I'm thinking of a hat...

[A3M0N]

I'm bald, meaning I'm balding and I shave my noggin. I usually wear sunscreen on my head when I'm out in the sun, but it stinks. There are a few that smell like coconut, I like that, but they are all greasy no matter what the box says.

I just got home from Disney World w/the family and wished I had a hat to wear. My usual attire (outside of a military uniform) is khaki/plaid shorts, flip flops, and a polo/tshirt. No, my wardrobe is not classy. I live in hot sunny Florida and like to wear shorts and tshirts.

Can anyone recommend me a hat? I want one to work in my yard in, but that doesn't need to be nice. But will I look like a tool wearing a straw fedora with jeans/shorts and a polo/tshirt?

Thanks for the advice!

[Ammoseven]

I'd go a ball cap with a brewery logo. But that's just an opinion of a 24 year old

[cb91710]

A straw fedora will fit with that apparel just fine.

Similar to the "no black after memorial day" fashion rule... and IMHO, this is something that's more weather-dependent than day/month.

Panama hat works with summer apparel.
Felt fedora for winter apparel.

For climates like Florida or California, let the weather be your guide. If the felt fedora would be uncomfortably warm, move to the Panama.

I have a couple of each with different brims, kinda depending on my mood.

My Stetson Panama:




"The Hattery".... cheap Chinese "Stingy brim" that I picked up at the local mall




"Hats in the Belfry" brand "Frankie" model felt with snap brim.

[OldSaw]

Consider a Tilley. I'm not a hat guy, so when I wear one it is mostly utilitarian. I wear my Tilley when I have to be in the sun or the rain. I especially like it for sailing, as it won't blow off when using the strap (which is almost always tucked inside the hat unless I am boating). Check out their website. I have the LTM3.

[Stevew443]

Here is my casual summer hat. It is light, sturdy and stylish. I have received many compliments on it.
http://www.hatsinthebelfry.com/Merch...-85-35_tan.jpg

[Isaac]

Definitely a fedora. Straw in the summer and beaver felt in the winter.

[Legion]

If you go back to Disney World I recommend one with ears...

Other times in Florida a straw panama should be good.

Or you can do what country Australians do and wear Akubra all year round.

[Shantytownbrown]

I have 2 Bailey fedoras, one straw one felt, one summer, one fall/winter...both stingy brimmed, always gets compliments, wore it (the straw) with shorts and T's all over Vegas last trip..lots of "nice lid" compliments...its too nice tho for me to use in the garden/yard tho...get an el cheapo or tilley as suggested above...

shoebuy.com sell hats, free shipping and free returns, in case it dont fit...
lots of nice brands (bailey, tilley, stetson and others), they package them nicely, zappos (also sell hats) for some reason doesnt know how to package hats, ordered two different times, brim and crowns were crushed on arrival...

[oakeshott]

Hats are the sartorial sore point in my wardrobe. In short, I have none (ball caps do NOT count as hats). Love hats. They are the close parenthesis in the putting together of a man which makes him fully dressed. Unlike ties (which I despise), they are both functional and stylish. Men of the world, men who have seen things and done things (only some of which they talk about) wear hats. Meet a man who has a collection of more than 6 hats and you would do well to buy him a drink (it will probably be scotch or bourbon-neat, perhaps vodka or maybe gin in the summer) and listen to what he has to say about women, dogs and the state of the global economy. Men with hats are the most interesting men in the world.

Get a hat, friend. Fulfill your destiny. Have strangers buy you drinks thirsty themselves for guidance. Become one of the most interesting men in the world.

[buffdaddy]

It really depends on what style your comfortable wearing and if the hat feels good on you (and what the Wife or GF likes to lol).

I would think a fedora would go well with your attire. Check out Goorin Brothers hat company. They have a wide selection, and good prices. I have two fedoras I bought from them and love 'em.

As far as baseball caps, I have a fair amount of them and wear them . I have everything from the classic black 59fifty New Era fitted hat for my beloved whitesox (just don't wear 'em like a gangsta, worst look ever!) to my titleist golf hats and some retro styles New Era has come out with. I actually just picked up New Era fitted 59Fifty MLB umpires cap. Rare cap and have gotten a lot of "wear did you get that?".

My favorite baseball cap is my Eddie Bauer First Ascent cap I got for $12.00...

[shaveitoff]

Given that you dress casually, why not just go for a ball cap? They are cheap enough that you could get a few different colours. Then if you get used to wearing a hat you might want to experiment a bit and try a straw fedora. But don't start with that if you are not comfortable with it.

[Dennard]

I agree with the fedora recommendations.

[Robert45]

Check out the Tilley line of hats. I have a different one for each season. It sounds like straw would work for you. I have one made by Stetson. You would need to be especially mindful of sweat rings while wearing straw while working/exercising. Panama's are great too....but they can get pricey fast. Finally I have a great drivng cap made of linen. It is the coolest (temp wise) of any head gear I have. I got it from the Village Hat Shoppe on line. But my first recommedation are the Tilleys for selection, value and utility.

(When I lived in Miami, I wore a pith helmet when I worked outdoors!)

[Miles]

I'd suggest a surplus boonie hat for yard work (that's what I use) and maybe a Kangol tropic ventair cap for about town.

Boonie on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Propper-Khaki-...eywords=boonie

Kangol on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Kangol-Mens-Tr.../dp/B0031ET00S

[Sled Dog]

Tilley for casual, Straw (panama style) and a fedora for semi formal-formal, depending on weather

[Captain Pre-Capsize]

Tilley, they are made in Canada and they wear like iron. I have one for our winters that is a wool one and LOVE it. I have had a lady try to buy it right off my head at the grocery - NOT kidding. She wanted it for her hubby.

[A3M0N]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I've been doing some reading and looking at websites and chain dept stores, and just don't know what the differences in a Panama and Fedora are. Is it the brim width or shape?

I haven't really ruled out just getting a couple of baseball caps, but those don't shade ears or backs of necks.

Thanks!

[Sled Dog]

Forgot to mention flat caps as an option (like my avatar )
I have several as they come in different styles, the one below is made of Irish linen and is great for the summer, I have the same cap but made of wool for the cooler weather


My Tilley TH4 wide brim hemp hat,,,awesome for keeping the sun off

[A3M0N]

Ok, so more reading. A Panama hat is basically a straw hat, amirite? And a Fedora is traditionally felt, but is a shape more that a material. So fedora panama hat, its a straw fedora?

Wow, after reading that, my words just go in circles. But that is my best understanding so far. But for yard work, I'll probably just pick up an ABU boonie hat.

[Topgumby]

You've pretty much got the gist of it...a Panama is a fedora shaped hat made of strawlike material, but a good Panama is a finely woven work of art, and has little in common with a cheap straw hat that you'll find at Wallyworld. There are subtle and not so subtle differences in shapes within the Panama hat world, but you've got the basic idea.

Best Summer hat I've had is made of.... polypropylene! It's an Akubra Capricorn in the fawn color. It looks for all the world like a Milan straw hat, and it wears light and cool.

I wore mine at Disneyland and stuffed it under seats or in those crazy pouches they have in the cars on rides and it just shrugged off the abuse. I've worn it every day during two Summers, and it does yard work duty too. If it gets dirty, I hose it off and it's good to go again.

Tilley makes a fine hat, but around here it's almost a badge that I associate with an outlook on things that I don't want to be associated with, so I went with something different. The Akubra can do double duty as a "nice" hat and a outdoorsy hat, something most of the Tilley hats can't, IMHO.