Customer Reviews Outdoor Research Seattle Sombrero

Over the last 20 years, I've had 3 OR hats. Two of them were the Seattle Sombrero and one is the Sahara Sombrero. I use the Sahara on outings, such as the zoo, vacations or anywhere it is hot and sunny. It's a great paddle hat. I can dip it in the water and cool my head off. The Sahara is very light and comfortable. As for the Seattle model, it is bullet proof. I've been backpacking when a torrential storm hit and we got soaked. My head and underneath my OR gaiters were just about the only two areas which were dry. I like to wear my green one as casual wear in cooler weather. As for my yellow/black one, it went somewhere many years ago. I'll probably find it one of these days. The Seattle is very nice looking to wear. It fits comfortably. Admittedly, I have a large head and wide face, so I don't Velcro up the sides, giving the hat more of a fedora look.

Bought this for spending the day at the race track along with my daily forest hikes with my dog. Couldn't be happier with the fit and performance of the hat. The inner lining keeps sweat from your brow and isolates the Gore-Tex fabric from contact with your scalp, making it very comfy on hot summer days.

Fits well and kept the sun off my head while fishing/hiking.

Standing in a west coast rain storm fishing all day, and came out dry and comfortable. Large rear brim makes rain roll off the back.

I would not have bought this hat a few years ago. Things like a rain hat seemed like extra stuff to carry around that I wouldn't end up using. This year I have begun to embrace products that I never considered before. This hat has come in handy on all of my recent camping adventures. Performed great in rain and for exposure in full sun. It folds up small for packing and when my bike helmet comes off, the Sombrero goes on. I paired this with another product I would not have purchased before, the Deluxe Spring Ring Headnet. They work great together. I even used the combo while sleeping under the stars with mosquitoes buzzing around.

Bought 2 of these hats. Excellent rain protection. We like to walk/hike rain or shine and these hats keep us dry when it decides to rain. I like the extended brim in the back that keeps the water from running down your neck. Great hat!

I always pack the Seattle Sombrero

My over 20 year old one is still intact but not water proof

Purchase for myself and son who is working on his Eagle badge in Scouting. Our troop do over 50 campout a year and hiking trips.

Purchased for a 14 day cruises to AK. Will use for every day proctection now that I have. Can not have it looking too new for the trip.

Love my new hat. Much better solution for keeping dry than a hood when I am walking my dog. Used it while walking on the beach on a windy, rainy day. Was afraid at first that I would be fighting to keep it on my head or even lose it. Stayed on my head and kept me dry. Packed perfectly in my suitcase. Well made, the brim is wide enough to keep the sun out of your eyes and keep you dry without blocking your peripheral vision.

Stand strong on heavy rain and warm in cold weather

I'm a postie in Vancouver, BC and I'm out all day in all manner of weather. Neither rain nor snow nor gloom of night... I was in need of a decent hat to keep the wet at bay. My faithful cotton Tilley hat is great for summer sun and brief showers, but in steady rain it eventually gets saturated and stays that way. I tried the corporate-provided "rain hat" and discovered (within an hour or so of moderate rain) that despite the waterproof fabric, it wasn't even remotely seam-sealed. So, I gave the Seattle Sombrero a whirl. After several months of use over an especially wet winter, I can confirm that it works. Very well. It's genuinely waterproof, and the brim is big enough to direct the water over my collar and down the back of my poncho (and eventually into my shoes). Long after my poncho has steamed up on the inside and my Gore-Tex shoes have filled up from the top, my head remains dry and comfy. When the rain stops it breathes quite well even when I'm charging around with a satchel full of mail. It stays crammed in my pack when it's nice out, and although it's a little disheveled-looking when I pull it out it *foops* back into shape after being on my head for a few minutes. My only minor quibble is that the brim isn't quite stiff enough - I like to push the front of the brim up to keep the runoff from dripping onto my handful of mail (looks dork-o-rama but it works) and it doesn't always stay pushed up. Also, it gets a little flappy in strong wind. I don't use the chin-strap (I tuck it up inside), and it looks to be easily removeable, but I find it useful to hang the hat up to dry at the end of the day. tl;dr - waterproof, breathable, durable, comfy. Absolutely worth it!

I've had this hat for about twenty years and it has held up great. The breathability is somewhat limited, but it's to be expected. As one who works in the outdoor gear/garment industry, I can attest to the excellent workmanship that went into this hat. I stated I would not purchase one again simply because I won't need to. It will outlive me.

I took the sombrero out on the Sandy river in Oregon over a rare sunny spring weekend. The water is pretty uncomfortably cold since its glacial melt and the sun was cooking me and a buddy while we drifted down the river. The hat kept the sun out well and the only complaint I would have is my head cooking with the direct sun on it.

This is my second one. The first one went all over the world with me for 17 years. It still works great but I wanted an additional color. Best hat on the planet!

I'm a full time fishing guide here on The Olympic Peninsula Washington. These weather conditions test all outdoor gear and this hat hold up to whatever Mother Nature throws at it. Rain Snow wind.

Ear flaps will collapse into interior... flaps hook under ear lobes with its stretch elasticity of 'wind block' material .material is pretty tight around ears. With useage material will loosen I feel.

Hat is awesome! Keeps me dry and warm in rough conditions. Only wish it was available in more colors.

The sombrero is a wardrobe staple. Good for outdoor activities in rain or shine. Perfectly sized brim provides superior protection from sun or rain.

My first Seattle sombrero started leaking after about 24 years. This is a great product so I bought a new one. The brim is now larger, so it's heavier but also keep the rain off better.

This is my second Seattle-sombrero hat. The first one I bought over 15 years ago for my scout troop. It was excellent then. It kept my head warm and relatively dry when hiking in some fairly heavy downpours. Fast forward to 2017-2018. Original hat wore out. Purchased my second Seattle-sombrero. Still has the same quality workmanship, keeps my head both warm & dry. Keep up the good work.

N/A

Keeps me dry

This is the second hat I've had since the 2000. Lost the first one. Solid piece of equipment for walks, and not allowing rain to slow down the day. Only issue is that when the sun peaks - the hat does not breath well enough and you'll need to move to something else.