I own three hats. The most expensive is a fur-pelt Indiana Jones safari hat (about $110). Then there's a black leather Barmah Squashy, an Aussie gambler's hat (about $55). The cheapest is this Dorfman, which I bought on a whim for about $30. Women have given me a lot of unsolicited compliments on the Barmah, which just really seems to attract them. But it's the Dorfman that gets the most compliments from men, who invariably seem to want it for themselves.

I was initially skeptical when I got the Dorfman. Over time, I've grown to love the hat. It's made of a kind of oilskin that easily repels rain. It cannot be damaged by crushing. In fact, I often crush it deliberately in order to pack it or tuck it under my arm. Then I just bend it into whatever shape I want. It's very easy to shape. It also has a chin strap. At first, I thought this was a nuisance, so I tucked it into the crown and ignored it. But then I discovered that I could use the strap to keep the hat attached to me but not on my head. This is very useful both for windy days and absentminded moments when I would otherwise forget to take my hat with me. And it doesn't matter if I sit back and crush the hat, since...(see above).

This hat is without a doubt the most durable, inexpensive, and generally attractive outdoor hat that I've seen. While it wouldn't be suitable for the opera, it works for a lot of other occasions, including hunting, hiking, general socializing, and going to church. And so I highly recommend it.

UPDATE: I forgot this hat at a local restaurant (I guess using the chin strap didn't seem hip at the time). Unfortunately, the hat was so attractive that another patron walked out with it rather than turning it in. No one steals my other hats, just this one. My girlfriend wanted me to get a different replacement, but in the end, I just had to have this hat back. It was the right decision. I'm just sorry that Dorfman has been raising their prices lately.