I didn’t start Nammu because of a business idea. I started it because I couldn’t find what I needed.
I’m an avid swimmer, and when my boys were little, the pool was basically our second home. I had three kids, including twin boys, and we spent more hours poolside than I can count. And every single time I looked at their little heads baking in the sun between swims, I worried. Regular swim caps are tight, uncomfortable, and as my son put it, not cool. Floppy sun hats fall off the second they get in the water. There was nothing in between.
So I made something. I designed a swim hat that stays on in the water and blocks the sun. My kids wore them to the pool and people started asking where they could buy one. In 2008, I launched Nammu.
What I didn’t expect was who else would find it useful. People with cochlear implants use our hats to stay in the water. People with alopecia or going through cancer treatment use them not just for sun protection, but for confidence. We ended up calling them “inclusive hats” because that is what they became. I made something for my kids that turned into something much bigger.
All that to say: when I tell you I know what it takes to find a swim hat that actually works for sun protection in the water, I mean it. Here is what I have learned after 16+ years of making them.
If you’re shopping for the best swim hats for beach and ocean swimming right now, here’s everything I’ve learned.
Why Most Swim Hats Fail at the Beach
The problem is that most hats marketed as “swim hats” or “beach hats” are designed for the pool edge, not the water itself. They’re made from cotton, linen, or loosely woven fabric that:
- Loses its shape when wet
- Offers no UPF protection once soaked
- Flies off the moment you dip your head under
- Takes forever to dry
Wide-brim sun hats are the worst offenders. They look great on the beach, but the brim catches water like a sail in any kind of wave. Traditional silicone swim caps solve the “staying on” problem but cover zero skin and offer no sun protection. They’re also tight, uncomfortable, and not what most people want to wear at the beach all day.
The sweet spot, as I discovered after years of searching, is a swim hat designed for actual water use: fitted enough to stay on, made from UV-blocking performance fabric, and comfortable enough to wear for hours.
The 5 Features That Make a Great Beach Swim Hat
1. UPF 50+ Sun Protection
This is non-negotiable. A swim hat you wear in the ocean or at the beach is going to be in direct sun for extended periods. You want fabric that’s certified UPF 50+, which blocks 98% of UVA and UVB rays.
Key point: the UPF rating needs to hold up when the fabric is wet. Many cheap sun hats lose their UV protection when soaked. Always check that the UPF certification applies to the fabric itself, not just the dry state.
Nammu swim hats are made from 80% nylon and 20% spandex, certified UPF 50+ whether dry or wet.
2. A Fit That Actually Stays On
This is the dealbreaker feature. A beach swim hat needs to stay on your head when you’re swimming, diving under waves, snorkeling, or playing with kids. A loose hat is useless the moment you get in the water.
Look for one of these fit mechanisms:
- Adjustable tie-back or drawstring
- Chin strap
- Form-fitting fabric with stretch
Nammu’s tie-back design lets you adjust the fit exactly to your head. It stays on through waves, dives, and water activities because you’re literally securing it yourself.
3. Fast-Drying, Salt and Chlorine Resistant Fabric
Nylon and spandex (also called lycra) are the gold standard here. They dry fast, don’t absorb salt or chlorine, and hold their shape wash after wash. Avoid cotton for actual in-water use. Avoid silicone if you want sun coverage.
4. Comfortable Enough for Hours
If your swim hat is uncomfortable, you’ll take it off. Look for soft, stretchy fabric with no rigid structure digging into your head. Nammu’s fabric is the same material used in swimwear: it feels light, moves with you, and doesn’t create pressure points.
5. Scalp Coverage, Not Just Hair Coverage
This is the one feature most people forget to check. If you have thin hair, alopecia, are going through chemo, or simply burn on the top of your scalp, you need a hat that covers the scalp directly, not just rests on your hair. A wide-brim hat that sits on a ponytail doesn’t protect your scalp. A form-fitting swim hat does.
Our Top Pick: The Nammu Swimming Hat
Full disclosure: I’m the founder of Nammu, so take this with the appropriate grain of salt. But I started this brand because nothing on the market met these five criteria at once. Now, a few years in, I hear from customers every week who say the same thing: they’d tried everything else first.
The Nammu swimming hat is:
- Certified UPF 50+ (wet and dry)
- Made from 80% nylon / 20% spandex
- Secured by an adjustable tie-back that works in waves
- Lightweight, fast-drying, and chlorine and salt-water safe
- Available in sizes for adults and kids
One customer, Betsy, had lived with alopecia for ten years before she found Nammu. She told me it was the first time she’d been able to snorkel, sail, and race her kids in the pool. “I stopped saying no to water activities,” she said.
Another customer’s daughter wears a dark purple Nammu hat almost exclusively because it’s the one swim hat that doesn’t slip off.
That’s the kind of feedback that tells me we got the design right.
[Shop Nammu Swim Hats]
Who Needs a Beach Swim Hat?
Swimmers with Alopecia or Hair Loss
A swim hat is essential for anyone with alopecia or hair loss who spends time in the water. Traditional swim caps can be uncomfortable, hard to put on, and don’t provide sun protection for the exposed scalp. A UPF 50+ swim hat designed to stay on solves both problems. Read more about swimming with alopecia here.
People Going Through Cancer Treatment
Chemotherapy can leave the scalp sensitive, exposed, and vulnerable to sunburn. A soft, form-fitting swim hat that blocks UV rays and stays secure in water is one of the most practical swim accessories for anyone in treatment or recovery. Our fabric is gentle, non-irritating, and easy to put on.
Kids Who Won’t Keep Anything On Their Head
Kids in the ocean are chaos. They dive, they splash, they shake their heads like dogs. A wide-brim hat lasts about 45 seconds. A tied swim hat lasts the whole trip. If you’ve got a kid who burns easily or has a cochlear implant and needs secure headwear in the water, a fitted swim hat is worth every penny.
Open Water Swimmers and Snorkelers
If you’re swimming laps in the ocean, doing a triathlon, or snorkeling in the Maldives or Galapagos, a UPF 50 swim hat gives you protection during the hours you’re face-to-face with the equatorial sun. Neoprene caps keep you warm but don’t block UV. Silicone caps offer no coverage. A Nammu-style swim hat gives you protection and stays on even at speed.
Anyone Who Burns on Top
If you have fair skin, a part in your hair, thin hair, or have ever gotten a scalp sunburn, a swim hat is for you. Scalp skin is some of the most sun-damaged skin on the body precisely because people forget to protect it. A UPF 50+ swim hat worn in and out of the water handles it automatically.
How to Put On a Swim Hat So It Stays On
The biggest reason swim hats fall off is improper fit. Here’s how to do it right with a tie-back style hat like Nammu:
- Pull the hat over your head so the fabric sits flat on your scalp.
- Gather any hair at the back, tucking it under or letting it fall through the opening.
- Tie the back strings snugly but not tight enough to create pressure.
- Test by shaking your head. Tighten the tie if it shifts.
That’s it. Once it’s tied correctly, it won’t move in the water.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between a swim hat and a swim cap? A swim cap is the tight silicone or latex cap worn by competitive swimmers for speed and drag reduction. A swim hat is a looser, more stylish alternative designed for comfort, sun protection, and everyday water use. Full comparison here.
Will a swim hat keep my hair dry? No swim hat guarantees fully dry hair (only a sealed silicone cap can approach that, and even then imperfectly). A swim hat protects your scalp from UV rays, keeps hair out of your face, and provides a comfortable, secure fit. If keeping hair dry is your main goal, pair it with a silicone cap underneath.
Are swim hats UPF 50+? Not all of them. Many beach hats are made from loosely woven fabric that offers minimal UV protection, especially when wet. Always check that the hat is certified UPF 50+ and that the rating holds when wet. Nammu hats are certified UPF 50+ in wet conditions.
How do I keep a swim hat on in the ocean? Use a tie-back or chin strap design, not a wide brim. The wider the brim, the more resistance it creates in water and wind. A form-fitting swim hat with a secure tie system will stay on through waves, diving, and active swimming.
Can kids wear swim hats? Yes. Nammu makes swim hats for kids and adults. They’re especially popular for kids who need secure headwear in the water, including children with cochlear implants or alopecia.
Atar is the founder of Nammu Swimming Hats, a Canadian swim hat brand making UPF 50+ swim hats for the beach, pool, and ocean. Nammu ships worldwide from Canada.
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