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Tilley
TTW2 Tec-Wool Hat
Test Series by Bob Sanders
| PERSONAL
INFORMATION |
| Name: |
Bob Sanders |
 Backpacking
Background: I went on my first backpacking trip as a Boy
Scout at the age of 16. Over the years I have hiked the Wonderland
Trail in Washington and section hiked parts of the Florida Trail,
Appalachian Trail, Colorado Trail and 740 mi (1191 km) of the
Pacific Crest Trail. I continue to backpack and hike year round in
the Colorado mountains. I have evolved from a heavyweight
backpacker to a lightweight backpacker and sometimes reach
ultralight weights. My three day fall/winter solo adventures
(using a tent) have me hovering around a 17 lb (7.7 kg) base
weight.
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| Age: |
54 |
| Gender: |
Male |
| Height: |
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Weight: |
210 lb (95 kg) |
| Email: |
sherpabob(at)mac(dot)com |
| Location: |
Longmont, Colorado USA |
October
23, 2011
PRODUCT
INFORMATION (From Website)
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Manufacturer:
Tilley Endurables
Manufactured: 2011 (Made
in Canada)
Website: www.tilley.com
Description:
The lightweight Tilley Tec-Wool Hat, styled with a medium size
brim, has C_Change™ fabric technology and tuckaway earwarmers. The
C_Change™ membrane is bonded to the fabric and reacts to changing
body temperatures, ensuring constant comfort.
Features:
- Guaranteed for life not to wear out
- Insured against loss
- Excellent sun protection, rated UPF 50+
- C-Change™ technology for 'temperature control' comfort
- Unique tuckaway earwarmers
- Treated for rain and snow repellency
- Secret pocket
- 4-page Owner's Manual
- Crushable and packable
- Dry cleanable
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Specifications
- Brim size: Front: 2 5/8 in (6.6 cm) and Back: 2 3/4 in (6.9
cm) Sides: 2 1/8 in (5.4 cm)
- Weight (listed) 4.8 oz (136 g)
- Weight (measured) 5 oz (142 g)
- Size Tested: 7 7/8 (24 5/8 in or 62.5 cm)
- Available Sizes: 6 7/8 to 8+ (13 sizes)
- Tested Color: Black Mix (also available in Brown Mix)
- Materials: 75% Wool, 19% Polyester and 6% Polyurethane with a
bonded C_Change™ membrane
- MSRP: $99.00 US
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INITIAL IMPRESSIONS
The number one reason I am a fan of
Tilley hats is because they fit well. I have a big head and most
manufacturers don't offer hats in the XL range. I guess I should start
shopping at the Big-N-Tall store. When I first placed the hat on my head
it fit perfectly. Not too tight and not too loose. I am not too sure how
well it would stay on in a stiff breeze but we will see.
When I first opened the box and looked inside the hat appeared to be
crushed and was very wrinkled. It is listed as being crushable and
packable. I pulled it out and tried to fluff it up and smooth out the
fabric. I even thought that wearing it for a while it would become less
wrinkled. Even after several days of ocassional wear and storing the hat
hanging on a door knob the hat is still quite wrinkled. In the photo above
you can see some of the wrinkles. It is a great style of hat it just looks
rumpled.
Ear warmers in down position
Inside the hat is a single wrap around ear warmer. It is made of a soft,
elastic, stretchy material. With the ear warmers in the down position the
hat is slightly larger in fit. But the streachy flap sort of hugs my head
a bit. With the extra room I may try to wear a thin micro-fleece helmet
liner underneath the hat for extra warmth if needed. Might look a little
goofy wearing it around town. Might save that idea for the trail.
When the ear warmers are down the hat can be adjusted using the Size
Equalization Device (SED). It is a removable band held in place with
Velcro®. The ends of the band can be adjusted to make the inside
circumference smaller. I will see if I need any adjusting. Right now the
hat feels pretty comfortable even with the ear warmers down.
Also inside the hat is an adjustable sweat band made of Hydrofil to wick
moisture away and a secret pocket sealed with a strip of Velcro®. Inside
that pocket is the Tilley Owner's Manual. The secret pocket in the top of
the crown is an excellent place to store a key, a credit card or even a
bit of cash. Stitched on the flap of the pocket is an information sheet
which includes a place to write your name and phone number so if you loose
your hat there is a better chance you will get it back.
Inside of Hat
This hat is very well thought out and made. The stitching and workmanship
are impeccable. The brim has multiple rows of stitching that make it
stiffer, which keeps it from flopping around. Inside the crown of the hat
is a piece of closed-cell foam which is suppose to keep additional heat
inside the hat keeping your head warmer.
Likes:
- Extremely well made and quite stylish
- Lots of sizes to fit my big fat head
- Incredible warranty
Dislikes:
- Wool fabric is wrinkled and hat looks rumpled
FIELD
REPORT
January 5, 2012
During the past 2 months I have worn the hat pretty much everyday,
between walking the dog in the early morning hours, 3 day hikes and
one quick overnighter. The temperatures have averaged 50 to 20 F
(10 to -7 C) during the day and 20 to -6 F (-7 to -21 C) at night.
All of the day hikes and the overnight backpack trip took place in
the Indian Peaks Wilderness Area of central Colorado. There was 12 in
(30 cm) of compacted snow on the ground with occasional snow flurries.
The majority of the time the weather started out in the morning cloudy
but usually changed to bright sunshine during the rest of the day.
Self portraits are never easy.
I really was enjoying myself.
FIELD
REPORT:
Wearing this style of hat during the winter is very new to me. I
usually wear a knit style stocking cap. During the day hikes and the
overnighter I carried one with me because I was not sure my ears would
stay warm enough. The ear flaps on the Tilley are not very thick but
surprisingly are quite effective at keeping the heat in. Especially
while moving. All of my day hikes and the overnight backpack started
in the morning when temperatures were cooler. As the day wore on and
the temperatures continued to rise I would just tuck the ear
flaps back up into the hat if I was heating up. Then redeploy them as
the sun would start to go down and my ears would get chilly. It was a
really simple way to regulate my warmth.
For the overnight backpack pack I hiked in about 6 mi (9.6 km) and
set up camp before the sun fully set. By the time all my chores were
done and dinner was started it was in the freezing range and I was
beginning to feel chilled. I really did not take the hat off until I
had climbed into the tent to call it a day. On the way back to the car
the next day I was sweating a bit and decided I wanted to take the hat
off and let my head dry off a bit. The hat is already pretty wrinkled
and I did not want to make it worse by just cramming it into the top
of my pack. So I secured the hat to my pack with a small carabiner
looped through the small leather hat band holder located on the upper
side of the hat.
The hat has done really well keeping the sun out of my eyes and off
my neck. It also has handled light snow showers and any snow that
melted just beaded up and did not appear to soak in. A quick shake of
the hat and the drops flew right off.
The hat fits my head pretty well and I don't get a headache if I wear
the Tilley all day. I have a big head and finding hats that fit is
always a challenge. Most hats I own are just a little too snug, so
wearing them for extended periods gives me a headache.
In windy conditions I need to be careful as the hat has blown off my
head twice and I had to chase it down. It didn't go very far as there
were lots of trees around to stop it. The hat does not have a chin
strap that could be used when it is windy.
CLEANING & CARE:
So far the hat does not appear dirty or smell after 2 months of almost
constant use.
SUMMARY:
Style wise I think it makes me look quite dashing. Not that any one
cares out in the woods, but around town it keeps my head warm and helps
me look presentable. I was hoping over time that the hat would relax a
bit and some of the wrinkles would disappear. No such luck. At times it
looks like I slept in it. After the test I may try a steamer to work out
some of the wrinkles
PROS:
- Excellent fit
- Soft, water repellent fabric
- Comfortable over a reasonable temperature range
- Fabric cuts the wind pretty well
CONS:
LONG
TERM REPORT
February
26, 2012
FIELD
REPORT:
The hat still gets almost daily use. I wear it every morning to walk the
dog, on the way to work and additionally on all day hikes and one more
overnight backpack trip to finish out this test.
I have taken 3 additional day hikes with
temperatures ranging between 40 and 20 F (4 and -7 C). My hikes were in
the Indian Peaks Wilderness Area and Lefthand Reservoir. Hikes are usually
3 to 5 miles (5 to 8 km) round trip and I almost always wear my standard
winter layering setup consisting of hat, gloves, wool base layer,
microfleece pullover followed by an insulating Jacket.
The overnight backpack was a quick trip to Brainerd Lake. I hiked in about
5 miles (8 km) set up camp and returned the next day. A quick trip but
just enough to get my sanity fix. I wore the hat on both the hike in and
the hike out.
The Tilly has been exceptional at keeping my head warm and it is really
quite simple to adjust the temperature regulation. If the wind picks up or
my ears get chilled I just lower the ear flaps and keep on going. If my
head begins to feel overheated up go the flaps. I can pretty much wear the
hat all day long with those simple adjustments. The only time I have
removed the hat was after I had made camp and my activity level had
slowed, the sun was behind the mountains and I was beginning to feel
chilled. I would swap the Tilley for a thicker stocking camp and switch
over to a thicker down jacket. Daytime temperatures averaged around 20 F
(-7 C) but that night it dropped to 0 F (-18 C) that night.
CLEANING & CARE:
After wearing the Tilley hat nearly
every day for four months I still do not feel that it needs to be cleaned.
Other than a quick brush off to get the occasional leaves, dust or snow
off the hat really appears identical to the day it arrived, wrinkles and
all. Eventually the Tilley will need to be dry-cleaned. Not something I am
looking forward to as it has been years since I have had anything
dry-cleaned.
SUMMARY:
I am very pleased with this hat. For me
the comfort range seems to be between 60 and 20 F (15 and -7 C) depending
on my activity level and what else I am wearing. The hat is quite
versatile and I can wear it on the trail and straight into the local pub
afterwards and still look like a man of mystery. I will continue to wear
it during the cooler months both on and off the trail.
PROS:
- Excellent fit
- Soft, water repellent fabric
- Comfortable over a reasonable temperature range
- Fabric cuts the wind pretty well
CONS:
- I need to figure out a way to get those wrinkles out
______________________________________________________________________
This
concludes my Long Term Test and I would like to thank
BackpackGearTest.org and Tilley Endurables for the opportunity to test
this hat.
Read more gear reviews by Bob Sanders
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