Tactical Boonie Hat: Military Hats for the Armed Forces and Outdoor Use

Tactical boonie hat: how to choose a model for your needs

A tactical boonie hat shades the face, ears and back of the neck, yet doesn't overheat the head the way a dense beanie or a solid-top cap does. A military boonie hat differs from a hiking one with sturdier fabric, stitched brims, a chin strap and attachments for camouflage. So start your choice not with color, but with where and how you will wear it: in a position, on the march, at a training ground or while fishing. Below: brims, fabrics, ventilation, size and camouflage, so that a boonie hat for the Armed Forces of Ukraine or a civilian model lasts long and doesn't get in the way of your work.

Wide or short brims

A classic boonie-style hat has a wide brim all the way around: it gives more shade on the face and neck, breaks up the outline of the head well and suits long periods in open terrain. An example is the 5.11 LIX made of cotton ripstop. The downside of wide brims is that they can press against the collar of a body armor or a backpack and get in the way when you aim through a sight or wear headphones.

Models with short brims, such as the MFH GB SF Bush Hat, are more compact: they are easier to combine with active headphones, optics and a backpack, and a folded hat takes up less space in a pocket. On some of these hats the crown is slightly shorter at the front than at the back, so the brim tilts up and doesn't block your view. They give less shade, so on hot open ground they lose to wide-brimmed ones.

If your main problem is the sun on your neck, look at the MFH Combat Tropical with neck protection: it has a flap that covers the back of the head. Stitched brims in any variant are a sign that the hat will hold its shape and won't sag after washing.

Fabric: ripstop, cotton or softshell

The most common option is ripstop, a fabric with a reinforcing thread that stops a tear from spreading if you snag it on a branch or wire. There is poly-cotton ripstop, where cotton is blended with polyester, and pure cotton. For example, the MIL-TEC US GI Boonie Hat is made in both versions, while the Helikon-Tex CPU is sewn from poly-cotton. The blend dries faster, wrinkles less and holds color longer; cotton feels nicer against the skin in the heat, but it wrinkles more and takes longer to dry.

Cotton boonie hats without ripstop are softer and comfortable for everyday summer wear. Some ripstop boonie hats have a thin cotton lining that absorbs sweat and makes the hat feel nicer on the inside.

For the cold season there are insulated fleece boonie hats: the softshell outer protects from wind, and the fleece keeps warmth in. This is an option for those who want to keep the familiar brimmed silhouette and not switch to a beanie.

Ventilation, size and fastening

In summer the head sweats quickly under a boonie hat, so look at how ventilation is arranged. The simplest solution is eyelets on both sides of the crown. Mesh inserts or mesh-covered vents let air through more freely, but the mesh is thinner than the main fabric. Some models have a mosquito net that can be lowered over the face where there are many insects.

Sizes are marked in different ways: with letters (S, M, L, XL), with head circumference in centimeters, or both, for example M(58). Measure your head with a tape measure above the eyebrows and choose the size according to that circumference; if you are between two sizes, take the larger one and adjust it with the regulator. On some hats there is a cord with a lock under the crown band, while one-size models are adjusted only with a drawstring.

Be sure to check for a chin strap with a lock: in the wind, in an open truck bed or on the move, a boonie hat without one is the first to fly off.

Color and camouflage attachments

Choose the pattern according to the terrain and the uniform you will wear it with. A Multicam tactical boonie hat is universal for mixed vegetation, a MM-14 pixel boonie hat pairs with the standard uniform of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, an olive boonie hat suits solid-color clothing, and a coyote boonie hat is appropriate on dry grass and sand. A black tactical boonie hat is more for services with a black uniform and for civilian wear.

A MOLLE strip or loops around the crown let you attach branches, grass or a piece of camouflage netting and break up the outline of the head. Some models have slits in the fabric for this. A hook-and-loop patch panel will come in handy if you wear a blood type patch, a flag or a unit patch.

If you need other headwear, browse all tactical headwear or tactical baseball caps and caps. Buffs and shemaghs will complement the boonie hat with neck and face protection.

Frequently asked questions

What are the "cat eyes" on a tactical boonie hat?

It is a decorative eye-shaped patch attached to a hook-and-loop panel on the crown. Since it is on Velcro, it is easy to remove when full camouflage is needed.

What are the ears on a boonie hat for?

The ears on such boonie hats are decorative and serve no protective function. They are chosen for the mood and a recognizable look, while in construction these are ordinary field boonie hats. You can see the options among tactical boonie hats with ears.

How do I wash a tactical boonie hat?

Preferably by hand or on a delicate cycle in cool water, without bleach. Before washing, close the hook-and-loop fasteners so they don't catch on the fabric. Dry the hat spread out, away from a radiator, so the brims don't deform and the cotton doesn't shrink.

How is a reversible boonie hat different from a regular one?

It can be turned inside out and worn either side out, since both sides have a finished outer surface. This is handy when you want to change the look without a second hat. Such models usually have no camouflage attachments, because they would get in the way of reversing.

How much does a tactical boonie hat cost and where can I buy one?

Boonie hat prices range from 149 to 945 UAH. You can buy a tactical boonie hat online by choosing the color and size in the filters. We deliver across Ukraine.