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In hot sunny days oilskin vs straw (that includes palm leaf)

rapser

New in Town
Messages
11
Does anyone own both.
In very hot days can you wear oilskin? Its cotton. Does it breath as well as natural straw?

Thanks
 

Mm25

One Too Many
Messages
1,020
Does anyone own both.
In very hot days can you wear oilskin? Its cotton. Does it breath as well as natural straw?

Thanks
I find oilskin is hot! Even in the winter, moderate walking causes lots of sweat. I would not wear it in the summer at all.
 

johnnycanuck

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,008
Location
Alberta
Oil skin is hot. Palm leaf is a good choice. Sunbody hats have an SPF factor on them so they are a great option. Is this an overall everyday hat?
 

Fed in a Fedora

Practically Family
Messages
739
Location
Dixie, USA
Own both - straw is better for the heat. I wore an oilskin for a trip out west (AZ and UT) and was too hot. Wished for my straw the whole trip.
 

Lean'n'mean

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,087
Location
Cloud-cuckoo-land
I have to agree with everyone else. Oilskin hats are really only good in the rain, even summer rain but are too warm for regular use. They aren't 'breathable' either.
Have you considered a canvas hat ? if you like the worn & rugged look, the Brazilian tarp hats are pretty cool & reasonably comfortable in the heat.
 

RJR

Messages
10,620
Location
Iowa
I have to agree with everyone else. Oilskin hats are really only good in the rain, even summer rain but are too warm for regular use. They aren't 'breathable' either.
Have you considered a canvas hat ? if you like the worn & rugged look, the Brazilian tarp hats are pretty cool & reasonably comfortable in the heat.
I agree.
 

DJH

I'll Lock Up
Messages
6,355
Location
Ft Worth, TX
Tom's hats have a distinctive look that I always like to see.

The s-c is perfect. I have a Montecristi version that Art made, but a Cuenca like Tom's would be a great addition.
 

tropicalbob

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,954
Location
miami, fl
Tom's hats have a distinctive look that I always like to see.

The s-c is perfect. I have a Montecristi version that Art made, but a Cuenca like Tom's would be a great addition.
I keep praying that Tom will get some blocks larger than 7 5/8, which I believe is as high as he goes. Fine workman.
 

1961MJS

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,370
Location
Norman Oklahoma
Hi

I've only gotten rid of two hats, my first palm leaf that I let dry out. I crushed the heck out of it TWICE when it was dry. The other was one of those oil-skin hats. Don't buy one, if it's THAT rainy you should get a decent Beaver hat. If you DO buy one, don't buy extra oil and put on it. I wore one at Quivira Scout Ranch in Kansas, in July, it was 108 degrees F the first 5 days of camp.

Get a palm leaf hat, put a nice ribbon on it. If you're going out for the day, fill it with water and pour it out, should be comfortable all day.

1. Don't buy an oil skin hat.
2. Keep your palm leaf hats moist, wet and wear once a month all summer.

Later Y'all
 

Rick Blaine

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,958
Location
Saskatoon, SK CANADA
Hi

I've only gotten rid of two hats, my first palm leaf that I let dry out. I crushed the heck out of it TWICE when it was dry. The other was one of those oil-skin hats. Don't buy one, if it's THAT rainy you should get a decent Beaver hat. If you DO buy one, don't buy extra oil and put on it. I wore one at Quivira Scout Ranch in Kansas, in July, it was 108 degrees F the first 5 days of camp.

Get a palm leaf hat, put a nice ribbon on it. If you're going out for the day, fill it with water and pour it out, should be comfortable all day.

1. Don't buy an oil skin hat.
2. Keep your palm leaf hats moist, wet and wear once a month all summer.

Later Y'all


Some of us, at 104% humidity, don't know the joys of evaporational cooling. This is a heavily arboreal area, we live in a huge forest!
I long for an existence in a high-desert environment!
I have broken down and got a couple of Tilly's, hemp and original, but I still feel like a suburban Dad or a tourist everywhere I go.

Recently I discovered Hill's Hats of New Zealand. I got a new Western Tech in sage and I really like it. Synthetic material is super light, very tough, rain proof wind resistant, crushable with an anti-microbial sweatband.

Ya' gotta OWN that look in the summer, i.e.- worn with shorts a short sleeved shirt, rolled down socks above hiking or working boots, that have either hiked or worked. You just gotta go full out Steve Erwin!

Anyway, mine is quite nice, feather lite, tough as nails and will be seeing abundant head time this summer. For N America VHS has it here.
When you just can't baby a Panama, is my thought.
 
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