Waterfowling hat?

Neal Haarberg

Active member
This last weekend I lost my hat. It blew out of the boat sometime on the way back to the ramp. So I am in need of a new waterfowling cap. What I lost was Boonie hat. It was given to me and was a fairly stiff material without a large brim to obstruct my view. Worked well for keeping the rain out of my eyes and water from going down my back. So I am looking for a new hat and I do not like any of the boonie caps I have seen. The brim is too big and they are too flimsy. So I am not sure what to get and am looking for recommendations on styles and brands. The 2 hat styles I do not like are baseball caps (the brim is too big) and Stocking caps (no brim). So what all do you guys use? I live in the Northwest so shedding water is more of a concern than warmth.
 
I have looked at the Filson caps and would really love to have one. Currently I use a boonie cap, but it is older and sounds similar to what you had. My son wears a Jones cap by Drake waterfowl. The brim is not too big, it is gore-tex or something similar and has fold down flaps for keeping the ears warm.

If I really needed another cap, I would spend the money on the Filson for sure. Will have to see if my hat blows out of the boat this year.

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I wear a bow hunter's cap by Browning. It looks like a baseball cap but it has a short brim and a gore-tex lining. Love it!
 
I like the Filson hat, but I had a hard time with fitting and had to return two of them. I just couldn't find a size that fit comfortably - they were either too big and would blow off too easy, or too tight and gave me a headache. So, I went with a merino wool beanie style hat with a short brim by First Lite. It won't help with the rain, but on dry days, I don't think it can be beat.

http://www.firstlite.com/product_detail/11/brimmed-beanie
 
When it's not Cold. Waxed cotten shooting cap. When colder I pull a Under Armour beanie over it so I still have a brim.

Damn cold, a 30 year old LL Bean Thinsulate Goretex waterfowlers hat......or 1960's US Navy surplus, kind of like the Filson but better.

All stay on my now bald head. A waterfowlers hat is a Best Friend, and is usually the first thing I look for, and grab when gettin' prepared for a New season.

I hope that you find yours, and build some great memories with it.
 
I have a Stormy Kromer, waxed cotton for the less than cold days, but would like to get the Filson Waterfowler hat, Tin Cloth for colder, but am torn on what size to get.... the Stormy Kromer I have is 7 1/2, and a tad loose. Wish it was the next size down, but the Filson is stiffer, will it stretch out as it wears? The L is less than 7 1/2, and the XL is more?
 
I have a Stormy Kromer, waxed cotton for the less than cold days, but would like to get the Filson Waterfowler hat, Tin Cloth for colder, but am torn on what size to get.... the Stormy Kromer I have is 7 1/2, and a tad loose. Wish it was the next size down, but the Filson is stiffer, will it stretch out as it wears? The L is less than 7 1/2, and the XL is more?


Dave -
My tincloth hat (L) hasn't budged, in 4 years. It's a little tight. I also have the Shelter cloth in an XL and it's a little loose. I should have ordered the Shelter in L and Tin in XL...
 
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So for the Filson hat, what is everyone's personal preference (A) Tin Cloth or (B) Shelter Cloth ?


In my mind, it is a color choice... I prefer the tan color, especially as it darkens with additional waxing and age... the Shelter gets really dark from what I have seen. Guess it depends on where you hunt?
 
Mine is a Tin,I wear it for deer and duck. if it's single digits or colder I add a liner. I don't wear it in my layout blind.
 
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