[Closed] Anyone got/heard of Tilley hats?

PS - not me in the picture, I am a handsome bloke

Had one for about 10 years. Does the job, comes with "amusing stories about one being eaten by an elephant, retrieved and still being used".

my wife uses one in the summer. Works well, looks ok and supposedly floats. Bloomin expensive though.

I've always fancied one, I think theyr'e the business (as far as bush hats go) but I'm so short I look like an umbrella when I'm wearing one.

Read the elephant one. They are still using it and yes, it is BLOOMING expensive.

It seems well made and well thought out. I was wondering if anyone has tried their sock. No holes for 3 years?? Mine rarely last 3 months

Go Outdoors stock them, RRP is about £45 IIRC. Never liked them myself, but each to their own, a large part of my dislike is the price!

I've had one for a few years and highly rate it. Yes they're expensive but well made, mine's been through various washes, in the sea and it still looks fine. Style wise they're an acquired taste but my big head meant like you, normal hats rarely fit.

Guess which store opened in Southampton today.

I only when there to buy DrP a tent. My hat cost nearly as much as his 3 man tent!

LOLs at mtbers with £2k+ bikes moaning about the cost of a hat

tilley owner here, it's bombproof, keeps the rain and sun off my bald head, and makes me feel like indiana jones.

oh and yes, i've got a massive head, and trying to find a 'normal' hat like a trilby that fits has proven impossible.

it's either a tilley or sunstroke on days like this.

SO in summary. It suits people with deep pockets and big heads.

Anyone tried their socks?

I have a great selection of seaside hats - I always forget to take by decent hat Aussie hat (not tilley) when I go away so always end up buying naff ones from the bucket and spade cabin!

Again I have a bald head and aussie hats are great for the shittiest downpours to the hottest days.

If you want a cheaper version, Rydale do one that does the job...

http://www.rydaleclothing.co.uk/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=11001&idcategory=11#details

...I have one for when I'm working in the garden.

Got one really like it, got it for chrimbo......

I've a whiterock hat with some kerrrrazy crystals in the brim that supposedly cool you when they get wet

seems OK - cheap in the sale at cotswold, no idea how "posh" they are as a brand

You wont be dissappointed Nick. Had mine for over 10 years. Good in rain and sun. Just make sure it fits. It should sit very loosely on your head and you should be able to get 2 fingers in between head and hat band.

Stupid money over here but brilliant head gear

Luckily I got all of my work to pay for ours as we are out in fields a lot of the time and in all weathers. They are great for warmer weather and are ok in the rain. If you wear them in the rain for too long they soak the water up and you can get the odd drip coming through. That said they are a lot better than any of the other hats we used to use to and these are now standard work wear.

I was actually so impressed that I bought my other half one when she wanted a hat as well and she now uses it all the time.

Bottom line : recommended and lasts at least 15 years (so far)

Have one of the lightweight Tilley hats, MrsSwadey has had one of the heavier weight ones since our honeymoon in Canada 8 years ago

They are expensive. They come in a huge range of sizes and several styles to help you get the right one. They keep the sun off and - more usefully - the rain as well. Neither of ours are showing any sign of wear - does the job, hardwearing and long lasting. Cost per year of life, much better than my Aussie hat that couldn't cope with a bit of rain!

Got a Tilley hat for my birthday. Brilliant thing. As mentioned keeps sun of the balding head and dry when it rains.
Used to wear baseball caps, but ended up getting tops of my ears burnt and my neck.

Pricey but well worth it.

I've had a Tilley for a few years now. I originally objected to the cost but I stumped up after finding it was the only hat that would come close to fitting my noggin - I've got a size 8+.

Works well in the rain as well.

They either sit on top of my (rather large) head or make me look like a special needs person

I don't care if you eat crayons, interfere with farm animals, or occasionally pee on yourself.....
You hang in there sunshine, you're friggin' special.

had one for years - since my graham gooch hat got lost in 1997. They really work. I like the neat touches like the blurb on the little 'share this' tickets and the little plastic bag to put info & cash in.

Works a treat in all weather conditions. Keeps sun and rain off you and stuffs neatly into a bag when you don't need it.

I'm keeping mine.

They do a heavier wool mix version with fold down ear flaps for cold weather, IIRC it's the Tilley Canadian. Nice looking hat, and not rediculous price-wise compared to similar hats. I've got a really nice wool felt hat in a similar style that cost forty-odd quid, which isn't that bad considering a quality baseball hat can cost fifteen or so. If the hat lasts ten or fifteen or more years, then it's got to be worth every penny.

Speaking of Tilleys, hunt down a Tilley pressure lamp - if you've got enough cash for a hat, then the lamp might be within reach (totally different companies though). The lighting equivalent of a charcoal barbecue- fun to use, and far nicer than a led lantern, unless you need to carry it in a backpack.

There's a local scout group to me with about half a dozen tilley lamps which they don't use because they've been judged too dangerous (what's wrong with a 3 foot flame when it hasn't quite warmed up properly?) and I've been trying to buy them off them for a couple of years. Still trying.

I got the Hemp Tilley hat last year for a transatlantic sailing trip. Has so much use. Cool in the sun and keeps my bonce dry in the wet.

Price-wise, with 20% off Cotswold Outdoor, it was a got vfm buy.

Have a look at [url= http://www.barmahhats.com.au/index.asp ]Barmah[/url] hats too
They come in big sizes

Tilley hemp hat here. Very comfortable on my gargantuan cranium, keeps sun off nicely and rain off too. The £20 note stashed in the top has come in handy a few times too. As it ages, it looks better too. You would look a bit special wearing it in the city, but then not as silly as with a sunburnt head.
Expensive but good.

£20 stashed in top +1 😆

Good if you want to look like an American tourist. Goes well with white trainers, baggy shorts, and a water bottle.

Another vote for the Tilley hemp. Less US tourist looking than the normal ones.

For those with smaller heads they do a variety of brim widths.

you wanna get yoursel an Akubra. it'll take a while to wear in, but it'll last you a lifetime.

What you need is a Pith helmet. Keeps the sun off and makes you look like Lofty from It Ain't Half Hot Mum

http://www.hatsandcaps.co.uk/Indian-Pith-Helmet-P155805/

Someone must buy them!

How old are you folks that have Tilley hats? I tried a selection yesterday in Manchester, but wasn't convinced they suited me (or I suited them). Have some Tilley trousers and socks which have been fine.

I've got a Tilley - it's great, has its own microclimate which really comes in handy.

@Mof - I'm old.

I'd like to think I'm a good bit younger than their typical customer, but then I've never been cool anyway 🙁

How old are you folks that have Tilley hats?

Er I'm 39.

I've got a hemp one in mocha.

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I like to think it's a younger man's style.

Are they suitable for use in Vietnam?

I quite like that Tilley Hemp, and that guy in the photo wears it well.... not sure I would though. At age 51, I think the holiday baseball cap era is coming to an end, so I'm in sun hat limbo... but as a baldy-locks I need to cover my dome in the sun.

Soon to be 47 and I bought one last year.

When I moved to vari-focal glasses I found I could not read maps with my contact lenses, so had to stick to my glasses even in the great outdoors.

I bought the hat to keep the rain of my lenses. It does this very well.

When sunny it also seems to cut down glare, so I no longer need sun-glasses. Seems great at keeping the bonce cool.

Wish I'd bought one years ago.

Seen at a recent MTB event. One is Tilley hat, the other isn't.

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I'm 31, I have a regular one and the winter version.

those pith helmets look great!

I've got one, given it by work (which is why it's got a relatively discrete IBM logo on the front), I've had it since 2000 and it's still the hat I always reach for.

Tilleys are good, but expensive.

Get a US army (or a good replica) Boonie in Ripstop and showerproof it(which will also sweatproof/Quick-dry it) with wash-in Nikwax.[url=http://][/url]

It'll only cost about a tenner and they don't have to be in camo colours. Desert Camo is fairly discrete anyway though.

Tilley hats are sold in cold countries to people going to hot countries who are then dismayed on arrival to see that similar hats are available for peanuts and then they have to justify their Tilley hats by pointing out the superiority of the stitching or its green credentials or its hidden tin foil brainwave destruction protector membrane or such like 🙂

They're good hats, but way too expensive. Buy a hat when you get where you're going. The locals usually have a good idea of what works (or doesn't) for that area.

This is a very interesting thread and I think we have established that the hats are good but expensive.

Now could we focus on the actual question that was asked?

Are there other stuff any good or just equally overpriced?

Are there other stuff any good

Yup, their storm lamps are also excellent...........once you've pumped up the pressure.

Cheers Ernie - good advice, just the wrong Tilley

Round about 10 years and counting, survived all sorts of abuse (the red wine stain for instance only took a couple of years to bleach out) and still going strong, love it summer and winter.

If you are balding and middle class enough, they are worth it. If you want a hat go to the market and buy one - if you want a Tilley Hat, buy one. I have enough hair not to.

If you want a hat go to the market and buy one

The trouble with the market is they never have any big enough

Then you have a noggin of gigantic proportions and I suggest you purchase a parasol to protect your enormous scalp.

7 5/8" to be precise 🙂 - & you can never get hats to fit
I think that's the OPs problem too