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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Rando on September 04, 2025, 03:16:19 PM

Title: Best short-brim boonie hat for hunting??
Post by: Rando on September 04, 2025, 03:16:19 PM
Love my boonie hats and I've lost a few, and worn a few out over many seasons... Looking to purchase another one, appreciate shorter brims and quality construction. It's been a loooong time since I've looked at em, what do those of you who wear em like?
Many thanks for any suggestions!
Randy
Title: Re: Best short-brim boonie hat for hunting??
Post by: ESP on September 04, 2025, 04:32:02 PM
Following, my problem is I need a 2x-3x to fit my head
Title: Re: Best short-brim boonie hat for hunting??
Post by: fisherick on September 04, 2025, 05:00:49 PM
I really like my KUIU lightweight Boonie.
Title: Re: Best short-brim boonie hat for hunting??
Post by: toddster on September 04, 2025, 05:10:40 PM
Look at grey wolf woolens, had mine for over decade, love it.
Title: Re: Best short-brim boonie hat for hunting??
Post by: Michael Guran on September 04, 2025, 07:45:45 PM
I got one of these recently and I'm happy with it.  And it's made in USA.

https://www.devildogdepot.com/product/narrow-brim-olive-drab-boonie-cover/
Title: Re: Best short-brim boonie hat for hunting??
Post by: LookMomNoSights on September 05, 2025, 08:39:11 AM
These are not necessarily short brim,  but they are very soft and the brim will collapse and not get in the way,  or you can pre curl it out of the way .......... 
Maine Crusher ......  great quality made in Maine USA.  After I got my first one,  I bought 2 more right away.
https://www.predatorpeestore.com/maine-crusher-hats-1.html?srsltid=AfmBOoo48kuNuACkNl7DfB2HtaXEda2xiu6pGVBVwq-qL5UmW5npZREM
Title: Re: Best short-brim boonie hat for hunting??
Post by: Michael Guran on September 05, 2025, 10:22:50 AM
I've been looking for an orange one, thanks Eric
Title: Re: Best short-brim boonie hat for hunting??
Post by: woodchucker on September 06, 2025, 12:55:35 PM
I wore a boonie hat for years in the Marines. It served the purpose, but was never a big fan :dunno:
I've gotta agree with Eric, The Maine Crusher is a great hat!!!
The wool will keep your head a lot dryer, and warmer too!!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Best short-brim boonie hat for hunting??
Post by: Radford on September 21, 2025, 08:42:28 AM
Quote from: LookMomNoSights on September 05, 2025, 08:39:11 AMThese are not necessarily short brim,  but they are very soft and the brim will collapse and not get in the way,  or you can pre curl it out of the way .......... 
Maine Crusher ......  great quality made in Maine USA.  After I got my first one,  I bought 2 more right away.
https://www.predatorpeestore.com/maine-crusher-hats-1.html?srsltid=AfmBOoo48kuNuACkNl7DfB2HtaXEda2xiu6pGVBVwq-qL5UmW5npZREM

May need one of these now. I really like wool hats. I'd be interested to see some pictures if you have any. Thanks for the recommendation.
Title: Re: Best short-brim boonie hat for hunting??
Post by: McDave on September 21, 2025, 09:11:07 AM
I'm always on the lookout for hats that I want that fit, because with a size 7 3/4" head, "one size fits most" doesn't include me.  This one was just hanging on the wall in the local sporting goods store about 35-40 years ago, and works just as well now as it did then.  Unfortunately, I've never been able to find one exactly like it, or I would buy a couple of spares.

On a related subject, it's a really good idea to wear a boonie hat rather than a baseball cap to protect your ears from the sun.  I'm in the process of recovering from having a melanoma removed from my ear last Wednesday.  Maybe if I'd always worn a hat with a brim that protected my ears I wouldn't have had that problem.

Title: Re: Best short-brim boonie hat for hunting??
Post by: fishone on September 21, 2025, 01:13:01 PM
"I really like my KUIU lightweight Boonie." I also really like this boonie. I do take a large safety pin, and pin the bill of the boonie underneath so the string does not come in contact with the hat when I draw.
Title: Re: Best short-brim boonie hat for hunting??
Post by: M60gunner on September 21, 2025, 06:45:54 PM
McDave, I can relate to the sun/ear problem. In my case it was the top of my bald head. I have a few of the military floppy hats I wear but those wide brims always cause me an issue coming to full draw. I release to soon. Soooo, I removed the bias tape on the edge and cut the brim down. Then wife sewed the bias tape back on so the cut edge would not fray.
Title: Re: Best short-brim boonie hat for hunting??
Post by: Gdpolk on September 21, 2025, 07:56:40 PM
I hunt almost exclusively in a Tilley hemp hat or Stetson crushable wool outback hat, depending on the temperature.  I just got back from chasing Arkansas black bear where I got to put the stalk on a beautiful juvenile black bear wearing my Tilley.

My buddy Clayton took a video of the stalk and this is a screenshot from it.  He stopped the pursuit at about 100ish yards out to keep movement down.
Title: Re: Best short-brim boonie hat for hunting??
Post by: trad_bowhunter1965 on September 22, 2025, 10:33:21 AM
I wear the TRU-SPEC wide brim boonie I just roll the right side up a little and shoot.
Title: Re: Best short-brim boonie hat for hunting??
Post by: Radford on September 26, 2025, 07:10:18 PM
Quote from: trad_bowhunter1965 on September 22, 2025, 10:33:21 AMI wear the TRU-SPEC wide brim boonie I just roll the right side up a little and shoot.

What gloves are you shootin lg in the picture cuz?
Title: Re: Best short-brim boonie hat for hunting??
Post by: kopfjaeger on September 27, 2025, 09:08:13 AM
My two favorites are my Fred Bear camo one I had since the late 1970s. And my military issued Vietnam tiger stripe camoed one. 
Title: Re: Best short-brim boonie hat for hunting??
Post by: randy grider on October 02, 2025, 07:01:56 PM
I like this Conner hat i bought from G Fred Asbell at GLLI several years back. If anyone knows where i can get another, i'll buy it
Title: Re: Best short-brim boonie hat for hunting??
Post by: pdk25 on October 05, 2025, 04:00:28 AM
If you don't mind spending a fortune, the first lite trace bucket hat is great for warmer weather.  Flexible brim is no problem for my string, comes down more vertically in the back and along the sides for good ear and neck protection, and yet doesn't affect my hearing.  Protects the back of the neck pretty well.  Only comes in dry earth or a green color, but not a problem for me.
Title: Re: Best short-brim boonie hat for hunting??
Post by: Stringwacker on October 05, 2025, 08:42:46 AM
Will the First Lite Trace Bucket hat allow for the brim to be folded up out of the way if your preference is for the string not to touch the brim?
Title: Re: Best short-brim boonie hat for hunting??
Post by: Redfeathers on October 05, 2025, 08:37:15 PM
I always liked a welding hat, short brim and you can wad it up and stuff in your pocket :) Perfect for a shaved head :jumper:
Title: Re: Best short-brim boonie hat for hunting??
Post by: cacciatore on October 07, 2025, 04:08:31 PM
My 2 all time favourites are the KOM wool boonie gay and the Day One fleece ones
Title: Re: Best short-brim boonie hat for hunting??
Post by: Tim Reese on October 09, 2025, 08:10:45 PM
3rivers has a very nice one. Wired brim so you can shape it how you want. Won't be the warmest but for early season it's been great.