makes it an excellent choice for travel. You'll only need to ask yourself — can I pull off a caped sun hat?

What Other Sun Hats Should You Consider?

We think the Ultra Adventure is worth every penny, but if you need something slightly more affordable, check out the Outdoor Research Sun Runner Cap, which is a ball cap with a removable cape for extra neck protection. If you're looking for something more fashionable, we love the Sunday Afternoons Islander Hat for strolling through sunny streets or casual outings. Or, if you need more face and neck protection, the Sunday Afternoons Adventure Hat is worth a peek, though the Ultra is much more comfortable and durable.