What's a good "shooting hat"?

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MatthewVanitas

MatthewVanitas

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I know I'm courting disaster by posting a fashion-related question on a shooting board. (I've seen pictures of some of you people [smile]). But I figure some of you must have some good gear.

What kind of hat do you wear for shooting? I'm trying to achieve a delicate balance here, and reccommendations are always helpful. Must meet the following criteria:

--Black or Tan (no cammo!)
--Broad-brimmed to keep the burning eye of the sun off my non-tannable skin
--Nice enough to wear for general public use, but not so nice that I can't wear it at the range, dove fields, etc.
--Not made by the Red Chinese or any sweatshop
--Does _not_ make a man look like:
a) an urban cowboy
b) a desperate Sojer o' Fortune wannabe
c) a mall ninja with an NEF handirifle

Boonie-esque is okay as long as it's not an actual issue-style boonie. I do love boonie covers, but need something just a little more civvy to wear in town and range.

I realize many of you can wear cowboy hats without shame, and that solves your "shooting hat" dilemna. That's all well and good for ranchers and the like, but what about the rest of us? Humbly submitted, -MV
 
I got one of these

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found one at http://www.diamondbrand.com/cgi-bin...e20129dab2273fac1003310650/Product/View/58104
 
I have a Willis & Geiger safari style hat that is my favorite; brown hard felt with a zebra skin band. The brim is wide enough to keep sun and rain off the face and neck, and it looks good enough to wear most anywhere. (It does leave me a serious case of "hat hair." I don't wear it if I have to take it off and am expected to look decent without the hat. My hair takes on the interior shape of the hat!) :D

A good soft felt fedora might also work, although the brim will be not as wide. The soft felt allows the brim to be up or down, your preference.
 
Well, there's the WWII Nazi helmet (with spike on top, its gotta have the spike), the WWII US steel pot or the modern US kevlar brain bucket. Anyone one of which could be left in original color scheme, or painted UN blue. Or you could buy one of the Molon Labe hats. :D

Kharn
 
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Though they don't seem to fit all of the requirements, I'm kinda partial to them.
 
Preacherman - very nice choices of range hats. :D

I think I would be the talk of the whole gang down at the range if I wore a "Queensland Infantry Foreign Service Helmet". I think I'll go back and put one on order right now ----- NOT!
 
I just have a basic black leather ball cap. Works well with muffs, and I wear it everywhere.

Although, I do like the looks of that Filson Shelter Cloth Packer Hat...
 
I'm old school.

I like fedoras. But you have to go to a man's clothing store to find them.

If there is a police uniform shop around, oft times they will have some form of wide brimmed hat one can modify in shape to appear less "policey".
 
I wear my wool Jeep cap (M*A*S*H Radar O'Reilly style). Colored in light olive drab it has that military look (albeit WWII/Korea) without making me look like one of those "tactical bad*sses. It's warm but not overly so, has a brim to keep out the sun, and my "earsmuffs" fit over it very nicely.

Additionally it's casual, comfortable and unthreatening enough to wear in public. In fact, I often do just that.
 
Disneyland's (don't start on me please) Indiana Jones fedora... $39 in either felt or leather keeps rain and sun off your head. Kinda weird with muffs unless you have the type that allow the band to sit to the extreme rear (neck?).
All you need is a bullwhip and a leather jacket to complete the ensemble.
 
I like my Tilley T2 - the one with the wide brim. I dunk the crown in water during summer heat and get evaporative cooling; if I don't soak the whole hat, then the brim soaks up the excess and the canvas doesn't drip water on my rifle. The band of my earmuffs goes behind my head, but you knew that already.
 




Outfitted for Adventure
December 02, 2003

Shakespeare wrote "the apparel oft proclaims the man," and Indy's clothes definitely define who he is. His trademark rumpled and earthy togs are instantly recognizable. Here's a closer look at his Raiders ensemble, as written by Michael G. Ryan for an article that originally appeared in Star Wars Insider #54 (July/August 2001).

Hat
Originally manufactured by the Herbert Johnson Hat Shop of London (who still makes the "Indy Design" for the discriminating fan), this Poet model was trimmed down from the original three-inch brim and was "lightened" to give it a well-worn look. The Petersham ribbon is standard (39 mm on Indy's hat). Indy's hat size: 7 (58 in European measurements).

Shirt
Typical khaki/sand pimo cotton safari shirt with epaulets on the shoulders but with the noteworthy addition of a strip of pleat above both pockets. Standard oxford collar without buttons. Originally designed by André Dometakis and manufactured by Bermans and Nathans (now Angels and Bermans). Replicas made by Noel Howard of MBA Costumes in London. (Noel was the production manager at Bermans and Nathans prior to creating MBA Costumes, and he worked on the costumes for all three Indy films.)

Belt
Standard U.S. Army-style webbing belt with brass buckle (that looks more silver with wear), approximately 46 inches long. Most belts of this type were green after World War II, so brown ones like Indy's are more difficult to find. Noel Howard of MBA Costumes carries these belts if the local Army surplus store doesn't have what you need.

Whip
Designed and still sold by David Morgan of Bothell, Washington, Indy's whip is 10-feet long and has a 12-plait kangaroo overlay. The natural tan gets darker when exposed to sunlight and weathering. A few shorter or longer whips were used during the film, depending on the effect required. Indy's whip holder is permanently affixed to his belt with a stud presser and has a snap to hold the whip in place.

Pants
Like the shirt, Indy's pants were manufactured by Bermans and Nathans. Made of 100 percent Cavalry Till Wool. The double-flap pockets on the rear make these trousers hard to find. These were not uncommon in the military, and their color -- a mix of gray, khaki, and a hint of rose-red -- led them to be called "officer's pinks."

Jacket
Originally designed by Peter Botwright of Wested Leather Company (who made over 48 jackets through the course of all three films and who has done attire for other films as well) and who still makes them to order based on the original designs. The zipper is on the left (as is common in European clothing), has adjustable straps and satin-acetate lining. Because it's made of lambskin, it's very soft and durable.

Bag
World War II MkVII British gas mask bag circa 1940-1943, a slight break in continuity as Raiders takes place in 1936. It was picked up in a military surplus store in London for filming. Made of canvas, its original-issue cotton webbing strap was replaced by a leather strap with a metal buckle. Sentimental Journey, a military surplus store in England, deals in these bags (with the supplemental strap.)

Gun and Holster
A modified Smith & Wesson Hand Ejector, 2nd Model (the civilian version of the M1917 that was issued to the Army). The barrel of this 45-caliber revolver has been reduced to four inches, and the sights have been adjusted. The holster in Raiders was custom-made by Lucasfilm (the holsters in Doom and Crusade are World War II holsters). Indy appears to use a Browning P36 (sic) in a few scenes in Raiders and different guns entirely in the subsequent films.

Shoes
Indy's brown leather ankle boots (orthopedic style #405) were made by the Alden Shoe Company of Massachusetts. They have five eyelets and four hooks with a 6" top. These shoes are available through the Alden Shop in San Francisco, California.
Click to expand...
 
I have a khaki color REI hat that provides 360 degrees cover. Almost like the one Duckfoot posted (the brim on mine is slightly smaller), it's crushable and looks almost like a boonie hat.
 
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