Chillba hats

M

mikeal

Joined
May 24, 2006
Messages
529
Does anyone wear these?

It seems to be the perfect hat for summer hiking in Florida and it's relatively inexpensive. I don't really care what I look like when I'm in the woods, but...

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I've worn them before. My gripe with them it that if it gets crushed the foam it's made of can get permanent creases, and the wind catches them pretty badly. Otherwise, they're great. I'd like to get my hands on a traditional straw one--the wind wouldn't be as much of an issue then. :)
 
Ilbruche used to wear one, he posted pics a couple years back. They look kinda cool, like Raiden from Mortal Kombat.
 
The native americans in this area used to wear hats like that. I forget what they made them from. Cattail comes to mind but I think that's wrong.
 
PayetteRucker said:
a good ol' 10 dollar GI boonie hat served me well when hiking the swamps in florida.
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They've gone up. The last one I bought was about $6. To me, you can't buy a better hat at any price. You can buy better looking hats, but not better hats. As always, YMMV.
 
If you search the 'bay for coolie hats or rice paddy hats you can find some nice traditional ones. :)
 
I did an 800 mile pilgrimmage hike in Japan. They wear an all white traditional cotton robe, rice straw hat like that one, straw sandals, wooden staff, etc. I had a white synthetic robe made up, wore trail runners, used trekking poles, etc. For the hat I wore the Chillba and it spent most of the time strapped to my pack. I found it to be hot and the wind was constantly ripping it off of my head. There's also a head harness inside and it was a little snug for my giant head. I thought it would be cool, but it just didn't work for me. Plus it looks goofy so I never wore it anywhere else either.

I prefer a ball cap or boonie hat. North Face and Columbia both make synthetic boonie hats that have mesh around the crown to help with cooling. Not great in the rain, but great in the heat. If you don't mind goofy then you can get a Sunday Afternoons hat. It has a broad brim up front but it's long in the back so that it can be worn with a backpack.
 
I've been thinking about boonie hats, but my head is still pretty hot in them. What are good brands?

I've also been looking at the Transit Sun Hat from Outdoor Research.

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