Columbia Bora Bora Booney II Review
Compare prices at 2 resellers Pros: Inexpensive, breathable
Cons: Floppy brim, fits very large, not so stylish
Manufacturer: Columbia
Our Verdict
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Columbia Bora Bora Booney II | |||||
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| Awards |  | | |||
| Price | Check Price at REI Compare at 2 sellers | Check Price at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | Check Price at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | Check Price at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $39 List Check Price at REI |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Inexpensive, breathable | Excellent protection, removable cape, good in the wind, good value | Great protection all around, especially on the back; brim is angled for longer protection, good ventilation, comfortable | Comfortable, very breathable, good color, great value | Protective, breathable, packable, unique, stylish |
| Cons | Floppy brim, fits very large, not so stylish | Looks a little funny, can get hot on the back of your neck | Not stylish, brim is not crushable, shows stains easily | Not very stylish, brim could be wider | Only one size, cinch cord could work better |
| Bottom Line | This one-size-fits-all hat is comfortable, has good ventilation, but stretches easily, and the brim gets floppy quickly | This super protective hat is lightweight, versatile, and an excellent value, winning our Best Buy Award | This hat has great coverage and is a good choice for any sunny activity, although it is not the most stylish | One of our top choices for a full brim hat that is extremely comfortable and breathable and a great value | A very breathable sun hat with a neck cape, sunlight reflecting material, and unique style |
| Rating Categories | Columbia Bora Bora... | Sun Runner Cap | Adventure Hat | Horizon Breeze Brimmer | Alchemi Labs Desert... |
| Protection (30%) | |||||
| Comfort (25%) | |||||
| Breathability (15%) | |||||
| Durability (15%) | |||||
| Style (15%) | |||||
| Specs | Columbia Bora Bora... | Sun Runner Cap | Adventure Hat | Horizon Breeze Brimmer | Alchemi Labs Desert... |
| Weight (ounces) | 2.6 oz | 2.8 oz | 2.6 oz | 2.9 oz | 3.0 oz |
| UPF rating | 50 | 50+ | 50+ | 40+ | 50+ |
| Size of Brim (inches) | 3" | 2.75 brim, 7.25" neck cape | 3.75", 7.25" neck cape | 2.9" | 2.5", 8" neck cape |
| Material | Nylon, polyester mesh | 100% Supplex nylon | 100% nylon with 100% polyester mesh insets | Nylon Ripstop, 97% recycled polyester mesh lined | 80% nylon/20% polyester |
| Cinch Cord | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Packable/compressible | Yes | Yes | No - do not fold or compress the brim. Packs Flat | Yes | Yes |
| Size tested | O/S (6 1/2 - 7 1/2) | L | M 21" - 23" | L/XL | OS |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Columbia Bora Bora Booney provides decent protection from the sun but will only fit you if you have a larger head. This hat receives high marks for ventilation and scores decently in protection and comfort. It loses points for durability and style. This inexpensive hat is a good choice for hiking and fishing on hot days for those with larger heads.
Performance Comparison
Protection
The Bora Bora Booney has a 3-inch full circumference brim, which gives it slightly more coverage than some other hats. It also has 50+ UPF fabric for protection from the sun. The mesh vents are non-UPF rated, so if you're lacking in the hair department, note that it is possible to still get sunburned through the mesh panel. We recommend that you apply sunscreen accordingly.
Comfort
This hat is quite comfortable, mostly because it was very loose on our testers. The Bora Bora Booney comes in one size, which measures up to 24.5 inches in circumference. If your head measures much smaller than that, you will be swimming in this hat. Our testers noticed that the Bora Bora Booney also seems to stretch after it had gotten wet. You can tighten the drawcord for a snugger fit, but this makes the hat look and feel a little awkward.
Breathability
The Bora Bora Booney does well in this category. It has some of the largest mesh panels in the crown, allowing for ample ventilation. The Booney also has a nice sweatband around the crown for wicking away moisture.
Durability
Thanks to its flexible material, the Bora Bora Booney II faired well in our crush tests. There were no noticeable creases in the brim. However, we have noticed that the brim is very floppy, especially after getting wet, and will flop over your eyes annoyingly. It also stretches after wearing. For these reasons, we scored the Bora Bora Booney lower in this category.
Style
We personally think the Bora Bora Booney lacks style. It is very generic looking and comes in fairly dull colors. We especially don't like the way it looks once the brim begins to get floppy. There are definitely more stylish hats out there if that is your goal.
Value
The Bora Bora Booney is one of the most inexpensive sun hats in this review. We would rather spend a few more bucks and pick up something else, but if the price is your number one concern, then this is a reasonable option.
Conclusion
This hat is large and floppy brimmed. It has a decent amount of sun protection and will protect your ears and face from the sun while providing good ventilation through the mesh panels. We think it lacks style and seems to stretch out even bigger than its already large size. If you have a large head and want a hat to wear on sunny excursions, the Columbia Bora Bora Booney could be it. Full brim hats are best worn without large packs, as the back of them annoyingly hits your pack. This could be a good option for slower-paced activities like fishing, hiking, or boating.
— Jessica Haist