The "Expedition hat" thread

[Corey]

Just bought another Outback Trading Willis Breezer Hat in the field tan color.

My other one is the sage color, and is getting beat up and dirty from wearing it at work so much
Perfect hat here for the Pacific Northwest weather where we get a lot of rain most of the year.
I work outdoors most of the time during my job, and this hat keeps my head dry, and during the summer I wear it at work too to keep the UV off of my noggin since my haircut from spring to fall is a zero buzz and shaved.

I like the fact that is has the chin strap too as we had some heavy wind at work last week, and without the strap my hat fell off a few times.
Very secure once you use the chin strap.

And with the mesh on the hat it lets a summer breeze in which feels good, and during the winter it is not open enough to make your head feel cold.

 

[The Swiss]

The less hair I have the more important my hat becomes :elkgrin: I entered a hat store in St. Augustine, FL last year and asked for a crush-able, indestructible, washable hat that would keep the sun out of my face and neck and would not mind the rain either. The compact sales lady at the store told me that there is just one word for me: Tilley! I liked the hat, but looking at the price tag, I left the store ... without a hat.

Next day, I returned to the store, handed over the $$$ and got a Tilley Airflo. After one year of wearing, crushing and washing, my Tilley performed flawlessly protecting me from the sun and - surprisingly well - also against rain. Probably one of the best investments in any outdoor gear I have ever made.

 

[Corey]

Looks almost like my hat minus as much open mesh as mine has.

 

[AZ WANDERING BEAR]

Can't go wrong with a Tilley. Great desert hat but sheds water too. Clean it up in the sink or a stream and it looks like new (or better).

 

[Deleted member 9101]

The Army was kind enough to issue me six ACU boonie caps, yet never let me wear them, so I use them for fishing and kayaking.

 

[joneseyyy]

The less hair I have the more important my hat becomes :elkgrin: I entered a hat store in St. Augustine, FL last year and asked for a crush-able, indestructible, washable hat that would keep the sun out of my face and neck and would not mind the rain either. The compact sales lady at the store told me that there is just one word for me: Tilley! I liked the hat, but looking at the price tag, I left the store ... without a hat.

Next day, I returned to the store, handed over the $$$ and got a Tilley Airflo. After one year of wearing, crushing and washing, my Tilley performed flawlessly protecting me from the sun and - surprisingly well - also against rain. Probably one of the best investments in any outdoor gear I have ever made.

I am really enjoying my Tilley hat as well. The sting of the price tag is long forgotten at this point.

 

[Mojave Jack]

So many hats!

They are important pieces of gear, to be sure. I had a sneaking suspicion that I was the only one always in search of the perfect hat...

That said, my Akubra is a favorite.


And I find myself wearing my pith helmet more and more. It's absolutely fantastic when it's hot, but a little loud when it's windy. Since it sits up off my head, the air circulates aall around, and works just like it is supposed to. It's my go to head covering for field work now.


Then I have my backup hat that never leaves the office. It's an old Stratton sheriff's style hat that I rebashed. It was cheap, it's tough as nails, and I can add a chin strap for windy days.


Oh, and I almost forgot another standby, my Sunbody 3" brim fedora. It's a lot tougher than most straw hats, and really takes a beating. The brim is great and it breathes really well in the desert heat. Id on't have any pictures here, but the website is www.sunbody.com. Great prices, too.

 

[Hilldweller]

I have precious little hair so hats are important to me...

When it's hot and sunny, the Tilley Breezer that I got for $1.67 at REI with my rebate bucks

When it's cold and nasty, my Cabella's felt hat with the fold-down earflaps

When it's a little chilly and a little sunny, my ancient riding hat

And when I'm in and out of the truck alot, my "gimme hat" from Bruce at Overland Experts (or OJ cap if it's handy)

 

[jimed43]

I am very close to getting the Brazilian Tarp hat.. Are they hot to wear? I do live in Texas, where most of the time it is above 70.

Thanks

 

[burnoil]

Been wearing one of these.

http://hazard4.com/products/apparel/modular-caps-hats/sun-tac

 

[SWITAWI]

Been wearing one of these... http://hazard4.com/products/apparel/modular-caps-hats/sun-tac

I like that! Most of the time I'm a ball cap person, but out on the range or at the beach that would be perfect.
I had a 'boonie' hat for years that I got in Puerto Rico. The brim that was easily double the width of that Sun-Tac. Unfortunately I'm not sure where it got off to.
The only other hat I've ever had that I would consider 'expedition-worthy' is a leather fedora-style I picked up almost 15yrs ago.
It's still in good shape because there's only a few times a year I can wear it down here without breaking a total head sweat.
I guess now I'll actually have to take a picture of the thing and post it...

 

[p1michaud]

Been a long time Tilley wearer. I've also purchased an Akubra Cattleman in Sand colour. Been wearing it almost every day since purchase. Very nice hat. My only feedback is: when driving the large of a brim at the rear puts you head in too forward a position relative to the head rest (don't like it pushing against my head while driving) and it's a large hat that does not pack well when not being worn. For travel where the hat will be put into luggage, the Tilley gets the nod.

 

[abruzzi]

One other nice thing about the Tilley hats (all of them I think, but I could be wrong) is they float. The brim has closed cell foam in it, so no matter how water logged it gets, it still floats--nice if you're a boater. I have the synthetic airflo model. I wanted to like the natural material one, but it wasn't as comfortable as the nylantium.

Geof

 

[NorthernMexican]

Tilley hat is the only hat you will ever need! It even comes with flattering jokes!

 

[ssssnake529]

Cashmere hat for cold weather.



http://www.golightlycashmere.com/products/the-expedition-weight-hat