Oilcloth Safari hat. Have I picked the right hat?

Mantis · May 11, 2015

Hey guys I just Joined the Forum today and this is my first post. I did a couple of searches to see if there were any previous threads that answered my questions, there were none that I found to be sufficient so I chose to start a new one.

This past weekend I decided to finally transition from my Felt Bowlers, which I wear almost every day in the winter/fall, to a summer hat. I live an active, rugged lifestyle, and I am in the woods a lot. I did not have any summer hats besides a light felt Orvis Fedora that was starting to look a little worn down, so I decided to pick up a decent straw hat at the Goorin Bros in D.C. I was originally going to try on a few straw boaters because I like their look. After trying a few on I realized that these hats are not going to suit my lifestyle. They are not aerodynamic enough to stay on my head while skateboarding to my classes, and they do not seem rugged enough for my camping trips. I Also wanted hat that would not get ruined in rainy weather, so light felts were out of the question. Just as I was about to go home and throw on my Rogue American Trucker hat, I noticed that they had a Grenadier section geared towards outdoor lifestyles. I saw the Florence Lake hat, tried it on, and liked the look of it so I bought one.

This hat was 120 dollars, quite a bit more expensive that the Bailey Dalton, or the Filson Packer hat, or the woolrich safari hat. What makes this hat more expensive than the others? Ill admit it is a well made hat, and it is beautiful. Im sure this hat can take a beating, so it should last many years.

I am also wondering if an Oilcloth hat is a proper summer hat. It is currently 80 degrees here in Maryland, but I am going to be camping and hiking in Arizona, Montana, South Dakota, Colorado, Missouri and Pennsylvania this summer. I need a hat that can deal with all of these climates. Have I picked the right hat?

Thanks Fellas

Thanks fellas

Blackthorn · May 11, 2015

Nice looking hat, Mantis. I think the oilcloth might get a little warm during summer months, but it looks great! In any case, I wouldn't mind owning one myself. Not a bad first hat.

Blackthorn · May 11, 2015

It looks very similar to this one, for half the price, though. Is it the same hat?

http://www.filson.com/products/shelter-cloth-packer-hat.60017.html

Mantis · May 11, 2015

Thank you Blackthorn. This is the Goorin Bros Florence lake hat. It is different from that Felson. I wonder if mine is made from Higher quality materials, or if I just paid for the brand.

Lean'n'mean · May 11, 2015

120 bucks for such a hat is a lot of dough, so you have probably paid for the brand , .....I think it is aimed at the higher end of the urban 'outdoorsy ' market rather than for the rough 'n' tough everyday trail adventures. And let's face it who would want to trapse around the bush with a $120 dollar hat when a similar one could be bought for a third of the price.
Have you chosen the right hat? only time will tell. Firstly is it really an oilskin/tin cloth hat ? i.e. is it waxed & not just coated in something like Scotchguard, the blurp makes no mention of wax.
I have used oil skin hats in the past, (I prefer the Aussie styles) & I found them OK but as already mentioned, can get hot under the summer sun & do tend to absorb a certain amount of water when it rains so can become a little heavy. They are in general good 'knock about' hats but do look a little scruffy & outta shape after a while, giving them some much needed character.

coalchak01 · May 11, 2015

I think a Resistol Aussie or cowboy style would be better. I have a Resistol Cowboy with a tight weave and a special paint on the hat which makes it very Water resistant and shady. That works good for a walk in the woods or camping.
In any case I keep a clear vinyl hat protector in a proper XL size for a wide brimmed hat in my pocket for heavy downpours.
Really, any wide brimmed straw, felt or fabric hat can benefit from these protectors. I wear a lot of valuable hats and these protectors really save a lot of hats from damage or ruin. Sure, I have some multi X fur felt hats, but I use the protector in rain anyway.
Why pay for cleaning and blocking if you don't have to?

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jlw · May 11, 2015

I picked up a cheap cotton safari hat recently. It was made in Sri Lanka and cost $40. I bought it to wear on days when thunderstorms are forecast during the summer.

I personally would gladly paid more for a made in the USA hat, but three times the price seems a lot more, at least for a cotton material hat. However, if the quality is there it just might be worth it.

KingAndrew · May 11, 2015

Have you considered the old reliable pith helmet? It's rugged, stylish, keeps your head cool, & usually has a chinstrap for activities that might cause it to fall or blow off.

But your tincloth hat looks good & should take a beating. I have a Tilley I often wear for "rugged" travel, but it doesn't look as nice as your hat.

javadave61 · May 11, 2015

The hat looks great on you and seems perfect for hiking in the outdoors. I find this hat thing is just as about emotion as it is quality and logic. If you "connect" with the hat, like it's look, you'll wear it more and more. That's certainly worth $120. If you find yourself grabbing it less and less, you'll know. Strange how it all works.

Wave hello when you hit Pennsylvania.

jlee562 · May 11, 2015

It's got good proportions on you, so if you like it, I'd agree that it's the right hat!

Fed in a Fedora · May 11, 2015

Your hat looks great on you, but you seemed to want some feedback.

While I now wear mostly felt hats, I liked the oilcloth hats and wore them for years in many parts of the world - mostly Guam, Saipan, New Zealand, Palau and US desert southwest.

Here are some shots from the top and bottom of the Grand Canyon in two of my 4 canvas hats:

Me in Aussie hat dlm_ line small_edited-1.jpg

I cannot find any pics of my Filsons - olive and tan.

However, aside from shedding rain these are not as good as felt in that there is no airflow (aside from vent grommets which many felt hats also have) and they offer about the same sun protection. These also shrink over time and get rigid.

While in Moab, Utah, I bought a Sunbody open crown hat to replace one of the canvas hats shown above. The Sunbody worked for hiking and is now used for outdoor work - especially cutting grass. It was quite cheap and came open crown so it offered options. Started as a "Gus" but later it became a bit of a teardrop. I later realized that my crease looks a lot like the Jurassic Park hat worn by Sam Neal. In dry areas, you can douse the hat and enjoy the evaporative cooling.

http://www.sunbody.com/index.cfm/product/224_21/palm-river-open-crown.cfm

Most recently, I have become aware that the Akubra Range might be an option for summertime outdoor wear with vented top:

http://www.everythingaustralian.com.au/shopexd.asp?id=321

Fed

Brother cavefish · May 11, 2015

its all up to you,

emigran · May 11, 2015

That one looks great... perfect" fit"
Try some of the online hat sites "hats in the belfry" comes to mind...(no afil) for a low cost lid.

Nyah · May 11, 2015

Looks good. You want my opinion of oilcloth in summer though. I see oilcloth as a biodegradeable version of rubber. I wouldn't want to wear garments made from it, in any season, due to its inability to ventilate. I'd choose a furfelt before oilcloth, a milan before furfelt. I currently wear a semi-calado panama but am looking to get a hemp milan so that I don't have to worry about rain (although none of these are going to stay on if I were to wear them while skating).

BTW no full-brimmed hat is really going to work for skateboarding. I've used a boonie hat with adjustable chin strap. While that hat can stay on, wind folds the brim up (like a pirate hat) so no sun protection for your face.

JackieMatra · May 11, 2015

From one Free Stater to another.
Oilcloth is way too hot to wear during our usual summers.
If it doesn't let water through it doesn't let much air through either.
Sunbody hats are relatively very heavy and their cotton sweatbands get soaked with sweat in practically no time at all.
Akubra hemps are much better in that they're much lighter, have leather sweatbands, and water won't harm them even though it will go through the hat if you're caught in a rainstorm.
Real pith helmets (made of pith and not paper, plastic, or straw) are cooler than even panamas, not very heavy, are undamaged by water, and will keep you dry in all but the heaviest downpours.
http://www.villagehatshop.com/category/84/1/pith-helmets.html

Mantis · May 11, 2015

Hey guys thanks for all of the replies. I like this hat, it looks nice and feels decent on my head, but I don't think it will be the hat for my journey this summer, based on the info many of you provided. I am going to be fly fishing in Aspen, hiking in Arizona, and camping in South Dakota and Montana.

It's going to be a long trip in the car, and me and my girlfriend are going to have very limited space, so if this is not going to be my "all in One" hat then I am afraid I won't want to bring it, since it probably will get crushed with all of my gear in the car, and it sounds like it will be way to hot for Arizona.

I have a hat that fits all of my requirements, it is the outdoor research Sunbreaker. It is probably the best piece of gear that I own, it's packable, water resistant, light and breathable. the only problem with it is that it is very utilitarian, and not very stylish, and I don't feel very confident wearing it all of the time. Plus my girlfriend thinks it makes me look like a dork, but when I throw on a Fedora I practically have to pry her off of me.

Those Pith helmets have got me interested though, not sure if My lady would approve. I Had no Idea that fur hats could be used during the summer. Anyone know of a decent Fur fedora that is breathable and can take a little abuse?

Bob Roberts · May 11, 2015

Mantis said:
Hey guys thanks for all of the replies. I like this hat, it looks nice and feels decent on my head, but I don't think it will be the hat for my journey this summer, based on the info many of you provided. I am going to be fly fishing in Aspen, hiking in Arizona, and camping in South Dakota and Montana.

It's going to be a long trip in the car, and me and my girlfriend are going to have very limited space, so if this is not going to be my "all in One" hat then I am afraid I won't want to bring it, since it probably will get crushed with all of my gear in the car, and it sounds like it will be way to hot for Arizona.

I have a hat that fits all of my requirements, it is the outdoor research Sunbreaker. It is probably the best piece of gear that I own, it's packable, water resistant, light and breathable. the only problem with it is that it is very utilitarian, and not very stylish, and I don't feel very confident wearing it all of the time. Plus my girlfriend thinks it makes me look like a dork, but when I throw on a Fedora I practically have to pry her off of me.

Those Pith helmets have got me interested though, not sure if My lady would approve. I Had no Idea that fur hats could be used during the summer. Anyone know of a decent Fur fedora that is breathable and can take a little abuse?

Save the fedora for "private moments" or just wear it more often! Like Fed said, Chk out all the Akubra hemps as well as their fur felts. OUTBACK MATEY!

Blackthorn · May 12, 2015

Here's an inexpensive cotton one that'll take care of you. I have one and I just wore it to Central Africa:

http://www.villagehatshop.com/produ...-pacific-cotton-twill-outback-fedora-hat.html

Mantis · May 12, 2015

Would the Akubra Banjo Paterson or the Traveler be a good choice? if so i might purchase one this evening

Bob Roberts · May 12, 2015

Mantis said:
Would the Akubra Banjo Paterson or the Traveler be a good choice? if so i might purchase one this evening

Best prices on Akubra from Sam at Everything Australian. Hope u find what your looking for. Sam will also send pics of the xact hat you'll b ordering.

Oilcloth Safari hat. Have I picked the right hat?

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