A hat, doctor's orders (sort of)

[Peter Mount]

I've had conflicting medical advice about whether or not I should wear a hat now, because of my age. I'll be getting a third medical soon as I need to visit my local doctor soon anyway.

So I guess I'll have to look at what kind of hats I should look at. I've found pages like this:

http://www.artofmanliness.com/2008/05/28/the-perfect-hat-for-your-ugly-mug/

Does anybody have other suggestions for style guides?

When I'm not working I'm mostly a jeans and cotton top guy. But for job interviews for professional employment I wear a black suit and tie.

Thanks.

 

[Kent Kimmons]

I wear Ivy Caps (Mucros Weavers in winter and hats.com house brand in the summer) but for church etc, it's a Fedora or Trilby. I wear mostly because of docs orders as well.

 

[my19]

For your non-working hours, I'd suggest something like the Tilley -- http://www.davidmorgan.com/product_info.php?products_id=1334&ad_code=PG_4002 -- although I don't know whether they've readily available in Australia. But based on all the hats I saw there, there must be something comparable. And there's always the Akubra -- beautiful hats -- for more professional settings.

I say this assuming the doctor told you to get a hat to cut down on sun exposure. I have a couple of Tilley's -- one for spring, summer and fall and another for winter. Highly recommended, and they're guaranteed for life.

 

[jkingrph]

Being in Australia I would go with Akubra. The only thing here in my opinion as good, and better is a custom at two to three times the cost of an Akubra.

For hot summer weather they are a bit warm so I would go a Panama hat. Look at Panama Bobs site, http://panamas.biz/ and look at the fedoralounge forum for a lot of info.

I live in E Texas, where summers are hot and humid, winters cool and humid. At age 68 I have been wearing a dress type hat felt or straw, daily for the last 6-7 years. My balding head needs the shade in summer, to prevent sunburn, and the warmth provided in colder weather.

Once you start and get used to wearing one you will not want to stop.

 

[Larry C in Texas]

I live in E Texas, where summers are hot and humid, winters cool and humid. At age 68 I have been wearing a dress type hat felt or straw, daily for the last 6-7 years. My balding head needs the shade in summer, to prevent sunburn, and the warmth provided in colder weather.

Once you start and get used to wearing one you will not want to stop.

Doesn't wearing a hat, even a straw one, make you hot in summer? I live just north of Dallas, and I've tried several hats in summer here, and they seem to raise my internal temperature and make me sweat a ton on my face and head. I normally only wear hats in the winter here, due to that reason. Do you ever notice the straw hats making you steamy in the summer, or am I just a hot-headed person?

Thanks.

 

[my19]

Doesn't wearing a hat, even a straw one, make you hot in summer? I live just north of Dallas, and I've tried several hats in summer here, and they seem to raise my internal temperature and make me sweat a ton on my face and head. I normally only wear hats in the winter here, due to that reason. Do you ever notice the straw hats making you steamy in the summer, or am I just a hot-headed person?

Thanks.

Larry C ... I live just north of Dallas, too. When I cut the grass, I wear a broad-brim hat with a mesh insert near the crown that I picked up at Academy, I think. It works to keep the sun off my face and neck. Not sure it makes a difference in sweat output. Either way, I'm soaked after an hour or two outside ...

 

[Larry C in Texas]

Larry C ... I live just north of Dallas, too. When I cut the grass, I wear a broad-brim hat with a mesh insert near the crown that I picked up at Academy, I think. It works to keep the sun off my face and neck. Not sure it makes a difference in sweat output. Either way, I'm soaked after an hour or two outside ...

Thanks for the input! I would rather wear a hat when I mow to keep the sun off, but I just bake. The mesh insert idea sounds promising. Right now, I have a broad brimmed Tilley I use for mowing in the sun, but it's really hot. I try to wait until after sundown to mow so I won't have to wear a hat. I like your idea, though.

 

[gborba]

Peter,

Get the hat style or styles YOU like.

I like watching old movies and decided I really like fedoras. Started wearing them around April this year and have several now for work, for Church and for very casual use.

Good luck!

Gary

 

[BladeOfAnduril]

Peter,

Get the hat style or styles YOU like.

I like watching old movies and decided I really like fedoras. Started wearing them around April this year and have several now for work, for Church and for very casual use.

Good luck!

Gary

+1! Wear what you like.

As for hats making you hot in the summer... Yes, they can. Particularly felts. Removing the liner helps a lot. A panama without a liner is best for hot weather.

 

[my19]

Thanks for the input! I would rather wear a hat when I mow to keep the sun off, but I just bake. The mesh insert idea sounds promising. Right now, I have a broad brimmed Tilley I use for mowing in the sun, but it's really hot. I try to wait until after sundown to mow so I won't have to wear a hat. I like your idea, though.

Larry, I have a Tilley, too .... I think it's the "Airflow" design. My brother-in-law wears a Tilley, but his is almost like canvas ... or thick cotton duck. If I wore that, I'd pass out on the front lawn ...

 

[jkingrph]

Doesn't wearing a hat, even a straw one, make you hot in summer? I live just north of Dallas, and I've tried several hats in summer here, and they seem to raise my internal temperature and make me sweat a ton on my face and head. I normally only wear hats in the winter here, due to that reason. Do you ever notice the straw hats making you steamy in the summer, or am I just a hot-headed person?

Thanks.

I notice a difference in straw hats. A non vented Panama in a fine weave seems warmer than a coarser weave. I have one that has a diamond mesh weave band about midway up the crown and it is much cooler.

For outdoor work, mowing, I wear a cheap cotton hat, brim and top of crown, with a full nylon mesh on side of crown. On my balding head it is definitely cooler than the sun hitting my bare head. Maybe it's me, but those hats with the mesh crown sides seem to direct any breeze across the top of my head, more than when I go bare headed.

Thinking about skin cancer, I like the shade a hat provides for my ears and back of the neck as well as compared to a cap. I also wear long sleeves working out in the sun.

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

Consider traditional Arab garb/headgear is worn precisely because of the sun/heat of desert conditions.

 

[aihpcfl]

I can also recommend Tilley. Very high quality, durable hats for casual wear. I wear a hat all the time, and in summer here in Florida that is usually a waxed cotton with wide brim. Doesn't make me feel any hotter, keeps sun off my face and neck.

But also concur with advice that you find the hat(s) you like.

 

[KQY61]

Hi,

I just returned to NC from a three year stint working in DFW. I rented an apt close to work so I walked each day. Always wore a Panama even on those 110 deg days. Keeps me quite a bit cooler than not wearing a hat.....

Stan

 

[otherstar]

+1! Wear what you like.

As for hats making you hot in the summer... Yes, they can. Particularly felts. Removing the liner helps a lot. A panama without a liner is best for hot weather.

Yes, this...wear what you like.

I'm quite bald on top and wear hats of some stripe year round. I live in the Houston area, so heat is a very real issue. I tend to wear ball caps in the summer (when I work outside) and do not wear dress hats much in the summer, unless I'm at Lodge and have to (I'm a Mason). Straw hats don't do much for me, but I do have a cotton floppy brimmed hat (much like an older fishing hat) that I keep in the car should I need it in the summer. In the winter I either wear a riding cap, fedora, or a pork pie.

 

[Ashley Rosser]

If it's screening from UV is your reason for a hat then a Tilley is probably the best, they block 98% of UV rays, most are washable and they can be packed flat in a suitcase; they're also guaranteed for life and for a couple of years against theft or loss.

I have two and wear them constantly.

 

[lister]

Hi Peter, not sure what the conflicting advice was but as the country with the highest incidence of skin cancer a hat is a must in my opinion. I've got a few Akubra hats (fedora style and a countryman (wide brimmed)) as well as some Panama hats. I don't recommend caps because they won't protect you during summer especially around the neck.

As far as getting hot I will agree felt bites during summer but is great in winter and autumn/spring. Depending on whether you want one hat to suit a circumstances I'd suggest a couple of different hats for different uses. At least having some cover is better than none either way.

We get much the same temperature range as Melbourne except we don't get the cool changes in summer north of the Divide and I reckon a serviceable panama or a Tilley endurable as others have mentioned or a Jacaru would be a good alternative to an Akubra. Bottom line though, don't buy a cheap hat because like a cheap suit they don't look good nor do they last as well as a reputable brand.

Good luck

 

[jkingrph]

If it's screening from UV is your reason for a hat then a Tilley is probably the best, they block 98% of UV rays, most are washable and they can be packed flat in a suitcase; they're also guaranteed for life and for a couple of years against theft or loss.

I have two and wear them constantly.

I have a couple of Tilley hats, and they are excellent. As far as blocking UV, any hat that has a brim and crown that is thick enough to block light, that is to say will throw a completely dark shadow, will block UV also. Any hat with a mesh crown, or mesh side will allow some light and therefore UV to enter, but I would rather have 70-80% or whatever blockage than none. My el cheapo from Tractor Supply,cost about $5.00 3-4 years ago so I bought the last 3 they had, have a solid, two layers of cotton twill fabric with something in between to help hold shape, in both the very top of the crown and the brim so they block a lot. Even though I have been out in the hottest parts of the day, there has never been any reddening of the skin on my head from the little bit of sun that gets through the mesh sides.

I like the Tilley's. The fabric is a better quality and you get what you pay for, but for outdoor work where they will get sweat soaked and dirty, I do not think they are worth the $75-80 price, vs a $5-10 hat made for the same purposes.

 

[GC77]

For your non-working hours, I'd suggest something like the Tilley -- http://www.davidmorgan.com/product_info.php?products_id=1334&ad_code=PG_4002 -- although I don't know whether they've readily available in Australia. But based on all the hats I saw there, there must be something comparable. And there's always the Akubra -- beautiful hats -- for more professional settings.

I say this assuming the doctor told you to get a hat to cut down on sun exposure. I have a couple of Tilley's -- one for spring, summer and fall and another for winter. Highly recommended, and they're guaranteed for life.

+1 - Tilly hats are amazing. My dermatologist suggested I use more then the caps I was wearing on the golf course and the Tilly fit the bill so well I wear them all the time.

 

[brother cavefish]

a hat is personal it is an imaginary extension of oneself , for me i like newsboys , 2 1/4 fedoras ( steamed front and back upwards) and beanies and for summer i wear a gardner straw hat