Barmah HatsKangaroo Cooler Leather Hat - Item 1038

The hat is well made. 30 days of wear and it still looks new. The leather has been holding its shape after being rained on several times. Rim has fitted itself nicely and stays on the head with lots of movement. The mesh has rebounded nicely after being crushed.

Wonderful hat that’s comfortable and looks awesome

After almost wearing out a leather Barmah hat, and wanting something with more ventilation, I decided to take a try on their Squashy Cooler. My head/hat size was in between a medium and large, and the company told me to go with the large. I did, and the fit is perfect. I have worn the new hat several times, although not yet on strenuous hikes, but so far the air flow through the top is wonderful. In fact, I liked the hat so much, I purchased the exact same model for my pack. I am on the local mountain rescue team, and summer rescues here high in the Rockies can get strenuous and I will sweat profusely. I am looking forward to my head staying quite a bit cooler as we rescue the lost and injured backcountry travelers. The other hat will be used extensively for foreign travel, where we do local hikes and walking around cities and towns. The fact that this hat folds down so well is a giant selling point. I have pretty much no hair (thanks Dad!), so head protection is a big selling point! This hat has a high SPF rating ... exactly what I need.

This is the first hat other than a basic stocking cap that I've ever owned, and I really like it. Quality seems really good, and the kangaroo leather has an interesting appearance. When I first looked at it, I saw some small black spots that sort of looked like holes. I read the manual, and it said that due to the harsh life that kangaroos have to endure, the leather naturally has some quirks like that. In other words, those imperfections are "features." With all that in mind, the leather is very cool looking, almost like a curly or birdseye wood. I haven't tried squashing it or wearing it on a very hot day, so I cannot comment on those two aspects of the hat.I think my friend said it best the other night. I was wearing it, and I was curious what it would look like on him, so I asked him to try it. He put it on, and I said that it looked good. He responded, "Yeah, a hat like this will look good on anyone." I think he's right.

Got one of these in 2012 to replace a similar hat that was stolen, and was in love with it since day one. It wound up being a better fit than the original and easier to pack because of its superior craftsmanship. I wore it nearly every day for over two years with very little wear and tear on it, other than the leather band coming a little loose in a couple spots.I received countless compliments on this hat (although many people somehow confused it for Indiana Jones' fedora, despite the two looking almost nothing alike), and many people asked to borrow it for short periods of time, and, honestly, it looked good on everyone from children to my grandma. It really is a fantastic hat.Almost too fantastic. I have to advise caution if you buy one of these. Unfortunately, mine was stolen (again!) last month. Keep an eye on it, or people might get too envious.