What hat for the mountains?

bulgron

bulgron

Joined
May 19, 2005
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I'm planning a trip into the Sierra Nevada for next summer, and I'm trying to decide on a hat. I'm thinking about a broad-brimmed design that can shade from the sun, but it also has to stand up to the rain. Temperatures can get as low as 25 and as high as 80, there's just no telling. And I sweat like a pig, so I need something that wicks moisture.

I'm noodling over some of the Akubra designs, but I'm not sold. Normally I wear baseball caps, but I wanted something that shades more than just my eyes.

Thoughts?
 
I like the looks of that Zombieland hat made out of canvas tarp material. I personally use a Seattle Sombrero from Outdoor Research. It's good stuff, keeps the head dry and warm, don't really care for the yuppie, ultralight backpacker look though.
 
I imagine a canvas hat would soak through quickly in a rain storm. And coonskin would start to stink.
 
If you decide on getting an Akubra hat (nice pick btw) make sure you get one sans corks.

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I like my hemp tilley hat about the best. It sees a tonne of wet weather and keeps you moderately dry under most conditions (not quite as well as the nylon Tilley's), but also a bit warmer than the nylon ones when its cooler and not bad on being sweaty. P
 
bulgron said:
I'm planning a trip into the Sierra Nevada for next summer, and I'm trying to decide on a hat. I'm thinking about a broad-brimmed design that can shade from the sun, but it also has to stand up to the rain. Temperatures can get as low as 25 and as high as 80, there's just no telling. And I sweat like a pig, so I need something that wicks moisture.
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Like Ken has stated, the Tilley Hemp Hat can meet your needs.



Temps from 25 to 80 are no problem for the Tilley; :thumbup:

...when colder then that I wear a real winter hat and when hotter I move to a straw hat.



The Hemp gets stiff when wet and helps shed rain,

...the strap system works well in the wind,

...the wide brim offers shade;

...the Tilley's a great all-arounder.




Big Mike
 
OREGON FAL'ER said:
I like the looks of that Zombieland hat made out of canvas tarp material. I personally use a Seattle Sombrero from Outdoor Research. It's good stuff, keeps the head dry and warm, don't really care for the yuppie, ultralight backpacker look though.
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I had one of those... I threw it away.

First time it got wet it took on a terrible musty smell like an old boathouse. And it shrunk as it dried and didn't fit me anymore.
 
I spend a fair amount of times in the mountains and my go to hat is a 3" brimmed Stetson (Open Road)- I've worn it in 100 degree heat in the Gila to 30 degrees in the Beartooths

the brim does a good job of keeping sun out w/o getting in the way of my pack, the felt does a good job of shedding rain/wet snow

I had a hat maker add a few eyelets on the brim so I could fashion chin strap, when cinched up I'm good to go w/ 60 mph winds

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mtwarden: How does that felt behave when it gets wet? Does it deform?

Also, when I hike with a baseball hat on I end up with a 'salt line' after it dries out. Usually I have to throw the hat into the washing machine. Have you ever had that happen to your stetson? How do you clean it if you do?

Basically, I think I want a fur felt hat, but I also don't want to spend a lot of money on it if I'm going to trash the thing from sweat and rain. On the other hand, the old cowboys wore fur felt hats, so they should be able to take the abuse.

The Tilley TH4 or the Dorfman are my fall-back hats, simply because I'm unsure of the behavior of fur felt.
 
Stetsons can deform if soaked. As well, after a while you will get a sweat line if you are sweating in them. They are also terribly hot in the summer. In Texas, where I am from, the general rule is that a straw hat is the rule of the day from Easter until Thanksgiving, and then the felt comes out for the winter... And, because the brim is very stiff, they catch wind like a sail. They don't come with a chin strap, but for an additional cost you could have eyelets put in, like MTWarden. Good stetsons are spendy too.

I've been very happy with the explorer hat from REI. It is water repellent, breathable, and I've not needed more warmth in the California winter.
 
I wear a crushable felt hat. A mushroom colored Stetson Santa Fe I got in 2008 or a brownish green colored no name hat I've had for 11 years. They keep me dry, protect my balding head and face from sun and work for me.
 
I've got an Akubra and a Tilley AirFlo T3. If the daytime temps were closer to 60 I'd go with the Akubra. In the 80°'s, Tilley :thumbup:.
 
Skrapmetal said:
I had one of those... I threw it away.

First time it got wet it took on a terrible musty smell like an old boathouse. And it shrunk as it dried and didn't fit me anymore.
Click to expand...

I'm surprised to hear this. I thought they had already been out in all kinds of weather and would keep their same shape? I love mine to death, though I haven't gotten it wet.
 
kgd said:
I like my hemp tilley hat about the best. It sees a tonne of wet weather and keeps you moderately dry under most conditions (not quite as well as the nylon Tilley's), but also a bit warmer than the nylon ones when its cooler and not bad on being sweaty. P
Click to expand...

x2.

Working on wearing mine out, it needs to go for repair this year.

Best hat I have ever had.
 
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