TILLEY AUDUBON HAT
TEST SERIES BY CHARI DAIGNAULT
LONG-TERM REPORT
INITIAL REPORT - September 15, 2009
FIELD REPORT - November 24, 2009
LONG TERM
REPORT - January 28, 2010
TESTER INFORMATION
| NAME: |
Chari Daignault |
| EMAIL: |
chari.daignault@gmail.com
|
| AGE: |
47 |
| LOCATION: |
Orlando, Florida U.S.A.
|
| GENDER: |
F |
| HEIGHT: |
5' 6" (1.70 m) |
| WEIGHT: |
135 lb (61.20 kg)
|
I've been a light hiker for 36 years. I take
the minimum I can with me and prefer a pack close to 15 pounds [6.80 kg]. I've
hiked all the Florida State Forest trails in Central Florida, backpacked the Na
Pali coast on the island of Kauai and climbed Mt. Fuji in Japan. I have hiked
dry & sandy, rough & rocky and wet & boggy trails and as a result,
have found what does and doesn't work for me in terms of equipment and clothing.
INITIAL
REPORT
PRODUCT INFORMATION &
SPECIFICATIONS
Manufacturer: Tilley Endurables
Year of
Manufacture: 2009
Manufacturer's Website: www.tilley.com
MSRP: US $72.00
Listed
Weight: 3 oz. [85 g]
Actual Weight: 2.9 oz. [82 g]
Brim
Measurements:
Front: 2 5/8 in [6.4 cm] Back: 2 3/4 in [7 cm] Sides: 2 1/8 in
[5 cm]
Available Colors: Olive
Available Sizes: 6 7/8 - 8+ [21 5/8 in - 26
1/8 in] [55 cm - 66.5 cm]
 |
| Top View |
INITIAL IMPRESSIONS
The Tilley Audubon hat has a shorter brim than
other Tilley hats I've worn. This makes it a hat that I would be more inclined
to wear out to social events and not just out on the trail. By measuring my head
circumference, per the instructions included on Tilley's website, it was
determined that I should wear a 7 1/8. When the hat arrived and I tried it on,
it fit perfectly; not too tight and not too loose. When on, I can fit two
fingers flat against my forehead just inside the "anti-sweat band".
The
hat is light weight, feels like it's made of a flexible, thin canvas material
and has 1/2 in [1.3 cm] to 1 in [2.54 cm] of mesh along the top of the crown for
ventilation. There are two grommets along the outside head band of the hat
through which the wind cord is wound. Inside, the wind cord is separated between
the front and back of the hat and is connected in the back of the hat with two
knots. These two knots can be pulled farther apart to make the wind cord
smaller, or brought closer together to increase the size. The wind cord itself
is made of cotton and is very similar to a large shoe lace. There is a hidden
pocket up inside the crown of the hat, which is secured on one side by a hook
and loop fastener. Also inside the crown, just outside the opening to the hidden
pocket, is a place to put your name and phone number in case the hat is
lost.
 |
| Inside the hat |
Although it
doesn't specifically say so on the website or on the hangtags, a quick call to
customer service confirmed that a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the
Tilley Audubon Hat goes to the National Audubon Society.
THE INSTRUCTIONS AND BRAG
TAGS
There are loads of instructions, notes and
anecdotes included with the Audubon Hat. The owner's manual was found inside the
hidden pocket inside the crown of the hat, along with a set of "Brag Tags". The
owner's manual is meant to be removed prior to wearing the hat, but the Brag
Tags come in a small plastic zip bag and are supposed to be kept inside the hat
for later use.
Per the included notes, Brag Tags are to be handed to
"envious" people who may ask you how they can get a Tilley Audubon Hat. They are
perforated and contain the necessary information so folks will be able to get
their own Tilley Hat. It is also suggested that the plastic zip bag the Brag
Tags come in be used as a place to stash some emergency cash or your fishing
license.
 |
| Brag Tags |
The owner's manual
contains detailed information about every aspect of Tilley hats, including how
to find the front of the hat, how it should fit and all the features of Tilley
hats. The owner's manual also includes a copy of Tilley's Guarantee: if the hat
ever wears out, mail it to Tilley with a check for US $8.50 to cover the
shipping costs, and they'll replace it for free.
 |
| Owners's Manual |
The wind cord
[which as mentioned before is a long shoe lace] is wound through the grommets on
the head band and back around until it loops over on itself and creates two
loops. One loop hangs down where it can go under my chin, and the other loops
down so it can go across the base of the back of my skull. I was able to adjust
the length by taking the two knots of the wind cord and pulling them farther
apart. This made the wind cord tighter. When not using the wind cord, I place
the two loops inside the crown, put the hat on and they're out of the
way.
 |
| Wind Cord |
Per the website, all
Tilley hats are guaranteed for life, insured for loss*, provide excellent sun
protection [UPF 50+], repel rain, tie on in the wind, are machine washable and
won't shrink.
With regard to washing, the instructions suggest washing
the hat regularly, as perspiration and skin oils can rot the fabric. The Audubon
Hat can be machine-washed with cold or warm water or wash by hand. Laundry soap
can be used, but no bleach. The hat should be reshaped when wet and hung up to
air dry. The hat should not be put in the dryer.
*Tilley's Insurance
against loss [per the website]: "'The Straight-Shooter's Statement of Loss of a
Tilley Hat' insurance policy. The insurance is for two years, all perils, 50%
deductible, and is not issued by Lloyds."
LTM5 vs LTM5A
The Tilley Audubon Hat is a model LTM5A. The
only difference between the LTM5A and the LTM5 is the Olive color of the LTM5A
and the donation of proceeds from the sale of the LTM5A to the National Audubon
Society. They all have the Tilley Airflo® design, which incorporates mesh into
the crown and all are engineered from Tilley Nylamtium®, a strong
water-and-mildew resistant form of nylon.
 |
| Tilley Audubon Hat |
SUMMARY
The experience I've had so far with the Tilley
Audubon Hat has been very positive. I really like the shape and the look of the
hat when it's on my head. It's comfortable and light in weight. I'll be doing my
best to test out all the claims made by Tilley on this hat and will make sure
that the ventilation features are fully tested.
FIELD
REPORT
FIELD LOCATIONS AND
CONDITIONS
I've worn the Tilley Audubon Hat during
several day hikes, backpacking trips and walks through the neighborhood. Our day
hikes are in the Hal Scott Regional Preserve and we've done two backpacking
trips into the Little Big Econ State Forest where we hiked in, did some kayaking
and camped overnight. The weather during the past two months has been sunny and
humid with daytime temps ranging from over 90 F [32 C] down to 67 F [19.4 C].
We've currently settled into a nice, much drier, partly sunny pattern with temps
averaging at around 80 F [26.6 C]. There has been little wind, even less rain
and a light fog in the mornings as well. It's been perfect weather for camping
and hiking.
PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD
As has been my experience with Tilley hats,
the Audubon Hat fits wonderfully and comfortably. I don't worry about it being
blown off or falling off if I have to bend over quickly. The mesh in the top of
the crown allows heat to escape, keeping my head cooler and drier. Although I
wasn't sure at first, I really like the shorter brim on the Audubon hat. It
doesn't interfere with any of my packs, it doesn't impede my peripheral view and
I can look up without the brim hitting the top of my shoulders.
 |
| Feeling Groovy |
Normally, I
would wear protective head gear when kayaking. But this season, the
Econlockhatchee River has been at a really low level so the current is almost
nonexistent and there's no risk of being swept away. We've also been trying out
an inflatable kayak and since there are no rocky areas on the Econ, it works out
well. The Tilley Audubon has served just fine for a head covering during these
excursions.
Due to the low level of the river, we had to carry our kayak
across sand bars and up the bank when we were ready to set up camp. When I took
a dunk or two in the drink, I found that the Audubon really does float! I was
able to grab the hat out of the water quickly, shake it off and it was dry,
except for the chin straps, which dried out completely in a couple
hours.
 |
| Low River |
Even with the
shorter brim, the Audubon hat offers good sun protection for both my face and
the back of my neck. As long as I wear good clothing and apply sun block
regularly, I do not experience sun burn on my nose or the back of my
neck.
Although I've worn the hat a lot, dropped it in the river a few
times and stepped on it once, I still haven't needed to wash it. There are no
sweat or dirt stains, and there is no odor inside the hat. When I am ready to
wash it, I'll do as I have in the past with my other Tilley hats and will wash
it with the rest of my clothes in cold water and then I'll hang it up to line
dry. I'll report on my experiences with washing once I've actually washed
it.
I will be taking it with me to Colorado next month and will see how
it does in cold weather. I do realize that the Tilley Audubon Hat is designed
for warmer weather, but I can't see leaving it behind just because of a little
snow! I'm going to scrunch it up and pack it in my suitcase to see how well it
stands up to 4 hours of flight time.
SUMMARY
This far into testing, I really love this hat.
It fits well and comfortably, keeps my head cool and protects my face and neck
from the sun. It floats, can withstand being stomped on and gets a lot of
compliments. I wasn't sure about the green color, but it turns out it actually
matches with a lot more of my clothing than I thought it would!
TESTING STRATEGY
I will continue to wear the Tilley Audubon Hat
during all day hikes, backpacking trips and on walks through our neighborhood.
I'll also be testing it during travel and in colder weather.
LONG-TERM
REPORT
LONG-TERM TEST LOCATIONS AND
CONDITIONS
I've continued to wear the Tilley Audubon Hat
during several day hikes and around town. Our day hikes are in the Hal Scott
Regional Preserve right outside my community. The weather during the past two
months has been sunny and only slightly humid with daytime temps ranging from
over 80 F [26.7 C] down to 24 F [-4.4 C]. Current temps are still a bit below
normal, averaging at around 65 F [18.3 C]. There has been some wind, a few
severe storms, some snow and sleet and occasional fog in the
mornings.
I also took the Audubon Hat along with us on a week-long trip
to Firestone, Colorado over the winter holidays. Although we didn't get to do
the hiking I had hoped we would, I was able to test packing the hat in my
suitcase to see how well the hat would travel. I was also able to see how the
hat performed in cold weather [I realize the Audubon is made for warm weather].
The weather in the Denver area was blustery and snowy the day we arrived, with
temps around 19 F [-7.2 C]. The rest of the time we were there, it was clear and
dry with lows around 12 F [-11 C] and highs around 32 F [0 C]. The area we
stayed at in Firestone is at an altitude of about 5670 ft [1728 m].
PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD
The Tilley Audubon Hat continues to be
extremely comfortable and well-fitting. This is especially true in warmer
climates where the heat from my head is vented easily through the mesh on the
crown. Still, during the time I wore the hat in cold Colorado, it performed
quite well. I didn't expect it to keep my head very warm, but in fact it kept it
warm enough that I felt comfortable while walking around town. It also kept the
sun off my face, although glare from snow on the ground still reflected
up.
For our trip to Colorado, I packed the Audubon hat in my suitcase and
just smashed it in where it would fit. When we landed in Colorado and arrived at
our destination, I unpacked the hat and gave it a good shake. The hat sort of
popped right out and with a few tugs on the brim, it was ready to wear.
 |
| Snow! |
Back home in Florida
while on a bicycle ride one extremely windy day, I wore the Audubon hat without
thinking. It blew off of course. So, I used the wind straps behind my head and
under my chin. After that, the hat stayed on with no problems and we had an
enjoyable ride in spite of the wind. Even with the wind straps, the hat was
still comfortable and kept its shape. Granted, wearing the hat with the wind
straps deployed doesn't look nearly as nice as it does with them hidden in the
crown of the hat, but at least it stays on.
SUMMARY
Overall, I've been extremely happy with the
Tilley Audubon Hat. It continues to be comfortable, has shown no wear or tear
and looks very stylish no matter what I wear it
with.
Likes:
Lightweight
Floats
Ventilated
Fedora-inspired
Comfortable
Machine-washable
Keeps
shape
Dislikes:
None
This concludes my Long Term Report. Thanks
to BackpackGearTest.org and Tilley Endurables for allowing me to test this great
hat!
This report was created with the
BackpackGearTest.org
Report Writer Version 1.5 Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.
