Outdoor ResearchHelios Sun Hat

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’ll be in direct sunlight in the green one and you notice that it does not let as much heat through. Mildly water resistant as well. Packs super nice. I should’ve went up a size though.

This hat is good. Lightweight material, quick drying, tough and durable, easy to shove into a daypack. I wish the material were more breathable. I really, really wish the company could just somehow resist slapping their corporate logo on my forehead. I sprayed the hat with a layer of waterproofing spray. I usually keep the chin string tucked into the tightener cord in back to keep the chin string out of my way until I actually need it on the occasional windy day.The only downside to this hat is that the wide brim is just a little bit too wide; it looks goofy. I know, I know, some of you care more about blocking the sun than looking sexy in a canoe; what can I say, I haven't started letting myself go yet and I still flirt with my wife even while outdoors.

Update March 13, 2014: It's been over two years since my initial review. I'm still loving this hat and use it regularly. But there have been some times when the heat in the unventilated hat has been too much, even in the normally cool northwest area. So I finally added 6 grommets along the top rim - PROBLEM SOLVED! The grommets have made a significant difference and I like the hat even more now. See the picture with the red writing and arrows I added to the customer photo gallery. The grommets are cheap, easy to install and come in solid brass or a silver metal.I bought the hat a few weeks ago in anticipation of my trip to Puerto Vallarta. That's where I am now and I have really put the hat through its paces for almost two weeks now. I was torn betweens the Helios and the Sombriolet but I think I made the right decision. It's the most comfortable hat I've ever owned. The Large size fits my big head really well thanks to the clever adjuster on the back. The top part of the hat is a very light weight material. The brim is heavier and stiffer which is good in the windy weather. There is only minimal, almost negligible, flapping in winds of 10-15 mph and the brim provides excellent coverage. I've spent hours on the beach and in the water with the hat and have experienced zero sun burn from the neck up using only minimal sunscreen. That's the main reason I'm glad I didn't get the sombriolet with the wider, goofier looking brim. Just don't need the extra shading.OK, now for the "but". We've had temperatures here in the low to mid 90's with humidity in the 80-90% range. The hat has no venting and the material doesn't breathe very well. I tested this by pressing the hat to my lips and blowing. The air doesn't flow freely in either direction making for a sweaty, sometimes uncomfortable experience. Thankfully, like I said, it's a light material. I think these conditions are in the "extreme" category, so the hat should perform much better in more normal temperature and humidity ranges. I'm sure I will be even happier hiking with the hat back home in the great northwest.Pros:- good looking hat- very comfortable fit- lightweight- it floats- excellent adjusting mechanism- effective sunscreen protection- good value (high quality, reasonably priced}Cons:- no vents and low breathability of fabric (probably only an issue in these very hot/humid conditions}Bottom line - I like the hat very much. I would have rated a 5 except for the lack of vents. Maybe I'll modify and create my own vents in the future.Hope this review is helpful.