In search of a hat...

[iBlade]

Went sailing the other day and took a hat, as you do, the sun can be pretty harsh and a wide brim is advisable, now my one widebrim hat is an oldie but a goodie, however it does not have a drawstring and as such spent a fair amount of time in my pocket, as such i got a little sunburnt, nothing major but annoying.

So I am in the market for a new hat. Should be widebrim, with a drawstring, ideally stuffable into pocket/pack when needed, sunproof essential, rainproof an advantage or at least rain resistant.

Am looking at an outdoor research model.

Any pro/cons out there?

 

[THE PUNISHER]

Get the mil boonie,try the american one a little better than the CCC one,

 

[Evolute]

Just take the wide brim hat you have, poke a couple holes in it, and run a cord through it.

 

[C_Claycomb]

Tilley Hat?

 

[hoopster]

Columbia makes a good one that is light weight, wide brim, drawstring and comfortable.

 

[Dantor]

we just got "Seattle Sombrero"(s) and are they nice! Yes OR makes em nice. packable yet keeps their shape, easy to clean, very good rain-hat with drawstring, good fit with adjustable inner-band, and good warranty.

we got ours from backcountry com and they came fast

 

[Masteroffajitas]

US Goverment issue boonie hat, draw string, packs small, and keeps the sun out of the eyes. And very cool, as in not hot, but they also look cool. Cheap too, $7 new at Ft. Hoods affes, and different offbrands for usually around $15. And they are made in the USA. I have one OD, DCU, BDU and ACU. Need a MARPAT one still.

 

[DWK2]

I have the Seattle Sombrero. It is great for rafting/canoeing and your sailing application. I don't like to wear it hiking or backpacking because it gets very hot and my scalp sweats to the point that my hair is wet.

DancesWithKnives

 

[sizzler]

Tilley T4, TH4, T5, TH5.

I have the T4 and it has plenty of brim. Very nice hat and nearly indestructible. It almost has too much brim so I use it for fishing and boating mainly. Serious sun protection. They seem pricey, but they are worth it. They float too. You can beat the snot out of these things and they come back for more.

All cotton or hemp...you can dye it whatever color you want.

I have my eye on a smaller brim TH5 for more general wear.

The OR hats, very popular where I live, are too synthetic for my tastes. Velcro, nylon, polyester, meh..Well made for what they are though.

 

[Billy516]

I've been wearing one of these the past few years and love it. Great sun protection, terry cloth sweatband and leather chinstrap. Mine usually gets used at least once a week when I'm out doing yard work and comes with me to the beach as well and it's held up extremely well in the South Florida heat and against my profuse sweating. It's also crushable/foldable/rollable so I pack it on our yearly vacation up to the Hamptons as well. The only complaint I have about it is the very floppy brim - can be a bit annoying when it's really, really windy out.
http://www.villagehatshop.com/dorfman_pacific_raffia_lifeguard.html

 

[Diomedes Industries]

Great construction and very cheap:

http://www.bdu.com/F550155250.html

Oh - and I JUST found a coupon code 'savefive'.

It is 5 dollars off on orders over 50 - and free shipping.

TF

 

[hlee]

I've got a hat from REI that I really like, but more often than not I grab a mil. surplus boonie, like the one below. It was pretty early morning and the sun was low and off to the left.

 

[silenthunterstudios]

I've got a hat from REI that I really like, but more often than not I grab a mil. surplus boonie, like the one below. It was pretty early morning and the sun was low and off to the left.

Gorgeous country, thanks for the pic.:thumbup:

 

[quietmike]

+1 for the Tilleys.

I've never been much of a hat person, but over the years thinning hair left me one early summer with a sunburn on top of my head.

After a while of hat research I decided on a Tilley TH4, and it has been great. Fits very well, tons of shade, feels cooler than wearing no hat, and from the look and feel of the quality it should last for a decade or two at least.

 

[Mannlicher]

we just got "Seattle Sombrero"(s) and are they nice! Yes OR makes em nice. packable yet keeps their shape, easy to clean, very good rain-hat with drawstring, good fit with adjustable inner-band, and good warranty.

we got ours from backcountry com and they came fast

+1 on the Seattle Sombrero. I have been using a dark green GoreTex one for many years. Bullet proof.

 

[molly's survival]

Tilley T4 I love mine and it'll work for all your needs except stuffing in your pocket...it's crushable but not that much.

 

[CSG]

Tilleys are total weenie hats but are the best out there by a country mile. It's what I wear in warm weather. They simply can't be beat. I used to wear imitations and boonie hats. They don't compare. Spend the money, get the brim that suits you, wear it loose and use the string. You'll never want for another hat. My choice was the LT3.

 

[Ming65]

More than a hat - like a head/neck/face protection sysem. A must have for the Aussie desert. Used by Aussie special forces....

http://www.frillneck.com.au/catalog/index.php

 

[billyp]

Take a look at Watership Trading Companine. I have one of these in waxed cotton - http://watership.imperialheadwear.net/main.php?navarea=Hats&code1=HVN&code=TAX&season=Fall/Winter and couldn't be happier.

It offers great sun protection, high degree of water resistance ( it will last about 60-90 min in a heavy downpour before water starts to permeate), is packable and floats.

I have been tempted to buy a Tilley, but I like just like the look of waxed cotton more.

Good luck.

Billyp

 

[mdauben]

we just got "Seattle Sombrero"(s) and are they nice! Yes OR makes em nice. packable yet keeps their shape, easy to clean, very good rain-hat with drawstring, good fit with adjustable inner-band, and good warranty.

The Seattle Sombrero is a great sun/rain hat, but for maximun sun protection, you might consider the OR Sombriolet Sun Hat. It's got a nice wide brim, chin strap, vents & wicking fabric, UPF 50+, and it even floats!