Customer Reviews Outdoor Research Sunbriolet Sun Hat

Hiking and General city walking

Great for hiking

This is a great sun hat! Measured my head before buying and was just under the size listed for Large, it fits great. Provides tons of coverage, but doesn't get in the way like others do. There is a mesh lining that sits on your head, and inside of that is the UPF material which is a little loose so that air can flow. The hat seems to wick pretty well and isn't too hot even after hours in the sun. Well done!

Excellent sun protection (which is essential for a fair skinned person). A good overall hat too!

I love OR Gear and I purchased as much OR gear for my 5 month thru-hike of the PCT. Heres how this gear held up! Sun Protection: Fantastic! A super wide brim, that is designed to cover most without being massive. Very breathable and should be the standard hat for hiking 700 miles through the California desert. Cons: Even though its wide, the hat still could use more neck protection. Columbia has a hat that has a built in neck protector that works brilliantly, just like the OR sun runner hat. If OR came up with a neck protection with a wide brim hat like this it would be the best outdoor hat on the market! I would still highly recommend this hat.

I got the Sombriolet sun hat for my husband as he works outdoors a lot. We are both fans of Outdoor Research products and this hat doesn't disappoint. It lets the breeze in keeping you cool and keeps the sun off. It washes well just in the sink with some shampoo. It's probably fine in a washing machine but I take care of my hats. It keeps its shape too which is great for traveling.

I really like this hat. The wide brim and sunglasses really help cut the glare down while near the water or snow on sunny days. I was a little concerned because some reviews say it flaps in the wind, I've used this hat for kayaking and backpacking and only once seen a wind strong enough to flap the hat brim around. The hat also travels well. I've packed it in my backpack and suitcase a bunch of times and I keep thinking it's going to start looking funny but it still looks great when I put it on. .

just chiming in - this is a great hat! I've worn it whitewater rafting, sea kayaking, and doing fieldwork in the Amazon, and I am totally in love with this hat. I've even been in a few tropical downpours, and although it won't keep you dry it's good for a quick dash, and it dries in no time at all. It flops around a bit in a good breeze, but you can snug it down with the drawstring and then use the chin strap to cinch up the sides, and that gives it enough rigidity and structure to withstand all but the worst head-on gusts. I'm a hat addict and have a giant noggin (8 1/4) and the XL fits better than any other hat I own. Echoing the gardener above, kudos to OR for making hats for us punkinheads! Now how about making a ball cap this size?

I am doing volunteer work in the highlands of Peru, where the temperatures are moderate, but the sun is brutal. Aside from long sleeves, long pants, and sunblock, a good hat is essential! This hat breathes wonderfully, keeping my head from getting too hot, yet offers great sun protection for my face. I doesn't breathe as well as the OR Papyrus, however. It seems to be water resistant, but not waterproof as the OR Seattle Sombrero (which I also use in rainy season). I love the fact that this hat is machine-washable, since I'm prone to sweating. I was kind of disappointed that the plastic stiffener around the brim broke (the little tube holding the two ends of the loop) at which point it didn't hold it's shape quite as well. I ended up removing the loop completely, and I'm still quite happy with its performance.

I have been in the green industry for over 47 years and have gone through my share of long brimmed baseball hats to protect my face from the effects of the sun during our long hours of work. Most of the hats have been OK except at 6'4" and 245 pounds I have always had the biggest head on the football team through school. You can probably see my head from the space station. And it didn't matter if I had an adjustable hat or a flex fit it would always feel great to take my hat off at the end of the day. And then I did a little research and found the Sombriolet hat and thought hey that looks like it could work on my 8.5 lb head (yes I weighed it one time :) So today I see the mail man drop off the hat in our mailbox, I hop on my mountain bike to ride the 500' down our driveway to get the hat. Much to my surprise the envelope was as flat as a piece of paper and I thought.....what..... I opened the envelope and it was the right hat and when I put it on top of my grand pumpkin, the hat came to life.......and believe it or not the XL was a bit loose on my head. And then I found out the hat has a drawstring to snug it around my melon and I have found hat nirvana. The great part is my 5'6" wife has the head of doll, almost any hat you put on here and her face disappears. Her hat should be here on Wednesday and I am sure she too will find hat nirvana. The Sombriolet is also better than a ball cap for us because it protects our ears and neck as well. Thanks for making a great hat for those of us who are cranially challenged!

Many others have mentioned so many of the great features of this hat. Let me focus on an additionl aspect which is important to me. Hat retention test: Had the chance to be in a Jeep for a 65 MPH drive yesterday. I have already lost one "ball cap" this way. It had a normal sized front bill. Due to no doors or roof on the Jeep, wind conditions are problematic for hat retention. I was concerned how this new hat would fair in similar windy times. I am happy to report that I had no issues even though the wind tried ripping the hat off my head because of the LARGER bill running all around instead of just in front. The wind was constantly making the brim flap madly. What insured I had no troubles is the pull cord which will adjust the "fit" of the hat right where the top meets the bill. Ingenious! I am able to position this hat low on my head (in front and back) and by tightening the cord, it makes it near impossible for the hat to get past the "wider" part of my head and fly off. I am extremely happy with this addition to my wind/rain/sun hat driving/hiking/working gear. (BTW, there is an included chin retention strap. I removed it for the maiden test and will not be putting it back on -- no need. However, should I do a UL backpacking trip at some point in the future I will attach a short length of Para cord to one of the points where said chin strap was located. At the other end I will attach a light weight clip of some sort. This clip will then be attached to my pack strap thus performing many functions/having many possible future uses.)

The features list includes a wide brim with extraordinary shape retention with a designed-in dark underside of the brim that neutralizes nasty reflected rays when you are on the water. The adjustability optimizes comfort and keeps the hat snug on your head in the wind while remaining light and comfortable. This is a proven hat that has shown me its worth from coast to coast including some windy time on the north shore of Lake Superior plus some hot hiking days in record heat. If you are concerned about UV and seek a wider-brimmed hat that adapts to all your activities, this is the right hat for many reasons.

This is a great hat. It throws a bunch of shade and has great ventilation also. It is my go to if I need tons of shade and still need some style. Only caution would be when you wash the hat. Let it dry on a flat surface or the sides tend to develop a wave. It can be fixed by just wetting the hat again.

Oh yea, this hat went to the Outback in Australia...hot dry and desert. Wore it every day, comfy, lightweight, and protective. In the Northern Territory, even with the hot and muggy, was comfortable and airy. Glad to have it for the future, even a hot and breezy day at the beach in New England would be a good day for this hat.

I bought this hat 3 months ago. I am an Assistant Scoutmaster with the Boy Scouts and after a few outings in the hot sun I decided I needed something better that would block the sun and provide ventilation at the same time. This hat does great at both. I wear it outside working or playing, when I mow, and a week at summer camp. The brim is wide enough to block the sun. The four vents are great for allowing air to flow through, helping to keep you cool. The hat does have a stiff rim around the brim, but I can still roll it up and pack it away when I need to. It also has an adjustable draw string to adjust the fit of the hat. My brother likes it so much that he ordered himself one. Another of the Assistant Scoutmasters is getting himself one also. I have recieved a lot of positive comments about the hat. I did a lot of research on this hat and several others. I am very happy I bought this hat. I would definitely buy this hat again.

I first bought the Sombriolet Sun Hat for a 5-day backpacking trip to Canyonlands National park (red rock desert). This hat is lightweight, packable, sturdy, stylish, and very breathable. The netting in the crown of the hat keeps ya very cool with the added help of four, yes 4, slits for venting. I also found the cord for a tighter fit useful when the wind was howling.

Best Sun hat ever

I live in Texas where we see some really hot days. This hat is always in my pack during the spring and summer months. It virtually eliminates the need for sun screen on my face and neck. The quick drying fabric does a great job of wicking away any sweat. It has vents on top to increase the breathability.

Curious George Watch Out! The man in the big yellowish hat is back! I recently used this hat in a 100 degrees trail running competition in Texas in July. It worked great to keep me cool and keep the sun off my neck. I can't give it 5 stars, because I have two issues with it. I really wished it was more bright orange and less yellowish. Not just because I can be mistaken for the enslaver of Curious George, its because brighter orange is better to find in the wild. Curious George Watch Out! The man in the big yellowish hat is back! I recently used this hat in a 100 degrees trail running competition in Texas in July. It worked great to keep me cool and keep the sun off my neck. I can't give it 5 stars, because I have two issues with it. First, I really wish it looked more like the picture as a bright orange and not it's true yellowish hue. I am not a fan of the yellowish hat, because I can be mistaken for the enslaver of Curious George, but more seriously it's because brighter orange is better to find in the wild. In a trail run, if I fall down a ravine I want them to find my body, or at least my hat. The second with was that this hat is too tall and pointy. Regardless it works great! In a trail run, if I fall down a ravine I want them to find my body, or at least my hat. The second with was that this hat is too tall and pointy. Regardless it works great!

Why they choose to get of the buttons on the side of the hat It's so much better when you can prop up one or both sides and go full Aussie.

4

I do like the hat. I have a very large head, in the 7 7/8 to 8 range, and find that most of the time the XL fits. A couple of comments... 1. Most of the time they fit, but occasionally one will be a smidge too small. Not comfy. 2. I use them for golf a lot, and as I sweat during the round, the sweat stains build up and don't come out with washing. Not sure why. Maybe someone has an idea on this. 3. I think they are a good value and will continue to purchase.

I measured my head with a flexible measuring tape and I was at the high end of the of OR's large size. The hat was too large and I was unable to cinch it down to get it as tight as I wanted. Other than the sizing it seems okay. Its being returned and ordering a medium. My old Mountain Hardware sun hat was better in every regard but they don't make it anymore.

I bought this hat for Australia, and it did not disappoint! It kept my head dry and vision unobscured whilest watching the wombats feed at Cradle Mt., Tasmania during a freezing rainstorm! Rain beaded right up. And kept the hail away on Mt. Wellington. And it provided cooling shade in tropical Queensland. Adjustable headband and neck cord secured it on windy days. Imma fan.

First ordered a medium (my head is small) and it was TIGHT. Returned and got the large which is perfect. Several reviews mention the binding/little strip of fabric that goes around the inside not being stitched down, so it flips out while wearing the hat. This is indeed the case and is annoying, but a couple of little stitches with a sewing kit fixed it. Now it is perfect. LOVE this hat. Lightweight and breathable. Definitely order up at least one size.