As gardeners, farmers, birdwatchers, and other outdoor things people, we spend a fair amount of time in the sun. Even if the thin ozone layer didn't allow more ultraviolet light intensity, we still would need to limit our sun exposure. At the top of the list is a good hat, which isn't always easy to find. I'd like to hear from others on the forum about their favorite hats/hat brands and where they got/get them. Just about any hat will cover down to the ears and shade the eyes, but we usually need more than that. I'd prefer that the cotton hats be organic cotton, but that's not always possible. Personally, I prefer hats that will take a good wind, and I haven't found a straw type that will do that very well. Anyway, I'll start with three makers/sellers/types with which I have experience and which may not be available at garden stores, and I invite the rest of you to chime in with your hat tales:

http://www.sundayafternoons.com/?id=991 ... 79&sp=hats

the world famous Tilleys at http://www.tilley.com/

and the Bimini hat and others at http://www.patagonia.com/

Some retailers, such as REI and Whole Earth Provision Company, carry the first two lines and more besides them.

What a great idea! I love my hat! I got it at an Army-Navy store about 5 years ago. It is made of a tightly woven cotten and has a nice solid wide brim, nylon (I think) mesh on the area that fits around the head, and cotton on top. The mesh helps it to breathe and my head doesn't get so hot. It also has a leather string that goes around my heck with a wooden bead pull so I can keep it tight on my head when the wind is blowing. It's great for gardening, camping, fishing, anything outdoors. It's also army green (or khaki) so it doesn't go with any of my flowered summer dresses I have wadded it up, rolled it up, sat on it, rolled my wheelbarrow over it, and generally mistreated it and it just keeps on going. It even looks good!