Outdoor Research Men's Transit Sun Hat

REVIEW 3 OF 3: LONG-TERM REVIEW ON AUGUST 9, 2012: 5 STARSYou don't know what you have until you lose it. Although that's a cliche, not being able to find this hat when I needed it made me realize how valuable it's been to me these past five months. Great fit. Airy ventilation. Stays on in windy conditions. Rugged. It's not the most fashionably upscale hat. It's become more like a comfortable, good-fitting pair of broken-in jeans. And it was a relief when I finally found it...REVIEW 2 OF 3: UPDATE REVIEW ON JULY 18, 2012: 4 STARSI'm giving this hat a promotion from my initial 3-star review because of two useful traits: the outstanding fit has consistently kept the hat comfortably on my head in windy conditions, and its durability retains its shape well...REVIEW 1 OF 3: INITIAL REVIEW ON MARCH 5, 2012: 3 STARSMy head size: 7 1/4 (22 3/4 inches)Size bought & color: Large & MushroomFit: Outstanding. I don't have to micro-adjust.Outdoor Research's claimed brim size: 2 3/4 inchesActual brim size:- Front and back are 2 3/8 inches. That's 3/8 or 0.38 inch shorter, which is a 13% reduction from what's claimed.- Sides are 2 1/2 inches. That's 2/8 or 0.25 inch shorter, which is a 9% reduction from what's claimed.Best features:- Comfortable fit- Lightweight- Airy ventilation due to the mesh- Classy embroidery- Very good materialsLeast desirable features:- Bad quality control for the brim width because the consumer is short-changed 13% on the front and back, and 9% on the sides.- No pocket for the chin strap. Instead, I have to remove it. That makes it easy to lose the strap, or renders it useless if I'm elsewhere with the hat.- The crown is too low, as it sits on my head. This makes the hat feel small even though it has the right fit.- The brim's actual narrow size doesn't block the sun during the dawn hours before 7:00 a.m. when the sun is rising from the horizon.Would I buy it again?- Because of the undesirable features, this hat could still be improved. Most importantly for me, however, I wouldn't buy this hat again because I don't have visual comfort during dawn. In fact, I eventually bought a Tilley hat with a wider brim size (and a higher crown with a pocket). Nevertheless, this Outdoor Research hat is an adequate purchase that I still use.

I purchased this hat to gain more protection from the sun at my kid's swim meets and while boating and I have not been disappointed.Fit: I have a very large head and have difficulty finding hats that fit me. Even X-Large is typically too small for my head. I purchased this hat in the X-Large size and it fits just right. Not too tight but not so loose that it will fly off. I wear it on my boat and have not had and problem with it staying on while at cruising speed without using the strap. The hat has a drawstring at the back to tighten the fit if it is too loose but I have not had to use that feature.Construction: The hat seems very well made. Good workmanship. The brim is well shaped and stiff enough that it has not gotten floppy or droopy. It is wide enough to provide the sun protection desired. The hat does float as advertised.Comfort: The venting at the sides of the hat keep it cool that I have not noticed any discomfort even when standing in direct sun for many minutes even with the darker color. It is not a heavy hat and I forget it is on my head which is an indication of the comfort.Style: It is a casual, fedora-like style hat so it may not be for everyone. It is a look you don't see very often where I live. I have not received any compliments when wearing it but nor have I received any negative comments.Overall I am VERY pleased with this purchase and am confident recommending it to others. It does exactly what I need it to do.Product update (2016): After several years of use this hat is still going strong. While it has faded a bit, it is still holding together well with no stitching failure, stretching or fraying. It still floats and stays on my head in the strongest of wind.

I hesitated to spend the extra bucks to get this hat. I figured I would just get some cheapo thing at first. But why spend half the price on something that will be crap when you can spend a little more and get a nice product. Yeah, this hat was above my meager budget, but I don't regret buying it.Pros: Very light. The vents keep your head a little cooler than most hats (the reason I usually hate hats). The size was just right and the pull spring on the back of the hat really helps adjust it perfectly. I tuck the chin strap up in to the hat and it doesn't seem to bother me up there. The thing seems really well-made. I saw no flaws in the material or stitching.Cons: Can't really think of any to be honest. I can't speak to the durability as I've only been using it a short while.In the unbearable heat of the Indiana sun, it keeps my next from bursting into flames. You buy a hat to do one job and this one does it as well as could be expected. I knocked off one star purely for the price. At this price point, I would expect something made in the USA, not China.EDIT: Just got back from a month-long archaeology expedition in the blazing sun. This hat probably saved my nose and ears, which are always the first things to burn. It held up to field work in the sun, mud work coring lakes, torrential rain, etc. Found no real flaws or weaknesses. The vents make it slightly more breathable than something like a felt hat, which helped out. Plus, I could soak it in water and put it back on for a little relief from the heat. I still recommend this hat very highly.