What hat for HOT weather?

[James MacMillan]

Here in the desert, hats are important... they're sort of portable shade. And I don't care how dry the heat is, you're going to sweat at 100F+, so the issues you mention about damp headgear are familiar to me. The best solution I've found is a straw hat. They're light, and sweat-absorbant, and you can get them in a number of styles. Mine is in the shape of a cowboy hat, for instance. They're relatively inexpensive, so if you lose one, or the cat pees on it, or it just gets too grody, you don't have to feel guilty about disposing of it.

No, a cowboy hat and kilt, just won't do.

Cowboy hat, jeans, cowboy boots - sure. Cowboy hat and kilt - nope, not for me!

The Tilly with a shorter brim looks pretty good, but they sure want a lot of $$$.

Their website says a bunch of amazing things about their product, but I'm not sure what to believe.

[Mr. MacDougall]

No, a cowboy hat and kilt, just won't do.

Well, what can I say? I'm one of those dang Sonoran Scotsmen, so...

On the other hand, I've also been known to wear an Asian-style bamboo umbrella hat with my kilt. I really like not getting sunburned on my nose. I guess I'm just a dork.

[JamesA]

No, a cowboy hat and kilt, just won't do.

Cowboy hat, jeans, cowboy boots - sure. Cowboy hat and kilt - nope, not for me!

I don't know about that. I wore my cowboy hat the other day to do some errands, and my wife seemed to like it. You just have to carry it like it belongs.

James
Kilted Kowboy from Wyoming

[Panache]

I think an Aussie slouch hat works very well with a casual kilted outfit.



Cheers

Jamie

[starbkjrus]

I like something in this style. Mine isn't a Tilley, but I suppose it's just a matter of time before I pony up and buy one.

http://www.tilley.com/detail.asp?cat...&productNo=LT3

As you can see, both WalkerK and myself enjoy a similar style of hat. (Pictures from the Monterey Highland Games, I'm the bottom one.)

Believe what Tilley's website tells you. They are dead on.

Here's my first one:


Alas that one now is lost in the horrendous bowels of Heathrow airport. However I replaced it with an identical one the day after we got back home last month.

[James MacMillan]

OK - Here are four hats that I feel, look good with a traditional kilt and jacket.

This is my black balmoral.

This is my black glengarry.

This is my "golf" or flat hat.

This is the Tilley that I got yesterday at our local swap meet. More on that below.


Which one do you gents think is better looking for semi-dress wear?

After learning about the Tilley, I went to their web-site, and read up on them. Having never heard of them, I was skeptable about their value (read that high price.) I don't think that I could ever have paid full price for this Tilly.

Then yesterday, I was at a local swap meet, and with my new found interest, I noticed the hat in the top photo. I picked it up and looked inside, it says Tilly! It has two cords, one that is designed to go behind the head, and one for under the chin. It has a foam insert that makes it float. It fits, it's cool.

I asked the lady what she wanted for it and she sheepishly said $40.00. I offered $30.00 and she said that because it looked so good on me, that she would take the $30.00. My wife thought I was crazy paying that much for a hat at a swap meet, until I showed her the web site upon returning home. Now she thinks I got a great deal.

But the question remains: Which had looks better?

[Yaish]

With the dress coat and full kit, the Balmoral and Glengarry look best. Swap out to a polo shirt and I like the flate cap.

Change to a Safari shirt or open neck button down, and the Tilley takes the cake.

Just like everything else, hats need to be matched to the outfits. I have my widebrim hat, flat cap, several booney hats, a blamoral, berets, do-rags, and watch caps. I wear the appropriate hat for the clothes I'm wearing.

(black watch cap, UK Workmans, tank-top, dark sunglasses, and combat boots is one bad-*** looking outfit. So is my wool Saffron SWK, black dress shirt, hose, dress shoes, and flat cap.)

[James MacMillan]

With the dress coat and full kit, the Balmoral and Glengarry look best. Swap out to a polo shirt and I like the flate cap.

Change to a Safari shirt or open neck button down, and the Tilley takes the cake.

Just like everything else, hats need to be matched to the outfits. I have my widebrim hat, flat cap, several booney hats, a blamoral, berets, do-rags, and watch caps. I wear the appropriate hat for the clothes I'm wearing.

(black watch cap, UK Workmans, tank-top, dark sunglasses, and combat boots is one bad-*** looking outfit. So is my wool Saffron SWK, black dress shirt, hose, dress shoes, and flat cap.)

You know, that's exactly what I used to think, untill I spent so much time looking at the flix.

I now think that all of those could be worn for different times.

The more I look at that Tilly, the better I like it. I just don't know if it feels, well "Scottish" enough

[thescot]

. . .
But the question remains: Which had looks better?

Congratulations on a really good deal on the Tilley.

As to the looks: the balmoral looks the best, but for summer, the Tilley wins. (I always go for a balmoral though my wife prefers the glengarry, so I alternate in the fall, winter, and spring.) But the Tilley is what a summer hat is all about--shade! It'll keep you in the shade, absorb sweat, and it just looks as good as a fedora!

You're a real nice guy and all that, but you're not my type. Having said that, all the hats look great on you, so go with your mood that day.

Good choices all.

[apack]

But the question remains: Which had looks better?

I think they all look good! You should definitely feel good wearing any of those hats with a kilt. However, I think the darker ones look a bit better with the semi-formal outfit.

I got a really nice Irish tweed flat cap recently, a Hanna Hat just like this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=230161027439

I think that would look just fine with a tweed jacket and tie.

p.s. One of these days/weeks/months I will have to get out the camera and actually post some pictures!