TILLEY MASH-UP AIRFLO® HAT, £75
I acquired my first Tilley in 1992, when, I think, there were just three hats in the Tilley range. Time has moved on and this Canadian company’s range has expanded considerably. These days they even make hats without brims!
The Mash-Up Airflo does have a brim – nearly 6cm on the sides and about 8cm at the front and back. Combine that with UPF50+ fabric (the highest factor possible), ventilation mesh around the crown and a sweatband, and you have the makings of a very good hat for birding in the sun. The Mash-Up is water repellent, too – so will protect you when sun turns to rain, and if you’re using it around water and it parts company with your head, it will float. This hat also has a conscience – it’s made of a recycled fabric blend which uses left-over materials from other production runs. The mix is 29% hemp, 28% organic cotton, 36% recycled polyester and 7% rayon. It really is a bit of a mash-up.
I tested it during a short October trip to South Australia when temperatures peaked in the mid-30s (C). It protected me as I enjoyed my first Emu, my first albatrosses and the wonderful Australian Owlet Nightjar (product reviewing can be very gruelling…). The Mash-Up is a lightweight hat. In the heat, it didn’t stop me sweating of course, but I think it’s less hot than the more traditional, heavier Tilley. I can’t fault its build quality but suspect it won’t be as tough as Tilley’s cotton duck hats. The Mash-Up is impressive but is still prone to flights of fancy when the wind picks up. Use the front and back wind cords to tie it on (when looking at seabirds off Kangaroo Island for example) and you won’t lose your faithful Canadian companion. It’s a Tilley, so it has a secret pocket but many people know where that is, so it’s not that secret.
This well-made hat has environmental credentials and does a very good job. I’d say it’s quite stylish – looking less ‘out of the bush’ in urban settings than some hats. I like it.
Weighs 111g. Available in sizes 7-7 7/8, in brown or sand. Made in Canada. Lifetime guarantee. tilley.com