# Do vent holes in your bucket hat expose you to sunburn? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 28, 2017, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-vent-holes-in-your-bucket-hat-expose-you-to-sunburn/785454 "2017-04-28T19:15:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![greenpurple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/278dde/32.png) [@greenpurple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/greenpurple)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2017, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-vent-holes-in-your-bucket-hat-expose-you-to-sunburn/785454/1 "2017-04-28T19:15:20Z")
Especially if you’re bald. ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2017, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-vent-holes-in-your-bucket-hat-expose-you-to-sunburn/785454/2 "2017-04-28T20:12:49Z")
Not unless your hat is super tight. Think about how much air you’re exposed to under a tree or awning, but also how shady it still is. I suppose if you lay down sideways in direct sun and let the holes rest directly on your skin, you might be asking for two tiny circular sunburns. But with regular wear? Probably not. ---
**Author:** ![steatopygia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steatopygia/32/3132_2.png) [@steatopygia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steatopygia)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2017, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-vent-holes-in-your-bucket-hat-expose-you-to-sunburn/785454/3 "2017-04-28T20:23:58Z")
Yeah that would require you to be immobile or even tracking the sun with your head. Or the hat could have large vent holes or you could be absolutely amelanin. But in general,eh. And what is a “bucket hat”? ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2017, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-vent-holes-in-your-bucket-hat-expose-you-to-sunburn/785454/4 "2017-04-28T20:49:30Z")
Another one who wants to know what is a bucket hat. But if the sun can get through onto the skin it would be what percentage it was in the sun. It would take longer to burn, but if given enough exposure and minimal shading it could. ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2017, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-vent-holes-in-your-bucket-hat-expose-you-to-sunburn/785454/5 "2017-04-28T21:06:35Z")
The [bucket hat](http://www.villagehatshop.com/photos/product/standard/4511390S127675/bucket-hats/fairway-bucket-hat.jpg) is a civilian version of the boonie cap. Often worn by fly fishermen in old movies and TV shows. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2017, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-vent-holes-in-your-bucket-hat-expose-you-to-sunburn/785454/6 "2017-04-28T21:09:11Z")
> [@DrCube](#): > > Not unless your hat is super tight. Think about how much air you’re exposed to under a tree or awning, but also how shady it still is. I suppose if you lay down sideways in direct sun and let the holes rest directly on your skin, you might be asking for two tiny circular sunburns. But with regular wear? Probably not. Are you sure? I’ve gotten tiny sunburns on the tops of my feet that are the same size/shape as small decorative cutouts in sandals that weren’t particularly tight, and feet are a lot less exposed to the sun than the top of your head. These are [bucket hats](https://www.google.com/search?q=bucket+hat&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjgqIO8h8jTAhUKfiYKHQLKB5wQ_AUIBygC&biw=853&bih=557#spf=1). Popular with boys ages 0-5 and 50+ ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2017, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-vent-holes-in-your-bucket-hat-expose-you-to-sunburn/785454/7 "2017-04-28T21:20:03Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > Popular with boys ages 0-5 and 50+ And LL Cool J, [circa 1985](https://www.amoeba.com/admin/uploads/blog/artist-64153-000-1.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2017, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-vent-holes-in-your-bucket-hat-expose-you-to-sunburn/785454/8 "2017-04-28T21:22:21Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > Are you sure? I’ve gotten tiny sunburns on the tops of my feet that are the same size/shape as small decorative cutouts in sandals that weren’t particularly tight, and feet are a lot less exposed to the sun than the top of your head. That’s why I asked about tightness. I’ve been wearing old school, high crown, Bogart-style fedoras recently, and there’s no way putting vent-sized holes in the side would give me a sunburn. If the crown of your hat is tight on your skin, though (just imagine a swim cap with holes), then you’re exposing the skin to sun more than to the cooling air. In between, well, that depends. The other thing to remember is that these holes are on the _side_ of your head, and the sun is most dangerous when directly above. I suspect your decorative foot sunburns were on the _top_ of your feet, and not the sides. Even with no hat or sunscreen, you’ll notice the tops of your ears (and scalp, cheekbones, etc) will be burnt and the sides rarely will be, no matter how long you stand in the sun. But again, I wouldn’t rule it out entirely. ---
**Author:** ![obbn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d6d6ee/32.png) [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2017, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-vent-holes-in-your-bucket-hat-expose-you-to-sunburn/785454/9 "2017-04-29T18:27:05Z")
Bald guy here. I can’t say about a bucket hat, but one can definitely get a sunburn on their head from the holes in a typical baseball hat. And for the record, it sucks. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2017, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-vent-holes-in-your-bucket-hat-expose-you-to-sunburn/785454/10 "2017-04-30T01:34:49Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > … > These are [bucket hats](https://www.google.com/search?q=bucket+hat&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjgqIO8h8jTAhUKfiYKHQLKB5wQ_AUIBygC&biw=853&bih=557#spf=1). Popular with boys ages 0-5 and 50+ Not to be confused with [Tembels](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tembel_hat) which was the classic “Israeli” hat from pre-State days up until the 1970s, I think, when it got its name reflecting its current disfavor. What’s a Tembel as outerwear and matched to the essential character of the wearer? Famous goyische Tembels Bill Murray in _[Caddyshack](http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1361601/images/n-BILL-MURRAY-QUOTES-GOPHER-CADDYSHACK-628x314.jpg)_ and [Gilligan](http://www.gilligansisle.com/images/gilligan/gilligan.jpg) on his island. ---
**Author:** ![JXJohns](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jxjohns/32/469_2.png) [@JXJohns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JXJohns)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-vent-holes-in-your-bucket-hat-expose-you-to-sunburn/785454/11 "2017-05-01T21:10:47Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > And LL Cool J, [circa 1985](https://www.amoeba.com/admin/uploads/blog/artist-64153-000-1.jpg). I always thought the Kangol was its own style. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2017, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-vent-holes-in-your-bucket-hat-expose-you-to-sunburn/785454/12 "2017-05-02T12:36:27Z")
When I as was shaving my head, I always used special sunscreen designed for chrome domes. BaldGuyz and HeadBlade are two good brands.