The Hat That Left the Sailboat
I have owned Tilley hats for years. I even bought one of the original hats from 1980 and added others as new versions appeared.
Tilleys have a reputation for surviving almost anything, and mine did. The only thing they could not survive was me giving them to someone else.
The Tilley story began in Canada in 1980. Alex Tilley was a sailor who had grown tired of hats that blew off his head and sank when they landed in the water. He wanted a hat that stayed on, floated and could handle the weather.
That simple idea produced one of the most recognizable outdoor hats in the world.
The original was designed for sailing, but the Tilley did not remain on the boat for long. Travelers began packing them. Hikers, anglers, photographers and gardeners wore them. Canadian soldiers were supplied with Tilley hats during the Gulf War, and Sir Edmund Hillary was among the explorers who wore one.
Those names and adventures became part of the Tilley legend, but the hat's real success may be found in more ordinary places. It is worn by someone fishing from a riverbank, walking an unfamiliar city, photographing birds or spending an afternoon working in the garden.
A Tilley is not usually purchased to make a grand entrance. It is bought because there is weather outside and something needs to be done.
My Own Tilleys
I currently own three. I have an original 1980 hat packed in a box somewhere. I will need to clean out the garage to find it.
The most substantial is my TWC7 Outback Waxed Adventure Hat. It is made from cotton treated with two passes of British Millerain wax, giving it water resistance and a rugged appearance.
Waxed cotton does not remain perfectly smooth and new. It develops creases, marks and variations as it is handled and worn. Those changes become part of the hat's character.
My other two are T5 Adventure Hemp Hats.
The hemp canvas begins fairly firm but softens with use. It develops a patina rather than simply looking worn out. The hat gradually becomes more comfortable and more individual.
The waxed Tilley is prepared for weather. The hemp Tilley is prepared for years.
All three are made in Canada. They retain the features that made the original useful: a wind cord, ventilation, a moisture-managing sweatband, a hidden crown pocket and enough buoyancy to keep the hat from disappearing beneath the water.
None of those details is especially dramatic. Together, however, they explain why people take these hats around the world and keep wearing them for decades.
The Three That Are Staying
I have been reducing my hat and cap collection and deciding what I genuinely want to keep. These three Tilleys are staying, and I want a fourth, a T3 Wanderer Hat in blue.
They may not be the most glamorous hats I own, but they were never intended to be. They are working hats made for sun, wind, rain and travel.
I have already proved that a Tilley can survive years of use. Now I just have to stop giving them away.
Sources and Further Reading
Personal experience and photographs by Jerry Gault.
