If you are going to hike the John Muir Trail you have to have something to keep the sun off your face. I’ve tried a variety of hats. The one I was most pleased with I bought at a drug store in Mammoth Lakes! (Not the place I would recommend for camping gear shopping.) It looked like this:
This drug store hat was close…but not quite. (Please excuse the model.)
It provided good shade due to the extremely wide brim, was comfortable, and had a chin strap to prevent it from departing from my head in windy weather. There were three problems, though:
1. It was white and the fabric from which it was cut would stain easily. Even just the sweat from your hands combined with a little dust from the trail would leave marks.
2. See that brown strap across the base of the taper? It is part of the chin strap. It would NOT stay where it is in the photo. It had a habit of climbing up the hat and looking goofy. As is obvious from the photo, I don’t need help looking goofy.
3. Most troublesome was the fact that the brim was so wide that it often bumped up against the upper portion of my backpack.
We all have pieces of gear that are like this: good enough, but not perfect, something that we are not totally happy with but are reluctant to replace because it seems like a waste of money. I’d been making due with this hat for years and then…serendipity! This year my birthday brought an REI gift certificate from my mother-in-law. (Thanks, Mom!)
My new favorite piece of gear is the Sunday Afternoons Charter Hat from REI.
The Sunday Afternoons Charter Hat (Photo from REI Website)
Thus far, this little guy has been outstanding. Here’s why:
~ It looks good on me (not an easy thing to accomplish!).
~ It is made of 100% nylon that is difficult to stain.
~ It has an effective chin strap which does not wrap around the outside of the hat.
~ It has a vent around the top of the hat. (The vent isn’t super effective, but it does help.)
~ See that little slot at the base of the taper? There is one on the other side as well. You can slip your sunglasses (or reading glasses) into those slots and hold them there securely and out of the way.
~ The brim, while wide enough to keep the sun off your face when it is highest, is not so wide to interfere with a backpack. The brim also slants down to make it more effective and to keep it from hitting the backpack.
~ It has a little pocket on the inside for a few bills, a couple credit cards, or, perhaps, a card with emergency contact information.
One final point. Even though I am a big guy I have a small head. (With my new very-little-hair hairstyle I’ve been sporting, it’s even smaller.) This hat only comes in medium and large sizes. I ordered the medium and still had to tighten the adjustment strap considerably to get it to fit.
If your milliner has been letting you down you may want to check out this model.
Good hiking, Ray
Ray, That’s a great looking hat! I’ve tried all kinds of hats and they all look ridiculous on me because of my huge melon. My hat size is XXL which is over 7 7/8!
Larry
Sounds like we have the opposite problem. I suspect the large one of these would fit easily.
They seem to run big. Thanks!
Kavu Chillba Sun & Rain Hat
Lightweight laundered Taslan, drawcord chinstrap with toggle lock, quick dry poly mesh headpiece with Kavu webbing on head adjustment. The best sun/rain protector and a proven conversation piece.
I have worn this hat on the trail for several years now: Tour Du Mt Blanc; Anna Perna Base Camp & Sanctuary; John Muir Trail. It’s like wearing a vented umbrella. Always a conversation piece, and it’s how I’m known on the trail. I don’t go on the trail without it.
Thanks for the comment, Ritch. It certainly does have an interesting look!
Looks like a great hat. I was in a Bass Pro shop recently and purchased one very similar for all the reasons you like this one. I have a big head (7 5/8 size) and have stuggled with other hats. Mine is “The Airflo Tilley Hat” (model LTM6). Was about $80.00. Has the pocket, the strap, vent, is nylon poly blend. Also comes with a lifetime guarantee if it wears out and is insured against loss. Made in Canada.
Happy Trails
Thanks, Dennis. Tilleys are well known for making some great headgear.
Another vote for Tilley hats. I bought the LM10 (full mesh on the “head” portion) for
desert and canyon hiking, but I now use it for Sierra backpacking as well.
I got the impression that Tilley had stopped the lifetime/loss guarantee a few years back.
I couldn’t find mention of such a guarantee on their guarantee page. When I bought mine,
they claimed they’d replace it free if I lost it. That was some years back.
Thanks for the comment, Pete. Tilley certainly has a dedicated following and apparently make a great hat.
Regarding the guarantee it is on the inside top label of the hat. I am new to the Tilley brand. Purchased this hat a couple of weeks ago. Perhaps it was on the shelf a long time since it was such a large size.
Thanks, Dennis. Good to know.
That’s it. I’m throwing out my hat after reading this. Why?
It’s made out of goretex. Great idea if you want a roasting hot head. Bad idea is n the jmt in August.
You may be on to something, Byron. Although, if you look good that’s the main thing! 🙂
Keep that goretex hat! While not good on the jmt in august, it would be amazing for a rainy, chilly summer day in Denali Park.
Great point, Karen!
Ray – I got the hat! And the darn thing is banging against my backpack. Any ideas how to fix this?
Not sure, Byron. I don’t have that problem despite the fact that my pack does ride high. Perhaps accentuate the downwards bend in the rear?