Best Crush/Rollable Sun Hat?

J

JDMSMBACPA

Joined
May 21, 2003
Messages
232
The Tilley thread(s) got me thinking about this. My doctor says I am at risk for melanoma and advises me to wear a hat. Here are my criteria:

1. Sun protection. Wide brim (3"+) fabric or tightly woven straw.

2. Rollable or crushable. I don't want to wear it all the time and need to be able to take it with me.

3. Style. It's got to be appropriate with a wide range of casual apparel--hiking shorts to khakis. A Tilley would probably be OK, but not a booney-type hat. I like Riverz Techstraw hats, but they are hard to find.

Any recommendations?
 
My watership is still going strong after daily wear and semi daily dunkings in the ocean for nearly a year now. Still looks good with jeans and a good shirt. Get's positive comments in our hat wearing culture over here.

www.watership.com
 
This isn't going to be helpful, because I have been unable to locate the company myself, but I remember seeing once a very stylish panama hat that could be rolled into a tube the size of a large cigar. The man demonstrating it showed the folding/rolling technique a few times, and the hat looked great every time. He pulled out one that he said he kept rolled up except for demonstrations, opened it up and it looked great too. Unfortunately at the time the price was far over what I was willing to pay, but if I could ever find it again I would be willing, even eager, to buy it.

kkimo
 
I'll second the Watership recommendation. I am also at risk for Melanoma and I got the Watership Vinyard Haven in MCS fabric (3" brim, from REI) and couldn't be happier. I don't think it would roll up, but it is definitely not fragile like a typical straw hat. Very easy to keep up with and when I don't want to wear it, but I want it with me, it hangs on my back from the chin strap. I have had many hats over the years and this is the best so far, but not cheap at about $40 or $50 (I don't remember exactly).

Be careful buying straw hats. The spaces in the weave can let a fair amount of light through. Hold one up to the light sometime and you will be able to see the light through it. Look for a UPF rating of 30 or more on the hat to be sure it is going to protect you.
 
Originally posted by Kkimo
This isn't going to be helpful, because I have been unable to locate the company myself, but I remember seeing once a very stylish panama hat that could be rolled into a tube the size of a large cigar. The man demonstrating it showed the folding/rolling technique a few times, and the hat looked great every time. He pulled out one that he said he kept rolled up except for demonstrations, opened it up and it looked great too. Unfortunately at the time the price was far over what I was willing to pay, but if I could ever find it again I would be willing, even eager, to buy it.

kkimo
Click to expand...

Something like this?

http://store.sfhat.com/panama.html

A British company makes the same but I cant find their website.
I do though second the Tilley T3.
Hope this helps
D.
 
Probably, but I can't access that site from here. I'll have to try from home. I think Riverz and San Francisco Hats are related somehow.

Lurker, I agree--that's why i specified a tightly woven straw hat. IIRC think some of the Riverz hats are UPF rated. I've also seen fabric backed straw hats.
 
I use my Tilley as a sunhat. It absorbs sweat like nothing else and cleans up great. If you are really hot and really active, dunk it in water and wear it dry: very refreshing.
Tilley also makes a cap with a rolldown "cape" that is lighter but less formal looking.
I do have various light hats [sorry, no camera] from assorted places: in the summer they seem to be everywhere you travel. Every gear company like Patagonia, Kokatat etc seems to have one.
In terms of classier hats like a Panama, that's a bit of a problem. Hats like that that are really rollable [not really crushable] are fairly expensive.

Here are some ideas
http://www.aussiebushhats.com.au/html/mesh_barmah_pages_7.htm
http://www.coolibar.com/02500.html
http://www.orgear.com/ [click on "headwear", then on "sun protection"]
 
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