which hat on a trip to Egypt?

[johnnyb]

After reading all this I think it is definitly goining to be a Tilley hat for me. Now I just have to narrow it down to 1.
My first choice was the T3, but what about the TWC5 and 4?. I noticed the (too) small brim on the TWC5 and the wider brim of the TWC4 (aussie style?).

 

[johnnyb]

I just came across the Barmah Dover canvas hat http://www.barmahhats.com.au/images/1054BR_100.jpg. I really like that one!! :eusa_clap

 

[Terry "The Hat"]

After reading all this I think it is definitly goining to be a Tilley hat for me. Now I just have to narrow it down to 1.
My first choice was the T3, but what about the TWC5 and 4?. I noticed the (too) small brim on the TWC5 and the wider brim of the TWC4 (aussie style?).

OK, over at Tilley's Facebook page I'm pretty well known since I have around 15 of their hats. I wear one everyday at work (inside) and have experimented a lot to get the "coolest" hat for indoor wear (which should work well outdoors too). I wear the Cotton Duck or Waxed Cotton in the Fall and Spring and I wear the vented hats in the hot weather. My favorite all around Tilley is the TH5 (hemp) but you would do better with the TH4 (wider brim hemp) for what you are planning. Here are a few of my choices if I were headed back to Egypt (I was there a long time ago and remember the heat)

1) LTM3 (Aussie Style Vented Tilley) Khaki with Olive Brim
2) LTM4 (Brim does not snap up like the4 LTM3 but basically the same hat)
3) TH4 (Hemp)

The 5 (on any of the Tilley Hats) is a smaller brim and the 4 is a larger brim.

I don't just wear my Tilleys indoors. It's my go to hat for everything except when I'm dressed up. It's the best all around outdoors hat I've ever owned. I wear my fedoras (Stetsons, Akubras and others) all the time too but not as an "outdoors" hat or at work where they will get dirty and damaged. The Tilleys can be thrown in the laundry (hand wash cycle-cold/cold) and sit out on the top of the washer to dry (never throw in the dryer).

All Tilleys come with a lifetime warranty (except for the Raffia Straw) and have a two year loss replacement warranty. You actually register the hat with the company. The company itself are a group of the nicest people you would ever want to meet. I help out sometimes at their facebook page and Mandy and Susan who run it for Tilley (and work at the Tilley Office) are great.

Go to www.tilleyendurables.com and read a little. Go to their facebook page (TilleyEndurables) and ask any questions you may have and Mandy or Susan will give you some good honest answers. Tell them "Terry" sent you.

Have a great trip and enjoy whatever hat you choose!

Terry

 

[Blackthorn]

Wow, that's a lot of good info, Terry. I have 2 of their hats, and they make really good hot weather travel hats.

 

[johnnyb]

OK, over at Tilley's Facebook page I'm pretty well known since I have around 15 of their hats. I wear one everyday at work (inside) and have experimented a lot to get the "coolest" hat for indoor wear (which should work well outdoors too). I wear the Cotton Duck or Waxed Cotton in the Fall and Spring and I wear the vented hats in the hot weather. My favorite all around Tilley is the TH5 (hemp) but you would do better with the TH4 (wider brim hemp) for what you are planning. Here are a few of my choices if I were headed back to Egypt (I was there a long time ago and remember the heat)

1) LTM3 (Aussie Style Vented Tilley) Khaki with Olive Brim
2) LTM4 (Brim does not snap up like the4 LTM3 but basically the same hat)
3) TH4 (Hemp)

The 5 (on any of the Tilley Hats) is a smaller brim and the 4 is a larger brim.

I don't just wear my Tilleys indoors. It's my go to hat for everything except when I'm dressed up. It's the best all around outdoors hat I've ever owned. I wear my fedoras (Stetsons, Akubras and others) all the time too but not as an "outdoors" hat or at work where they will get dirty and damaged. The Tilleys can be thrown in the laundry (hand wash cycle-cold/cold) and sit out on the top of the washer to dry (never throw in the dryer).

All Tilleys come with a lifetime warranty (except for the Raffia Straw) and have a two year loss replacement warranty. You actually register the hat with the company. The company itself are a group of the nicest people you would ever want to meet. I help out sometimes at their facebook page and Mandy and Susan who run it for Tilley (and work at the Tilley Office) are great.

Go to www.tilleyendurables.com and read a little. Go to their facebook page (TilleyEndurables) and ask any questions you may have and Mandy or Susan will give you some good honest answers. Tell them "Terry" sent you.

Have a great trip and enjoy whatever hat you choose!

Terry

Thank you for you info,

The TH4 looks really great.
How does the brim of the Tilley's hold out? given that there is no steel wire in it.

 

[99benzman]

I have one of these and love it!!! This should work well for you in the desert heat.

http://www.noggintops.com/Henschel-Hats-Aussie-Crushable/dp/B005ZUIB7E?ie=UTF8&id=Henschel%20Hats%20Aussie%20Crushable&field_product_site_launch_date_utc=-1y&field_availability=-1&field_browse=2676633011&searchSize=12&searchNodeID=2676633011&searchPage=1&refinementHistory=brandtextbin%2Csubjectbin%2Ccolor_map%2Cprice%2Csize_name&searchRank=salesrank

 

[ecp]

99benzman I've worn one of these Henschel's for the past two summers. They are great when mowing the lawn or when working in the garden. The heat never builds up like it does with a Tilley, and the price is right.

 

[Terry "The Hat"]

Thank you for you info,

The TH4 looks really great.
How does the brim of the Tilley's hold out? given that there is no steel wire in it.

The brims do really well, especially on the lighter hats like you are looking at. You will really love the straps too when it gets really windy out. I use mine all the time at work when I'm outside loading or just walking from my car across the lot to the store and back. I love the security of knowing my hat is not gonna end up in the next town!

 

[Edward]

Never done Egypt, but I have a few hats for very hot weather. I use them travelling to hot climes, and in London in the Summer. Do bear in mind that as a Celt, I find anything north of about 22 Celcius 'too hot', and anything reaching 30 C unbearable. In China and India both in temperatures well into the thirties, I have worn both my Akubra Capricorns, which are a poly-straw in a Milano style. I have come to prefer these over actual straw, as they are much more durable and not in danger of damage from a little rain. My Akubra Riverina, which I safari-ised (as did many of us round these parts a few years ago) has had extensive wear in these places and conditions. It is felt, but ventilated. Some remove the lining, I chose to keep mine. Not as light as the Capricorns, but considerably better when the weather turns - I did get caught in the worst rainstorms in over 120 years in Hong Kong in 2008, and the Akubra laughed at the rain. The polystraw Akubras would have held up to it, but not been nearly as protective or pleasant in those conditions.

When I travel to these places I often also take a couple of linen and cotton caps. A cap doesn't keep the sun off your neck during the day, but for heading out in the evening (especially to a theatre, live music venue or other place where you might not have so much leg room and don't want your hat on your knee all night) they can be very handy. AS to transporting brimmed hats, I always just wear one and put it in the overhead locker with my jacket - never had a problem with that. I have taken both Capricorns with me at times: the simple solution there was to carry one in a polythene bag. If it was ever queried at to why I had two pieces of hand luggage, I would just have put one on top of the other and claimed to have been wearing both. Never a problem, though.

 

[Chasseur]

I would second the votes for the Akubra Capricorn or their other poly straw hats (Country Club?). I used to use a Panama for everyday in Hawaii and also for travel, but rain is not kind to Panamas so I switched about a year ago to wearing a Capricorn and I am quite happy. Good for warm/hot weather and since they are plastic they are very durable against crushing, monsoon rain and small children. I will say since they are plastic there are not as cool as a Panama, but pretty close. I wore one everyday in the summer heat in New Delhi and it worked great.

I've no experience with the Tilly and it looks like a great hat, but one concern I would have is that is looks like an outdoor/adventure hat. While I think that is fine for the outdoors (desert and pyramids, etc.), one thing I've noticed in places with many Western tourists is that those that wear outdoor/trekking clothing in cities tend to get hassled more by touts and people hawking tourist items. While I have not been to Egypt this has been my experience in places like India. I am not saying that with a Capricorn or Panama you will blend in, but you could be mistaken for an ex-pat etc. Generally my rule of thumb in foreign cities is to try and look like an ex-pat (business casual) and not a tourist (wearing hiking/outdoor gear in a city). A friend of mine I used to work with in India used to change from his office clothes to outdoors/trekking clothes(high performance fabric, trousers that can zip to short, a hat similar to the Tiley, etc) when going into Delhi. He was always much more hassled by con men (got pick pocketed) and touts than I was in business casual.

Again, I've no experience in Egypt so I might be wrong about this, but I would stick to a more urban looking hat if you are spending more time in cities.

 

[MJH]

I too am an avid Tilley fan! They are expensive but well worth it as they have a lifetime guarantee. They do just about everything - mildew resistant, washable, float, sun protection, etc. Apparently one went through an elephant 3 times and still survived (poor elephant!) The guy that invented them wanted them for his sailing crew and I think they were made out of the same strong material as a sail (not sure though). He has just kept on working on every part of them to make them perfect! :eusa_clap

 

[PHIL1959]

I took a rollable panama it did the job.