Best Hunting Hats and Caps UK 2026: Flat Cap vs Peaked Cap vs Beanie vs Brimmed Hat
A hat is the cheapest piece of field clothing you will buy and one of the most used. It keeps rain out of your collar, stops heat pouring off your head on a cold peg, takes the glare off a low winter sun when you are glassing, and, in the right colour, either hides your face from a deer or makes sure the rest of the line can see you. Get it wrong and you spend the day with water running down your neck or a cap that blows off on the first ridge.
This guide compares the five styles of hunting and shooting headwear, flat caps, peaked caps, beanies, brimmed hats and trapper hats, and picks out the models worth your money in each. Every hat here is in our hunting hats and caps collection, and all the details come from the makers' own product information. Because most of them sit between around £18 and around £60, a lot of these also make straightforward Christmas presents for the shooter or stalker who already has everything else.
Quick picks
- Best waterproof flat cap: Hoggs of Fife Kinloch Waterproof Tweed Cap, around £31. Lambswool tweed with a waterproof, breathable membrane.
- Best premium tweed cap: Härkila Badanloch Flat Cap, around £60. British wool tweed from the Mallalieus of Delph mill.
- Best camo cap for stalking: SwedTeam Ridge Cap, around £31. DESOLVE Veil camo, 50 g, Velcro adjuster.
- Best waterproof peaked cap: Härkila Mountain Hunter Cap, around £90. GORE-TEX 2-layer with a branch strap.
- Best beanie for wet cold days: Beretta Merino ACT Beanie, around £44. Merino with a waterproof breathable membrane.
- Best budget beanie: SwedTeam Alpha Fleece Beanie, around £18.
- Best brimmed hat: Deerhunter Adventurer Felt Hat, around £63. 100% wool felt, 6.5 cm brim, packs flat.
- Best for driven days in hi-vis: SwedTeam Protect Flat Cap, around £36. Neon orange in a flat-cap shape.
Which style of hat do you need?
Start with what you do most, not with the brand. The style matters more than the label, and every style below is in our hats and caps collection.
Flat caps: the driven day and the walk-up
The flat cap is the default on a driven or walked-up day. It sits low and close, carries little bulk under a hood, and the short peak keeps drizzle off your glasses without blocking your view up. Traditional tweed caps rely on the wool to shed light rain. The modern versions add a membrane between the tweed and the lining, which is what you want if your season includes long wet days on the hill.
Peaked caps: stalking, pigeons and the hide
A baseball-style cap with a longer peak shades your eyes when you are glassing into low sun and hides more of your face from deer. Camo patterns and quiet, brushed fabrics suit stalking and pigeon decoying, and an adjustable back strap means one size fits most heads, which helps if you are buying one as a gift.
Beanies: cold mornings and high seats
For warmth for weight, nothing beats a beanie. It covers your ears, stuffs into a pocket and goes under a hood. On a dawn high-seat sit in December, when you are static for hours, a merino or fleece beanie is the one hat you will not take off. The choice is mainly between plain knits, merino, stretch fleece and the newer versions with a waterproof membrane.
Brimmed hats: rain and sun all round
Felt, waxed cotton and PU rain hats have a brim the whole way round, so rain runs off behind you rather than down your neck. They are the choice for long wet days in the open, for dog work, and for summer roe stalking when you want shade without a cap peak.
Trapper hats: the coldest days
Fold-down ear flaps that fasten under the chin make the trapper the warmest option when the wind is coming straight off the hill. Fold the flaps up and secure them when you are on the move and need your hearing.
Comparison table
| Hat | Style | Weather protection | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hoggs Kinloch Tweed Cap | Flat cap | Waterproof, breathable membrane; 420 gsm lambswool tweed | Driven and walked-up days | around £31 |
| Hoggs Struther Flat Cap | Flat cap | Waterproof, windproof, breathable | All-weather everyday cap | around £27 |
| Beretta St James Waterproof Flat Cap | Flat cap | BWB EVO membrane, taped seams | Wet driven days | around £75 |
| Härkila Badanloch | Flat cap | Water-repellent, wind-resistant tweed | Driven days, moorland | around £60 |
| Deerhunter Muflon Pro Flatcap | Flat cap | 40 g/m² Thinsulate insulation | Cold rough-shooting days | around £36 |
| SwedTeam Protect Flat Cap | Flat cap | Neon orange hi-vis | Driven days, beating | around £36 |
| SwedTeam Ridge Cap | Peaked cap | Stretch fabric, DESOLVE Veil camo | Woodland stalking | around £31 |
| Härkila Mountain Hunter Cap | Peaked cap | GORE-TEX 2-layer, DWR | Hill stalking in rain | around £90 |
| Beretta Waterproof Cap | Peaked cap | BWB EVO membrane | Hides, clays, wet days | around £40 |
| Beretta Merino ACT Beanie | Beanie | Merino with waterproof membrane | Wet, cold stalks and flighting | around £44 |
| Härkila All Season Beanie | Beanie | 200 g merino | High seats, layering | around £43 |
| SwedTeam Alpha Beanie | Beanie | Stretch fleece | Everyday cold mornings | around £18 |
| Deerhunter Adventurer | Brimmed | 100% wool felt, 6.5 cm brim | Dog work, stalking, walking | around £63 |
| Hoggs Waxed Bush Hat | Brimmed | Water-resistant Cuprawax cotton | Beating, hedgerows, glassing | around £22 |
| SwedTeam Crest Rain Hat | Brimmed | PU-coated, chin strap | Foul weather | around £27 |
| David Nickerson Trapper | Trapper | Fold-down ear flaps | Coldest static days | around £25 |
Best flat caps for shooting
We stock tweed, waxed, insulated and hi-vis flat caps; browse them all in the shooting caps collection.
Hoggs of Fife Kinloch Waterproof Tweed Cap: best value waterproof tweed
The Kinloch looks like a traditional tweed cap but has a waterproof, breathable membrane between the 420 gsm, 100% lambswool tweed and the lining. The tweed is Teflon coated, the peak is stitched down and the back is cut deep so it sits securely. It is made to match Hoggs' Kinloch Field Pro tweed range, so it suits anyone already wearing that jacket. At around £31 it is the cap we would point most people to for a wet shooting season.
Hoggs of Fife Struther Waterproof Flat Cap: the plain all-rounder
If you do not need tweed, the Struther is fully waterproof, windproof and breathable in a 90% polyester, 10% nylon fabric with a Teflon coating, a stitched-down peak and a deep back. It co-ordinates with the Struther clothing range and, at around £27, works as an everyday cap for the yard, the dog walk and the shoot.
Beretta St James Waterproof Flat Cap: the premium waterproof
The St James brings Beretta's BWB EVO waterproof breathable membrane to a classic flat cap, with two-layer construction and taped seams. The Teflon outer helps it shed water and dirt. It comes in sizes S to XXL and is part of Beretta's Multifield range for driven shooting, rough shooting and countryside walking. It is the most expensive flat cap here at around £75, and stock is limited at the time of writing.
Härkila Badanloch Flat Cap: proper British tweed
The Badanloch is made from 100% British wool tweed from the Mallalieus of Delph mill, with a naturally water-repellent finish and a satin lining. It is wind resistant and the tweed colours are chosen to sit into moorland. There is no membrane, so it is a cap for showery days rather than all-day rain, but if you want a tweed cap that matches a good shooting suit, this is the one. Around £60.
Deerhunter Muflon Pro and Tatra: warmth first
The Muflon Pro Flatcap has a recycled polyester shell and a quilted lining with 3M Thinsulate Recycled insulation at 40 g/m², which makes it noticeably warmer than an unlined tweed cap on a cold rough-shooting day. Around £36. The Tatra Flatcap takes the traditional route: a soft, quiet wool blend with a quilted lining, and it folds into a pocket without losing its shape. Around £45.
SwedTeam Titan Loden and Protect: quiet or seen
The SwedTeam Titan Loden Flat Cap is made from a warm, quiet fabric for hunting and everyday wear, and comes in three sizes. Around £36. Its stablemate, the Protect Flat Cap, is neon orange in the same low flat-cap shape, built for driven days, beating and deer management in company where being seen by the rest of the line matters more than blending in. It sits tidily under a hood and comes in M, L and XL. Around £36.
Game Tweed Flat Cap: the budget option
For around £18, the Game Technical Apparel tweed flat cap is Teflon coated and water repellent with a comfort lining, and matches Game's tweed jacket, gilet and breeks. A sensible first tweed cap or stocking filler.
Best peaked caps for stalking and the hide
SwedTeam Ridge Cap: best camo cap
The Ridge Cap is printed in SwedTeam's DESOLVE Veil camouflage, a high-contrast pattern developed with animal colour vision in mind to break up your outline in woodland and scrub. The 94% polyester, 6% spandex fabric stretches to fit, a Velcro tab at the back adjusts it without fiddly buckles in cold weather, and it weighs just 50 g. It matches the Ridge beanie, neck gaiter and jacket. Around £31.
Härkila Mountain Hunter Cap: best waterproof cap
The Mountain Hunter Cap uses the same low-noise brushed tricot and GORE-TEX 2-layer membrane as the Mountain Hunter jacket and trousers, with a DWR finish. Inside is a fine-mesh lining. It has a pre-bent peak, an adjustment strap, a branch strap and a comfort lining. If you stalk the hill in all weathers, this is the cap built for it. Around £90.
Beretta Waterproof Cap: a waterproof cap for less
The Beretta Waterproof Cap carries the BWB EVO membrane throughout a 100% polyester shell, with a structured peak that sheds rain and cuts glare. In black, it suits a pigeon hide or the clay ground as much as a driven day. Around £40.
Deerhunter Eagle Cap and Hoggs Waxed Cap
The Deerhunter Eagle Cap has artificial suede detailing on the peak and panels, a side branch strap for adding foliage or keeping it in place in thick cover, and an adjustable back strap, which makes it easy to buy as a gift. Around £22. The Hoggs of Fife Waxed Cap is 100% waxed cotton, hard-wearing and water resistant, and popular with farmers as much as shooters. Around £20.
Best beanies for cold mornings
The full range of knitted, merino and fleece beanies is in our hunting hats collection; these are the ones we would choose.
Beretta Merino ACT Beanie: best for wet cold
Most beanies soak through in proper rain. The Merino ACT pairs merino wool with Beretta's BWB EVO waterproof breathable membrane, so it keeps wind-driven rain and sleet out while the merino stays warm even when damp. It is the beanie to take on long stalks in foul weather or morning flight. Around £44.
Härkila All Season Beanie: best merino
The Härkila All Season beanie is 200 g, mulesing-free merino with flat seams. It is soft, breathable, moisture-wicking and naturally temperature regulating, and takes up almost no space in a pocket. Around £43.
ShooterKing Fortem Beanie: knitted merino wool
The Fortem is a knitted 100% wool beanie in merino, which is softer against the skin than ordinary wool and resists odour on a long day. Wool keeps insulating when damp and sheds light drizzle. Around £30, with limited stock at the time of writing.
SwedTeam Ridge and Alpha: fleece for less
The Ridge Beanie is 100% polyester stretch fleece in DESOLVE Veil camo, weighs 40 g and comes in M/L and XL/2XL. Around £24. The Alpha Fleece Beanie is the simpler version, a soft, quiet stretch fleece offered in DESOLVE Veil and DESOLVE Fire camo that sits neatly under a hood. Around £18.
Seeland Ian and Hoggs Thinsulate: hi-vis and budget
The Seeland Ian Reversible beanie is soft acrylic, hi-vis orange on one side and pine green on the other, so you can switch between being seen and blending in. Around £20. The Hoggs of Fife Thinsulate Waterproof Beanie has an acrylic outer, a microfleece lining, 3M Thinsulate and an H-Tex waterproof breathable membrane, and is machine washable at 40°C. At around £12 it is hard to beat on value.
Best brimmed hats
Deerhunter Adventurer Felt Hat: best all-round brimmed hat
The Adventurer is 100% wool felt with a 6.5 cm brim for shade and rain protection. It can be folded or packed flat without holding a crease, and recovers its shape when you need it. A real leather strap with an adjustable buckle runs around the crown. Around £63.
Härkila Metso: the premium felt hat
The Metso is dense, crushable felted wool in Shadow Brown, water repellent in light rain and drizzle, with a genuine leather hatband and a cotton poplin lining. It folds into a rucksack and springs back to shape. A quiet wool surface makes it a good choice for stalking, driven days and high-seat sits. Around £130.
Hoggs Waxed Bush Hat and SwedTeam Crest Rain Hat
The Hoggs Waxed Bush Hat is 100% Cuprawax cotton, the same cloth as Hoggs' waxed jackets, water resistant and tough against thorns, with an all-round brim and a tartan polycotton lining. Sizes S to 2XL, around £22. For the very worst days, the SwedTeam Crest PU Rain Hat is a PU-coated sou'wester style with an adjustable chin strap that holds it on in strong wind, and it rolls into a jacket pocket. Around £27.
Best trapper hat
The David Nickerson Trapper Hat has fold-down ear flaps that fasten under the chin to seal out wind and cold, and fold up when you are moving and need to hear. It suits stalkers on a high seat, beaters, pickers-up and anyone working a dog through winter cover. Around £25.
Choosing the right hat: practical points
- Match the hat to the coldest, wettest part of your day. If you sit still for hours, prioritise warmth. If you walk all day in rain, prioritise a membrane or a brim.
- Waterproof means a membrane. Tweed, felt and waxed cotton are water resistant and fine in showers. For all-day rain, look for a membrane such as GORE-TEX, BWB EVO or a waterproof breathable lining like the Kinloch and Struther caps.
- Think about noise. Wool, fleece and brushed fabrics are quieter against branches and collars than stiff synthetic shells, which matters when stalking.
- Colour depends on the job. Camo or muted greens and browns for stalking and pigeons; orange for driven days, beating and anywhere you need the rest of the line to see you.
- Sizing. Fitted flat caps and felt hats come in sizes, so check our size guides on each product page. Beanies and adjustable peaked caps are the safest choice if you are buying a present and do not know the size.
Building the rest of your kit
A hat is only as good as the collar beneath it. If water is getting in at the neck, look at a jacket with a proper hood and storm collar in our guide to the best waterproof hunting jackets, or the tweed, wax and technical options in our best shooting jackets guide. For cold, still days, our layering guide for hill stalking covers base and mid layers, and our gaiters comparison deals with the other end. To finish the outfit, browse hunting and shooting gloves and shooting socks.
Buying for someone else? Hats, gloves and socks are the easiest presents to get right. Our gifts for shooters and stalkers collection gathers the most popular ideas in one place, and you can see every style covered here in our hats and caps range. Free UK delivery over £50 and 365 day returns apply.
FAQ
What is the best hat for deer stalking?
For woodland stalking, a quiet camo peaked cap such as the SwedTeam Ridge Cap shades your eyes and hides your face, with a fleece or merino beanie in your pocket for the sit. On the open hill in rain, the GORE-TEX Härkila Mountain Hunter Cap or the Beretta Merino ACT Beanie are the better choices.
What hat should I wear on a driven shoot?
A flat cap is the traditional choice. A tweed cap with a waterproof membrane, such as the Hoggs Kinloch, looks right and keeps rain out. If the shoot asks for hi-vis, the SwedTeam Protect Flat Cap gives you orange in the same shape.
Are tweed caps waterproof?
Tweed on its own is water resistant rather than waterproof. It sheds showers but will wet through in prolonged rain. Caps such as the Hoggs Kinloch add a waterproof, breathable membrane between the tweed and the lining.
Is a merino beanie worth it over fleece?
Merino keeps insulating when damp, regulates temperature and resists odour, which helps on long days. Fleece is cheaper, lighter and dries fast. Many people own one of each: fleece for active days, merino for long sits.
What is a trapper hat?
A trapper hat has fold-down ear flaps that fasten under the chin. It is the warmest style for static, windy days, and the flaps fold up when you are moving.
Which hunting hat makes a good gift?
Choose a one-size or adjustable style if you do not know the size: an adjustable peaked cap such as the Deerhunter Eagle Cap, or a stretch beanie such as the SwedTeam Alpha. For a special present, the Härkila Badanloch tweed cap or the Deerhunter Adventurer felt hat are hard to beat.
Do felt hats keep the rain off?
Wool felt is naturally water repellent and the all-round brim keeps rain off your neck, so felt hats such as the Härkila Metso handle drizzle and showers well. For all-day downpours, a PU rain hat like the SwedTeam Crest is the more reliable choice.
