I'm coming up to my annual argument as to which of my two favourite hats I take away for my summer travels. Thinning hair makes a hat a necessity when canoeing and walking. As a matter of principle I never take two bit of kit when one will do and I have only one head so, will it be the Tilley T4 or the cotton peaked cap?
The Tilley
+ It has bags of character. I bought it second hand from Two dogs and paid extra for the stains and crumples.
+It shades my eyes from sun and keeps rain off my glasses
+It is robust and unlikely to give up the ghost before I do.
+It has a cord to stop it blowing in the wind.
+It works well with a mossie net
+ It's green and matches all my other clothes
+ I think I look rather good in it
- It is a cliche and I look like all the other mostly oldish men who wear them to demonstrate that can throw £65 away on a hat and/or want to look a regular outdoorsman
- I never know what to do with it in the tent and it usually ends up sticking on a walking pole outside so as to be wet in the morning
-The broad brim gets in the way when I'm carrying a pack or driving
- It doesn't work with a hooded coat
- seems a bit out of place in an urban setting
The Cap
+ It keeps the sun out of my eyes and the rain off my glasses
+It folds up and goes in a pocket of a coat or bag
+It doesn't look like a fashion statement and doesn't look out of place anywhere
+ it works with a hooded jacket and when driving
-Not much good in the rain
- Doesn't work so well with a mossie net
-The wind catches under the peak and blows it off
- It's blue
Which one would you take? Or have you a better idea?
The Tilley
+ It has bags of character. I bought it second hand from Two dogs and paid extra for the stains and crumples.
+It shades my eyes from sun and keeps rain off my glasses
+It is robust and unlikely to give up the ghost before I do.
+It has a cord to stop it blowing in the wind.
+It works well with a mossie net
+ It's green and matches all my other clothes
+ I think I look rather good in it
- It is a cliche and I look like all the other mostly oldish men who wear them to demonstrate that can throw £65 away on a hat and/or want to look a regular outdoorsman
- I never know what to do with it in the tent and it usually ends up sticking on a walking pole outside so as to be wet in the morning
-The broad brim gets in the way when I'm carrying a pack or driving
- It doesn't work with a hooded coat
- seems a bit out of place in an urban setting
The Cap
+ It keeps the sun out of my eyes and the rain off my glasses
+It folds up and goes in a pocket of a coat or bag
+It doesn't look like a fashion statement and doesn't look out of place anywhere
+ it works with a hooded jacket and when driving
-Not much good in the rain
- Doesn't work so well with a mossie net
-The wind catches under the peak and blows it off
- It's blue
Which one would you take? Or have you a better idea?