The Best Men's Hats, Caps, Buckets, and More To Top Off Your Summer Fits

We don’t appreciate hats enough. The best men's hats save your face and eyes from the sun's sinister rays, protect you from unexpected downpours, and cover your ass—as it were—on bad hair days. More than that, though, a truly great hat can be the secret sauce on your outfit, the special ingredient that turns your get-up into a three-Michelin-star dish. Especially now that brands across the menswear spectrum are making hats, caps, buckets—hell, even visors—that blow the doors open to the headwear space.

The Summer Hats Hit List

• The Anytime, Anywhere Pick: Everlane Baseball Cap, $40
• The Brunch Vibes Pick: Bode “Rickrack” hat, $350
• The Trail-Ready Pick: Columbia "Bora Bora Booney II" Hat, $30
• The Beachy Pick: Marine Serre Vieled Cap, $320
• The Road Trippin' Pick: Rosa Rugosa "Gardiner" Trucker Hat, $50

But separating the really good hats from the great ones can be tricky, so we're here to help. For starters, a great hat should excel at function while still delivering big on style—and you don't need a bulky, shapeless beanie to keep the top of your head exceptionally warm. If it's designed appropriately, even the sleekest hat will keep your noggin protected without inadvertently messing with your field of vision or making you look like a gnome (unless you're into that). With that in mind, here are 19 of the best men's hats and caps to rock this summer and beyond.