Illustration: Dana Davis/Photos: Samantha Schoech, Tango Zulu

Staff writer Samantha Schoech considers herself “much too vain” for ugly sun hats. So when she started noticing the effortlessly cool surfers in her San Francisco neighborhood donning chic straw ones, she sleuthed to discover what has now become her all-time favorite hat.

Its rigid, generously sized brim provides plenty of shade on her face and neck, and it’s proven durable enough to survive a summer full of watery, sweaty adventures. Plus, importantly, it’s cute.

“It definitely has a laid-back, The Endless Summer meets coastal grandma swagger that eludes so many other sun hats,” she writes. “The scale, the lines, the craftsmanship, and the muted tones come together in a triumph of cool.”

A gift-worthy sun hat→

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Photo: Connie Park

Though most under-$15 shirts we tested were pretty lousy in terms of both fit and quality, this reliable, basic one was the notable exception. With its easy, relaxed fit and generously cut sleeves, our testers found that this shirt has a pleasant and substantial fabric that stays put, especially useful for layering.

Snag it on sale for $6 (!) here→

Nice hat.

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