Having Umbrella Troubles? 28 Reasons to Consider the Rain Hat
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After many water-logged years of struggle and strife, I am officially giving up my umbrella—for a rain hat.
Looking back, I’m not sure what I ever saw in umbrellas. First of all, they’re never there when you need them (who wants to lug around a bony metal contraption everywhere they go on the off chance that the forecast is correct?). And if you do have one handy when a sudden storm hits, the darn thing will always find a way to make your life difficult. Encounter a small gust of wind while crossing the street and it will surely turn inside out. Leave it at the entrance of a restaurant and it is doomed to vanish by the time you’ve completed your meal. At worst, it will open up inside the vestibule of your apartment building and leave you cursed with seven years of bad luck. At best, you will spear someone in the eye with one of its points while attempting to bob and weave through a crowded intersection.
Enter the rain hat. Convenient, compact, and a chic addition to any water-wicking ensemble, this hands-free accessory will keep you dry without compromising your ability to urgently order an Uber and enjoy your oat milk matcha latte sans spillage. Unlike its bulky umbrella counterpart, the best rain hats can be folded up and popped right into your handbag, so there’s no need to check it at the door—and even if you did, there are far too many unique iterations for a stranger to mistake it for their own. If you don’t believe us, just take a gander at our rain hat guide, below, and shop our favorite inclement-weather headwear styles fresh off the streets of New York, London, Milan, and Paris.
Rain Check
Classic and seasonless, a smart plaid topper is sure to liven up your look while keeping raindrops in check!
April Showers
Bring on the May flowers with a springy gardener style. Even a sun hat in the right weight of canvas can protect from a sudden wintry mix!
Tech Typhoon
Sporty nylon in primary brights, cinched together with techy drawstrings and plastic pulls, will keep you dry all day long.
Squall of the Wild
Don’t ignore your animal instinct—leopard is the new neutral. So pair it with just about anything to liven up your look while keeping it tonal on top.
City Slicker
For a sleek, minimal approach fit for even the most savvy of city-dwellers, try a chic black or neutral iteration in PVC or patent leather.
Tie Dye Drizzle
Channel your psychedelic side with a wide-brimmed bucket style in trippy tie-dye.
Retro Rinse
Don’t let stormy weather get you down! Fend off the elements with a hat decked in funky retro florals that can double as beachwear come summer weather.
