Hats
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
The rule in the Caribbean is to always wear a hat when you’re out in the sun. Okay, maybe not when swimming. Too much sun can give kids (and adults) a nasty headache. Also, it is pretty hard to put sunscreen on the top of your head. So pack a hat.
Baseball caps will do in a pinch, but aren’t great for the Caribbean. They tend to blow off when boating and they leave tender ear-tips exposed to the sun. Yikes! No one likes burned ears.
FAVES
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Everyone loves this classic adventure hat from Columbia. One size with a drawcoard around the brim that adjusts to fit most head sizes.
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This lightweight, nylon hat from Outdoor Research is great for girls in pink or for boys in khaki or charcoal gray. Hats are sized for adults, so get the small.
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The great feature of this Outdoor Research hat is the dark underbrim that really reduces glare. Women’s sizes, but the small fits most tweens.
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The camo pattern on this ACU hat gives adventurers a touch of that military look. Also available in sand-color camo. Note that it is illegal to wear camouflage in several Caribbean countries, such as St. Kitts, Antigua, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago.
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This nylon hat from Tilley has a snap up brim for Indiana Jones styling. It also has a hidden pocket and UPF 50. It is the BMW of hats and priced accordingly.
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Save a bit for head sizes 20 1/2” - 21 1/2.” This Tilley nylon hat has a snap up brim for Indiana Jones styling. It also has a secret pocket and UPF 50. The dark underbrim protects from glare and the snap-side style is fun.
• Get a hat with a strap if boating is on the agenda.
• A brim is good. It will help to shade face, neck, and shoulders.
• If the hat floats, that’s a bonus.
• Make sure it rolls up so that it can be packed in a suitcase.
• Go for light colors, such as beige or a desert camo print.
• Look for nylon. It is cooler than cotton.
• If the hat is just one layer of nylon, make sure it has an SPF rating.
• Lots of kids can wear adult hats that are size small (size 6 3/4 - 6 7/8).
• Many hats have a drawcord around the brim that adjusts for most head sizes.