Here in Michigan hats are used as an umbrella of sorts.  Keeps the sun off, keeps the rain off, keeps your hands free.  In the winter they are a must.  My original Tilley is a great shape for kayaking or riding the pontoon.  The thing is, on the sunniest days it gets pretty warm.  It does a nice job of keeping the rain off, though.  The baseball type caps are easy to come by but don't keep the sun off the ears and neck and just protect bald spot from rain.  I saw the Tilley LTM3 Airflo hat and thought, if it does what it's supposed to it's my hat.

I've had it almost 4 months.  Paddled with in in Northern Michigan.  Wore it at a football game in the rain.  Took it to Mexico on vacation.  Now I'm not planning on this being my favorite ice fishing hat, but it has performed excellently in all other applications.  I did feel a rain drop once which probably came through the ventilation, but considering the downpour I was in it was insignificant.  I didn't feel like I was perspiring any more with the hat than I would have without.

The only thing I would caution one about is keeping an eye on it.  When in Mexico in the past the peddlers in the market would call to my wife, "hey lady, come look at my stuff" and other such promotions.  This trip it was "hey lady, come look at . . . hey mister, how much for the Tilley?"  I got the feeling it would disappear quickly if I left it unattended for a moment.