General purpose hat

[tamada2]

I currently use a "booney" hat I think from Columbia, similar to this:
http://www.rei.com/product/778057

I like it a lot for hiking in the sun, but it's almost useless in rain. I also have a more rain-resistant version which I haven't actually used in serious rain, but I think the rim will be too narrow for good rain protection, especially because I wear eyeglasses, which are hard to see through when rain splatters on them.

A friend had an OR Seattle Sombrero, looked good for rain protection but too hot and heavy in warm, non-rainy weather.

I may be asking the impossible, but is there a hat which provides good rain protection esp. with a broad brim, but which is also not too hot and heavy for hiking in the summer sun?

Or should I be looking for a rain jacket with a super-great hood, to wear during the rain, and go with the sun hat for non-rainy conditions? I would want the jacket to emphasize waterproofness more than breathability, and to be lightweight.

--MKT

[Lenny Nichols]

I currently use a "booney" hat...
I may be asking the impossible, but is there a hat which provides good rain protection esp. with a broad brim, but which is also not too hot and heavy for hiking in the summer sun?
--MKT

Consider an umbrella. Several companies make lightweight umbrellas for backpacking, including GoLite, Birdiepal and Montbel.

Lenny

[Jon Belcher]

MKT

I use that exact booney here in the wet PNW.

What I did was to slide it onto a soccer ball and spray it heavily with silicon spray.
I can still blow air through it so it is stile very breathable but does a good job of shedding water.

When in a heavy downpour I use the hood of my rain coat over the booney. The brim on the booney holds the hood out slightly away from my ears so I can still hear well and the front of the brim shields my face and glasses sort of like wearing a baseball cap that the brim has been soaked in silicon - similar to seam sealing a silnylon tarp.

To me the Colombia booney is the perfect hiking hat and since it's adjustable, in cold weather, I can wear my polar fleece hat under the booney. (The fleece hat doubles as my coozy for my freezer bag cooking.) Wearing them both at the same time goes with the layering philosophy.

If you have a strong stomach you can see me wearing the hat in the photos section under "Jon's silpack".

I agree ... the OR Seattle Sombrero is both way to heavy and hot.

'til later,
Jon

Post by tamada2
http://www.rei.com/product/778057
I like it a lot for hiking in the sun, but it's almost useless in rain. I also have a more rain-resistant version which I haven't actually used in serious rain, but I think the rim will be too narrow for good rain protection, especially because I wear eyeglasses, which are hard to see through when rain splatters on them.
A friend had an OR Seattle Sombrero, looked good for rain protection but too hot and heavy in warm, non-rainy weather.
I may be asking the impossible, but is there a hat which provides good rain protection esp. with a broad brim, but which is also not too hot and heavy for hiking in the summer sun?
Or should I be looking for a rain jacket with a super-great hood, to wear during the rain, and go with the sun hat for non-rainy conditions? I would want the jacket to emphasize waterproofness more than breathability, and to be lightweight.
--MKT

[todd obrien]

Tilley hats are the best. Lots of different option but the standard Tilley
is great in the rain and the sun.

Its not just a hat its a world-wide community :-}}

http://www.tilley.com/

Post by Jon Belcher
MKT
I use that exact booney here in the wet PNW.
What I did

[Ralph Oborn]

Post by todd obrien
Tilley hats are the best. Lots of different option but the standard Tilley
is great in the rain and the sun.
Its not just a hat its a world-wide community :-}}
http://www.tilley.com/

But do you have to pass it through an elephant twice?
Ralph


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Elizabeth Young]

T4 !

liz young

Post by todd obrien
Tilley hats are the best. Lots of different option but the standard
Tilley is great in the rain and the sun.
Its not just a hat its a world-wide community :-}}
http://www.tilley.com/ <http://www.tilley.com/>

[gosmithpa211]

Another potential option - Mountain Hardwear Stimulus Hat

http://www.rei.com/product/778952

Glenn

[Roleigh Martin]

What about the eVent fabric hat at REI?

http://www.rei.com/product/781581

Post by gosmithpa211
Another potential option - Mountain Hardwear Stimulus Hat
http://www.rei.com/product/778952
Glenn

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Mike Whitman]

Hi everyone-

I'm new to the group. I hike whenever I can and have a number of hats depending on expected conditions - mostly sunny in Southern CA.

I sometimes wear a canvas trekking hat from LL Bean - I like the lighter stone color and while in Yosemite last year, it kept my face dry in an afternoon rain shower. It will take longer to dry if it dries out at all; I think I'm going to treat it with some waterproofing spray.

http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?page=washed-canvas-trekking-hat-with-insect-shield&categoryId=58481&storeId=1&catalogId=1&langId=-1&parentCategory=502858&cat4=502857&shop_method=pp&feat=502857-sub2&np=Y

Mike

[rand]

Post by tamada2
I may be asking the impossible, but is there a hat which provides good rain protection esp. with a broad brim, but which is also not too hot and heavy for hiking in the summer sun?

SunDay Afternoons makes one of the best hiking hats around. They have a rain version you should probably check out called the Cloud Burst:

http://www.sundayafternoons.com/?d=single&item_id=MH-CB

Rand

[garyarazorback]

I love my Tilley Hat!

Post by rand

Post by tamada2
I may be asking the impossible, but is there a hat which provides good rain protection esp. with a broad brim, but which is also not too hot and heavy for hiking in the summer sun?

http://www.sundayafternoons.com/?d=single&item_id=MH-CB
Rand

[Roleigh Martin]

Rand, have you hiked in summer time in the high sierra with this hat? Using
it as your sole hat? If not there, somewhere hot?

http://www.sundayafternoons.com/?d=single&item_id=MH-CB

Do you know how much it weighs?

have any idea what the waterproof/breathable fabric is?

[E.L. Green]

Post by Roleigh Martin
Rand, have you hiked in summer time in the high sierra with this hat? Using
it as your sole hat? If not there, somewhere hot?
http://www.sundayafternoons.com/?d=single&item_id=MH-CB

I've not done it with that *specific* hat, but I've done it with a similar hat. Get it in the light cream/sand color and you're good to go. The deal is that the hat *will* be hot if you yank it down over your head the way you would in rainy weather, that's just the nature of the Gore-Tex. The secret to wearing these kinds of hats in sunny weather is to wear them high when it's warm and sunny -- tighten the interior band to make the hat smaller than the top of your head, then trust the string to keep it perched up there. You get plenty of shade from that big, big brim, but only a round circle on the top of your head really feels warm from the hat.

Yeah, it looks a bit funny, having the hat cinched down like that way up like a yarmulke, but are you out there to have a fashion contest, or are you out there to hike?

[moabrocks]

I used the Bora Booney hat and more than the waterproofness or lack there of, was the mosquitoes biting me through the top mesh. Not good. I purchase the REI e-vent hat but it looks differnt than the one out there now. Its more shaped like Outdoor Research Coastal Sombrero. It breaths pretty well and has some type of stiffener in the rim to so I can shape it how I like. The new one looks more like

- Bryant

[j***@public.gmane.org]

That hat is expensive, just get a military style Boonie hat you can order
them on line or any military surplus store has them.
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[garyarazorback]

Tilley Hats are not Cheap, but they are the best hats I have ever had and I'm a hat guy myself. You get what you pay for. It is the hat your looking for!

Gary