I am currently traveling, and need a good hat to fish in this weekend. I am looking for something that travels well, breaths well, and has a full brim. I’m pretty wide open to suggestions otherwise, and haven’t really done any looking yet, so if you have any ideas or one that you particularly like, please let me know!
I usually wear an old Orvis hat (made by someone else for Orvis, but believe it or not, the Orvis one was cheaper!) which is similar to a cowboy hat and has mesh side panels on the sides of the top part but is otherwise a lot like this one, except it is mostly felt/fabric. The only problem is it doesn’t travel well, and if it gets crushed it is a pain to get it right again, so I only take it with me if I’m driving all the way to my destination.
The only other caveat is that I need to be able to buy it locally near Sunnyvale, CA (Southern San Francisco bay area). I plan to go by REI and The California Fly Shop this week to look, but I’m hoping for other suggestions.
For my money, the best hat out there is the Tilley hats. I’ve used mine for over 6 years and it’s still as good as new. They are comfortable, well designed and extremely well made. They are guaranteed for life even include a replacement if you loose it (one time only). A story that tells the qualifty of the Tilley hats is that a zoo keeper in Toronto Canada had an elephant snatch his Tilley hat off of his head and eat it. The zoo keep waited for it to show up again, ran it through the wash and it was as good as new. When Tilley approached him about giving him a new hat in exchange for his “newly washed” hat, he said “No thanks, this was the third time the elephant had “recycled” his hat and it was just getting broken in right.” . I bought my Tilley LT5 from Binnacle.com in the khaki color and dyed it a mottled olive green. If I ever need to buy another hat it will be the TILLEY HAT - LTM6 AIRFLO which provides ventilation to keep your head a bit cooler. Simply put, Tilley makes great hats.
For me, it’s a regulation wide brim straw hat every time. They do a great job of keepin my bald spot from the sunburn, they’re cool and breezy, and they take an occasional dunking just fine. They last one season, maybe one and a half, and they aren’t too pricey. ( a good one can usually be found for under twenty bucks, often under ten ) and I enjoy getting a new one each year to start out the summer. The rest of the year I wear a Filson oiled fedora I’ve had and worn and punished for twenty+ years, it’s good as new, well broken in, and looks great after all this time. Too hot in the summer, though.
…ModocDan
One important aspect of shopping for a new hat, at least if you don’t want somebody to be borrowing/stealing your new hat, is to think UNIQUE. Chances are, most folks who would otherwise be tempted to crowd you in your favorite fishing spot, might just decide to give you clear berth. What could be better? And, you need a hat anyway, right? Right!
So, in light of such criteria, I’ve done extensive searching and believe I have found you an excellent selection of hats from which you can choose:
This one is simple, yet functional. Keeps your head cool AND dry!
And who is going to mess with you in THIS hat?
And look how nicely this one would protect the tops of your tender ears!
And what could be more utilitarian than this little number? Hydration is important on those all-day fishing trips, and you don’t even have to stop fishing to get a drink!
Speaking of drink, this style comes in many many flavors. Just pick your favorite!
And this one…well…speaks for itself! And the McGuyver in you could probably rob some material from the little balls to create the perfect streamside fly! Or maybe the fish are hitting large red berries/cherries?
This also has endless possibilities for the creative mind, plus it protects your ears and neck without that pesky brim! (And see how it even protects sensitive nipples from the sun? SPF 100, baby!)
But, if you are set on a brim, maybe this will appeal to you? And notice the nice giant marabou feather?? Aaaarrr!
Thanks for the serious replies so far! As to some of the other suggestions, well, um, ya sure… :shock: :rolleyes: :lol:
It looks like REI carries the Tilley hats, and there is a store not too far from where I’m at right now. I may go check them out this evening (need to call and see if they have them in-store). Orvis also appears to have a decent selection and is not too far either, so I may stop by there as well.
I will probably end up buying an FAOL b-ball cap soon, but I don’t like to fish in b-ball hats because they don’t protect the ears and neck very well, which is why I’m looking for a full brim.
Are the Tilley Airflo hats crushable? If I pack one in a suitcase or duffel bag while flying will it ruin it?
CO Flyfisher,
My favorite hat for fishing in the summer is a light weight felt Cowboy Hat. I’ve used it for years and it keeps me protected from the elements.
Doug
Not only does it keep the sun off your neck and ears, but it has a few other advantages. When I am guiding folks who are not great casters, it works as a great shield. I can’t tell you how many times flies have bounced off of my hat instead of hitting skin. It also provides some really funny interactions with folks… people always offer a funny comment when they see you wearing it. My favorite to date is,“45 years ago, I’da shot you dead boy”.
Anyway… there is a reason this hat design has been around for thousands of years… it woks!
I have been told I have “hundreds” of hats…
What I wear depends on the weather, the gortex waterproof hats are hot, the buzz-off dosh’t have a wide brim, the mesh sides arn’t waterproof…
I found some of the mesh side, wide brim hats at a discount store last spring for $3, and bought 3, thinking my wife would look good in them. She says I was wrong, never tried it on tho.
try the orvis shop in santana row. its on winchester blvd. go down saratoga to stevens creek blvd. turn right on winchester. they have other products besides orvis even though its a “flagship” store
