Which Tilley (or similar) hat to get for desert hiking?

Ah, Pentagon City. Sweet, now thanks to you kind Sir I have something else to do today that doesn't involve cleaning house and grocery shopping. Many "thanks"!
 
I found the shop. Of course now I can't remember the name for the life of me, but it's pretty nice. The hats (at $70.00+) were more not worth the instant gratification of wearing one on the way home.

I did however find that I'm between a 7 1/2 and a 7 5/8. The 7 1/2 felt a tich too small, but the 7 5/8 felt too large. Still, at some point soon I'd like to pick one up.
 
Duzzy said:
I found the shop. Of course now I can't remember the name for the life of me, but it's pretty nice. The hats (at $70.00+) were more not worth the instant gratification of wearing one on the way home.

I did however find that I'm between a 7 1/2 and a 7 5/8. The 7 1/2 felt a tich too small, but the 7 5/8 felt too large. Still, at some point soon I'd like to pick one up.
Click to expand...

Wow, we have the exact same size head! I too was between 7.5 and 7 5/8. I orderd a 7 5/8 because they are supposed to fit looser, I'll post back on how it feels after I wear it a bit. My wife hated how they looked on me, she said the Colombia and OR brand ones looked much better, but it's a Tilley for ME! This hat will most likely be for trail and river use only if I ever want to mate again ;)
 
I have always wanted to see the Smithsonian. That would be a great day for me to wear my T3.

BTW, I discovered today that when you start getting sweat in your eyes it's time to turn the hat around since the sweat band is full.
 
I have an airflow model and got it for the beach. I may should have gotten the cotton one? Yeah, kinda keeps heat in, but the synthetic material holds up so great and you can wash it. The airflow helps I guess to ventilate. Anyway, had mine 6 years and no regrets (until I read about the cotton here!!!!)
 
michaelmcgo said:
Wow, we have the exact same size head! I too was between 7.5 and 7 5/8. I orderd a 7 5/8 because they are supposed to fit looser, I'll post back on how it feels after I wear it a bit. My wife hated how they looked on me, she said the Colombia and OR brand ones looked much better, but it's a Tilley for ME! This hat will most likely be for trail and river use only if I ever want to mate again ;)
Click to expand...

Here's the issue I ran into. With a 7 5/8 sized hat I could easily fit two fingers underneath the front brim. However, it sat so low that it made my ears fold over. With the 7 1/2 I could still fit two fingers under, but I needed to hold onto the brim with one hand otherwise my fingers would push the hat up as they went in--instead of slipping under easily.

However, when I got home I measured my head and came up with roughly 22 1/8" inches. (I loosely wrapped some paracord around my head, marked it, and laid it out flat to measure it with a tape measure. I, unfortunately, don't have a tailors tape handy.) And using the hat sizing of the website I ordered from I should be wearing a 7 1/8.

So I just ordered a 7 1/2 and figured to heck with it. We'll see how it goes. How long are you in DC? I have the week off if you'd like to meet up some time. Shoot me a message or an e-mail if you're so inclined. Oh, and thanks for the tip.
 
Duzzy said:
How long are you in DC? I have the week off if you'd like to meet up some time. Shoot me a message or an e-mail if you're so inclined. Oh, and thanks for the tip.
Click to expand...

I am leaving tomorrow morning, but I'll be lucky if I can work some pooping time into our schedule, let alone meet up with friends. Too bad we don't both have our Tilley's to recognize eachother by...

On a a side note, what do you carry in this place? A pair of fingernail clippers? I read online that 2.5 is legal everywhere but some Federal buildings, so I pop my 2.4" tiny swiss army knife in my pocket and head to DC. At the Holocaust memorial I put all my stuff into the x-ray tray and when my goes through they stop the line and call over a few more guards. They accused me of trying to slip a knife by (by putting it in the x-ray tray) and pull me to the side for a few minutes of questioning. After a bunch of the same "what do you plan on doing to my city?" and " what do you possibly need a knife for?" they me go. I'm now headed out woth no more than my teeth for opening stuff up, and I fear they may have a problem with that...

Who woulda thought a tiny S.A.K. would cause such a stir...
So I ask what do you possibly carry around the District?
 
Generally, I EDC a Swisstool and a Mag-Lite for work. However, I've learned to make sure they're not around when I go to certain places.

Some museums don't have detectors (Portrait Gallery, National Art Gallery, Sculpture Museum), some you can nicely talk to the guard (got into the Natural History Museum once), but most you're screwed (Aquarium, American History, Holocaust, etc.). They usually have lockers, but they're after the check-in so they don't do much good. I honestly think that most guards are too apathetic to care; they want what's easiest and is least likely to get them into trouble. (I've run into guards who didn't know what a "multi-tool" was.)

So in general, if I'm going to be inside I just don't carry because it's easier than dealing the the mess that is Metro only to not be able to do anything.
 
Duzzy said:
Generally, I EDC a Swisstool and a Mag-Lite for work. However, I've learned to make sure they're not around when I go to certain places.

Some museums don't have detectors (Portrait Gallery, National Art Gallery, Sculpture Museum), some you can nicely talk to the guard (got into the Natural History Museum once), but most you're screwed (Aquarium, American History, Holocaust, etc.). They usually have lockers, but they're after the check-in so they don't do much good. I honestly think that most guards are too apathetic to care; they want what's easiest and is least likely to get them into trouble. (I've run into guards who didn't know what a "multi-tool" was.)

So in general, if I'm going to be inside I just don't carry because it's easier than dealing the the mess that is Metro only to not be able to do anything.
Click to expand...

Sorry to hear you have to put up with that. Where I come from in Michigan, the officials are almost happy to give you a CPL and I've never been bothered for carrying either my pistol or 4" knives (which I actually use at work). good luck.
 
michaelmcgo said:
Sorry to hear you have to put up with that. Where I come from in Michigan, the officials are almost happy to give you a CPL and I've never been bothered for carrying either my pistol or 4" knives (which I actually use at work). good luck.
Click to expand...

It's a balancing act, as is everything. Here you trade freedoms for other freedoms. If not carrying means I can go into a museum for free, and for the most part completely safe then that's a sacrifice I'm happy to make.

I honestly don't trust the security guards to protect me, to save my life, or to respond appropriately to a situation. I'm not saying they are bad people, but if me not having a knife means someone else isn't packing a gun? There's far too much stupid here to begin with...
 
I have used my Tilley airflo hat for mowing the lawn and also for out on a day at the shooting range which is outside and very warm that day and hope that some time soon I get to do some hiking and camping and use my Tilley all day.
 
I have a Tilley... but am not sure which model. I did try the soak in water thing for this July 4th, but the material seems to be some sort of water resistant cotton. Material did NOT soak up the water like I had hoped it would. Still, great hat. Wear it in all the frequent rains we have been having this spring and summer. It has the side snaps too. So, how do I find out which model it is?
 
Mongo said:
I have a Tilley... but am not sure which model. I did try the soak in water thing for this July 4th, but the material seems to be some sort of water resistant cotton. Material did NOT soak up the water like I had hoped it would. Still, great hat. Wear it in all the frequent rains we have been having this spring and summer. It has the side snaps too. So, how do I find out which model it is?
Click to expand...
I had the same issue when my hat was new. Try running it through the washing machine a few times. That will get most chemicals out of the fabric and make it more able to soak up water. :thumbup:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top