This hat is excellent in all regards, except it needs to be waxed. The gore tex is ok, but it doesn't keep the outer fabric from taking on weight and becoming saturated. If it was waxed it would breath and stay drier in the rain. I ended up waxing mine and wear it everywhere. I have 3 seasons in it and love it.
The materials are durable and it is sized correctly.
I like this hat, because it reminds me of hunting hats that my father-in-law and his friends wore back in the 60's.
For that reason, I bought one for my husband for his birthday, a few years ago. I thought it was a little expensive, but I knew that he would like it.
Well, it is TOTALLY worth the money. He says that it is the warmest hat that he has ever worn, and he does not go hunting without it. The hunter orange is great, as it fits the legal requirements for hunters in our state.
Since he has worn the hat so much, including taking it on his annual 2 week trip to Colorado in October, I have had to wash it several times. It comes out of the laundry looking as good as new.
Our grandson liked the hat so much that he always wanted to borrow it from his granddad, so we bought one for him, for his 13th birthday, which is coming up soon.
Even though, it is springtime now, and he will have to wait until next fall to wear it, we went ahead and bought it for him, because we knew that he would like it so much. Springtime or not, it makes a great gift!
Like every single thing I've ever purchased from L.L. Bean, beginning in the early 80's, this hat is top quality.
I found the hat to be made of quality material & warm in cold weather. However I would have preferred a "stiffer" design. The whole hat, crown & brim, is too soft & pliable.
I was hoping for a design more like the old Duxbak hats.
