One downside to this terrible hat abuse is that the surface has often become noticeably grubby after bushwhacks, backpacks or just plain sweaty hikes (miscellaneous bark and grass stains are a particular issue). As a consequence, it has been frequently laundered (as I also like to wear it for trips to the village stores etc. when not hiking). Overall, it has fared well. I've line-dried it (the sun helps keep the linen-like hemp pale cream) and I'm happy to report that there are no stains or discolorations of note (barring a few smudgy marks from a recent trip that will presumably come off in the next wash).
The toll exacted by these washings is a certain lack of crispness. The hat looks (and is) well lived-in. This is, I feel, only to be expected after well over a dozen passes through the washer. In routine use, the front of the brim still flips up in a jaunty manner. However, when faced with winds or brush it's not quite as stiff now as I might ideally wish, tending to droop down. This is fine for mooching around the garden, for example, even desirable from an aspect of sun protection; but it's a bit of a bother when optimal visibility is called for in slightly adverse conditions (e.g. brush or winds). I don't want to exaggerate the problem, and if it really becomes bothersome I'll maybe either starch the brim, which may help, or use a tiny pad of Velcro to keep it in position when needed.
The wind cord has been thoroughly tested. It works well for a nice simple design, despite a slight tendency to jam, and has kept the hat on my head on some windy peaks and in some brisk offshore breezes. The hat also behaved with élan when faced with its fiercest exposure to water. This was not during a heavy thunderstorm (though it has been through those too) but in the extraordinary mists at the base of Niagara Falls, at the foot of the American Falls. While it and I became rapidly sodden (I refused to wear one of the nasty disposable tourist ponchos), the hat kept the spray out of my face and mostly off my head, and dried fairly quickly subsequently. It is at a point where it should be treated with a DWR application for improved performance during rain, but it still performs pretty admirably without in all but the most torrential downpours.
Did I say that it floats? Not having a bombproof Eskimo roll I have not attempted one wearing it, but it has been floated alongside my boat (or in a stream) as a preliminary to jamming it wet on my head. It cools me rather well, one reason other than sheer laziness I have avoided treating it with a water repellent. It's nice to have a cool brow on a hot day, and evaporation from the fabric is certainly quite effective in that regard. Despite all the washings, and all the water, the fit is still as it was when received, I'm happy to report. It does a good job of shading my face from the sun, especially handy on summits (and on the water).
The secret pocket has not seen a lot of use. I don't store anything there that is likely to get damp, simply because of sweat. I have on a couple of occasion put a little money there on kayak trips, where I might want to stop somewhere ashore and get a bite to eat. It functions perfectly adequately, provided one doesn't mind handing over slightly damp bills. I have used the grommets for glasses, both sun and reading (in fact, I'm sometimes to be seen with one pair tucked in my hat, the other on my face) and they are held remarkably securely. I have forgotten they are there at least once and started hunting for my other pair, but that's just me.
Although I used several packs over the period, according to where I was backpacking, how much I had to carry, and my mood at the time, I did a lot with a lumbar pack supporting a very light backpack (an aged GoLite Gust). It turns out that the lumbar pack, lightly filled and covered with the Tilley hat, makes for an extremely comfortable pillow. True multifunctionality!
Early in the test I wore the hat down to freezing or slightly below, and found it kept me adequately warm. Surprisingly, it's not unacceptably hot on the warmest and muggiest of summer days. It's truly a good all-rounder.
There's not much to say in the negative about this garment. It's durable and functional, has a certain elegance and savoir faire, and has performed under duress with flying colors. The issue with the brim, noted earlier in this report, is really not unexpected given the extremely hard usage it has received, and is in any case a minor inconvenience (the hat was not designed as body armor, after all).
I have yet to obtain a celebrity introduction (not that I especially crave this), or even free coffee and pastries, but fellow hikers have handed me the occasional handful of trail mix, though probably more as a result of strong hints than sartorial elegance. In the best of all possible worlds, I would like it if the hat was an ounce or two lighter, but I suspect that this would have a negative effect on the strength of the fabric or the resilience of the brim. At 5.6 oz (159 g) it's probably not a good choice for a truly passionate ultralight hiker, but I'm happy to make a concession because it's fun to wear!
Summary
The Tilley hat is a fine addition to my summer wardrobe, and is suitable for everything from a brutal slog on a humid day to a garden party (assuming a pass through the laundry between the two). What's not to like?
Pro
- Comfortable and stylish
- Easily kept clean
- Excellent sun protection
- Durable
Con
- Nothing of major significance.
I thank BackpackGearTest and Tilley Endurables for permitting me to participate in this thoroughly pleasurable test.
