Need a good "shooting" hat

[enniswb]

I do a lot of freelance sports photography and I would like to get a hat that offers both protection from the sun and rain, plus (and this is a big plus!) a flexible enough front brim/flap that will allow me to shoot without taking my hat off or turning it around, like a ball cap. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. -Bill (enniswb@epix.net)

[docfav]

I think something like this would look smashing...

http://www.damnilikethat.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/la-victoria-fedora-by-goorin.jpg

Just kidding. I haven't found anything either, hence the sunburn on my head.

Doc

[The ChangoMan]

Nope... only baseball caps for me.... or 10 gallon sombreros. :cool:

[Sledhed]

Just get a bucket hat.

[Elaine M]

Not cheap... but well worth the money. You can wash it, pack it, darn near indestructible, comes with a lifetime guarantee and for two years they'll replace it if you lose it. Most are water repellant, the brim is broad enough to shade the viewfinder in bright sunlight and flexible enough to get the camera under without knocking it off your head.... and the little secret pocket is good for carrying CF cards too! (can you tell I REALLY like it??) :D

Mr. M has one for fishing and made the mistake of letting me borrow it for a baseball game. He ended up buying me a ladies version so he could get his back!

For some reason I'm having trouble posting a link but their website is www.tilley.com

[jcolman]

I like this one as it keeps bugs, rain, dirt, etc off my pointy head.

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x148/jcolman_photo/smilingjim.jpg

But my Tilly hat is still my favorite.

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x148/jcolman_photo/xdcamcopy.jpg

[TheHoff]

Tilleys are great. If you need fill flash, there is always...

http://photos.juergenspecht.com/photos/2002/05/Juergen_Specht-20020525050.jpg

[cstewart]

I saw some photos taken with that fill flash hat and they are awesome. What a great, albeit silly looking, idea.

[manutd101]

I usually just go with a reversed baseball cap, but I may have to check out those Tillys.

[Mark_Mason]

I just got a Seattle Sombrero and Its been great so far. It's certainly waterproof, and the bill is flexable enough to let you shoot just fine. It's not a warm weather hat though. Above 70 F It gets to warm for my head. When that happens I wear my Army Issue choclate chip desert camo boonie hat.

http://www.outdoorresearch.com/outdoorresearch/images/items/82130_419_m.jpg

http://www.militaryclothing.com/ImgUpload/P_17121_422715.jpg

-Mark.

[salexande867]

I use this one my girlfriend bought me. It is vented, has built in SPF30 protection and a sweat band.

http://www.columbia.com/images/productImages/CU9063_160.jpg

[mattograph]

http://www.thenorthface.com/media/gear/catalog/AX7X/AX7X-254_mag.jpg

Here's mine. Called the hivent. I love it -- I totally forget I even have it on.

I have a tilley too, but I cant cinch the headband, and it fits kinda loose, so it falls off from time to time. The tilley is a great hat, I like this one better.


http://www.thenorthface.com/opencms/opencms/tnf/gear.jsp?site=CA&model=AX7X&language=en

[erthpro]

Another vote for the Tilley. I've had mine for over two years and hate to go outside without it.

[cowpix]

I had an Australian hat called a "floppy", it was great until I lost it. :(

[Wrench115]

Another vote on the boonie hat. Relatively stylish durable as hell and fairly inexpensive.

http://www.armynavyshop.com/prods/rc5546.html

[dmwierz]

Yeah, the Tilly is the best for this, though I've had people tell me my hat (my wife bought it for me, so be nice) makes me look 10 years older than I am and 20 pounds heavier. Not sure how a hat can make someone look heavier...maybe it's the picture.

The brim pushes up when you've got your faced mashed to the viewfinder and flops back down when you pull back. Plus, it's mostly water-resistant and washable. It floats, too, though I haven't tested that since I took the Tilley sailing. Guaranteed for life, also.

[Petepix]

I use this one my girlfriend bought me. It is vented, has built in SPF30 protection and a sweat band.

http://www.columbia.com/images/productImages/CU9063_160.jpg

I bought this at Kohl's for $15. It's a Columbia 'Duck Key' model

[mattograph]

Yeah, the Tilly is the best for this, though I've had people tell me my hat (my wife bought it for me, so be nice) makes me look 10 years older than I am and 20 pounds heavier. Not sure how a hat can make someone look heavier...maybe it's the picture.

The brim pushes up when you've got your faced mashed to the viewfinder and flops back down when you pull back. Plus, it's mostly water-resistant and washable. It floats, too, though I haven't tested that since I took the Tilley sailing. Guaranteed for life, also.

Its not the hat that adds the pounds, its the lens!:)

[Elaine M]

Yeah, the Tilly is the best for this, though I've had people tell me my hat (my wife bought it for me, so be nice) makes me look 10 years older than I am and 20 pounds heavier. Not sure how a hat can make someone look heavier...maybe it's the picture.

The brim pushes up when you've got your faced mashed to the viewfinder and flops back down when you pull back. Plus, it's mostly water-resistant and washable. It floats, too, though I haven't tested that since I took the Tilley sailing. Guaranteed for life, also.


Not to mention how well it coordinates with that big white lens! The accessories totally MAKE the outfit ... your wife has excellent taste! :D:D

[rklepper]

Not cheap... but well worth the money. You can wash it, pack it, darn near indestructible, comes with a lifetime guarantee and for two years they'll replace it if you lose it. Most are water repellant, the brim is broad enough to shade the viewfinder in bright sunlight and flexible enough to get the camera under without knocking it off your head.... and the little secret pocket is good for carrying CF cards too! (can you tell I REALLY like it??) :D

Mr. M has one for fishing and made the mistake of letting me borrow it for a baseball game. He ended up buying me a ladies version so he could get his back!

For some reason I'm having trouble posting a link but their website is www.tilley.com (http://www.tilley.com)

I just bought the insect repellant version of that hat. Great hat and the insect shield seems to work quite well. I am from Iowa so that is a great testing ground for any insect product.

[CH3NO2]

Boonie hat here as well. They work great.

[The ChangoMan]

I don't know... I still prefer my baseball cap. It's probably because flipping it back and forth makes me feel like a "hot shot" in this sad little world I live in....

[Eoghan]

http://www.diamondbackhats.com/index.php?main_page=product_reviews_info&products_id=9&reviews_id=1

i got one of these... very good sun and rain protection, plus the bonus is that it folds away, but still keeps its shape means it can be stored in a reasonable sized camera bag...


Eoghan

[Stocky]

I would like to add a vote for the boonie. The short brim is just enough to keep the sun off and doesn't get in the way when you are shooting. Of course I don't really have a choice right now anyway.

[Jon]

Tilley T3 here. More on this thread (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=508733&highlight=Tilley+hat).

[txduggan]

Ooh! I have that boonie bucket!

I love it...got a few more from the local Army/Navy store.....folds up, snaps up
to the sides when you don't want it flopping
around and can use it to cover the lens
on long exposures! LOL!

Not issue, but did get it from West Point ;)

http://tomduggan.com/misc/td/TomD_10D.jpg

-TD

I just got a Seattle Sombrero and Its been great so far. It's certainly waterproof, and the bill is flexable enough to let you shoot just fine. It's not a warm weather hat though. Above 70 F It gets to warm for my head. When that happens I wear my Army Issue choclate chip desert camo boonie hat.

http://www.outdoorresearch.com/outdoorresearch/images/items/82130_419_m.jpg

http://www.militaryclothing.com/ImgUpload/P_17121_422715.jpg

-Mark.