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$54.00
Item qualifies for annual
REI Member Refund (typically 10%)
Imported.
Item 238313
Specification | Description |
| Fabric | Gore-Tex/Taslan nylon |
| Lining | Nylon/polyester |
| Gender | Unisex |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviewsPros
Cons
Best Uses
Reviewed by 29 customers
Sort by
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Outdoor Research Seattle Sombrero:
I've owned my Seattle Sombrero for 2 years now. I have noticed a couple issues with this hat.
1. There are little heat glued spots that keep the inner and outer liner together on the top of the inner liner. Over time they will separate and becomes annoying as the top Gortex fabric will separate from the inner liner in light wind conditions.
2. If you have the brim down and you get a small gust of wind the Velcro on the brim will hit the Velcro on the hat causing it to attach when you don’t want the brim to be up. You constantly have to pull the brim back down.
3. After a couple years the brim does loose shape.
4. Too warm. The inner liner is way to warm for the summer months. You will sweat buckets on a 75+ degree day.
I personally would recommend the OR Nimbus Sombrero Hat because it is a lighter hat, has snaps instead of Velcro.
For a hat you are going to wear sparingly it is great but if you plan to wear it many times throughout the year I would not recommend the Seattle Sombrero because you will just have to purchase another one in 1-2 years.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Outdoor Research Seattle Sombrero:
I've had this hat for over 5 years and used it on many rainy kayaking or canoeing outings, and numerous hikes in steady rain. It always has kept my head dry and the broad brim keeps the runoff out of my collar, raincoat hood (if folded flat), and face, keeping my eyeglasses dry. It's vastly better than a raincoat hood. It's a bit hot in warm weather. Only serious "con" is the velcro tab; even a moderate wind easily blows up the side brim, attaches it to the velcro, and it stays up. So when kayaking in a breezy rain, I constantly had to pry down the windward side brim to keep that side of my head protected and dry. My wife solved the problem by cutting matching loop velcro pieces to cover the brim's hook velcro. I have these on nearly all the time. If I was buying again, I'd check out OR's snap version - the Nimbus Sombrero.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Outdoor Research Seattle Sombrero:
I bought my Seattle Sombrero in 1991 and have used it extensively since. It is the one piece of gear I still use and have not had to replace after all these years. It sheds water, keeps the sun off, folds up small, dries quickly, and doesn't look to shabby either. I only have two complaints: At the time I bought it it came in only one size and it was a little small for me. It has since expanded to fit or my head has shrunk, one or the other. I see it now comes in multiple sizes. Secondly, it can be a little warm in hot weather. I fixed that by trimming most of the fabric liner, leaving only a bit around the rim and reinforcing the edge with new stitching. I suspect this issue has been fixed as well.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Outdoor Research Seattle Sombrero:
I bought this hat on a recent winter day in the Pacific Northwest anticipating a long day of rain, snow, and sleet. It was my intention to use it with my softshell as a more-mobile outfit than wearing a hooded rainshell while hiking for more comfort and freedom of movement. Happily, it was PERFECT in this role. It completely deflected everything mother nature threw at me that day, keeping my head nice and dry and not letting any water down my collar thanks to the wide brim. The next day at higher altitudes, with clumps of powder cascading from the tall pines, it did a great job of deflecting that too and allowed me to 'tuck' down into my collar when bigger whisps of blowing snow came at me, giving me a terrific experience free from worry and full of wonder at the great outdoors. This hat is amazing.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Outdoor Research Seattle Sombrero:
Pretty good hat, very expensive. I've owned one for about 8 years, but it has gone missing. The velcro patches to retain the brim are really annoying- in any wind they lock up on their own. I use it on the water, since I lost mine I may try the other model with snaps. Velcro just does not work as it should in any wind- always an issue for kayaking. If I am going to pay that much for a hat I don't want to cut out mating pieces of velcro to make it work.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Outdoor Research Seattle Sombrero:
I would give it 4.5 stars if I could. It is so close to perfect..... It does SUCH a nice job dealing with the rain; even a downpour. Longer brim in the back; I have never had the rain funneled down my neck like so many lesser hats do. Have had this one for a few years and would definitely buy again. I fold it, crush it, wad it up in a suitcase..... It will look funny for an hour or so but the creases always go a way.
First thing to improve? GET RID OF THE VELCRO! It is nice to fold up one side of the hat (oh, big brim means reduced hearing BTW) but a breeze flips up the sides too. It is really a problem! You have to tighten the drawcord all the way (ouch on the beard!) to apply enough pressure to keep the sides down on a windy day. Hang out on the Oregon coast for a while, where you have rain and wind aplenty, you will know what I mean before too long.
The other issue is the one that keeps this from being my "only" hat. It does get too hot. I can't fairly say it does not breathe, it just does not breathe well enough. If you are exerting yourself or if the temp is over 65-70 deg F (for me anyway), you can count on getting soaked under this hat. That makes this my rain hat only but for rain, there is nothing better.....
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Outdoor Research Seattle Sombrero:
Absolutely outstanding. Acid tested by many, many folks here in the rainy Northwest. You know when it's the favorite hat of steelhead guides (who row boats 12 hours a day in nonstop rain all winter) swear by this hat it's rock solid.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Outdoor Research Seattle Sombrero:
Great hat for the rain. I prefer to walk in the rain. With this hat and a poncho, I'm like a walking tent that is dry underneath. Although I backpack, I haven't taken this backpacking with me and can't comment on it backpacking. However, I often use this on urban hikes in the most inclement of weather in the Bay Area and it works like a charm. With a poncho and this hat, I love walking in the worst weather.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Outdoor Research Seattle Sombrero:
Great hat for rainy days. Less useful for sunny days as my head tends to sweat.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Outdoor Research Seattle Sombrero:
This is a good had when I lived in Seattle for 4 years but it is simply too hot for more temperate climates. It is also a good winter hat but don't pull this out on a summer day your head may bake!
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REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviewsPros
Cons
Best Uses
Reviewed by 29 customers
Sort by
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Outdoor Research Seattle Sombrero:
I've owned my Seattle Sombrero for 2 years now. I have noticed a couple issues with this hat.
1. There are little heat glued spots that keep the inner and outer liner together on the top of the inner liner. Over time they will separate and becomes annoying as the top Gortex fabric will separate from the inner liner in light wind conditions.
2. If you have the brim down and you get a small gust of wind the Velcro on the brim will hit the Velcro on the hat causing it to attach when you don’t want the brim to be up. You constantly have to pull the brim back down.
3. After a couple years the brim does loose shape.
4. Too warm. The inner liner is way to warm for the summer months. You will sweat buckets on a 75+ degree day.
I personally would recommend the OR Nimbus Sombrero Hat because it is a lighter hat, has snaps instead of Velcro.
For a hat you are going to wear sparingly it is great but if you plan to wear it many times throughout the year I would not recommend the Seattle Sombrero because you will just have to purchase another one in 1-2 years.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Outdoor Research Seattle Sombrero:
I've had this hat for over 5 years and used it on many rainy kayaking or canoeing outings, and numerous hikes in steady rain. It always has kept my head dry and the broad brim keeps the runoff out of my collar, raincoat hood (if folded flat), and face, keeping my eyeglasses dry. It's vastly better than a raincoat hood. It's a bit hot in warm weather. Only serious "con" is the velcro tab; even a moderate wind easily blows up the side brim, attaches it to the velcro, and it stays up. So when kayaking in a breezy rain, I constantly had to pry down the windward side brim to keep that side of my head protected and dry. My wife solved the problem by cutting matching loop velcro pieces to cover the brim's hook velcro. I have these on nearly all the time. If I was buying again, I'd check out OR's snap version - the Nimbus Sombrero.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Outdoor Research Seattle Sombrero:
I bought my Seattle Sombrero in 1991 and have used it extensively since. It is the one piece of gear I still use and have not had to replace after all these years. It sheds water, keeps the sun off, folds up small, dries quickly, and doesn't look to shabby either. I only have two complaints: At the time I bought it it came in only one size and it was a little small for me. It has since expanded to fit or my head has shrunk, one or the other. I see it now comes in multiple sizes. Secondly, it can be a little warm in hot weather. I fixed that by trimming most of the fabric liner, leaving only a bit around the rim and reinforcing the edge with new stitching. I suspect this issue has been fixed as well.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Outdoor Research Seattle Sombrero:
I bought this hat on a recent winter day in the Pacific Northwest anticipating a long day of rain, snow, and sleet. It was my intention to use it with my softshell as a more-mobile outfit than wearing a hooded rainshell while hiking for more comfort and freedom of movement. Happily, it was PERFECT in this role. It completely deflected everything mother nature threw at me that day, keeping my head nice and dry and not letting any water down my collar thanks to the wide brim. The next day at higher altitudes, with clumps of powder cascading from the tall pines, it did a great job of deflecting that too and allowed me to 'tuck' down into my collar when bigger whisps of blowing snow came at me, giving me a terrific experience free from worry and full of wonder at the great outdoors. This hat is amazing.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Outdoor Research Seattle Sombrero:
Pretty good hat, very expensive. I've owned one for about 8 years, but it has gone missing. The velcro patches to retain the brim are really annoying- in any wind they lock up on their own. I use it on the water, since I lost mine I may try the other model with snaps. Velcro just does not work as it should in any wind- always an issue for kayaking. If I am going to pay that much for a hat I don't want to cut out mating pieces of velcro to make it work.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Outdoor Research Seattle Sombrero:
I would give it 4.5 stars if I could. It is so close to perfect..... It does SUCH a nice job dealing with the rain; even a downpour. Longer brim in the back; I have never had the rain funneled down my neck like so many lesser hats do. Have had this one for a few years and would definitely buy again. I fold it, crush it, wad it up in a suitcase..... It will look funny for an hour or so but the creases always go a way.
First thing to improve? GET RID OF THE VELCRO! It is nice to fold up one side of the hat (oh, big brim means reduced hearing BTW) but a breeze flips up the sides too. It is really a problem! You have to tighten the drawcord all the way (ouch on the beard!) to apply enough pressure to keep the sides down on a windy day. Hang out on the Oregon coast for a while, where you have rain and wind aplenty, you will know what I mean before too long.
The other issue is the one that keeps this from being my "only" hat. It does get too hot. I can't fairly say it does not breathe, it just does not breathe well enough. If you are exerting yourself or if the temp is over 65-70 deg F (for me anyway), you can count on getting soaked under this hat. That makes this my rain hat only but for rain, there is nothing better.....
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Outdoor Research Seattle Sombrero:
Absolutely outstanding. Acid tested by many, many folks here in the rainy Northwest. You know when it's the favorite hat of steelhead guides (who row boats 12 hours a day in nonstop rain all winter) swear by this hat it's rock solid.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Outdoor Research Seattle Sombrero:
Great hat for the rain. I prefer to walk in the rain. With this hat and a poncho, I'm like a walking tent that is dry underneath. Although I backpack, I haven't taken this backpacking with me and can't comment on it backpacking. However, I often use this on urban hikes in the most inclement of weather in the Bay Area and it works like a charm. With a poncho and this hat, I love walking in the worst weather.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Outdoor Research Seattle Sombrero:
Great hat for rainy days. Less useful for sunny days as my head tends to sweat.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Outdoor Research Seattle Sombrero:
This is a good had when I lived in Seattle for 4 years but it is simply too hot for more temperate climates. It is also a good winter hat but don't pull this out on a summer day your head may bake!
