UV Protection Hats - What are the standards?

What protection can we expect with this type of headwear?

To better understand the importance of UV protection hats, here are some explanations.

What are UV rays?

The sun emits several types of radiation, but here, we'll focus only on UV. These are invisible to the human eye and do not provide a sensation of heat, which makes them all the more dangerous: we are exposed without realizing it.

Ultraviolet rays are divided into two categories: UVA and UVB.

The first ones are those that penetrate the skin and accelerate aging (wrinkles, brown spots, dryness...). UVB, on the other hand, act on the epidermis and stimulate melanin production. So it's UVB that gives us that tanned look we love so much in summer!

However, UVA and UVB can cause significant health damage when exposure is too high. This is why it's necessary to protect your skin with appropriate accessories: sunglasses, sunscreen, and... hats. For people who are regularly exposed, there are also clothes that meet UV protection standards.

What are the UV protection standards?

There are several, all reliable and controlled by organizations.

The French FPS (Sun Protection Factor) or SPF (Sun Protection Factor) or IP (Protection Index) certification

This is actually the same index, which mainly protects against UVB.

It can be found on certain cosmetics, including sunscreens, but also in textiles.
There are different ratings to choose from depending on your skin type and the level of protection you're looking for.

The higher the number, the better the protection.

The international UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) certification

The main international reference found in many countries.

Most of the sun hats at Chapellerie Traclet carry this certification.

UPF 50+ is the highest rating and guarantees the best possible protection.

You will find different hats with a UPF rating on our site, including models from Tilley, Stetson and Dorfman Pacific.

UV Standard 801 Certification

This is an industrial standard adopted by the ITAAUVP (International Testing Association for Applied UV Protection).

It has the unique feature of testing and certifying the quality of UV protection in textile products under extreme conditions of use.

Indeed, the fabric is deliberately stretched, wet, and worn to prove its reliability in extreme weather conditions and wear that generally affect the effectiveness of UV protection. Straw also undergoes special treatment to prove its effectiveness.

To conclude on UV protection

Of course, any hat, even without certification, generally guarantees better protection than if you wear nothing. It all depends on the material, the thickness of the fabric, etc. However, be aware that this protection is in no way comparable to that provided by approved hats. A basic fabric indeed lets through most of the radiation, thus exposing you to the risk of an unwanted sunburn.

We therefore advise you to choose your headwear according to the use you plan to make of it. For prolonged and regular exposure, better protection is best! While a cap might be sufficient for an occasional walk, it's better to opt for a traveler shape with wider brims for a hike or boat trip.

To discover many other models, we invite you to check out our range of UV protection hats on the Traclet online store.

You'll find that there are many headwear options with UV protection available in all types of shapes and materials.