Boony hats

Meant to post a couple days ago, but had one of my typical mental gaps. Gemplers. That is the name of the company I was trying to think of so could post.

Gemplers -- www.gemplers.com I believe -- sells a sort of boony hat that is made of a material that blocks virtually 100% of UV rays, or whatever part of sun is so bad for you. It has a 3" brim -- not as cool as a 2" -- and is very light weight. I can't speak for durability, since I don't wear mine often as I should. It's khaki colored, and seems to be made from a nylon sort of fabric. You might check them out. Cost about $30, I believe.


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Asi es la vida

Bugs
 
I don't wear a boonie hat. But, for the bona-fide super cool look, I wear: a black sandana from brigade quartermasters (a bandana with velcro made to wrap around your head and then drop down over the side of your head and neck) with a baseball hat over it. That keeps most sun off me, and, as I said, I look exceedingly cool in it.
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Joe
 
mnblade -- just checked my link to see if it works. It does.

Hope you checked out Gemplers. If you follow workware, headgear, then "solar weave" you'll see the boony hat I mentioned, as well as another, named "maximum protection." It is a baseball cap-type affair, that has a piece of cloth that fits clear around the neck, protecting even the ears. Doesn't even look too bad, in my opinion.

Gempler's sells something like 4K items in their catalogue, which just came out. Pretty sure it is free. And, believe most, if not all of it, is on their website. I've been pleased with everything I've bought from them.




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Asi es la vida

Bugs
 
Bugs3x: Thanks for the link. They have a great-looking UV-protection booney that's priced right.
 
Here's another vote for Tilley. I like the T5.

In addition to being elephant proof, Tilley hats offer the advantage of having a thin flotation pad inserted into the top. (No, it's not sufficient to keep you from drowning; that's what airplane seat cushions are for.) I don't know if normal hats sink faster, as I've never tested them, but I know the Tilley floats well enough. The thin pad offers slight but welcome protection from minor head bumps, as when stepping off of buses.

David Rock

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AKTI Member # A000846
Stop when you get to bone.
 
Oh, and I forgot to mention that the Tilley also has an inconspicuous pocket inside the crown where you can conveniently store a few band-aids, a zip-loc bag or two, emergency cash, a condom, or whatever.

David Rock

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AKTI Member # A000846
Stop when you get to bone.

[This message has been edited by David Rock (edited 04-05-2001).]
 
I just got a Tilly LT5 and I love it already. It rides "softly" on the head and with the wind straps its just not going to fly off.
I noticed that one of the guys on the ECOCHALANGE was wearing a T3 hat too FWIW.
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Ron,
Bremerton, Washington
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I received my Ultimate Hat the other day. From the pix on the Tilley site, the 2 hats appear identical. The 2 things that put the Ultimate in front of the Tilley is that it's less expensive, and it's made in America.
The hat itself is built like a brick s*%thouse. Ingeniously designed chin strap, heavy duty brass snaps and grommets, foam in hidden compartment in top, high tech sweat band and on and on. It's very comfortable to wear and really stays on in the wind. This thing will be my constant outside companion. Gotta protect my chrome dome.
Lenny

[This message has been edited by Lenny (edited 04-10-2001).]
 
I tried another route and on a lark got the boonie hat from Gemple (url somewhere above in this thread) for $25 (incl shipping). Very light, very thin, comfortable though and if it isn't indestructable, its cheap enough to get another at some point, but I like it. Very wide brim for a boonie in my experience, but I can tell its going to be a good summer hat around these parts.
 
Well, I just now finally ordered that Solarweave Booney Hat from Gempler's. Don't know how I let it wait this long! :o Unfortunately, it won't be here in time for the canoe trip I have planned for the weekend. Guess that'll be the last trip with a lousy baseball hat for sun protection. Better be sure to smear on the Bullfrog.

Hey, that begs the question: What sort of sunscreen do you all use when you're out and about? What's best with regards to serious protection, endurance, price vs. performance ratio, etc. I find that PreSun Ultra's been pretty good (http://www.uniqsportsaccess.com/pre_sun.html)
 
On sunscreen: I read on the Hawaiian Tropic web site that re-applying the same sunblock won't allow you to stay in the sun longer! Suppose you use SPF 15 and that lets you stay out for 2.5 hours. When that 2.5 hours is up, re-applying SPF 15 is useless. You have to cover up or go with a higher SPF.

I don't know if there is much of a difference between brands. I'd also suggest checking the Hawaiian Tropic site for more info on sunscreens.

P.S., I have an issue Boonie, and I love it! I've used it as a hat, a basket, and I sit on in when I need to sit on concrete/dirt and I have good pants on. Great hats!
 
Another vote for the Tilley! I bought an olive T3 for a trip to CA and then it was left at a friend's who "lost" it. Thanks to Tilley's loss guarantee, I got another one for half price. Wear it all the time, especially when it is raining. Going with me to Scotland in Dec.

I like boonie hats too. Great to fold up and pack away places. Usually keep one in my truck and one in my bug-out bag in the back of the truck.

There were some cheap boonies at http://www.sportsmansguide.com/ a while back. Better to order a decent amount to save on shipping...
 
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