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I feel like hats are quite popular among hunters and other outdoor-people which are mainly active in the woods. Also, a lot of outdoor brands have hats in their range.
Which rational characteristics makes it preferable over "bare-headed" for some?
Side-note:
One shouldn't answer with things like "Because it looks cool" or something but with rational facts. Just like this question.
In the woods, there are many small items that can fall from above that are more or less awkward to have on your head. This goes from leaves and needles on the "not very harmful" side over water droplets (during or after the rain) to ugly things like bird poop.
One characteristic that makes a hat as depicted in your question preferable over other headdresses like a bandana is its brim. It does not only prevent things from falling directly onto your head but also that it falls onto your face – people who have to wear glasses know the awkward moment when a water droplet falls between their forehead and glasses, wetting the glass from the inside and splashing into your eyes – or into the collar of your jacket. Additional pro's are sun protection and shading of the eyes against low sun and in some communities they are just part to the style one wears when going into the woods...
Hats are great for many reasons. They keep sun off your head, they retain heat when it's cold. They help keep small stuff from hitting your head and sometimes your face. A branch may knock your hat askance rather than scratch your face up or even poke you in the eye. It can keep that same branch from getting tangled in your hair.
A hat is just another layer of protection from the elements on a spot that is often left unprotected except by your hair if you are lucky enough have your hair.
I wear hats and try to cover most of my body when going through thicker brush. I personally don't like when burrs, pricker bushes, or any of the other a-hole plants out there lash out on my head. Hats allow me to charge head first into some of those in order to help shield my face from them as well.
Plus, depending on the climate, hats are good for both keeping me warm and keeping sweat out of my eyes. I also prefer brimmed hats for sun protection since I don't often wear sunglasses while trekking through the woods.
Then, there are a select group of people who always wear hats. As in, they never go anywhere without one on. Whether they just like the feeling or they're trying to cover up some balding, they're a group of people manufacturers aren't likely to forget about.
