Customer Reviews Outdoor Research Seattle Rain Hat

Well made, and comfortable. I always wore a hood, but was annoyed by the restricted vision, and reduced hearing. This hat has literally changed my life. I'm still dry, but have all my senses! Maybe not enough sense to know that saying this hat has changed my life, was a bit too much. I just really like it.

I have loved this hat for years. Yesterday evening it really let me down. I was out on an ATV searching for animals in my pasture. It was windy and rainy, I couldn't find my good jacket so I was underdressed anyway, and the brim on this hat really seemed to just channel cold rain onto my face, neck and back. I guess the only good news is at least the top of my head was dry. The brim can be useless when you need it most.

When this hat had a stiff fishing line in the brim it was the GREATEST HAT IN THE WORLD.. Now it is subject to flopping and flaring in high winds. Not what it used to be but still a good hat. I really liked the solid blue version but that is a personal preference not considered in my rating above.

This hat is perfect for the Pacific North West. It rains a lot here and is usually not that windy/cold. If you are looking for a hat that will keep you dry then this is a good option for you. Personally though I have found that once the wind picks up or the temperature starts to drop, this had no longer does me any good. It, by design, just doesn't provide much warmth and has a rather flimsy brim that will flap in the wind. Its a good hat for wearing around town, but once taken into the wilderness I find it to be more of a novelty then a necessity.

I have owned my red Sombrero about 15 years, and have worn it almost everyday for at least 10 years. I have lost it about once per year, but always manage to recover it. Now it is getting ragged and I want to buy a new one. I have to decide what colour. I am leaning towards yellow for night-time visibility, since I walk to/from work, often in the dark. I have tried a few other kinds of hats, but this floppy scrunchable pocketable style of sombrero is very practical for me. Be careful to get the right size, not too loose and not too tight. The neckstrap is essential to prevent losing the hat in windy weather, but is also valuable for hanging the hat on a chair or coathanger. I recently accidentally broke the neckstrap, and am really missing it.

I use the sombrero mainly for hiking. The hat provides protection from the elements; rain, snow, and the sun. The hat works great, but has a strange penchant to separate from the liner in high winds (30+MPH). The liner stays tight to your head, but the shell raises an inch up making you look slightly ridiculous. The hat has a tendency to be warm in the summer, so unless it is a cold rainy day I would suggest you go with a lighter hat. The sides of the hat fold up and attach to the dome with velcro. I have not had the itch to hunt crocodiles, so I leave them down.

Nice fit, useful velco strap at back to tighten if needed, good neck strap. great to have a nice brim to save getting rain on my face.

Folds up nice in my pack and takes up very little space.

Have had the Sombrero for years and still love it. It always comes out when rain threatens. I roll it up and stow in my pocket or side pouch of my pack. It takes a moment to give it some shape back, then it's back in action. The hat is not rigid - it is more like a "boonie" cap so it will gain character the more you wear it.

Have used mine for at least 12 years. Head band is a little frayed but like a famous watch brand this hat has "taken a licking and kept on ticking". It has made Idaho, Smokies, and Utah backpacking trips, Boundary Water canoe trips, weekly local hikes and uncountable river trips but still does what it was designed for - sun and rain protection. Its been stomped on, lost and recovered, and soaked I don't know how many times. Only complaint would be the headband and its a little hot for high summer wear if its not raining.

I thought that the Seattle Sombrero had been renamed but this is a different hat. There is no headband structure incorporated in this hat. While the Gore-Tex does what it's supposed to, and the brim is nice, the fit and wear is like putting a bag on the top of your head and holding it there with a chin strap.

I agree 100% with the earlier reviewer regarding OR's unfortunate decision to eliminate the Velcro adjustment strap. This would have been my third Seattle Sombrero (Rain Hat) however I had to return it ($6.95 shipping) because I can no longer fine tune the size. Otherwise, it is a 5-star hat if your head is a specific size.

The hat is functional and repels water. The only thing that would make it great is adjustable fit. It is either too big or too small. When were it droops over the ears.

3

I love this hat but the problem is I'm bald. There is a velcro strap on the back of this hat that makes it fit perfectly the issue is. If you have a big head and it's not tightened down all the way. I can feel the the sharp part of the velcro digging into my head. It's incredibly uncomfortable if I had hair I imagin this wouldn't be a issue. However I wear this hat a lot less than i would because of this. Would recommend if you have hair.

I've had one for ten years and it is awesome. Bought a new one recently, same size, only to discover it no longer has the velcro fit adjustment. This was disappointing. I see others feel similarly. This was a very important feature that greatly improved the fit, warmth, and security of the hat. It also allowed me to adjust it if I wanted to wear a wool hat to supplement underneath. The key to great performance is a great fit. Please bring it back.

As my fifth OR Seattle Sombrero it was all I expectedexcept for the lack of Velcro adjustment for size. I would have returned it but I tossed the packing materials thinking it would be like the others. Well made and otherwise a fantastic hat, wish I could return for a smaller size

Hat wetted out in a few hours of steady rain. Strong breeze will fold the brim. Avoid conditions that are wet and windy with this hat. Not bad if it's wet and calm.

All of my hats are size extra large. This hat runs to large for my head and there is no means of correcting it.

My first two had the adjustable sizing strap, which made for a perfect fit every time. Sad to see that OR decided to not incorporate it anymore. I'd be happy to pay a few dollars more to have it but without the strap it is a no go.

As with all OR products this great hat is made to last. Why only 3 stars? 1. Sizing - according to the size guide I needed an XL. Maybe if I was wearing football helmet under it. Exchanged (no problem) for a L. 2. The previous version of this hat, I believe, had a crown adjustment to tighten it around your head. Seems they got rid of that desirable feature. Other than that, it's well made, waterproof, and lovable.

The product is fantastic at defeating rain without wearing a hood. Love it for hunting so I can hear and maintain better situational awareness. On this sombrero there is a sewn in fleece liner in the bucket. Nice feature but it is only attached at the mouth of the bucket. It allows the shell of the hat to move freely from the fleece liner that is attached to your head. In the wind this causes the hat to move independently from the secure connection that the liner provides. Perhaps some adhesive deeper in the bucket would fix this without compromising the gore tex membrane.

I used to work outdoors at Esalen in Big Sur in the rainy season and these things were pretty good unless it's windy. They need a stiffer brim. recommended unless it's windy

I wear my hats to protect myself from light and motion due to a medical condition. This hat was to replace its predecessor the Seattle Sombrero, the version that had side vents and a stow able rain cover. That hat died because the brim foam shattered. It was an awesome hat. Unfortunately that hat is gone and you have to chose between a rain or sun version of the hat now. The sun version looks stupid and the venting is covered. I don't sweat properly do to medication so I need my hats to breathe. The sun version just looked like a ugly duck with lack of funk of function. That and they were out of my size. So, I went with the rain version. It looks great and it is actually lighter than the older version. Only one major issue "IT DOES NOT BREATH"! If you live in the Midwest where it is hot and humid this hat is useless. I could not wear it until fall at the earliest and I bought two of them. One for me and one for my son because one of the hats was Miami Dolphins Team colors. Fire the designer and testers who thought anyone could wear these hats year round. Felt inner lining?! What where you all you thing?

I live in Texas and bought it to do yard work in that would give me more coverage than my cowboy hat. However, I find it extremely hot and unbreathable. I also can't wear it in windy conditions - it just blows up and off.