Let's talk brimmed hats

[Doc Safari]

As a lot of you know, I'm a rancher in the desert southwest. A brimmed hat is pretty much standard equipment for my line of work, being out in the sun a lot of the time.

I've worn fedoras, panamas, cowboy hats, Indiana Jones hats, and pretty much everything in between.

I favor a hat with a stiff brim. For summer, I like the canvas Jaxon safari hat over straw cowboy hats. Straw hats don't hold up in the rain, and my Jaxon safari hat has gotten soaking wet but it returns to shape. I think there must be a plastic insert in the brim which allows this. The hat band on the Jaxon hat was pretty cheesy, though, and I replaced it with a puggarree.

For winter and less than summer weather I prefer a fur or wool felt hat. My current fave is the Stetson Hutchins. It's stiff as a board and not too much money.

Right now I'm considering ordering an Akubra Snowy River. Supposedly Akubras are as tough as nails and I personally prefer the telescoped crown to the traditional American cattleman crease on most American cowboy hats.

What brimmed hats do you favor?

[SilverBullet432]

Ill stick to my stetson for going out and my larry mahan straw for out in the field (no i dont wear it taco shaped...)

[Kyohte]

I usually wear a boonie hat out here in the desert. There are nicer hats for sure, but this one I can dunk in water to keep it cool if need be (usually in a cooler since it is cold). In the winter I have a carhartt beanie with a bill that I usually wear. Again, ugly, but practical.

[TAZ]

I'm with Kyohte. Wear a boonie hat 99% of the time when out and about and need extra protection. It's gone swimming in the ocean to glacier watching in Alaska to hiking The Grand Canyon. I think it's become a tradition to have a family vacation pic with daddy's goofy hat.

[brickboy240]

Although I do own a Resistol straw hat and like it...I admit that I mostly wear a boonie hat while out working on the ranch.

The boonie has a chin strap and the wider brim of the Resistol cowboy hat tends to get caught by the wind. I get tired of having to stop the tractor and go fetch my hat that just blew off from a sudden gust of wind.

[Doc Safari]

Although I do own a Resistol straw hat and like it...I admit that I mostly wear a boonie hat while out working on the ranch.

The boonie has a chin strap and the wider brim of the Resistol cowboy hat tends to get caught by the wind. I get tired of having to stop the tractor and go fetch my hat that just blew off from a sudden gust of wind.


Don't get me wrong; that's why I'm considering a Snowy River: it can have a chin strap. I wear boonies, too, but find the brim is not wide enough to prevent my nose from getting sunburned.

[austinN4]

I spend a lot of time outdoors and, after going thru lots of different hats over the last 20 years, my hat of choice for the last 4 or 5 years is a Tilley Airflo:
http://www.rei.com/product/721740/tilley-ltm6-airflo-hat

A big bonus for me is that it is both washable and packable, but comes right back to shape.

Also it is guaranteed for life, which even includes loss.

[hatidua]

What brimmed hats do you favor?

Filson

[CatSnipah]

Don't get me wrong; that's why I'm considering a Snowy River: it can have a chin strap. I wear boonies, too, but find the brim is not wide enough to prevent my nose from getting sunburned.

I found a boonie hat - US Air Force surplus - that is much wider than the smaller boonie hats. That might cover it for you. Sportsmansguide.com.

[Tigereye]

I like my Tilley hat but also recently got an Outdoor Research Sombriolet sun hat. I've only worn the OR hat a few times.

I spend a lot of time outdoors and, after going thru lots of different hats over the last 20 years, my hat of choice for the last 4 or 5 years is a Tilley Airflo:
http://www.rei.com/product/721740/tilley-ltm6-airflo-hat

A big bonus for me is that it is both washable and packable, but comes right back to shape.

Also it is guaranteed for life, which even includes loss.

[Whiskey_Bravo]

I have a Tilley hat as well. Love that thing. i think I have had it about 6 years now and other than a little fading it seems pretty much like the day I bought it.

[MountainRaven]

I have a Tilley. It's great so long as the wing isn't blowing. If it is, the hat gets bent out of shape.

I prefer my Akubra Cattleman for around town. And I like boonies, too, but they're a bit tacticool for around town, IMHO, so I usually only wear those when I'm in the woods (where that wind thing is less of a problem).

I need to get a puggaree for my Akubra, but haven't been able to find any.

[Moose-Knuckle]

For hot weather I like my OR Helios with 50+ UPF protection in Sand color.
http://www.outdoorresearch.com/en/helios-sun-hat.html

[CatSnipah]

For hot weather I like my OR Helios with 50+ UPF protection in Sand color.
http://www.outdoorresearch.com/en/helios-sun-hat.html

I like that...."oasis of shade". Haha. :)

[OH58D]

Here's a picture from my 15,000 acre spread. The hat is a Stetson Rancher:

http://i568.photobucket.com/albums/ss126/BlackMesaRanch/blackmesaranch_zpsd947708e.jpg

It's a basic work hat. I have others for more formal situations.

[CLHC]

I've owned and used the DPC (Dorfman Pacific Co.) Panama Hats that I like. But for some reason this one is my all time favorite:

http://i987.photobucket.com/albums/ae360/chc_hmc/IMG_1133_zpsbgzyqqzy.jpg

http://i987.photobucket.com/albums/ae360/chc_hmc/IMG_1132_zpsimhwpcss.jpg

This specific style is the one that I've always been partial to with the pinch front.

[SteyrAUG]

http://www.uscav.com/prodinfo/images/20181.jpg