Thinking about getting a Bonnie hat...

SpookyPistolero

SpookyPistolero

Joined
Dec 13, 2005
Messages
6,105
Hello again folks-

The baseball caps just aren't cutting it for hiking trips anymore. I need some decent sun protection. Obviously a Tilley would be cool as hell, but right now there's no way to blow that much money on a hat that I'll wear much less than daily.

I found these simple boonie hats at sportsman's guide, pretty inexpensive. I'm wondering if they're also cheaply made. Anyone have experience with these in particular?

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=365204
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The main attraction is that I can get these in specific size and I've got too big of a skull for any 'large' to fit!

Thanks for your thoughts-

Spooky
 
I've had a few of the olive drab in rip stop material that aren't bad some of the cammo are made of cotton the one cammo that i had shrunk about two sizes after getting rain soaked try to get genuine US GI or mil.spec. this site has a good selection at a good price if sportsmans guide dosent have what you wan't



http://www.campingsurvival.com/junglehats.html
 
Thanks for the good word. I have been a little worried about the shrinking.

My hat size is about 7 5/8 - 7 3/4. I had intended to get the 7 3/4 of that model hat above, and hope that any shrinking wouldn't be too bad. I haven't found any mil-spec type hats that offer actual sizing.

I'm mostly looking for a solid, packable, inexpensive bush hat. The boonie type seems to fit the bill most of all so far.
 
I will check clothing sales tomorrow, 7 3/4 is fairly common, boonies tend to run a bit small. I haven't had a problem with shrinking, maybe just a bit but just jam it back on your head and it will stretch right back out. The Army's ACU pattern might be all I can get however. Chris
 
Boonie hats -- floppy brimmed cotton army-issue are great. Tilley hats are issued by the Canadian armed forces and are even better - you can't wear one out, or they'll replace it. Filson used to make a great rain hat that was near bullet-proof, like its tin pants and jackets.
 
Spooky- you asked... a bonnie hat is like the one worn by Maureen O'Hara in The Quiet Man at the horse race:D. ss.
 
I've got a huge dome myself, and I wear one of these in 7 3/4"...have for years. They're mil-spec and the nylon blend tends to avoid much shrinking (and I drench mine all the time kayaking).

http://www.bdu.com/F550208320.html

A good boonie is my favorite piece of head gear.
 
I bought a cabela's gortex boonie a year or so ago,about $20 packs up small and has held up well so far.
 
Do a search for "propper" boonie hats. I have several of that brand that I paid $6.00 to $10.00 for. They all do a great job, and, I hate to say it, I wear them more than I do my Tilley (at least in the summer). If they shrink, just stretch them out over your knee. I wear a 7-5/8" hat in most things, but a 7-3/4" in the boonie hats. I have multiples of the hats because when I hike I sweat like a pig and soak them completely through until they are dripping so I carry a couple on a hike, and have several back at the house so I can have a dry couple for the next day's hike. Then, when they are all soaked and dried once or twice, I throw them all in the washer, then the dryer, and start over again.
 
Hey Spooky, if you have any REIs nearby, they are doing their super clearance right now. The three in Atlanta all had a bin full of boonie type hats a couple of days ago, so it might be worth a shot.
 
Check out the dollar stores, they often have what is termed 'Gilligan Hats' for a couple bucks. Remember Gilligan's Island when you go shopping.
 
Hi Spooky. I have several boonie hats that I have ordered from Sportsman's Guide. The woodland camo one is very sturdy and almost a little stiff, even after6-7 years of use in all kinds of conditions. The ACU pattern boonie I got from SG last year is made of a lighter material. That one has seen it's share of underwater adventures. It has shrunk up a little, but not much to bee too tight or anything. The colors did bleed a little, and the khaki-ish color in the ACU pattern is a little darker, and the greens/grays are defined anymore. Still, it does its job of keeping my sparsely-haired noggin from getting burned up.
 
Thanks!

Sadly no REI stores in my neck of the woods. Sportsmans Warehouse is sadly lacking in the areas of anything close to mil spec.

Hikeeba- I appreciate you sharing your experiences! I may just end up purchasing the pair listed above, or get a single hat off of campingsurvival since I don't need two all that badly (and one khaki is what I was really hunting for).
 
Spooky,
I didn't get a chance to check it out today, I will tomorrow, mondays are really busy for me. I guarantee mil spec if that is what you are looking for.;):D Chris
 
I picked up one at Target last year for under $15. So far it's held up to camping and yardwork just fine. All cotton, it's pretty comfy. I don't know if it will last ten years but it feels pretty sturdy.

Frank
 
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