Odd question... how does a hat help keep you cool?

[branv]

I admit that I don't get it either -- anytime I've worn a hat outside, it feels like my temperature shoots up. On our first trip together, DH wore one at first, but on the day he went without decided he wouldn't wear one anymore since it felt much cooler. With a hat the sun doesn't actually hit your head, providing it with shade, but you don't get the breeze wicking away your sweat and cooling your skin. Perhaps hat-less we're fooled by short-term relief but long-term our temp rises, but so gradually we're less aware of it (kind of like how drinking alcohol will make you feel warmer but it actually lowers your core body temp in a hypo situation)? So covering up won't make you feel cooler, but is better at preventing issues like heat stroke? I dunno Psychological, physiological (my thyroid messed up my temp gauge), whatever works for you.

Of course I've just revealed myself as a big nerd who finds things like this interesting. Mythbusters needs to do something like this.

What cracks me up are people like my dad and fil who wear those mesh-backed ball caps to protect their heads from the sun...which of course it really doesn't. They're balding so they just end up with a tan line from the seams.

 

[linzbear]

Keep in mind that the color of your hair plays a part in this, too.

If you have brown hair, a hat will make a noticable difference, especially if the hat is light in color.

If you have blond hair, it will be a less noticable difference.

It's not something that people think about, but I dyed my naturally blond hair brown a few years ago, and the first thing I noticed was how much hotter my head was in the sun.

I'm back to blond, and I use a visor at the parks. For me it's because I want to see everything in full color, not shaded. The parks seem so much nicer if you can see the colors for what they are. I do wear sunglasses at waterparks, though that's just a preference thing.

 

[ChrisMouse]

One bad scalp burn turned me into a hat wearer forever. The only part that is disappointing is that I either have my hat on or I have "hat hair" in all of our pictures, but it's worth it to feel happy and burn free for the trip.

This year I bought a big tan hat with a wide brim (kinda Indiana Jonesy). I'm going to make it even more hideous by having characters sign it and put pins on it. (I'm already going to be wearing my Crocs, of course, so why not go "whole hog?")

 

[suzimar57]

i much prefer a visor - keeps the sun out of my eyes, but doesn't make my head warm like a cap - paired with sunglasses makes everything nice a dark while out in the sun....

 

[Sleeping Becca]

A hat that is light in color will reflect the sun's rays, while a dark hat will absorb them.

So if you wear a hat for cooling purposes make sure it is one that is light in color.

 

[mmcguire]

A hat makes a huge diff. for me because I have dark brown hair, which absorbs heat terribly. If I've been in the sun for any length of time, the top of my head feels hot enough to fry an egg. If I wear a white/light hat, it's all nice and cool up there. Plus the other benefits mentioned -- no sun in eyes, keeps ears from getting crispy, etc...

A visor doesn't do much for me, because my dark hair is still poking out for the most part.

 

[If U Had Wings]

I detest wearing hats, but wear one happily when it gets really hot down in Disney. (And I've come to love one in the winter too).

I found a greatl lightweight straw hat last year at the Big E in Mass. It's crushable so it packs well, is lightweight, and never lets my head get too hot. Best of all it keeps the sun from beating down on my head.

 

[Todd&Copper]

I have dark brown hair, so I wear a white or light tan baseball cap and it does keep my head cooler than if I go without.