What is the best material, features and design for a hot weather hat? I'm looking for tips and recommendations.

Materials:
- 100% cotton
- 60/40 poly-cotton
- nylon with waterproof breathable features
- leather (cowboy hats)

A brim that ideally extends beyond the tip of your nose when you fold it on your face (a way for measuring a well fitting hat for adequate protection against the tree branches) but shorter brimmed hats like bucket hats or military boonie hats also have their merits such as for accommodating a moskito head net and also look more low profile and are more compact. (I may end up with two hats)

So now I'm looking at $20 military type boonie hats (knockoffs made by different manufacturers such as Propper, Tru-Spec, Mil-Spex, Parklands, Rothco, to name a few...) I've seen 100% cotton rip stop and a combo 65% polyester / 35% cotton. Is it better 100% cotton?

Or for just a few more dollars, should I go with a Outdoor Research bucket hat (probably nylon) which has a UPF rating and a Coolmax headband such as these models?




Is it such an important feature to have a high UPF rating on a nylon hat? I know that a new t-shirt without UV treatment for example offers a UPF of about 15. And I'm keeping in mind that nylon or polyester is a melting plastic type of material.

A feature I'm also considering is that it should be crushable yet stiff enough to be used as a fanning device in hot and humid conditions or to help getting a a fire going. The Propper brand military boonie hat 100% cotton rip stop met this requirement.

A chin strap with adjustable slider or cordlock is obviously a must. I've seen $20 "mallwear" cotton bucket hats without a chin strap and the MEC ranger hat with a chin strap but without an adjustable leather slider or cordlock (although one can add it later). But their 100% cotton ranger hats weren't stiff enough for my taste.

I've seen dark brown oiled cotton hats. What is the function of oiled cotton? Is it for waterproofing the tissue? And what type of oil is used? It feels damp when you touch it. It also makes a heavier hat. It's probably a too specialized hat for what I'm looking for.

I'm aware the Outdoor Research Seattle sombrero have been recommended here. It would probably be the best rain hat but actually my first concern is protection from the sun in hot weather.

Canadian made Tilley hats have also been recommended here but they are just too expensive and I would feel guilty crushing them or fastening the front brim with a safety pin like the chef in the movie "Apocalypse Now" for instance.



Thank you
Frankie

Tilley is the way to go....they really are vastly superior to any boonie I have ever worn or seen, comfortable, protective and long long lasting so cheap in the long run.

Do not discount them....you would not be disappointed. My favorite is the T4. I do not like the unshaped standard T3 or shorter brimmed T5. They offer a hemp mocha T4 that will be my next Tilley. I also do not like the light nylon versions (T6) but my wife prefers them over the canvas models for sunny days.

They can take any degree of crushing, folding, wet or sun that you dish out. There are ebay dealers who offer decent prices and selection. Make sure you order it large enough...follow their measuring advice...a tight Tilley is the wrong size.

I do not recommend oiled cotton as it is relatively hot and a Tilley once wet sheds rain just fine without cooking your head in the sun like an oiled hat does mine.

In my view a Boonie is not even a hat.

One problem I run into with cheap boonie hats is once the brim gets wet it flops down into my face. I ended up spend a few bucks more for a boonie style with stiffening material in the brim to avoid the floppy problem

-Blast

Yes I noticed some cotton hats have a wire in the brim allowing the wearer to bent it as desired.

Yup, Tilley is the way to go, they are worth every penny. I wore one out, and got a replacement for $6.50. No one else that I am aware of offers their lifetime guarantee...

I have a couple of OR hats and I love 'em. But I really wanted something for sun and rain so I ordered (and just got in the mail today) a Tilley TH4 Hemp hat. I chose hemp over cotton because I like the weave and its supposed to be more durable than cotton. So far it looks like a winner. As far as sizing goes, as someone already said, a little loose is good.

Hi Frankie,

I would have to agree with most of the posts suggesting Tilley. They are excellent hats but a bit on the pricey side,

How about the hat at

http://www.ima-usa.com/product_info.php/cPath/1_81/products_id/1545

If I was going to OR, I'd go with the Seattle Sombrero, it's worth it, and it is less expensive than the Tilleys. Another option is to look for an actual "diggers" hat, the Australian cover that inspired/"abandoned at the orphanage" the USGI boonie.

Thanks IronRaven. I'm looking for the Seattle but I didn't find it yet. I didn't know about the diggers hat and that it inspired the design of the boonie hat but I've found information about the history of this hat on the internet.

Frankie

Just to add to the chorus: Tilley. Had mine for more than 10 years, and I have never felt guilty about abusing it! The only time I don't wear it is if I know I'm going to be out in wet weather for extended periods, when I switch to a Filson oilcloth hat.

As to the UV protection, may I be so bold as to suggest that your priorities are skewed? We're now learning (most recent data, according to my RN brother) that the danger of colon cancer from too little vitamin D (which the body makes when exposed to UV radiation) is greater than the risk of melanoma from too much sun exposure. (I won't even touch the subject of exposure to the chemicals used to provide UV protection in cloth...) It seems that the people who have been paranoid about avoiding sun exposure over the last couple of decades are contracting colon cancer at a much greater rate.

Just a thought....

-=[ Grant ]=-

That's an interesting point GrantC. I will investigate this issue more...

Frankie

True enough. But sunburn still hurts, and can lead to interesting problems not the least of which is malignant melanoma. Reduces the likelyhood of one form of cancer for an other. Lets face it, odds are whichever comedian that claimed "everything will give you cancer" was right.

I would say that the lack of vitamin D has less to do with sunblock usage and the fact that we've turned into a culture of troglodytes. The glow-in-the-dark white look is too common becuase most people spend way too much time inside. And not getting enough fiber.

I've had good luck with Henschel Hats. I have a cloth "Breezer" with a mesh crown and a 3 inch brim. It's nice and cool and pretty resiliant. I've had mine several years and it's been submerged in pools, creeks and oceans. I lay it out to dry flat and it's good as new. However I did eventually buy a hat stretcher to dry it on because it was starting to get a bit snug.

Heads-up on a couple of hats on sale....

Henschel® Breezer Mesh Hat at Sportsman's Guide for $19.97

Columbia UPF 30™ Booney at Campmor for $14.97


smitty

Tilley. Tried and true. I have tried many of the hats mentioned but since I bought a Tilley Lighterweight LT5 Hat I haven't had the need to look elsewhere. Plus good luck finding another company that stands behind their products like Tilley does. Not to mention they are rated at UPF 50+ the highest given since your looking for a sun hat.

I've had a Tilley for years. For my birthday this year, I was given a Patagonia Surf Bucket. It protects about the same, but it's cooler and lighter.

I've had one of the old military boonie hats that I've used for years. It's great for hot weather canoe rides, just dip and stick it back on yer head, instant air conditioning. I'm in need of a new one, but for some reason, they have stopped making them with map pockets. Where am I going to hide my map to the lost Incan city of gold?

I may go with Tilley after all. I like the fact that they specialize in hats. I noticed that most of the gear I end up really using and enjoying using come from manufacturers that specialize in each type of equipment. My boots for exemple, are from Lowa, they only make boots since the 30s. My EDC knife is a Spyderco, they only make knives (and a very innovative company BTW, from an innovative nation that others mimic without being really conscious most of the time), I'm looking at Ray-Ban or American Optical Eyewear for good sunglasses and at Hamilton for good mechanical watches. And I can afford the Tilley given it's an essential item. But I must be honest, it's just the look that I find not very appealing.

Frankie

You know, funny you should say that because I was of the same opinion. But honestly, after a few days of wearing it sporadically, it grows on you. Especially when you push the sides of the brim up, (which folds the front and back down) it gives the hat a bit of outback type character. Coming from a fellow style skeptic, I don't think you'll be disappointed. The hemp is great by the way.

I have worn out a bunch of boonie hats, and still have three or four around, but I have found that I get better sun protection from my Tilley T4 than any boonie. And having had a few "precancerous" spots removed from my noggin I really pay attention to that. So I have two Tilleys, one for work, one for play...

TWO Tilleys? Now thats what I call livin high on the hog. Out of curiosity, how do you wash yours? And do you have to wash them very often?

My first one was a natural T-4, and I wore it out. Didn't wash it often enough, got real sweaty in the summer heat, and the material rottendout right at a line of stitching. They replaced it for $6.50. Then I got a khaki one, which I don't much like, so it is my work hat, the the natural is the "goin' to town" one.

I just throw them into the washer with other like colored stuff, then kind of block the crown by hand, and press the brim down on a flat surface to air dry. How often I wash them depends on how dirty they get, and how sweaty (I learned from that experience). Works for me...

More people get skin cancer than lung, prostate and colon cancer combined. Although the death rates are lower, the incidence is much much higher.

It only takes a short period of time out in the sun to generate enough vitamin D for your daily needs. In fact, there is some evidence that short UV exposure generates more vitamin D production than excessive time in the sun.

Add another vote for the Tilley hat. I have an LTM6 - the one with the wider brim and the mesh at the top for airflow. I have a BIG head and it was the only hat I could find to fit ... and it fits very well. It is very comfortable - even in high wind. The synthetic material resists rain, cleans easily, and dries quickly.

At first I was a bit concerned that skeeters might find their way through the mesh and get me, but that's not been a problem at all.

I liked the LTM6 so much that last winter I bought a Tilley Winter Hat. Nice looking. Warm. Ear flaps. It does a great job keeping snow off of my classes (which drives me nuts). It reminds me of back in the 50's and earlier when a well-dressed man wouldn't be caught without a nice hat. Because it is made of wool they recommend dry cleaning rather than hand washing, which is OK with me. In winter it won't get as dirty as my LTM6 does.

I believe you but there's another issue as far as style an aesthetic goes. The Tilley hats all seem to have a relatively high crown. I happen to have a long heart shaped face and wide brim low crown hats would fit me better I think. The military boonie hats and the Columbia boonie and Patagonia surf bucket happen to have low crowns but the military boonie hats are cotton and stiffer (easier for fanning) and I couldn't care less about UPF protection.

Frankie

I have a lightweight Tilley and can say that they will hold up to just about everything. It is cool to wear and will look good for years to come. They are washable and packable and will last forever. You can't beat the lifetime warranty.

Another vote for the Tilley! I have two T3s, and find that, more & more, I wear them year-round, though I still like my wool felt hat with my leather jacket in winter better.

I don't think I've got more than $25 (USD) in either of them. One was an REI sale, the other, an e-bay purchase, used.

I'm in Florida now, on vacation, & pretty much don't leave the house without my hat. They're great in sun, wind, rain...can't say I've worn it in snow...yet. I use the head cords as needed, and have NEVER had one blown from my head--including wearing it in a full gale!

I have a bug net that fits over the crown & down to my collar that I've used with another hat (it came with my first hat, from LL Bean), and it works with the Tilley's too. I wash mine about once a year.

Get one; they're worth the price! But, as noted, a bit of judicious shopping will save money.

David