• The Coolibar Trail Hat is a men's sun hat designed for easygoing everyday use, with side snaps to create a lean profile, and a 3" brim to shelter your face and neck from midday sun. A toggle cord keeps it securely in place; attractive styling and durable details make it the choice of fishing hats and hiking hats. Made of 100% brushed cotton; rated to block 98% UV.

Description [return to top] The Trail Hat is 100% cotton. The stitched-through brim is about 3 in (8 cm) wide all the way around. The crown is a rounded 3-panel design with the Coolibar logo embroidered on the front. The brim has a brass (?) snap on each side to allow snapping the brim to the crown. The inner headband is elastic, and is sewn to the hat only along its bottom edge. For a much more detailed description, please see my Initial Report.

Field Testing [return to top] Our Boy Scout troop camps monthly, generally in the wooded areas of southeastern Pennsylvania and the Pocono Mountains. Almost all of these outings include a minimum of 2 nights of camping, with temperatures expected to be from lows around 35 ºF (2 ºC) to highs around 75 ºF (27 ºC) during the remainder of the 4-month test period. Elevations will range from sea level to approximately 1,500’ (457 m). Our new Scoutmaster has added monthly hikes to our schedule as well. My wife and I, who between us have 3 high-ranking boy scouts (ages 15, 15 and 16), are also looking into additional camping without the scouts, and there are possibilities of some AT section hikes (two down – many to go!) in Pennsylvania and New Jersey with my son as he works towards the Hiking Merit Badge.

Since my Initial Report, I spent a week of 10-15 mile (16-24 km) days – just wandering around scout camp – at the end of July. Temperatures for this trip ranged from lows around 65 ºF (18 ºC) to highs around 105 ºF (41 ºC) with fairly high humidity creating a heat index of 115 °F (46 °C), and elevations ranged from about 800’ (244 m) to about 1,200’ (366 m) with a lot of ups and downs. I was happy to have a lightweight hat to keep the sun out of my eyes and off my neck. The hat also kept sweat out of my eyes, for which I am grateful.

I also have been wearing the Trail Hat almost daily, during my commute to work, plus additional time to and from evening responsibilities. It gets thrown on my desk at work and gets tossed in a closet at home.

Things I am/will be looking for: Fit. Does it fit me? Do the sizing instructions on the web site result in a comfortable hat? Does it stay on well in windy conditions? Fabric. Is the fabric durable? Does it stretch? Does it fade? Is it windproof? Waterproof? Does it pill, pull, or snag readily? Rain. Does the hat protect me (and my glasses) from rain, or does it get floppy and sag down along my head? I will keep in mind that this is a sun hat, not a rain hat. Warmth/cooling. How warm can it get out and still keep me cool? Does it ventilate well? How cool can it get out and still keep me warm? Comfort. Am I constantly aware of the hat, or does it just seem to disappear on my head? Does the headband effectively keep sweat out of my eyes? Can I wear it comfortably while sleeping? Washability. Are there special instructions? Are they easy to follow? Does it dry well? Does it hold much dirt in the first place? Backpacking. Does the rear of the brim interfere with any of my packs? Acceptability. I work in the business world. Do I get odd stares from co-workers or fellow commuters (not that I care, but some might)? Is my wife willing to be seen with me in public while wearing the hat, something which has not been the case for other hats I have worn/tested?

My findings so far: Fit. A bit snug, but only a problem if I have a headache. It stays put on my head. Fabric. After 2 months of almost daily wear, the hat looks like new. Warmth/cooling. The hat helped me keep cool in a heat index of 115 °F (46 °C). Impressive. Comfort. My eyes are dry and shaded. No complaints. Washability. No noticeable soiling yet. The hat looks new. I will wash it at least once before the Long Term Report. Backpacking. With the sides snapped up, the rear of the hat stays above my packs. With the sides down, the brim is flexible enough to bend out of the way. Acceptability. My wife doesn’t actually like it, but she doesn’t make me change it before we go out.

Things I like [return to top] Elastic headband. Snap-up sides. Long drawcord. Things I don't like [return to top] None yet.

Thank you for your time. Chuck Kime a.k.a. Fuzzy

Reviews > Clothing > Hats > Coolibar Trail Hat > Chuck Kime > Field Report