Customer Reviews Outdoor Research Seattle Sombrero

I purchased this hat to be worn on a trip to Central America. While it appears to be of good quality, and it performed well in the pouring rain, it performed poorly with more than just a light wind. The brim is floppy and does not maintain its shape in real conditions. When the wind picks up, the brim actually reattaches itself in the up position with the velcro! Hard to imagine that the testers missed this.

This hat is heavy on the head and too hot. It is not breathable. I also feel stuffy underneath then my head gets sweaty shortly after wearing it. I now just hang it in the garage and will donate this to a homeless person soon. It does not have any method to secure it snugly on the circumference of the head so it can fall off or fly off any time by wind or gusts.

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The slightest breeze will flip up the brim, exposing your face to sun and rain. The old version had a stiff brim which withstood wind but OR took out the brim stiffening material. I'm assuming to save money and increase profit, and now it is just floppy with no shape at all. I lost the old version and the new version is completely useless in any condition except maybe wearing it indoors.

I lost my old seattle sombero at which was great because it had a stiff brim so I bought another thinking I was getting the same hat. Unfortunately, OR decided to take out the brim stiffening material (presumably to save money and increase profit margin) and now its basically useless as a rain hat or a sun hat. Whenever the wind blows, which is most of the time when you're hiking outdoors, even the slightest breeze will cause the brim to flip up and exposure your face to sun/rain. So i find it basically useless in any outdoor condition due to it not being windproof and a complete waste of money.

Unbelievably poor choice to use Velcro. Any slight breeze automatically attaches the flap to the side of the crown. Hopeless. I get annoyed having to keep detaching the flap when it's raining. Can't Outdoor Research afford to employ decent designers?

I don't get why people like this hat. Yes, it does keep you dry but any wind over 5 mph and the brim is folding up letting the rain or sun into your eyes and face. I also wanted to use the hat kayaking. Well the interior layer that overheats your head in the summer but keeps you warm in the winter soaks up the water like a sponge that drips down on your face after you do a roll. Nice if it is a warm day with fresh water but in the ocean it is an annoying dripping of salt into your eyes. It does pack nice into any sack. It would be helpful if OR put a stiff plastic interior brim into the front to keep it from flipping up in the 5 mph wind.

Don't buy this hat. The fit is awful. The headband rolls out, it's not useful, a waste of money.