My wife bought me a olive drab australian army hat (which really reminded me off the hat female drill sergeants in the U.S. Army wear) after I was diagnosed with Melanoma last year. I ended up having her return it because I just couldn't force myself to wear it. Then she bought me a cloth camo cowboy style hat from Bass Pro. I guess I will try wearing it, as long as I can convince my friends not to take any pictures of me with it on. I also kind of think I may be "Dude, are you serious?" kind of guys.

style over function? maybe the young guys think it's more important to look cool but i would rather not risk melanoma thank you. besides, like dep says, i'm old and i just don't give a s**t. i do like the hat.

I'm neither old enough nor good enough a fisherman to pull off the boonie hat properly, but I have started wearing one anyway after seeing my dad and uncle's faces reshaped by dermatologists over the last few years.

It's a pretty cool hat but it looks like you're trying to hard when you get one that comes broken in off the shelf - it's the fisherman's job to break his hat in on the water.

I bought one of these hats in April and it has withstood this brutal South Texas summer admirably, even through all the rain we have at this canvas is fantastic. I have put it through the ringer in the past 3 months and not only does it help to keep cool but it is a lot more comfortable than my old straw cowboy hat.

I had a scare with a patch behind my ear several years ago that turned out to be OK, but since I've been more careful and like to wear brimmed hats.
I like that one. Its the same shape and all of my favorite.
A 'Willis' made by Outback Trading Company.
By the way--I wear a boonie or two, also...and a straw Stetson and a felt Resistol, etc.
I like hats like I like boots. They keep both ends like they need to be.
:-)

That is a cool looking hat and just what I need so sent my order in a moment ago. My Stetson is just too hot for the summer and is a bit too small anyhow. Planning to put a band made with turkey spurs on it. Have about a hundred basball caps but like stated before they don't cover the ears and neck.

Everyone surveyed, including myself, thinks that my full brim hat looks like the south end of a horse headed north, but with my Irish complexion and the amount of time I like to spend outside, I have just gotten into the habit of taking it off for pictures.

Seems like every year or two my dad has to have something carved off of his face, neck, or ears, and I don't want to follow in those particular footsteps.

He also can't hear very well out of his left ear, so I wear ear protection while shooting.

Many of the most valuable lessons I have learned in my life have come from copying my father's success, but the most long lasting lessons may come from realizing the things he did wrong.

I have at least one of the same concerns as buckhunter. If you've worn it in your normal stomping grounds recently it was definitely hot weather. How was the hat from a sweaty head standpoing compared to a typical canvas boonie?

JC-

Wear whatever you want, and to hell with what everyone else thinks. They'll shut their mouths when you are catching fish AND comfortable.

Love the hat, I want one.

Nycfly are those the pointy cardboard ones with the little rubberband that goes under your chin? They work great for kids' parties but fishing? If you think 40 dollars is to much for a good hat don't ever shop for a Stetson

that is a great hat but I prefer to buy a hat made from new material and wear it until it looks like the one pictured in this article. Doing so adds a certain level of distinction from other anglers who look like they just walked out of a catalog.

The 100 degree heat forced me away from canvas and into lighter synthetics. Squirrel hunting in 100 degrees, more fun than a gym.

My lady love bought me this hat for our anniversary, thanks to this article. It came in the mail 4 days ago, and I'm already sold! It's served me well with the heat index in my part of North Alabama sitting between 105 and 109 the last few days, and I've been quit comfortable (well, as comfortable as possible in this humidity). I can't wait to try it out in rain and colder weather.