Hiking Hats

Hiking hats are a sore subject for me.

I had THE perfect hat, and it fell apart. To make matters worse, it was partly my fault!

This favorite hat was purchased spur-of-the-moment, from a bargain bin at a sports store, 9 years ago.

It caught my eye because it had all of the features a perfect hiking hat should have:

A plastic clip on the back, to tighten or loosen without snagging hair;

A wide brim which shaded my eyes without impeding my view;

A breathable fabric that dried quickly;

A neutral color that wouldn't give away my secret location during off trail pit stops;

Extra stitching to prevent unraveling;

A lightweight yet substantial feel to it when I put it on my head.

And what did I do with this perfect hat?

I wore it through mud, rain, hail, snow, blindingly hot sunshine, buggy terrain - year after year.

I dropped it into mud holes.

I snagged it on brush.

I used it as an impromptu berry bucket when I ran into a rich patch of blueberries.

I swatted -and squished- flies with it.

And I poured my sweat into it, hike after hike after hike.

And what did this splendid hat do in return?

It patiently protected my head!

And my eyes from the harsh glare of sunshine.

And my ponytail, when I tucked it up under the hat.

OK, there's one more little abuse I heaped upon this hiking hat. I ran it through the washing machine when it was too dirty to be seen on a hiking trail.

Recently, my hat came out of the washing machine shouting "NO MORE". And I realized a sad truth:

I should have been soaking it clean in a lukewarm basin or bucket of soapy water, then rinsing with cool water and hanging it up to drip dry.

Or, as one reader recently suggested, taking it into the shower with me and using mild shampoo to cleanse it.

My beloved hat is now retired, hanging in a place of honor in my closet. And I'm announcing my good news: I found a replacement I can actually enjoy wearing on a hiking trail.

The first day I wore this new hat, an approaching hiker said "Cool!" and gave me the thumbs up sign.

At the time, it seemed odd. By the time I got home, I realized he really meant the brand - Kuhl!

Or maybe he was referring to the little patch of the Matterhorn sewn onto the left top?

Anyway, here's the low down: Brand: Uberkuhl Cap #805. Color: grayish green (gun metal). All of the above mentioned "must have" features, plus a new one that I really like: a sewn-in sweatband to catch perspiration before it drips down into my eyebrows.

Manufacturer propaganda: 75% cotton, 25% nylon, with an anatomically correct fit.

And what's not to love about their motto? "Born from our rebellious philosophy to question everything, break the rules, and reject the status quo." And I thought it was just a hat!!

Hiking hats have a lot to do with the enjoyment of your hike. They shade your eyes, protect your head against bushes and dive bombing birds (no joke! Owls in particular), hold your hair off your sweaty neck, mop up sweat before it runs into your eyes (along with sunscreen - OUCH!).

So be selective about bonding with a hiking hat. And then take really good care of it :)

Hiking hats are just one thing that brings joy to a hiker's heart. Here are a few more...