9 Reasons Why You Should Always Wear a Hat When Outdoors

Sometimes you might be wondering why you should always wear a hat when outdoors.

It is a well-known fact that wearing a hat outdoors offers protection from the sun and heat, but did you know there are many other benefits to doing so?

In addition to shielding your head, face, and neck from UV rays, hats can be used for fashion as well as practical purposes. Hats also help disguise unwanted hair loss or thinning.

Besides that, there are so many interesting things that you should know. Luckily, you have come to the right place because, in this article, I am going to list 9 main reasons why you should always wear a hat when outdoors.

So if you are interested in learning, read on!

Hat Vs Cap: Know the Difference

Before we proceed any further, you need to know the difference between a hat and a cap. A lot of people tend to use these terms interchangeably, but they actually refer to two different types of headwear.

A hat is a type of headwear that is typically taller and has a brim all the way around, while a cap is a type of headwear that is shorter and only has a brim in the front. Both have pretty much the same uses, but a hat is more often used for protection against sun, rain, snow, etc.

Why you Should Always Wear a Hat Outside?

Here are some of the main reasons which may force you to wear a hat whenever you are planning to go outdoors.

1. Hats Protect Your Skin from Harmful UV Rays

Ultraviolet rays coming from the sun can damage your skin in many ways. It can cause wrinkles, sunburns, and even skin cancer.

One of the best ways to protect your skin from these harmful rays is by wearing a hat. Hats with wide brims are especially effective in shading your face, neck, and ears from the sun.

There are different kinds of hats, such as baseball caps, fedoras, beanies, and more. You can choose the one you like and feel comfortable in. You might have noticed usually soldiers when going out on a mission always take a hat with them.

Author Note: Snipers wear round bonnie hats on a mission. It is because they have to sit and wait for their target sometimes for hours. Wearing a bonnie hat has several advantages, such as it keeps the rain off of the face, preventing moisture loss through sweating, etc.

2. Hats Keep Your Head Cool

Another great reason to wear a hat outdoors is that it can help keep your head cool. If you are going to be out in the sun for an extended period of time, a hat will help shield your head from the heat and prevent you from getting overheated.

If you have a bald head, then excessive sunlight can have a serious impact on you. It will make your head hotter as compared to people with hair. Besides that, people who have dark black hair usually face the same problem in the summers.

This is because the black color absorbs the sunlight, and as a result, it will make your heat feel hotter as compared to blonde hair.

3. Hats Can Help Prevent Heat Stroke

Heatstroke is a serious condition that can occur when your body temperature rises to 104 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. Symptoms of heat stroke include headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion, and loss of consciousness.

This can be a serious issue, especially, when you are out on a camping or bushcraft adventure. Under such conditions, you may not always have access to medical supplies.

Wearing a hat outdoors can help prevent heatstroke by keeping your head cool and shading your face from the sun. It will also prevent excessive moisture loss due to the sun.

4. Hats Can Reduce the Risk of Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, skin cancer affects more than 3.5 million people every year.

You may have heard that sunlight is the combination of different types of particles, such as gamma rays, Ultraviolet rays, etc. Although a huge amount of these harmful radiations is filtered through the Ozon layer. However, it still can affect the skin when comes in contact with it.

Wearing a hat outdoors can help reduce your risk of developing skin cancer by shielding your face and neck from the sun’s harmful UV rays.

5. Hats Can Help Prevent sunburns

In addition to skin cancer, the sun’s UV rays can also cause sunburns. Sunburns are a type of skin damage that occurs when your skin is exposed to too much UV radiation.

Symptoms of sunburn include red, painful skin that is warm to the touch. Sunburns can also cause blistering, peeling, and itching. You will never want to face such an issue and ruin your camping, backpacking, or bushcraft adventure.

Thus you need to do something to protect yourself from sunburns and other harmful effects of the sun. Wearing a hat outdoors can help prevent sunburns by shading your face and neck from the sun.

6. Hats Can Help Disguise Unwanted Hair Loss

Do you know that hair loss is not only linked to diet and hormones? External factors can also trigger it such as water temperature, chemicals, sun damage, etc.

For example, if you are outdoors and it is raining, you should always protect yourself from the first shower of rain. Why? It is because different kinds of harmful gas particles are absorbed in the first shower of the rain (Acid Rain), which can cause a lot of issues.

Besides that, the harmful radiation in the sunlight can also cause thinning of the hair. Thus you need to avoid it. Otherwise, you will face rapid hair fall since your hair is constantly exposed to sunlight and rain.

If you are self-conscious about hair loss or thinning, wearing a hat can help disguise the problem. There are many different types of hats available that can help cover up hair loss and thinning, including baseball caps, beanies, and fedoras.

7. Hats Can Be Used for Fashion

In addition to their practical purposes, hats can also be used for fashion. There are many different styles and designs of hats available that can help you make a fashion statement.

Whether you are looking for a casual style or something more formal, there is sure to be a hat that suits your needs.

8. Hats Can Help Protect Your Eyes from the Sun

The sun’s UV rays can also damage your eyes and lead to conditions such as cataracts, macular degeneration, and pterygium. Since bushcraft is always outdoors, therefore, you will have more exposure to sunlight and harmful radiations.

Thus, there is a higher risk of getting your eyes damaged and you will not be able to see things clearly. Wearing a hat with a brim can help protect your eyes from the sun by shading them from the bright light.

9. Bug protection

Apart from the sun, there are other outdoor elements that can harm you such as bugs. There are many different types of bugs that can cause problems such as mosquitoes, ticks, and flies.

These bugs can bite you and transmit diseases such as malaria, Lyme disease, and West Nile virus. Wearing a hat can help protect you from bugs by covering your head and face.

There are many different types of hats available that feature mosquito netting or bug repellent to keep bugs away.

Author Note: According to a study conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) around 1 million people die every year due to mosquito bites alone.

When Should You Avoid Wearing a Hat?

There are a few instances where you should avoid wearing a hat. If it is windy, for example, hats can blow off your head and become lost.

In addition, if you are doing an activity that requires you to use both of your hands, such as climbing or cooking, it is best to remove your hat so that it does not get in the way.

Apart from that, you should take off your hat when traveling in a car, bus or train because it can cause sweating, which can result in itching and sometimes other diseases.

Conclusion

Hats are a great way to protect yourself from the sun, wind, and bugs when you are outdoors. There are many different types of hats available that can suit your needs.

When choosing a hat, be sure to pick one that is made from breathable material and has a brim that is wide enough to shade your face from the sun.

In addition, if you are self-conscious about hair loss, there are many different styles of hats available that can help you disguise the problem.

In this article, we talked about 9 different reasons why you should always wear a hat when outdoors. I hope after making it this far, you will have enjoyed reading this article and found it helpful.

So, next time you head outdoors, be sure to grab a hat to keep yourself protected.