Tilley hat advice

Sid Post said:
How are you going to use it? What properties do you value most?
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It gets crazy humid here in East Tennessee. I am thinking of a summer hat. Mostly to keep the sun off of me.
 
I am a fanatic for wide brimmed hats. I wear fur felt constantly (mainly fedoras) but I've also got a Panama for real warm weather. However, I needed a wide brimmed hat that could go to the beach or the pool and I wouldn't worry about it getting destroyed so I took the leap and bought my first Tilley (a canvas T4) yesterday. I'm really impressed with the quality and construction of the hat. Pretty comfortable too but I'm still getting used to the chin strap. I like how the brim keeps its shape and I also like the pocket inside the crown. (Extra pockets are cool!) Anyway, I'm really happy with it and hope to give it a good work out this Summer. Definitely worth the extra money.

FWIW, Akubra hats are awesome! You won't find better quality fur felt or materials in any other production hats.
 
Thanks for the thread info guys. Too cool. I work outside every day and I think I'll be stopping by a Whole Earth Provisions this week and checking out a T4.

Jack
 
shootist16 said:
It gets crazy humid here in East Tennessee. I am thinking of a summer hat. Mostly to keep the sun off of me.
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The Tilley T2 will give you almost 4 inches of brim all the way around. That throws a lot of shade on your shoulders and keeps the sun off your head.

In my case, the canvas works really well as I sweat because I get evaporative cooling in addition to the shade. Humidity is very low where I live so, in those 98% 98degree days I remember from Atlanta, I'm not so sure you would get evaporative cooling but, boy that shade is nice.

One thing to keep in mind with the wide brimmed T2 is that wearing it while driving your car is a little weird because it hits the pillars and things when you turn your head. Also, you are apt to rub the brim on walls until you get used to its larger dimensions.

Whatever you do, get a canvas model because the nylon versions will get soggy/drippy in high humidity. That wicking action of the canvas is part of what makes my T2 such a great hat. When there is no rain and no humidity, my Nylon Tilley works well but, that aircool top lets the harsh sun in and makes for a hot spot on my head. It does flow more cooling air though but, the British beads on my T2 have proven to work well.

Here, the rains are fast and hard and then its back to low humidity after a brief sauna. That allows the Nylon hat to work as a mini-umbrella for short periods but, i find the wetness on the sweatband irritating. The rains I remember from Atlanta would overwhelm it so, a canvas Tilley and umbrella are the option I would choose there.
 
I've been trying to look for a replacement for that plastic ziplok bag that they give for the secret pocket. It's so bloody difficult finding one that is that thick and that size. Other bags i've found tend to be too thin and either too large or too small.

What do you people put in the secret pocket? I usually put some £ notes in them.
 
mnblade said:
....That Alex Tilley guy strikes me as a first-class nimrod...
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If you took Alex Tilley's ego and the Goodyear blimp, one would fit snugly inside the other. :rolleyes:

(met him once, at the request of an associate, to talk about a business proposal - one of the few hours out of my life that I consider truly wasted.)
 
cockroachfarm said:
If you took Alex Tilley's ego and the Goodyear blimp, one would fit snugly inside the other. :rolleyes:

(met him once, at the request of an associate, to talk about a business proposal - one of the few hours out of my life that I consider truly wasted.)
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Tilley claims to be able to fit a hat on any head. Do you think he makes one big enough to fit the overinflated behemoth you describe? :D
 
comet said:
I think they are Butt Ugly Get a good Ball Cap.
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Thanks for chiming in with that bit of wisdom. Ball caps are for baseball players and ten year olds. Which one are you?

Seriously, my opinion is that a nice wide brimmed hat is much more practical and stylish than a ball cap.
 
In NW Oz a wide brimmed hat is not a luxury - everyone, man woman and child wears a hat every day - Even my narrow brimmed floppy bush hat doesn't cut it up there. It's a good 'laboratory' to observe what hats work best. Akubra's and other rabbit fur felt hats are popular. They tend to lose their classy look and become very battered in the first 6 months of ownership and then hang on for the next twenty years or so. You can get around the packing issue by stuffing your socks and undies inside the crown before putting it in the bottom of your bag.

A hat I've used in the last few years that I have found excellent is made of Kangaroo leather. The brand is Jacaru

Jacaru

It's light, can be packed flat, breathes well in extreme humidity, stays on in the wind, doesn't seem to mind getting wet - and it looks cool IMHO.
 
I like mine... lots of hours of yard work...

The pad is great on the top of your head. Get bonked on the top of the head by branches on trees and it takes the abuse....
 
I just picked up a TH4. After cycling through a bunch of hats that I purchased through REI and the like, I believe this one is a keeper. Very well made and fits great. Only time will tell now ;)
 
I'm sure Tilley would be horrified to know this, a NAA mini-revolver fits inside the pocket in the crown of their hats.
 
The 10% discount code is good by ordering directly with Tilley by mail or phone. I received this notice in my most recent Tilley catalog.
 
Just got myself an olive drab T3 today. Very nice. I already have an LT5 but wanted something different.

I think Tilley are making their hat sizes weird now. Bloody 7 1/8 won't fit me anymore. My old hat still fit me but the one i tried at the store doesn't. So up a size i went.

Anyway, the T3 looks like one of those military boonie hats. Love it. Will work nicely for fishing or camping.
 
We bought 3 increasing size hats for my wife, we measured around her head and the smallest was supposed to fit, but even the largest didn't. So she took mine. Now I need to replace mine, but the hat sizing issue has me puzzled.
 
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