- Replaces: That baseball cap that's not giving you any real UV protection.
- Cost differential: 2x. 7x when compared to Tilley hats.
- Available: Check your local army-navy store. Some camping stores, including New York's venerable Tent & Trails carry them, too. Of course you can buy them online, for prices under $10, but I'm not savvy enough about the differences between genuine military surplus and knock-offs to know whether you're really getting the best deal. I've never paid more than $20 for one.
- Why I like it: I like the beach, where sunlight reflects every which way. I have almost no hair on my head. As a result, if I don't wear a good hat, my head starts to look like a lumpy tomato. Any broad-brimmed hat will do the job, so why pay for space-age materials or dubious claims of added sun protection? The military spent a lot of time designing this hat. No need to improve on it much.
If you've never worn a proper sun hat before, you might not know that they actually help you keep a little cooler by keeping the sun off your face and neck. Also, this model, which has grommets on the side, lets a little air inside. In fact, the very top of the hat has a thinner layer of fabric than the rest of the crown, which lets a little heat escape.
Of course, the military look may turn some people off. What can I say? Get it in a neutral color like khaki or some weird camo pattern. Or dye it. Or stick pinko political buttons in the cartridge loops. I used to wear mine with my "Hillary for President" t-shirt to drive people nuts.
As always, what cheap products do you know that are worth buying? Please share!
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