Headwear for hot, rainy weather?

[Nyah]

Common opinion is that straw hats aren't a good choice for the rain. Without much straw hat experience though, I don't know the reasons for that. Where I live it's not uncommon, during the Summer, for the weather to change from hot to rainy in the same outing. What type of hat would be optimal for this type of weather, if one's goal was to avoid something made of plastic?

 

[gtdean48]

http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/Sun-Hat-Reviews/Outdoor-Research-Seattle-Sombrero

 

[Blackthorn]

I have one of these, and have worn it many places around the world:
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Outb...er+guide+hat&WTz_l=Header;Search-All+Products

 

[Hercule]

Look no further: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Adult-One-S...pt=US_Costume_Accessories&hash=item51b1a71d26

 

[jhe888]

I use a Tilley hat for golf and being in the sun. It is also a good rain hat.

 

[Nyah]

I guess I should've probably stated that I want to avoid hats made of non-biodegradable material altogether.

What ARE the problems that straw hats have in the rain?

 

[gtdean48]

Palm leaf hats handle water fine. They don't breathe too well & get heavy.
Most straw hats are paper, not straw, & paper doesn't do well when wet....

 

[Duper]

Tilley has many varieties of brim size, material and colours. They are very durable, mostly packable, readily available and light. Check their website. Cotton, nylon, blends, hemp.

 

[Gargs]

The "sombrero" gtdean48 linked to is excellent and I know from wearing in Seattle and Portland. Very lightweight too, a tad expensive but worth the money. (Forgot to mention that this comes in two versions - one is lined with some synthetic material and is quite warm so if you go this route, be sure it's the unlined version.)

Hercule's recommendation does, I believe, have a baseball pedigree in that it was invented by Lou Brock. My track team got me one a thousand years ago for coaching in the Spring in Seattle. It looks precisely as stupid as you'd expect...which was part of the charm. Not recommended for about town however.

 

[Hercule]

Tilley has many varieties of brim size, material and colours. They are very durable, mostly packable, readily available and light. Check their website. Cotton, nylon, blends, hemp.

Tilly has a couple of quite attractive raffia hats that they claim repel rain. (fyi they also claim their shantung hat repels rain as well)

http://www.tilley.com/R11-Fedora-Hat.aspx
http://www.tilley.com/The-R7-Tilley-Town-Hat.aspx

I should think that raffia would hold up better than shantung against rain, assuming it's woven tightly enough to begin with.

 

[Tomasso]

Hercule's recommendation does, I believe, have a baseball pedigree in that it was invented by Lou Brock.

Yep, the "Brockabrella."

 

[tommyK]

+1 on the Tilley. It's my camping/fishing hat. Don't care if it gets wet or rained on, it floats and it's easily replaced if it comes to that. Of course the vented top does let some rain in. I think there may be a variation that's not. They make them in natural materials (biodegradable) as others have stated.

 

[ScottF]

Baseball cap for dry, sunny days,

Akubra Fed IV deluxe for cold and rain, especially hard rain.

 

[The Wiser Hatter]

Stetson Strat Milan is very good wet/dry summer hat

 

[Nyah]

I'm not necessarily looking for a hat that will repel the rain (on the contrary, I'd prefer the hat to have good ventilation). I just want it to be durable enough that I don't have to leave it at home on days when Summer rain storms are predicted. And if it needs to be said, I want it to provide effective sun protection - must have a brim of at least 2.5" (but not more than 2.75" and preferably not dimensional).

Gtdean48's distinction between palm leaf and "straw" hats is well taken. Sounds as if a panama is just fine to wear in the rain..

Somewhere on the FL is an overview of the different types of leaf and straw hat materials.

 

[RBH]

Stetson Strat Milan is very good wet/dry summer hat

I agree Ed... the Stetson milan Stratoliner is a great all around summer hat.

 

[Tomasso]

I wear an open weave straw on hot days and if rain is in the forecast I carry an umbrella.

 

[ManofKent]

I picked up one of the modern Dobbs Milans - they're a little plasticy looking close up in that they have a definite shine, but don't look bad.

 

[Zombie_61]

May I suggest the original Real Deal Brazil tarp hat. Made in Brazil from recycled truck tarps, the wire in the brim is recycled from old truck tires, and the crown is ventilated. The brim is 3", but it's more than adequate to keep the sun and rain off of your head. It's not "fashionable" by the usual Lounge standards, but it'll take a licking and keep on...uhhh...taking a licking.

 

[Gargs]

The "Real Deal's" not a half bad hat and I wear mine often enough to putz around. They advise you put something on it to help it shed water...but for the money it's a good deal, has a great story/gimmick, and although I gotta admit it didn't surprise me much, the skateboard crowd always asks me about it...and a few actually wrote the name down. Of course their headwear tends toward watch caps and Peruvian style watch caps with those hanging threads near each ear.