View Full Version : Survival hat
This may seem like a minor point but I want to find a very durable and practical hat for wilderness survival. This might not be the best forum for this and if you know of a different place please let me know but I want a good hat to keep the sun off me in the summer, rain off me and not fall apart. The typical ball cap isn't what I'm looking for either. There are so many cowboy, safari, bush hats etc that I would like to get some advice to start to steer me in the right direction.
Thank you
A Viet Nam jungle hat would fit that Bill.
11f2d
It's hard to go wrong with a Tilley hat.
The boonie hats talked about on Lightfighter here;
http://lightfighter.net/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/9046084761/m/999106104?r=674107104#674107104
seem to be what you might be looking for. Custom made, very good features.
I like the Stubby Boonie Hat suggestion, it's definitely something that I had not thought about, nor did I know it existed :) My concern with that is the lack of brim wouldn't do much for the keeping the sun or rain off.
I don't want to be a cowboy but I'm ok with a cowboy style hat. I just don't know much about the durability of the different materials, same goes for the bush style hat.
Other suggestions?
It's hard to go wrong with a Tilley hat.
A big ditto to Tilley hats.
Their first model (can't recall the name/number but it's the round one with 3" brim) is the best. It's a bit heavy for very hot weather but those straps that secure it to back of your head and chin are hard to beat.
The darn thing stays on your head in the wind and brush. If you wash it once in a while it'll last you the rest of your life.
In most any full time (and even part-time) outdoor situation, a good hat is a must.
Use the hat that fits the conditions. For GP and light rain wear I use a Kuhl (64% cotton 33% nylon) ball cap sprayed with Camp Dry. For cold weather I use a simple Polartech beanie.
The boonie hat format is an outstanding GP hat format for full-time outdoor wear. The back of the brim is sometime inconvenient for vehicle wear. But if you are outside most of the time it can't be beat for most situations. Check out this site:
http://www.booniehat.org/
I haven't tried the new-tech gucci hats. A GI boonie hat has served me well wandering the woods and desert. I'm sure there's something better in more optimal fabrics and design, but it's a good place to start.
Well I was in Portland and stopped by the Filson store. I ended up getting the Shelter Cloth Packer Hat. I was impressed with the material and liked the fit.
GhostOfWar
02-03-11, 22:12
Another vote for the Tilley hat. It is the best outdoor hat ever made. Tilley will also replace the hat for free if you ever wear it out. I believe they will also send you a new one if you lose your hat in the first 2 years. I have had my T3 for about 12 years now and it is far from being worn out. It has protected me from sun, kept the rain off my head, and has been all over the world with me. I'm not really a hat kinda guy, but I love my Tilley.
IMHO, the boonie hat is the ultimate outdoor hat.
The question is, which boonie hat.
In early spring, late fall and winter, I wear a cabelas goretex camo boonie that is thicker.
In late spring, summer and early fall, I wear either a cotton boonie or a very thin goretex boonie.
I prefer the longer brims because it keeps the sun off my face. I can always pin my brim up if needed.
If I was encountering people in the trees trying to kill me, I might change my mind and move toward a short brim.
Op what about a boonie hat and shemagh? The hat to keep you dry and the shemah to protect you from the sun and other elements!
I have a Austrian Bergmuetze or Mountain Troops Cap made by Slama
and Sohn in Innsbruck Austria. It is the headgear for the elite Austrian
Gebergsjager or mountain troops. I have worn this particular cap every winter since 1975 and it is still in excellent condition.
The quality of materials and construction of these hats is superior to any
other I have ever seen. A worsted wool material that is a little too much for summer wear is a joy when it gets cold and wet. Don't know if they are available in the USA but one could find one on internet.
A "tarp hat" would probably fit the bill.. and have a ton of character:
http://realdealbrazil.com/detail.asp?id=5166&sku=TRDH&mode=ADD&prc=S000
The American-made boonie hat is still king when you consider they cost about $14. U.S. Cavalry (http://www.uscav.com/category.aspx?catid=119&tabid=548) still sells them in a multiple colors. If you think you need a $90 hat to protect your face from the sun... eh.
Dudes on my Recon team used to braid 550 cord and then weave it through the webbing on a boonie hat. You can also get a piece of spider-mesh from a fabric store and have the top of the hat replaced with it for max ventilation.
Hard to beat a Boonie Hat.
Outdoor Research's (http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/outdoor_research_seattle_sombrero_rain_hat_review.html)gore-tex hat is hard to beat. Folds up like a cowboy hat, and sheds rain and sun well. Its under $50, and if you shop around there are even better deals.
I have some of their gear and it is outstanding kit.
http://myxj.net/g2/d/164163-1/OR_transit_sun.jpg
Suwannee Tim
02-13-11, 08:26
Lot of hats out there, I have worn out most of them from straw which is good for a hard day to a Filson which lasts about 2 years. I recently replaced a worn out Tilley but didn't send in the old one for exchange, my wife wouldn't let me. Too many memories in that old hat. Tilley is good for about 10 years.
Here's what I keep in my locker at work and in my personal kit:
Cut down boonie hats, contracter ball caps, windstopper fleece caps, camo netting scarves, and shemaghs.
The netting scarves are great to treat with Permethrin and integrate with a boonie hat for very buggy conditions.
I'm also a big fan of hoods on my warming and weather layers...it's like having an extra hat.
active shooter
02-25-11, 18:43
There is no doubt that military or mil-spec boonies are an excellent choice for a 'survival' head cover. they provide a good SPF, are lightweight, and easily stowed when not used.
Downside is that they are NOT water resistant [to a point], and they are not warm.
Spring, summer and fall, in just about all temperate zones, a boonie would be a good choice.
A brim is an absolute. Your choice of hat should have a good width brim, to shade your eyes, and keep the rail out of your face, and off your glasses if you wear them. Your hat should be light enough in summer to absorb sweat, transfer the moisture away from your head to allow for evaporation, but also be able to absorb moisture in the event you wish to wet it down, and wring it out, to allow for a cooling effect in hot sun.
The other end, is that your hat must provide warmth for colder climates. If there is one do-all hat, I have not found it.
What my choices have been:
Late fall, winter;
I have traditionally worn wool 'crusher' type hats in the colder weather, as they allow a brim for sun protection on your eyes, but also are made of wool, and are inherently warm, even wet. I use a beanie, polar-fleece marine watch cap for very cold weather, to protect my ears. they even offer those Balaclava's, that tranform from neck gaiter, to hat, to full head protection from the cold.
As of late, I have been trying an Outback Brand (http://www.cabelas.com/product/Clothing/Mens-Casual-Clothing/Mens-Headwear/Mens-Brimmed-Hats%7C/pc/104797080/c/104746680/sc/104448780/i/104006880/Outback174-Trading-Outpost-Hat/1089841.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fclothing-mens-casual-clothing-mens-headwear-mens-brimmed-hats%2Foutback-trading%2F_%2FN-1102410%2B1000004208%2FNe-1000004208%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104006880%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253BMMcat104797080%253Bcat104448780%26WTz_st%3DGuidedNav%26WTz_stype%3DGNU&WTz_l=SBC%3BMMcat104797080%3Bcat104448780%3Bcat104006880) more traditional cowboy style hat. It has been great in wet and dry, cold and snow..but as it is wool, I feel it would be hot in warmer times. It's just about broken in, and I can truly understand why this style hat is so popular.
Spring, summer, early fall;
A mil-spec boonie, for the reasons listed above. Did you ever think that your boonie could be used to get water, tho it will leak. It can also be used to water those dogs that are there with you to provide security.
Waxed canvas hats are very durable, but tend to be warm when the weather gets more tempid. They DO however, offer superior wet weather protection, and you can boil your water in them using the hot-rock method. [saw this on Survivorman, and actually tried it in my Filson] Tasted bad, but it did boil.:fie:
another great choice in hot weather is a traditional straw hat. Light weight, and shady, they can provide needed eye protection, as well as protection for your scalp, albeit NOT as well as a closed fabric hat. Straw hats also allow for cooling of your head.
What I have found is that the nylon packable 'tent like' material boonies are hot, even tho they are 'supposed' to breath.
Is there one hat that will do it all, prehaps...but I have yet to find it.
Has boonie hat been said yet? :dirol:
Is there one hat that will do it all, prehaps...but I have yet to find it.
Good point. My winter hats are quite different from my summer hats.
Nothing like a ten gallon texas hat. Keeps the rain off and when it gets really bad you can use it for shelter.
Bought this, a couple years ago. Wear while landscaping, and can't seem to get it dirty. Very cool in summer.
OR Helios.
http://media.rei.com/media/887423.jpg
They make a wool blend boonie hat that is pretty warm and water repellent. My favorite hat when hiking is a wool felt fedora. water repellent , good shade for eyes and back of neck and great for use as bellows when fanning campfire.
Whatever canvas/nylon hat you prefer, be it Boonie/OR/Tilley/Patagonia/Columbia, etc. They each have their strengths.
tacdrivrnc
05-11-11, 11:51
my .02...Columbia Bora Bora boonie hat...mesh around the sides and a comfy wicking sweatband. Also has the webbing around the top to tie paracord to if you want, but doesn't stand out if you don't want. I've been using one for years and it works great. For some mild water repellentcy you can spray it with Graingers Soft-shell proof or any other kind of DWR rejuvenator.
I wear the Under Armor bucket cap in OD green. It is top notch.
http://www.lapolicegear.com/unartabucap.html
ApacheTactical
07-24-11, 15:27
Can't go wrong with a good old boonie with 50 feet of 550 cord woven around the base of the cap. A great place to store your cord when your packing in with little gear.
Hard to beat a Boonie Hat.
Yeah!!!
just saw this boonie on TD. looks to be pretty cool...
http://www.tacticaldistributors.com/apparel/headwear/boonie-hat
I have used a variation of this model for a while. It is not exactly the same model that I have, but very similar. I have seen similar hats for sale at REI as well.
Mine has worked well for shooting on the range, hiking, and doing chores in the sun/ mid-day hours. It has been pretty durable and even held up well to light rain.
SkiDevil
Link: http://www.columbia.com/Omni-Shade%E2%84%A2-Bora-Bora%E2%84%A2-Booney/CU9745,default,pd.html
Straight Shooter
08-22-11, 08:57
Ive just got an old Bank cap.:sad:
Nathan_Bell
08-22-11, 12:56
Good quality baseball cap is what I had always used until I got tired of back of my neck getting fried.
Now have a straw Amish style hat. It stops rain ok, great for sun protection, and breaths pretty well. A big plus is its appearance. It says many things about you, not one of which is Armed Individual. :D
http://reviews.tractorsupply.com/0519/634945299/dpc-global-trends-safari-straw-hat-with-big-brim-reviews/reviews.htm
Have not found one do-all hat. If it is warm enough for winter then it is too hot for summer. If it is waterproof enough for hard rain then it also traps heat for sunny days. I've tried specialty fabric hats for rain/sun, felt hats, etc. and they either compromise on everything or do one thing great but only so-so on others.
My main hats:
- 3 season wear, shade against hot sun, keep off light sprinkles, and keep crap from falling down my neck: boonie
- General purpose, shade the eyes but not in beating sun for hours: ball cap (BCM freebie)
- Hiking in hot weather but enough shade to not need full brim and much better sweat transport (hard hiking up ridges, especially): coolmax running ball cap
- Rain: hooded jacket over ball cap (visor keeps rain off glasses)
- Cold hard wind (alpine or snow): thick wool or windblock polartec watchcap
If I wanted to limit to two hats I would go with the boonie and watchcap and rely on a hooded jacket for rain.
Str8Jacket722
08-22-11, 16:53
Does it have to be a "hat" per se? What about a shemagh, my experience has been that these are pretty cool in the summer ( I live in a hot, muggly state), I've used them in the the desert and they keep the sun off of your neck, head and face. They breathe well, and are fairly warm in the winter. Plus they are cheap and durable and they limit chaffing from body armor. Go with what works for you of course. If you are looking for a good hard wear hat that's as good in the field as it is in town, you might look at the Akubra adventurer and get your "Indy" on. It's a little on the pricey side though but it'll last for years if you take care of it. Plus you have to crease it or "bash" it yourself. Check it out.
http://www.davidmorgan.com/product_info.php?products_id=1128
+1 on the Boonie. Its versatile. It goes to the range with me weekly.
The ones by Propper are awesome and cheap.
Hard to beat a Boonie Hat.
+1
I've tried a number of different styles and materials of outdoor hats and I haven't yet found anything I like better than a regular old boonie.
Tilley Hemp hat for me. It's fantastic.
A "tarp hat" would probably fit the bill.. and have a ton of character:
http://realdealbrazil.com/detail.asp?id=5166&sku=TRDH&mode=ADD&prc=S000
I haven't seen cotton canvas used as cargo covers in like, 15 years!!!
All I see is plastic "canvas".
The canvas hats (bags, sandals, pants, vests) have a kind a following here...
Although I like the milsurp bonnie hats. Inexpensive is the main advantage.
For a whole day out in the hot sun, straw hats are the best, they don't cook your brains as the fabric ones do.
Tilley Hemp hat for me. It's fantastic.
I've been quite pleased with my wide brimmed hemp Tilley hat. You can mash it into a backpack and it's still good to go when you want to wear it.
A hat to keep the sun off your knoggin and a hat to keep you warm.
suthrncop66
01-31-12, 22:17
I kind of like that "tarp hat" don't have one but think it looks promising...How hot is it? and how does it hold up?
I kind of like that "tarp hat" don't have one but think it looks promising...How hot is it? and how does it hold up?
I like mine a whole lot. It's not hot, I did waterproof it and add a para-cord hat band and a cinch string.
suthrncop66
01-31-12, 22:42
I was thinking the same thing, waterproofing and a paracord cinch and hat band....
I was thinking the same thing, waterproofing and a paracord cinch and hat band....
Remind me tomorrow and I will get pics up if you want.
suthrncop66
02-01-12, 01:34
that would be great, was thinking of asking but didnt want to impose
Here you go suthrncop66. The hat band is a 4 strand braid that is adjustable, my wife tied the Turks Head knot that works as a "slide tensioner" (technical term). Terrible pictures, rugged hat.
http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af211/ryan4570/RealDealfront.jpg
http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af211/ryan4570/RealDealback.jpg
http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af211/ryan4570/RealDealband.jpg
http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af211/ryan4570/RealDealturkhead.jpg
suthrncop66
02-01-12, 22:05
Nice, I ordered the hat today, been playing around with paracord from videos I have found on Youtube...Can't quite get a decent looking Turks Knot but can do a band, so I should be alright.
Thanks for the pics
Nice, I ordered the hat today, been playing around with paracord from videos I have found on Youtube...Can't quite get a decent looking Turks Knot but can do a band, so I should be alright.
Thanks for the pics
I will see if I can talk the missus into another one if you want it, you should be able to slide it right on then knot each end of para-cord. I did put grommets in the brim where the cinch passes thru to keep it from fraying. They aren't hard to do and we have a Tandy Leather Supply in state to get your grommets and setter from.
suthrncop66
02-02-12, 21:52
that would be cool if she would, let me know
that would be cool if she would, let me know
She said she would get started tomorrow, it doesn't take her long to do at all. I will let you know when it is finished.
suthrncop66, it is ready check your PM's.
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