Boonie Hat?

M

maury

Joined
Sep 24, 2000
Messages
606
I am off for a couple of weeks in Central America and decided a Boonie Hat is the one piece of gear I am missing. So, where do I get a good quality one? Seems like there are dozens listed from a whole slew of sources and it's pretty near impossible to tell anything from the online catalog photos photos: some even use what is clearly the same photo with different descriptions and claim they are for different hats.

Also, is there any real meaning to "made to Military Specs" or such similar descriptive wording? And, yeah, I know what "Imported" really means!

I have seen some advertised as having a “wide brim” which would be to be practical for this trip. Plain kakis (not cameo) too, since some countries down there frown on tourists wearing anything that looks too much like military gear. Anyway, can anyone recommend a reliable source? Oh, and preferably a dealer that won’t charge me as much to ship it as they want for the hat itself, since that’s pretty much all I plan on ordering.

All assistance most appreciated!
 
Cabela's has a couple of different ones. I don't have one, but they look real nice, one even has a Gore-Tex membrane in it so it's water proof. Good luck.
 
At the risk of starting a whole other rant, I have to mention that I bought a Tilley about a dozen years ago. Good hat. Lost it on a bus in Guatemala - hope it was probably found by someone who could really use it. Anyway, wrote to Tilley about their "insurance" replacement. Got a catalog back. Found several knock-offs at 1/10th of the price that are 99% as good! Was a sucker once. Another overpriced, over-hyped Tilley? Doubtful.
 
I'd really like something near a Tilley but can't afford anywhere near that for a hat. Do you have a brand, or link to some outfitters that you found and liked, Maury?
 
tsf said:
Try Brigade Quartermasters
www.actiongear.com
Watchyerass and be safe.
Terry
Click to expand...

They hjave a weird search function. I entered "hat" and it gave me binoculars!

I've spent some time in hot places. My favourite hat is one made by Columbia - of the current range it is most like the Schooner Bank Cachalot. Nice big brim, light and comfortable and a clip so it doesn't get lost when the wind blows or the boat speeds up. My son has a Boonie style made by them and is happy with it. Lighter than a Tilley which means it washes and dries faster.
 
I'm a poor student so I got mine at Target for $14. Feels sturdy enough, soft. I don't know if it will hold up for a decade but it's held up for the year with no signs of wear and tear.

Frank
 
I'd just wander down to my local army surplus store... in fact that's what I did. Got a military surplus hat for 12 dollars I think. So far so good...
 
another recommendation for the Tilley, if you don't loose it it will last you the rest of your life, well worth the extra money.

http://www.tilleyendurables.com/

I've had mine all over south america working in the jungle and the mountains, it's 15+ years old now and looks like it did the day I bought it...
 
I'm not sure if they make them in anything other than British spec woodland or desert DPM, but the Thatchreed Uniforms Ltd. British Military spec Boonie hats tend to have a wider down-sloped brim. Same hats the British MOD issues. However, I have never seen them available in anything other than the British DPM patterns, so it probably won't meet your requirements.
 
Tilley is the best. Period. Expensive yes. You can still get there in a Ford or a Ferrari.
 
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