I bought two of these hats two years ago, and loved them. Sturdy, fit nicely, looked great. In July, 2011, I purchased three more, just to make sure I'd always have them. The quality is awful. The straw is more loosely woven, loose strands abound, the hat is looser. Overall, much more cheaply made. I have returned all three and hope the original quality returns next year.
I ordered this hat to replace one that flew overboard in the Pacific Ocean. Love the hat but it had an unpleasant odor. I exchanged it for a different color thinking the dye might be the cause of the odor. I hung the hat in the sun and sprayed it with fabric freshener. The odor remained and even permeated the room. The hat went back. If Ll Bean can deodorize the hat, I'd order again...
I hate wearing hats but needed a head covering since we bought a convertible vehicle. I looked long and hard to find the perfect hat but I did find it at LLBean. It looks great. It gives lots of protection from the sun and it is so comfortable that you forget that you have it on. Another nice feature is it has a leather tie for when it gets really windy. You won't loose this hat on the open road. This is an overall great product but then that is what I have come to expect from LLBean.
