Daiwa Booney Hat Review: A Look at Its Features and Performance

  • Author: Craig "Howie"
  • Date: May 16, 2023

Daiwa Booney Hat

If you’re a keen angler, you know the importance of having the right gear for a successful fishing trip. And one essential piece of gear that can make all the difference is a good quality fishing hat. A fishing hat not only protects you from the sun’s harmful rays, but can also keep you cool and comfortable during long hours on the water.

The Daiwa Booney Hat is a nice choice among anglers for its durability, comfort, and functionality. Made by one of the leading brands in the fishing industry, the Daiwa hat is well designed.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the Booney Hat (or boonie hat) and review its features. We also cover the positives and negatives, which we will get into straight away so you can make up your mind if it’s the right hat for your next fishing trip.

Daiwa Unisex Booney Hat

The Daiwa fishing hat goes well with the Daiwa fishing shirt.

Above Photo: The Daiwa hat goes well with the Daiwa fishing shirt.

Features

  • Cool nylon fabric
  • Mesh panels for ventilation
  • Adjustable draw cord
  • Floats

 

The unisex hat is available in 2 sizes:

S/M = Small / Medium

L/XL = Large / Extra Large

 

What We Liked About the Hat

The pros of the hat is that it is made of light weight material and is good for hot days.

A vent strip at the back is another good feature as it allows some air in.

The chin strap / draw cord is great. For windy days fishing, or when you bend your head over the boat fishing, you don’t lose your hat overboard in the water as the strap is useful.

Another good thing is that you can easily scrunch it up (fold it up – for the more polite angler) and throw it in you back pack or fishing tackle bag.

The Daiwa fishing hat folds up.

It will even fit in a Wild Fish waist bag (as above) or Daiwa Guide Waist Bag easily, without taking up much room.

The color is good as well being a grey neutral color. If you were stalking fish in small streams or rivers, with the fish looking up, the color would blend in well with the sky.

The Daiwa name is written around the brim in white on the black edge and looks good.

Yes, it floats and we tested it. That is a great feature and hats off to Daiwa for the design. (Pun intended.)

A fishing hat that floats

I have seen a lot of hats get blown off the fisherman’s heads by the wind and into the water.  The angler desperately tries to cast at the hat and retrieve it, but the hat eventually sinks. However the Daiwa hat has a draw cord that stops the hat from blowing off, and if it does go into the water, if floats.

 

What We Didn’t Like About the Hat

Daiwa fishing boonie hat

The negatives of the hat is that when it is windy, the soft material sides flap up, (as above) hence not giving you any sun protection. However it has to be pretty windy for this to happen though. (The lightweight material helps for keeping cool, so it is a tradeoff.)

Because of the lightweight material, you wouldn’t wear it when it is raining heavy. It is not a rain hat and the mesh back panel would allow water in.

 

Material

The Daiwa Unisex Booney Hat is made of cool nylon fabric, which is perfect for hot and humid weather.

The material is lightweight and durable, making it ideal for outdoor activities such as fishing, hiking, and camping.

 

Hat Design

The hat features a wide brim that provides ample shade and protection from the sun. The brim is reinforced with foam to keep the hat afloat in case it falls into the water.

Daiwa hat mesh panel

The hat also has mesh panels that allow for ventilation, keeping you cool and comfortable even in the hottest weather. It also has a drawstring in the hat for adjusting the fit.

 

Chin Strap

Daiwa Booney Hat chin strap

The adjustable draw cord ensures a secure and comfortable fit. The chin strap is a must for fishing from a boat.

 

Breathability

The mesh panels at the back on the Daiwa Unisex Booney Hat provides good breathability, allowing air to circulate and preventing sweat buildup.

This feature is especially important if you are walking a fare way to your fishing hotspot.

Overall, the Daiwa Hat is a functional, and stylish hat that is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts.

 

Performance

Sun Protection

The Daiwa Hat is designed to offer more sun protection for your face and neck.

 

Is The Hat Comfortable To Wear?

Yes, we think so. It is pretty comfortable and I have fished up to 10 plus hours in one trip wearing it and no complaints.

The Daiwa Boonie Hat is designed with comfort in mind as it is lightweight and breathable, making it comfortable to wear for long periods of time.

Daiwa fishing hat

The hat also features a moisture-wicking sweatband, which helps to keep sweat out of your eyes and off your face.

 

Durability

I have had the hat for around 5 months and it seems to hold up well so far. I have used it for hours and hours fishing.

The materials seem high-quality materials that are designed to last.

It is made from quick-drying material. This makes it an ideal choice for anglers who are fishing in wet and warm conditions, such as warm sea spray.

The hat is also designed to be crushable and packable, making it easy to store in your tackle box or backpack without taking up too much space.

Daiwa foldable fishing hat

 

Does The Hat Fit Well?

The hat has two sizes and for my boof head, it fits well. The two sizes are designed to fit most head sizes, being a unisex design.

The moisture-wicking headband helps keep sweat out of your eyes, and the adjustable draw cord allows you to customize the fit for optimal comfort.

 

Price

This price point is reasonable for a high-quality fishing hat that is functional.

For those who prefer a different style or color, Daiwa offers a range of other fishing hats, such as the DVEC Flat bill Cap and the Wide Brim Hat in brown camo. These hats are also competitively priced.

It’s worth noting that while there are cheaper fishing hats available on the market, they may not offer the same level comfort durability, as the Daiwa Booney Hat.

Dragonfly on fishing hat


Why Use A Wide Brimmed Hat Fishing Vs Truckers Cap?

While baseball caps and trucker hats look good, our team at OutdoorsGap like the wide brimmed hats. As they offer sun protection to the side of the face as well as the neck. Not just the very front like a truckers cap.

Another good thing about wide brimmed hats / booney hats, is they are great for Polaroiding and seeing fish swimming in the water. As they give you more shade on the face, so the Polaroid sunglasses work better. (Our eyes see better under shade, not in the open glare of the sun.)

Also the brim on the sides helps protect you when you are fishing or fly fishing from the stray hooks when casting.

 

Conclusion

Daiwa fishing booney hat

The Daiwa Hat is a great choice for anglers and is made from high-quality materials.

The adjustable chin strap ensures a secure fit, so you don’t have to worry about the hat falling off while you’re fishing.

Overall, the Daiwa Boonie Hat is a solid choice for anglers who need a hat that offers sun protection. It is well-made, comfortable to wear, and offers excellent value for money.

If you’re looking for a good wide brimmed hat for hot weather, the Daiwa Boonie Hat is definitely worth considering.

For value, we think the Daiwa hat is a winner.

 

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