Outdoor ResearchHelios Sun Hat

Color: Sand. Everything is good about this hat, except its lack of ventilation. The brim, at 2.75" is a good size - blocks the sun, but not the view. It is stiff enough to prevent it from flopping in front of one's eyes. (By the way, the color "Arctic" is marketing fluff for Powder Blue.) All-in-all it is a good shape hat. It really could use some ventilation mesh, though. I would send it back were it not for the fact that I cannot find anything better. It would also be nice if it were offered the the color white.

I can't say much about the Outdoor Research Helios sun hat that other reviewers haven't said; in summary, it's a righteous lid.We all have different shaped heads and wear hats slightly differently, but wearing the Helios low on my brow and fairly level, it's very comfortable and light. I barely notice it on my head and I imagine the fit will only get better as it gets broken in.The crown is slightly squarey and short like a boonie hat and not as round as the stock Amazon or Outdoor Research photo shows. For me the shape is perfect. The brim is stiff and made from a more dense foam than the Seattle Sombrero I have. Like the photo shows, the brim has some waves which will change depending on the shape of your head and how you wear the hat. The lower portion of the crown near the brim has a drawcord with a small amount of elasticity. The cord is held by a fabric-wrapped stop in the back, where it attaches to the crown. The drawcord cinches the hat down and allows a degree of adjustability depending on fit preferences and conditions.I imagine if its hot and stagnant one would keep the hat more loose, but if the wind picks up, crank it down. Like other OR hats, the chin cord (for lack of the proper name) is attached with knots to small loops where the brim meets the crown. The cord is the same sort of line as other hats with a simple rubber stopper. I keep the cord behind my head cinched down like a military/police campaign hat ("Smoky the Bear hat") which keeps it out of my way and will help hold the hat in place in strong wind. The elasticity of the cord and design of the hat allows it some give. I can pull it away from my forehead by the brim once in a while if I need to.The seams and overall construction are on par with other OR products and what I would expect from a high-end company. Time will tell if the construction and materials hold up as well as the design.While other reviewers found the brim to be floppy and limp, it seems to be rather sturdy to me. It may be the way it fits or a design update, but it's stiff. It seems to be more stiff than the brim of my Tilley hat and overall the hat is lighter.I tried the hat on in a Whole Earth Provisions store in Austin, Texas, and then bought it on Amazon with some other gear. I'm in the process of gearing up for Burning Man, which is still a few months away. Living in Texas, the sun is brutal -- more so than NYC or Connecticut where I spent the first 33 years of my life. I can't imagine not having a hat on here, and definitely not a black one. As I wear this hat more I'll add to my review. And when I return from Burning Man, I'll review the hat again, assuming I remember. So far the hat is so comfortable, I can see completely forgetting about it until it's not there.Thanks for reading, now turn off your computer and go outside!

I ordered three different Outdoor Research hats for a trip to a sunny location. This sun hat is nicely made. The stitching is uniform and they have lots of colors. I chose the sand color, which looked very nice in person. The hat is very light and took its normal shape very shortly after unfolding, so I think it'll be great as a packable hat for travel. It has a nice sized brim, larger than the bucket hat, so you'll have more protection. I ordered the size based on doing the recommended head measurements and the fit was very comfortable, however, I did not care for the cinch cord around the hat above the brim, which made it look sort of baggy. I'm sure that's a very subjective opinion, but it's not for me.Also, unfortunately, I guess I don't have the right face shape for this type of hat, so I had to return. Baseball caps for me this time around.

I started going bald a couple years ago but I didn't really want to accept it. So, I kept telling myself it wasn't that bad and the like. But my wife always reminded me how bald I was really getting and would not let me forget it. One day, I decided to test her mettle and told her to put up or shut up...either get out her clippers and do something about my balding hair or leave me be! Needless to say, about 10 minutes later, my head was shaved...Based on not wanting skin cancer on my newly shaved head, I decided this was a great time to get a boonie type hat. I originally ordered the Khaki colored X-large OR Helios Sun Hat but that was too big for my head. Then I saw that this Sand colored Helios was on sale for about half the price. I returned the other and jumped at this one.I can honestly say that I love this hat. I served in the Army for 4 years and spent some time in Kuwait where Mil-Spec boonies were our required uniform covers. Those worked well and were very well made but were hot...they don't breathe well. This OR Helios boonie is much more comfortable in my opinion and protects just as well. The hat is very lightweight and breathable yet appears to be very durable. The materials just feel high quality. I got kinda lucky because the Large size fits my head perfectly but the micro adjustment feature is really nice as well. It allows you to tighten the hat just a bit in case it doesn't fit perfectly. And as a bonus, it floats if ever dropped into a lake, river, etc.I can't think of a Con to this hat right now. It feels good, it looks good (IMO), it protects well and it appears to be durable. A well deserving 5 star rating for this hat. If you are looking for a lighter weight, summertime boonie, I suggest giving the Helios a try.UPDATE 3/17/2018: Just wanted to say that this hat is still working awesome! It's easy to clean and has continued to perform flawlessly. Would give it 6 stars if possible.LAST UPDATE: 11/10/2019. This hat is still awesome. My son has been in Scouts for a few years now and I wear this hat on every camping trip. It's spectacular. Many of the other leaders have OR brand hats as well. If your considering a wide brimmed hat, try an OR. You will not regret it.

A good fit for my small head, and the brim isn't too big to obscure my face and gives good coverage against the sun.

Hat is a good fit. It does what it's meant to do although would not get any compliments at Ascot! I do a lot of gardening and just need it to protect me from the sun. Perfect for this.

Good light weight hat would recommend

Brilliant in the sun, watching whales from a boat in the Azores! Light, foldable, and good value, too.

Recommended product. Thanks!