I have over 30 years backpacking experience, starting with Scouting as a youth. I am currently the High Adventure Leader for a Scout Troop. I try to get out once or twice a month, plus at least one week-long trek each year. My trips are of two types. First, I am hiking the Pacific Crest Trail in sections, and generally use a lightweight approach on these typically solo trips. Other trips involving family involve more traditional backpacking equipment. Terrain varies from sea level to 14,000 feet (4,300 m), desert to mountain, and trail to cross country, occasionally including snow travel.

I really do not like to wear hats, but I have no choice. My eyes are extremely sensitive to light, so I have a collection of mostly cheap hats I wear whenever I spend much time outdoors. For hiking I use one of several floppy nylon hats, which become floppier the longer I wear them, and give me a rather rag-tag look. Working in the yard it is usually a larger straw lifeguard hat. Of course, I have an extensive collection of baseball caps picked up at various events, none of which shield my eyes when the sun is at my side, let alone protect my ears from sunburn.

This is the last of three reports of the Tilley LTM6 Airflo Hat based on use over the last two months. The first report described the hat in detail. My next report will discuss durability and comfort over a longer period. This report builds on the second report.

Product Description:

Classy lightweight outdoor hat
Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price is $68.00 (USD)
Lifetime guarantee
http://www.tilley.com
Weight: Stated 3 ounces (85 g), actual 3-1/2 ounces (100 g) for size 7-7/8
Inside circumference of size 7-7/8 measures 24-5/8 inches (63.5 cm)
Brim 2-5/8 inches (6.7 cm) wide at the sides and 3-3/8 inches (8.6 cm) at the front and back for size 7-7/8
Crown about 4-1/2 inches (11.4 cm) tall with polyester mesh for ventilation around top of crown
Tilley Nylamtium, which appears similar to nylon supplex
Water and mildew resistant
Ultraviolet protection factor of 50+ blocks 98 percent of UV radiation
Brim edge lined with wire to maintain shape
Single cord holds hat in place in the wind at both front and back
"Hydrofil" wicking sweat band
Pocket inside hat

Field Test:

The Tilley has gone with me on every outdoor adventure since I received it in the last four months. The most significant testing was on two backpacks on the Pacific Crest Trail - a week-long backpack in the mountains of the Angeles National Forest in Southern California and a four-day trip in the northern Sierra Nevada. Elevations ranged from 2,200 to 10,500 feet (700 to 3,200 m). Weather was mostly clear and sunny, with several days of brisk winds. The temperature ranged from 32 to 90 degrees F (0 to 32 c). On two of the hottest days the humidity was also unusually high for Southern California. On two other days the trail was buried under snow. In addition, it has accompanied me on numerous jaunts on the trail and around town.

Briefly, my impression of this hat is virtually unchanged from my last report, except that I have become even more fond of it.

Some observations:

Wind: The hat still fits well and secure on my head, even in a light breeze. However, I do find myself using the chin strap probably more than needed, but only because I would just hate to have this hat blow away forever.

Ventilation: I crank out a lot of heat. With its light weight and the mesh around the top of the hat, the Tilley keeps me very comfortable. I rarely found a need to remove the hat to cool my head, even on the warmest summer days. On several trips, I stopped at noon for a meal and a three-hour nap while waiting for the temperature to drop. I used the hat to cover my face from the light so I could sleep. With the mesh in the crown, I could breathe comfortably with the hat over my face and did not feel like I was being smothered - and did not notice any odor from my sweaty hike up the mountain.

Sweat: I sweat more than most people do. While the hat did not stop me from sweating, and I still had to mop my brow with a bandana periodically, I felt the wicking sweatband and mesh ventilation resulted in less sweat running down my face and in my eyes than I usually experience. Even with 20-mile days, the sweatband never felt excessively wet.

Appearance and Comfort: The Tilley still has its classy looks. I find it looks as good around town as on the trail. During one trip, after three days of hard hiking, we stopped at a forest service visitor center to rest. While sitting on a chair outside the building, wearing my Tilley, a couple visitors mistook me for a ranger, while I'm used to being looked at as a hobo at such times.

Because many trails were covered in snow during my earlier trips, I bumped the hat against tree limbs many times. The hat sustained no marks that a quick washing would not remove.

Floats: Yes, this hat does float. I tested it in a couple swimming holes. I prefer to keep the chin strap on while enjoying a swim, however, lest the hat float away to some lucky hiker downstream.

Repels rain: While not entirely waterproof because of the mesh and grommets, the fabric does resist water. I have only had the good fortune to wear the hat in light rain or brief rain showers. Since I wear a hooded jacket in heavier rain, the hat would work well to keep rain off my face and glasses.

Won't shrink: I have experienced no shrinking or stretching, and the fabric has not picked up any wrinkles or creases.

Cleaning: The fabric cleans easily. I have washed the hat by hand several times using liquid handsoap and once using in a washing machine using warm water and liquid detergent. I was pleasantly surprised that, even after machine washing, the brim retained its shape. The hat typically was dry after about four hours indoors. There are no stains apparent on the fabric except some very light sweat stains on the two outside seams that attach the sweat band to the hat.

Guaranteed for Life: Well, I'm still here, and the hat's still in good shape, but hopefully the Tilley and I live a long life together. It has been stuffed in my backpack and used as a catch-all for loose items in my tent. The seams are all still tight and the only flaw I see in the fabric, besides a couple thread ends, is that the size tag inside frayed after a machine washing.

Summary:

I love this hat! what more can I say? It's going to Lake Tahoe next weekend with me.

A thank you to BackpackGearTest and Tilley for the opportunity to test this wonderful hat.

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