I’ve always been a ball cap sort of guy. For a short time, I had one of those Aussie leather outback hats, but it didn’t fit as well as I’d have liked. The boonie hat has interested me for a while, but I never got around to pulling the trigger on one. Recently, Kings Camo sent me an XKG Sonora Air Sun Hat to check out.
XKG Sonora Air Sun Hat: Boonie Hat Design
The boonie hat has a fairly distinct design. It has a wide brim that circles the entire hat. This serves to keep the sun off your face, ears, and neck, much more so than a regular ball cap. The brim is somewhat stiff, so it will hold its shape after you’ve molded it where you want it.
Some models are adjustable in size, and most include a chin strap to keep the hat in place during windy conditions.
Sun Hat Features
Whether we’re talking about humid tropics or dry desert, this boonie-style hat is well-suited for heat. The Sonara Air Fabric is lightweight and very breathable. The fabric also dries pretty quickly. This is great if you sweat a lot or you get caught in a downpour.
The brim is structured foam. It’s easy to maneuver and stays in position fairly well. The chin strap is adjustable. It’s also removable. It was tempting to remove the chin strap entirely. But for now it stays, as I’d hate to lose the hat if the wind picks up.
XKG Sonora Air Sun Hat Performance
My wife and I go hiking every single weekend. We’ve done this since late 2016. It’s a great way to get some fresh air and sunshine, as well as test drive new gear from time to time.
I’ll admit that I was hesitant about the XKG Sonora Air Sun Hat, primarily because I have an abnormally large melon. There have been a couple of instances in the past where companies have sent me hats to try, and they simply didn’t fit. The XKG Sonora Air Sun Hat has an elastic headband that not only fits my head, but also does so comfortably.
It took me a few tries to figure out what I wanted to do with the chin strap. The weather for our hike was around 82°F, sunny, and with very little breeze. I tucked the chin strap up into the hat as it was a very calm day.
The hat stayed in place without any trouble as we went up and down hills. I was sweating buckets after a bit, but the hat didn’t seem overly warm. Several portions of the trail were in full sun, and I appreciated having the hat shading my neck and ears.
An interesting aspect of wearing a boonie hat that I hadn’t predicted was how it impacts your hearing. With the brim going around the head, sound waves that otherwise pass by are bounced back toward your ears. As I brushed by branches, for example, the sound seemed incredibly loud and very noticeable. Same with my keys jangling in my pocket.
When we got back to our vehicle and headed for home, I left the hat on the dash to dry out. A bonus feature of the XKG Sonora Air Sun Hat that my wife discovered is that it folds up pretty small. That’s great for packability.
My only gripe about the hat is that I wish it came in other prints, including a solid color or two. But that’s definitely not a deal-breaker for me.
The XKG Sonora Air Sun Hat is available at the King’s Camo website for around $35.
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