REASONS TO BUY
Stylish
Decent level of protection
Ideal for sunny lounging or gardening
REASONS TO AVOID
Not our first choice for technical adventures
Product Updated
The North Face updated this hat. Check out the details below.
April 2020The North Face Horizon Brimmer - Women's Review
Cute and stylish, this contender excels in all activities that aren't technical
Credit: The North Face
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Our Verdict
This cute women's hat caught our eye from the get-go and has become our go-to piece for sunny lounging. It is stylish and has a colossal brim to protect you from the sun. We tried taking it kayaking but found it, unfortunately, does not do well in high winds or at any technical activity for that matter. If you're into reading magazines while sitting on a lounge chair on the beach, or perhaps spending time puttering in the garden, this hat is for you.
Our Analysis and Test Results
Horizon Brimmer vs. Horizon Breeze Brimmer
The North Face now offers the Horizon Breeze Brimmer hat, which is very similar to the Horizon Brimmer we tested, but features large mesh panels on the sides for ventilation. Compare the two hats; the hat we tested is shown first, followed by the Breeze Brimmer in white.
We're now linking to the more readily available Horizon Breeze Brimmer, but please be aware that the review below is for the Horizon Brimmer hat only.
Hands-On Review of the Horizon Brimmer
This full brimmed hat has exceptional sun protection and looks super cute. We enjoyed leisure activities like lounging, gardening, or walking the dog in this number.
The North Face Horizon Brimmer Hat scored high points for sun protection with its large brim, as well as style.
The North Face Horizon Brimmer Hat is a great choice for lounging around and looking cute.
Credit: Jessica Haist
Protection
This large brimmed hat offers lots of protection with its brim measuring 3.75" all the way around. This is among the broadest of the full brim hats, along with the Outdoor Research Sombriolet. The Horizon Brimmer's material is a protective 50+ UPF as well. If you're looking for a more versatile hat that offers a ton of sun protection, check out our Editors' Choice for Technical Use, the Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure model; its long neck cape offers more coverage than the Brimmer.
The Horizon Brimmer, an offering from The North Face, does not do well in the wind and will blow up to expose your face - and make you look like a total dork.
Credit: Suzanne Strom
The Horizon Brimmer also has a convenient neck cord to prevent the hat from blowing off in high winds. However, we experienced the front of the brim blowing up in strong winds, completely exposing our faces to the sun. This is not desirable, which is why we would not recommend this hat for times when windy conditions are expected.
The North Face Horizon Brimmer has great coverage. See the seal?
Credit: Jessica Haist
Comfort
The Horizon Brimmer falls in the middle of the pack regarding comfort. As with other wide-brimmed hats like the Outdoor Research Oasis Sun Sombrero, we can feel the brim digging into our head slightly. Because its materials are lightweight, this is less of a concern than with others.
The North Face Horizon Brimmer Hat is comfortable and has breathable mesh back panels.
Credit: Jessica Haist
Breathability
The Horizon Brimmer has a mesh panel that wraps around the back of the head allowing for some ventilation. However, the crown is also lined with mesh, and we're not sure why, because it seems like it would be cooler and more breathable without the extra material in it. While above average in breathability, it was bested by models like the Sunday Afternoons Adventure and Ultra Adventure, as well as the OR Sombriolet.
Durability
The Horizon Brimmer is not the most or least durable in the pack. When packed into a small ziplock bag for 30 minutes, it showed some significant creases, however, they dissipated in time. The material does show some dirt and stains but can be washed off. The Tilley LTM6 Airflo is extremely durable and stylish, and is also crushable and cool looking. The Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure model is also very durable and packable - but not quite so stylish.
The Horizon Brimmer Hat bounced back eventually from our crush test in this bag for 30 minutes.
Credit: Jessica Haist
Style
The Horizon Brimmer is one of the few hats we didn't feel like a total dork wearing around. What it lacks in technical abilities it makes up for in looks. We would wear this hat on sunny vacations where style matters, in places like resorts and on beaches. We like the deep garnet red color it comes in and are disappointed that it doesn't come in more colors like the Oasis Sun Sombrero does. The Sun Runner Cap comes in a multitude of color choices.
We like the look of this large brimmed hat, and the deep garnet color.
Credit: Jessica Haist
Best Applications
As we've mentioned, the Horizon Brimmer is best for leisure activities without high output, such as lounging on the beach, gardening, walking the dog, and hanging around in sunny locations like the cottage or sporting events (spectating). We would not recommend the Horizon Brimmer for backpacking, boating, or any other activity when you need to move around a lot or it will be windy. For a high-performance hat, check out the Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure or the Outdoor Research Sun Runner Cap.
You could take this hat out sea kayaking - but only in super calm winds.
Credit: Jessica Haist
Value
At $35, the Horizon Brimmer is one of the cheapest hats in this review and a great value. This is a great piece to throw in your suitcase and take on vacation with you. At that price, why not?
Conclusion
We like this cute, stylish hat for all our lounging and vacation needs. It has a large, full brim that will protect you from the sun. It's also one of the most stylish in our fleet for the ladies out there but is also one of the least functional contenders we tested. It did not perform well in windy conditions, flipping up and exposing our face to the sun. It is relatively comfortable and a great value at $35.
—
Jessica Haist
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