Henschel HatsAussie Breezer Hat - Crushable Soft Mesh Hat - Men's Summer Hats for Sun Protection with Adjustable String - Ideal for Outdoor Activities & Other Occasions

My oilskin hiking hat had gotten so battered and threadbare it was clearly time to retire it, especially since wire was poking out of two places on the brim. 12 years is a good run for a hat that's been crammed into backpacks and worn in all weathers on dusty trails, but I wasn't able to find an exact replacement today. So I did a lot of research before settling on this Henschel, over the similarly styled Tilleys at REI and the Connors available here, including watching YouTube hat reviews. If only there were an entire hat review channel, it would be so much easier to make these important decisions!When I opened the box, it had been slightly flattened to fit, but it popped up into shape right away so yes, it's definitely crushable/packable. My head measurement is 22.125", so I got the medium, and it's just a teensy bit large. Not enough to fall down over my eyes, unless pressed hard, though. The inner hat band is wide, double-stitched cotton with padded interfacing on the inside, so it's easy to slip another layer of fabric or foam to bulk it up inside if you need to. All seams are covered with cotton tape so no raw edges are visible and it feels quite sturdy for a hat at this price. My one concern was that the mesh would be too large and plastic looking, but it has a nice fabric texture too, and you can't really see your head through it, at least not if you have dark hair.The color is a rich, warm brown just like in the pictures, and shouldn't show dirt easily. Some people have said it's "heavy" but not if you're used to solid canvas oilskin hats. The mesh crown makes it lighter than my old hat. There is a slight starch smell when you first take it out, but I gave it a quick rinse with plain water and let it dry, and it's almost gone. I expect it will fade entirely within a few wearings. The brim isn't flat and rigid - it curves down elegantly when worn, even though it has no reinforcing wire. It is VERY wide, which was one of my main requirements, because my eyes are very light-sensitive and I live in a sunny, open area, but be aware that if you're not used to wide-brimmed hats you can find yourself bumping the edges into things at first.It's a very good hat for the price, and if you're in the US, buying it helps reduce your carbon footprint since it isn't shipped across the ocean, too.

I can't say enough good things about this hat. My only "complaint" is that I always buy hats sized medium. I should have bought small. I knew it when I first put it on but thought it would be okay. By the time I realized that it was going really too big I had passed the return date. Other than that, great hat.

I get so many compliments on this hat! I'm a female but I have a big head and have to buy men's hats usually, this one fits well and apparently looks great! Also my head get's really hot in traditional hats, the breezer is nice and cool you can actually feel the breeze coming through and it has already prevented a couple hot headed meltdowns, lol! Highly recommend!

Very nice hat. It was too large for me, but my next door neighbor "nephew" loves it! He's quite a fisherman...

Good quality hat. Ordered a Large size based on head measurement and suggested scale. Large size too large. Contacted company who were very pleasant to deal with for exchange of Medium. Received and good fit! Recommend this product.

This hat is awesome! It keeps your head cool and keeps the sun off. It is sturdy and well made and has a huge brim.

Fits perfectly and keeps the sun off of my face. The ventilation on top of the hat keeps you head cool!

Nice hat but I'm returning. I measured my head and used the sizing guide. The medium barely goes on my head (58cms) and is too tight on my girlfriend who measures 56 cms.

Really like this style hat, have purchased this make and style before. Highly recommend.

large brim, cool mesh on top, durable material. Sits high off your head so it looks large