Reviews > Clothing > Hats > Tilley LTM6 Hat > Stephanie Martin > Long Term Report

Long Term Report: Tilley LTM6 AIRFLO Hat

This report is the second in a series of three.  For more detailed discussion on Product Design and Construction, please read my Initial Report.  For springtime and early summer Field use, please read my Field Report.

Contents

- Product Performance in the Field

- Summary

Product Performance in the Field
Luckily for me, but perhaps not for my testing, the remainder of the test period proved to be rain-free save for a few drizzles.  The heat of the desert southwest, proved hotter than ever, and I was able to get a good feel for how the Tilley LTM6 performs in high temperatures and plenty of sunshine.

The majority of my hiking this past summer has been in canyon country.  My LTM6 has primarily been worn on approach and exit hikes to technical canyons.  During the canyon exploration, the Tilley was often exchanged for a climbing helmet, and my LTM6 Airflow hat was quashed unceremoniously into my pack for safe storage.  Approaches and exits to canyons are often brushy and overgrown with no established trail.  Through all the bushwhacking, the Tilley remained happily on my head, even when brushed and grabbed at by branches.  The broad brim on the Tilley saved me walking into any number of trees as the branches brushing on the brim served to remind me to take a moment to look up from my feet and pay attention to the surrounding vegetation.  The few times I did not exchange my LTM6 for my helmet, it stayed perched perkily on my head as I scrambled, climbed and chimneyed my way around obstacles (photo on right, courtesy of Tom Jones). Even with all kinds of encounters with pokey vegetation and the occasional brush against close sandstone walls, the Nylamtium fabric of my Tilley remains smooth and abrasion-free.

Because of its wide brim, my Tilley usually gets a little bit mashed when packed into my backpack.  I usually try to slide it in as flat as possible along its brim along the backpad of the pack - on occasion, I will just put it on top of everything in the pack, cinching the pack lid closed on top of it.  Even with this kind of treatment, I'm pleased to report that the Tilley, while it sometimes comes out of my pack looking rather mangled, usually perks back up with a little bit of encouragement and hand molding.  The few wrinkles and warps remaining in the hat after being squashed in my pack usually work themselves out over a couple hours of wearing.

The wide brim of the Tilley has continued to serve its main purpose of shading my face and neck from the sun very well.  Even after repeated dunkings in water, the brim on my Tilly is still firm and droop free.  The Nylamtium fabric does not seem to absorb water, and dries very quickly in the arid environment - because of its tight weave, the fabric does trap condensation inside the hat, and does not readily vent heat.  Luckily, the mesh on the top of the hat does allow for adequate exchange of air, and is especially appreciated when there is a nice breeze blowing - I could actually feel the top of my head cooling with the air passing through the mesh at the crown of the hat.

While I still was not able to take advantage of the Brag Tags at all during the test period, I have used the secret pocket in the crown to stow a pair of elastics (to tie my hair up), and some spare cash.  These items have remained secure in the top of the hat, and have not interfered at all with the fit or wearbility of the hat. 

Over the total six month duration of this test, my Tilley LTM6 still looks remarkably new - the few times it got dirty, I was able to clean it in the field with a little bit of water and thorough rinsing (the hat does indeed float as advertised!).  My LTM6 has never gotten dirty or sweat encrusted enough to warrant a washing in my washing machine - the semi-regular dunkings it received on various hiking trips kept it plenty clean.
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My thanks to BackpackGearTest.org and Tilley Endurables for this testing opportunity.

Reviews > Clothing > Hats > Tilley LTM6 Hat > Stephanie Martin > Long Term Report