Tilley Hat - Cancer Warning

[johnnycanuck]

There is also the riverina, if you don't suit a square crown. It has the same size of brim as the territory.
Widest I have is the Coolabah and the Cattleman. Not much difference in brim size by the numbers, but on a bright sunny day you can tell the difference.
Tempted to buy one more hat, if my wife won't divorce me but torn between the territory, riverina and the Golden Spur. I don't really have a western hat and that looks bad ass!

 

[BaldingBonce]

Hmm, the Akubras are expensive these days, around AU$180 delivered. I bought one for half that price about 15 year ago.

 

[Lean'n'mean]

It was the one with the widest brim, which I needed for sun protection..

The Tilley LTM2 is the model with the widest brim, similar design to the one you have.

I took their SPF protection statement at face value. NOWHERE do they make it clear, in their Amazon listing, that this hat allows LOTS of sun through.

Isn't it obvious that something with holes in is going to let the sun through ?

That's not what Tilley says, they actually say the SPF rating is for the HAT in their email to me and in their advertising. The Canadian advertising standards authority should take action.

Yes I can understand that but if a hat is made from a material that has a UPF50+ rating then that implies that the hat itself has a UPF 50+ rating if used properly. Mesh crowned hats do not offer the same protection as unmeshed crowned hats, prehaps you believed they did & so were mislead by the blurb. I concede that maybe there ought to be an additional warning regarding the mesh crowned models under high UV exposure.
Tilley hats though are really designed for temperate climes & if you live under a fierce sun, there are far better hats to choose from. New Akubras may be expensive in Oz but for the same price of a new Tilley you could buy a used Akubra (or a western hat) in excellent condition from somewhere like the bay. If you want something you can trash & wash, then a cricket sun hat might fit the bill, they don't usually have a UPF rating but they're made from a similar cotton fabric to the tilleys.

 

[BaldingBonce]

Isn't it obvious that something with holes in is going to let the sun through ?

No, not at all. Mesh weave can be tight, loose, or arranged in such a fashion as to block sun almost entirely. Look at horticultural shadecloth that can block varying degrees of UV. UV filtration factors of 50-60%, 64-75% or 90% are derived from the density of the weave.

This hat actually has a loose mesh that offers almost no protection at all!

Tilley hats though are really designed for temperate clime

That's crap.

 

[BaldingBonce]

My wife has suggested a do-rag under the hat. She wants to make me one. Any advice here on do-rags?

I'm also looking into sending it back to Amazon. Apparently you don't need the packaging or little slip that comes with it.

 

[Lean'n'mean]

No, not at all. Mesh weave can be tight, loose, or arranged in such a fashion as to block sun almost entirely. Look at horticultural shadecloth that can block varying degrees of UV. UV filtration factors of 50-60%, 64-75% or 90% are derived from the density of the weave.
This hat actually has a loose mesh that offers almost no protection at all!

Since we were discussing hat mesh I didn't fell the need to specify but prehaps I should have been more specific regarding holes such as; 'big holes you can actually see as can be observed with the naked eye in a hat crown mesh when looking at a photo of this type of hat or indeed have the hat in hand & come to the logical conclusion that those holes are big enough to allow the sunlight to come through'.

That's crap.

That's a matter of interpretation but you've kinda proved it ain't.

 

[Yarbles]

Its summer here in OZ with temperatures in the high 30s.
Today I saw a whole bunch of different council and roadworkers.
They all wore a hat . It looked like the canvas Bahma drover model.
Mesh on all sides . I have one and it's a great work hat .....very popular.Judging by the council logo it's sanctioned as uniform head gear also.

 

[Obsessed]

This thread has awakened my intermittent interest in a Territory or Riverina...

 

[BaldingBonce]

'big holes you can actually see as can be observed with the naked eye in a hat crown mesh when looking at a photo of this type of hat or indeed have the hat in hand & come to the logical conclusion that those holes are big enough to allow the sunlight to come through'

You cannot easily tell the difference between different grades of shade cloth, for instance, by eye.

And talking about "big holes", are you blind? This looks like a fine mesh to me.

They all wore a hat . It looked like the canvas Bahma drover model. Mesh on all sides

Yes, mostly young men with a full head of hair, or just plain stupid. The hat makers make no claim about SPF ratings either.

 

[Duper]

Tilley said if the hat was unworn and new and you purchased it from them, not another retailer they would accept it for an exchange on another model. You did not need the original packaging to do the return. You could stuff it in a large envelope and you would have to pay the postage to them, but they would handle the return postage to you for the new hat. They did not mention a refund in our conversation but an exchange. I think a refund would be possible on a new unworn hat as well as I have been told that in previous conversations over the years with them. Again I believe you would have to handle the return postage. They had some specific model suggestions for us balding kinda guys if you wanted to go for the exchange.

If you purchased the hat from another retailer then they said you should deal with that individual or party. I know Amazon has many retailers using their online store front so I am unsure who you dealt with. Tilley or some other retailer selling Tilley products. I can buy a Tilley hat here in Canada from many sources online or in store.

Now if you were willing to accept their lost hat policy and could provide some proof of the purchase date I think that could be worked out as well but the lost hat policy is a one time 50% off on another hat.

Does any of this peak your interest?

,,,Mike in Canada

 

[johnnycanuck]

I am getting the impression there should be a thread dedicated to sun protection hats. Makes, models, advantages and disadvantages.
Johnny

 

[BaldingBonce]

Does any of this peak your interest?

Thanks for the effort, Duper, but I'm sending it back to Amazon, who offer to pay $15 towards postage and give me a full refund. I'll buy an Akubra Territory instead, and use it with a head scarf (Buff® or something similar, a simple cotton bandana is probably even better) underneath to protect it from skin oil and sweat. I should have been wearing a hoo-rag like this all along, just to dumb to realize it. If I had, my current Akubra would be in much better condition.

 

[johnnycanuck]

I love my akubras, but the one I use for working around the farm is a mess. You cannot wash them. Mine is has a thick band of sweat/oil soaked around the headband. Looks disgusting. I thought about buying yet another (I have one I keep in my car for going out), but at their current prices, and with a limited lifespan due to unwashability, I decided on the Tilley, which was clearly a mistake.

Can you post a picture? I have never done this to a hat myself but I hear Australians seem to take great pride in the really battered/well loved hats. I would love to see yours.
I personally have a fair sized collection of Akubra hats. So when I sweat thru one I leave it for a few days to dry out completely. Just wear another one in the meantime. I know they are expensive but maybe keep an eye on eBay and see if you can pick up a second one on the cheap to change with, if you sweat thru your new one.
Another trick i learned from an American sniper is to put a maxi-pad (female hygiene product) in the front of your hat to soak up the sweat. I have never done this but I did use paper towel tucked under the sweat band that saved the front of the hat soaking up all the sweat.
Just some ideas.
Johnny
Don't forget those pictures

 

[Yarbles]

You cannot easily tell the difference between different grades of shade cloth, for instance, by eye.

And talking about "big holes", are you blind? This looks like a fine mesh to me.
View attachment 66984

Yes, mostly young men with a full head of hair, or just plain stupid. The hat makers make no claim about SPF ratings either.

Yep pretty much h exactly like that hat. Dunno if any of them were bald but there were some older blokes.
I'd imagine you'd get a similar exposure to sunshine as you would under a tree with intermittent dappled sunshine reaching the dome.

They really are a tough practical hat . squashes down no probs ...bounces back . not particularly stylish though and a bit iffy on the wire i n the brim.

 

[BaldingBonce]

Quick update: Amazon refunded fully, plus an extra $15 for shipping (less than I paid for return shipping), so I come out ahead overall. Excellent.

I bought an Akubra Territory (pictured above in this thread). Natural material (leather), much better than the plastic Tilley hat. My last Akubra lasted over 20 years, and this one will last longer because I am going to combine it with a bandana in very hot weather to prevent sweat damage.

Won't be back to this forum for a while, thanks for all the help and responses, & won't be buying another Tilley. Cheers!

 

[PJMartins]

Johnny thanks for that; I'm glad I'm not the only one to take this issue very, very seriously.

The Akubra with the widest brim now is the Territory, a lovely hat:

I sincerely think the people at Tilley do not understand how UV exposure works. It is CUMULATIVE. It is instantly damaging. For instance:



Tilley simply don't know what they are doing. Sad, as the orange Jesus might say.

I really should look at some of the Sunbody hats ...

Hello to you all!

I'm baffled with so much idiocy and radicalism.
Every food you eat does some harm to your body, but you don't stop eating, do you? You need it to live.
Oxygen oxidizes your cells every time you breath, but you don't stop breathing, do you?
We need vitamin D to live, and our body (more precisely our skin) can produce it only when exposed to direct sun light.
Nordic countries have to give vitamin D suplements to their inhabitants because they don't have enough sun light.
It looks like that what you need is to live in a steril bunker.
Come on; moderation is the key.

Be safe

 

[totallyfrozen]

Just a word of warning about Tilley hats: the new ones could give you cancer.

I bought a Tilley LTM6 "Nylamtium" (plastic) hat. The materials for this hat must run to a couple of dollars, the rest is pure profit underpinned with lots of marketing. Gone are the days when their hats were made of heavy, durable cotton duck and English brass grommets; now they're just cheap petrochemicals. The fact that they can sell them for the same price is testimony to the wonders of marketing, as I said.

Unfortunately, the sun shines brightly through the aeration section in the crown of the hat, bathing my balding head in UV. For me, this hat is a cancer risk. See the problem here:

View attachment 66882

I contacted Tilley about the sun shining through the crown onto my head, and they threw a variety of excuses at me:

1. "Nobody has complained before" — this is a typical (and usually dishonest) response to a buyer complaint, in my experience
2. "Our hats are UPF tested by an outside lab. These hats have been given a UPF50+ rating" ... but if you check the tests, you find that the hat FABRIC was tested, NOT the hats themselves. More dishonesty.
3. "Visible light can penetrate the mesh, but none of the sun's harmful rays" — They must think their customers are idiots. The strong light coming through the crown is FULL of UV rays.

In short, the hats are, in my opinion, a health disaster for cancer-prone, balding men, and should be either removed from sale, or sold with a UV warning, or have the "Maximum UV SPF50+" advertising barred.

Astonishingly, Amazon is full of 5-star customers reviews, many by men like me, balding and with a history of cancer, praising the hat for protecting their bald heads. The reviews there are either false or people are more stupid than I ever suspected.

Since the packaging and paperwork for this purchase was discarded by my wife, I am stuck with it. She has offered to sew a sleeve inside the hat crown to stop the UV penetration, and I may go that route.

And regarding their "lifetime warranty", when I tried to replace my lost old cotton Tilley using the warranty, they refused, saying "The hat replacement policy only covers hats that are actually worn out, and the hat insurance would replace the hat at half-price within the first 2 years of purchase." Which begs the question: why put "Insured against loss for life" inside the hat when it's a lie?

I hear you. I don't wear a Tilley, personally.


100% UV protection of your scalp and just as breathable as your Tilley

Not fashionable enough?
Then try...

Tested and proven to 0% transmission on UV rays through brim. Shades your entire head and neck and breathable

Too "cowboy"? Or need something more packable?
A boonie or bucket

2" brim, but the parts that are covered are shaded. Reasonably breathable. 100% cotton

There's a plethora of sun hat options available other than Tilley if they're on your bad side.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[totallyfrozen]

Johnny thanks for that; I'm glad I'm not the only one to take this issue very, very seriously.

The Akubra with the widest brim now is the Territory, a lovely hat:

I sincerely think the people at Tilley do not understand how UV exposure works. It is CUMULATIVE. It is instantly damaging. For instance:



Tilley simply don't know what they are doing. Sad, as the orange Jesus might say.

I really should look at some of the Sunbody hats ...

Yes! Sunbody and Tula both make good, genuine palm straw hats in several styles. That brown straw western I have on in the 2nd pic is a Tula palm straw. Same style brim as the Akubra pictured.

That Akubra pictured looks great to me! Depending on just how hot your climate is, that one might be perfect. I'd sure like one.

As far as sun damage. I've never had skin cancer, but I don't plan on getting it either. I wear sunscreen everyday regardless of the weather or where I plan to be. The only time I don't wear a hat in the sun is when I'm not allowed to (at work hats are seldom worn because of security issues).




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[totallyfrozen]

I am getting the impression there should be a thread dedicated to sun protection hats. Makes, models, advantages and disadvantages.
Johnny

+1
I'm up for it. I'd love to learn more!


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[johnnycanuck]

Other than that I'm considering the Filson Summer packer.

https://www.filson.com/uk/fishing/accessories/summer-packer-hat.html

All links I've posted seem good alternatives to the tilley airflow, though I still like the t3s

It’s the mesh and grommet holes in the Tilley hats that let the light thru unfiltered. If you like the T3 go for it. It was the first Tilley I owned and still like it. If you want something cool maybe try the Hemp model
https://www.tilley.com/ca_en/men/hats.html?fabric=75
hemp is naturally sun resistant, mildew resistant and quick drying. It’s light weight and has a looser weave that allows air flow compared to the duck cotton. Just a thought. Let us know what you choose.
Johnny