Is a dark colored hat that much warmer than a light colored hat?

[Abraham]

Is a dark colored (say black or navy) hat that much warmer than a light colored hat (say light gray or tan) when out in the sun? Thanks.

 

[Bob Roberts]

I think so.

 

[Bamaboots]

+1

 

[Frunobulax]

Yup, just as a lighter color of roof will reflect more sunlight and save energy, a light hat will serve the same purpose.

 

[JoeyC]

At night outdoors a dark hat will not absorb heat as it would during daylight hours from the sun eg. Dark colors absorb heat , light colors reflect heat.

 

[Abraham]

Thanks for the quick replies. I was considering a Tilley outdoorsy hat in black for hiking but I already sweat enough wearing their off-white hats...

 

[T Jones]

The darker colors will absorb heat and UV rays from sun light while the lighter colors reflect the sun light and heat. At least that's the way it works in roofing, and that I know from experience.

 

[Trenchfriend]

That's, why I choose the brighter hazelnut-brown on buying a traveller-hat. And it's the perfect allround-traveller-hat, I think.

 

[Motorcyclist]

The lighter colored Tilley hats are my normal hat for mid summer where I live because it gets rather hot & humid. I'm extremely warm natured and always want to keep the sun off. Tilley T4MO is my normal hat on the hottest days so I can still get a little airflow through the top of the hat.

 

[alanfgag]

Personally, I do not experience a black felt hat wearing hotter than a light colored felt hat. This discussion has some interesting points on the subject:

http://physics.stackexchange.com/qu...-clothes-for-winter-light-for-summer-relevant

 

[Bob Roberts]

I for one do not wear black fur felt in the hot summer sun.

 

[Frunobulax]

Personally, I do not experience a black felt hat wearing hotter than a light colored felt hat. This discussion has some interesting points on the subject:

http://physics.stackexchange.com/qu...-clothes-for-winter-light-for-summer-relevant

Interesting. We must always account for variables, mustn't we?

 

[Bob Roberts]

Interesting. We must always account for variables, mustn't we?

Yes. The "X" factor.

 

[Nyah]

My bicycle helmet is made of fiberglass and thus easy to paint. I felt a considerable benefit in temperature-related comfort after switching from a black hue to white. Where I live, black garments are hotter in sun than lighter hued ones. Even in Winter, I prefer light-hued garments rather than dark, as it's easier to keep a constant temperature if your garments don't absorb heat from sunlight.

 

[JoeyC]

Let's assume the theory is correct that dark colors capture heat and then is able to transport that heat to the surface and cause it to dissipate in the breeze which would have a cooling effect. Now we're wearing a black fedora, no liner for the sake of this conversation, the heat is captured inside your hat, the sun is shining on the outside of your hat, the interior heat travels to the outside so the breeze can dissipate it, the cooling effect of the the breeze would have to cool both the captured heat at the surface plus any heat that is transported to the surface from within. Might work with a black cotton shirt, I dunno, not a scientist or physicist, just asking. Having worked in the petroleum industry for at least 40 yrs. I can tell you that petroleum that required heating was almost always stored in black tanks if they were not insulated, they maintained and increased the temperature of the product particularly in summer but also in winter when strong sunlight is present, less temp. loss at the skin of the tank. Petroleum(gasoline) was (is usually) stored in silver or white tanks (cooler skin temps.) keeping the interior cooler, as heat would cause evaporation of the product ,loss of product. Evaporation also takes place in heavy oil product, but not as rapid as it would with gas, all tanks vented. If the theory that black cools and light heats, it somehow escaped the petroleum industry. NOW, we're talking hats, if light reflects and heat captured inside the hat can permeate to the surface (skin) which is cooler because it's light, heat being reflected (not captured at the surface as dark would) should the breeze be able to cool more efficiently? Cool the skin( surface of the hat) keeping the interior cooler?
I won't get into vapor loss calculations, those calcs. are usually done monthly, at least by the co. I worked for, to determine loss of product (vapor loss) and tank color is a part of the calc. as are many other factors as you would imagine. Again not a scientist or physicist. Just asking!!!!!

 

[Bamaboots]

Damn. Ask a question, get some answers.

 

[Lean'n'mean]

I think a lot depends on the type of hat. Close hugging crowns like fedoras will be warmer as the heat will be directly transfered to one's bonce but cowboy & outback hats that have little or no head contact, other than by the sweatband, will feel less hot, even if black or other dark colors. I would much rather wear a black cowboy hat under a hot sun than a light colored fedora.

It's interesting to note that peoples living in the deserts of this world, often have dark clothing, there is a good reason for this but I've forgotten it.

 

[Joao Encarnado]

Personally, I do not experience a black felt hat wearing hotter than a light colored felt hat.

Me too on this.
Maybe because I wear big fat crown hats?

 

[Abraham]

It's interesting to think that one would not want to wear a dark colored hat in the cold either as it would hasten the radiation of heat from one's head...

 

[Nyah]

I think the effect of black helping to radiate heat away would only work on a hat that allows it to happen. If there's no ventilation, how is that heat going to escape? The black robes that Beduins wear don't have felt shoulders.


Back to my own preference of light hues for heat minimization:
In Winter, I dress for nightime temperatures but take the daytime sun into account in my choice for outer garment color. If I can reduce the heating effect of the sun, I don't have to shed/add clothing as the day progresses.