I am looking for one hat that hopefully packs up small and works for everything and lasts forever.( washable would be good too) Its a looong trip,we are mostly following the sun and I am blond and fair with sensitive eyes,so a hat is a must and I want to just take one.
I am looking at some online and just thought I would ask here if people have come across one that they just love so I could take that into consideration.
May I be the first to suggest a TILLEY HAT, well known to many of us here on Slow Travel. Charley and I are both new and proud owners of Tilley Hats, and you can read about that here and also see a photo of us in our new hats! Actually, Charley wore his today. (Just ignore Earline's comments about them looking slightly "dorky" please!) These are definitely hats that are made to last forever.
As an alternative (less expensive and lighter), I can recommend my formerly-favorite hat a Columbia Booney hat. This is really more of a hiking hat, but it does provide great sun protection and is extremely packable. (Earline will think this one is dorky too!)
Sun Precautions has a canvas hat, natural with black trim. Packable, washable, 4" brim, and has a certain style. (I wore it to England a few years ago and a few women of the pearl-and-Barbour set complimented me on it. Whatever.)
I think it also comes in blue canvas. But don't go with the other fabric it comes in. It's too thin and floppy. And cut the chin strap off!
I too am very fair and have to wear hats and sun block all the time. Consider picking up some of that meroxyl sun block while you're over there. It's supposed to be the best, but the FDA won't get off its butt and approve it over here.
Kathy, Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I would hate for an opportunity to go by without me dissing a Tilley hat or a Booney hat. The only difference I can see is the spelling.
However, dork spelled any other way is still dork.
I, too, am fair and burn easily (still having skin cancers removed from bad sunburns in my youth), so I understand the need for good coverage. I probably have more hats that anybody I know and am forever looking for a good travel hat. I finally found one in Hawaii. It is straw, but with wearing sun screen, it seemed to protect me ok. The good thing about the straw is that the wind blows right through the crown and you don't need to have the chin strap cinched up all the time.
I understand that this is useless information since I bought it in Hawaii, I don't know the brand, I can't seem to post a picture of it, but I just wanted to say that it is a viable option to the dork -- er, 'scuse me -- the Tilley/Booney hat.
Good to get feedback.Well you two look cute in them Kathy ,but I must agree with Earline,and can not quite get myself to buy the tillie versions as I can not see myself wearing one despite thier many attributes.
It appears you're looking for something different, but if anyone want a look: The Sun Precautions site is sunprecautions.com. The hat is the women's rolled brim hat, in canvas. You can mash the brim into more suitable shapes. And not a grommet in it.
Thanks BlueHour, I did go there after your first post,but it was hard to see which one you were talking about,so I went back and looked harder just now .Is it the rolled brim hat?
That does look like it could work.I wish they gave a little more info or showed it on somebody.It is good to know it worked for you!
I am not as sensitive to the sun for burning as some( tho not as lucky as my husband and child who seem to be incapable of burning despite my child being blond! ) but we will probably be more out in the elements than we are here.Thanks for the heads up about the sunscreen , I will check it out.
Did you realize that europe has approved for use sunscreens that are much more effective than here in the US? One of the Neutogena Products comes close,but not quite as effective.My doctor says that since I am in the outdoors so much I need to watch my clothing etc. I wear a think layer on my face and neck,a long sleeve shirt,big hat etc. on long runs/hikes. One of my good runner friends has malignant melanoma.According to the odds he has a 10% chance of survival.He is a really great guy and I hope he pulls through,but now I am even more careful!
Hi all. I'm very partial to the Adventure Hat by Sunday Afternoons. The fabric feels a little lighter than the Tilleys, and I got the version with that Foreign Legion look, long brim in the back that covers your neck, which you can roll up & secure if you don't want it hanging down. I got the hat years ago, and it looks like the company has come out with a Derma Safe version of the same style (on same web page). Oh yes -- and you can get these at REI if you don't want to order online.
Did you realize that europe has approved for use sunscreens that are much more effective than here in the US?
I am just learning this news.Do you know any that are safe for children? A friend of mine who is a "live" foods health nut has scared me about all the chemicals in sunscreen that always makes me wonder which is worse since my child is the type who seems incapable of burning ( unlike her mom,but very much like her dad and my sister who is also a blond but the yellow swedish skin tone rather than my freckle prone pink tone).Mostly I just try and keep her out of the sun which is not always easy in California as you know,but we do things like swim lessons at 5 instead of noon etc.
So not only do I need one that works well,but one that has no harmful chemicals in it that can harm a young child.Is there such a thing and if so which would be the best one?
Sometimes when we are caught out somewhere without sunscreen , I will get a bit pink,but my child and husband do not seem to be able to burn ( his family is from Spain ,but he is light skinned and my daughter even more so,tho neither have any freckles).Still I would feel better having a good & natural sunscreen that I could count on.
I am most at risk in the family as I have already had skin cancer ( non melanoma) & get a yearly check up on all my endless freckles and moles.My uncle who is almost 80 just got melanoma,but they got it in time ( he is a redhead who did get many burns as a child) but something that is on the increase.
So sorry about your friend.I knew a young girl who lost an eye due to melanoma so know how frightening it is.
Available here the best one is Neutrogena dry touch ultra sheer Spf 55.Available in Canada and europe the best is Here they have a kids protection gentle formula RR
After spending 5 weeks in Italy recently, stuck with my Tilley hat, I vowed never to take it traveling again! This is my 2nd trip abroad with it.
It's not truly "packable". When not directly in the sun, it's hard to pull it off when it's too uncomfortable or hot. I turned mine around backwards so that I could operate the chin strap more easily. It's really a nuisance! I carried it by the strap on my arm when not wearing it. I hate it, now !
I always wear a hat in the sun, and I used to travel with a hat that was easy to roll up and stow easily in my tote bag. I'm looking for a good one, again.
This Coolibar catalog has many appealing hats. They are dedicated to providing articles of clothing that provide good sunscreening. Coolibar website
Charity
Posts: 1486 | Location: Santa Barbara, CA, USA | Registered: 11 May 2003
And yeah I know baseball caps will mark me as American. But that's what I am. There's no shame in my game. I have fairly long hair and I like being able to pull my pony tail through the back and off my neck. I also think it look cute.
And as for the cowboy hat, I love the look of my straw one. It has these beautiful green turquoise stone across the front band, a great chin strap and is workable as a trekking hat as well as for casual day trips. And yes, it will mark me as American. But fashionably American.
Dawn
Posts: 80 | Location: Anchorage, AK | Registered: 04 April 2006
Topic Closed
Its a looong trip,we are mostly following the sun and I am blond and fair with sensitive eyes,so a hat is a must and I want to just take one.
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