[mike]

My wife likes my old OR Seattle Sombrero so I'm looking for a replacement. I ordered a new one with my coupon at REI. $65 retail $50 on sale but still...way more than I paid a few years ago but I like my old one. Then to add insult to injury the new "improved" OR-SS is cheap junk. Not true to size and no more tightener in back to adjust fit. No vent. Cheapened chin strap with only 2 flimsy attachment points and no buckle and no easy way to remove it. Material seems thinner. Don't like the liner. Brim is flimsy and will blow up in any kind of breeze. Worthless. Velcro instead of magnets to hold the brim. Very disappointed. More like a Mexican Riviera sombrero than Seattle. So to add more insult I paid my $6 to ship it back. Now I'm looking for something to replace my good old SS. Recommendations.

[Randito]

The Seattle Sombrero was a good rain hat, but it is also a sweaty hat. Lately I've been using a Kavu Chiliba hat for sun and rain. I appreciate the good ventilation while pushing hard uphill in the rain. It also provides good visibility to motorboats while sea kayaking as well as excellent sun protection.

[Brian Curtis]

The hat you are describing as your old Seattle Sombrero was not a Seattle Sombrero. The Sombrero has always had an internal velcro size adjustment (and still does), velcro flaps, and a neck cord that ties to the hat. The hat you are describing that had a stiffer brim, magnetic flaps, and an external size adjustment was a different model. I've got one of those, too, but don't see it on their website currently. I can't remember what it was called.