Hi to all those with a Tilley hat
When buying one, how did you decide which one/style to buy?
Thanks
Mike

Personal preference I guess. I bought the airflo model because it is cooler in hot weather.

I didn't buy just one; however, the one I'm most likely to use on canoe trips is the T4. With a crown height that leave me a gap between my head and the top of the hat, I've never felt the pounding sun on the top of my head. Grommet vents near the crown help to dissipate heat as well. (I do wish they were mesh covered and didn't corrode quite so quickly.) Also, this design provides something of a crescent shape profile when on your head, giving you a bit more sun shade "fore and aft." With its floating property, chin strap and underneath shading to minimize water surface reflection, it pretty well ticks all of my check boxes.

I do also have an LTM6 (top vented version) for use at home ... where the weather is way hotter!!

dd

I have one I bought in the late 80's that I don't think they make anymore- white canvas like the T4 but with a really wide brim- great for keeping the sun and the rain off. Challenging in wind. The lighter the color the better it is for cooling in the sun.

I have the Airflo model as I had a similar knockoff one with large grommets in it for ventilation and flies, bees and other insects always seemed to go inside of the hat. So with the mesh of the Airflo I don't have that problem. Plus it keeps my noggin cooler too.

Mine was a gift, and it is an airflow. It is green, but I would get a tan one as it will not absorb as much heat. I would buy a new one, but the green one I own was a gift from my girls.

I have a Tilley Airflow. I got it on discount from a going out of business sale. I like the coolness and lightness. I wish the brim was stiffer against wind.

quote Frenchy19: "Mine was a gift, and it is an airflow. It is green, but I would get a tan one as it will not absorb as much heat. I would buy a new one, but the green one I own was a gift from my girls."

I know what you are saying. plus I heard black fly are more drawn to darker colors. I have just boughten two tan ones. They hopefully will be arriving sometime next week and the following. I bought an airflo one and a T3 with the buttons on the side. Here's another question. How hard is it to wash and then reshape? I'm scared stiff to try this as what I've paid for them

I have run mine thru the washer a couple of times with no problems. Washes up great. Then I just reshaped it by hand and let it dry hanging from the chin string.

quote OldFingers57: "I have run mine thru the washer a couple of times with no problems. Washes up great. Then I just reshaped it by hand and let it dry hanging from the chin string. "

Thanks! Do you ever have to stretch it

quote Whatsit: "

quote OldFingers57: "I have run mine thru the washer a couple of times with no problems. Washes up great. Then I just reshaped it by hand and let it dry hanging from the chin string. "

Thanks! Do you ever have to stretch it"

No, it seems fine after just letting it air dry. It might be a little bit tighter but not very much.

quote Savage Voyageur: "Personal preference I guess. I bought the airflo model because it is cooler in hot weather. "

B

Yep. Personal preference. I didn't buy a green one because for golf that's not a great color in my opinion. But now I want one in that color as well.

quote OldFingers57: "I have run mine thru the washer a couple of times with no problems. Washes up great. Then I just reshaped it by hand and let it dry hanging from the chin string. "

Ditto. Reshapes over the knee if need be. Comes with washing instructions.

Finally received my two Tilley hats in mail today. I bought both used from eBay. The one is an off white T3 and the other is an airflo. The T3 is in need of a good clean. The airflo seems almost new. So I will be trying the cleaning of the T3 in the sink tonight.

quote Whatsit: "Finally received my two Tilley hats in mail today. I bought both used from eBay. The one is an off white T3 and the other is an airflo. The T3 is in need of a good clean. The airflo seems almost new. So I will be trying the cleaning of the T3 in the sink tonight. "

I bought my Tilley T3 used from eBay as well and found $15.00 in the little stash pocket. Maybe you'll get lucky too!

quote unshavenman: "

quote Whatsit: "Finally received my two Tilley hats in mail today. I bought both used from eBay. The one is an off white T3 and the other is an airflo. The T3 is in need of a good clean. The airflo seems almost new. So I will be trying the cleaning of the T3 in the sink tonight. "

I bought my Tilley T3 used from eBay as well and found $15.00 in the little stash pocket. Maybe you'll get lucky too!"

Ha! I found some brag tags in one and nothing in the other. How do you clean yours?

I use either Tech Wash soap from Mcnetts or just regular old laundry detergent and run it on delicate/ handwash with cold water in the washing machine.

quote Whatsit: "

quote unshavenman: "

quote Whatsit: "Finally received my two Tilley hats in mail today. I bought both used from eBay. The one is an off white T3 and the other is an airflo. The T3 is in need of a good clean. The airflo seems almost new. So I will be trying the cleaning of the T3 in the sink tonight. "

I bought my Tilley T3 used from eBay as well and found $15.00 in the little stash pocket. Maybe you'll get lucky too!"

Ha! I found some brag tags in one and nothing in the other. How do you clean yours?"

It just goes in the washing machine with other similar colors.