We got bent out of shape about the Conner Hats Men's Airflow Hat when we could not bend ours back into its original, stylish shape.
Performance Comparison
The Conner Hat's brim got completely bent out of shape and we could not make it look anywhere near normal afterwards.
Protection
The Conner Airflow is not the most protective hat of the bunch. Its brim measures 3-inch around, which is somewhere in the middle compared to the other products we tested. The brim is a lightweight material that is covered with mesh, providing reasonable sun protection. The top of the crown is also covered, but the sides are pure mesh. This lets plenty of sun through, which could allow your scalp to burn if you have a deep part or don't have much hair to begin with.
The brim and top of the crown are covered for sun protection, but the sides of the crown are fully mesh for ventilation.
Conner does not specify a UPF rating for the Airflow. As a result, we can't compare it directly to the other products in this review, which all have a UPF rating of 50+, including the Airflow's closest competitor the Tilley LTM6 Airflo.
The Airflow's brim bends out of shape easily. This can cause this hat to have even less sun coverage. We prefer something like the Outdoor Research Sombriolet that holds its shape better and has more protection overall.
The Conner Hat's sizing is inaccurate. We recommend sizing up!
Comfort
The Airflow is a lightweight hat, particularly for its rigid cowboy style. It is lighter than the Tilley Airflow by half an ounce. Unlike the Tilley however, its sizing is very off. The size medium we purchased is supposed to fit a circumference of 22 ⅜-inches, but it barely fit on our tester's 21.5-inch, size small head. If you are considering purchasing this product, definitely size up! We read several online reviews that say the same thing.
The Airflow is comfortable otherwise, with a soft brow lining material and a removable chin strap to keep it on when it's windy.
The Conner Hat's Crown has a little stash pocket for small belongings.
Breathability
This product excels in this category. As we already mentioned the sides of the crown are made of mesh. This makes the Conner Airflow one of the most breathable products we tested. We also like the light and airy materials in the Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure.
While it doesn't seem like it will wear out easily, it certainly doesn't live up to the company's crushable claims. One ride in our luggage and it was irreparably misshapen.
Durability
The Airflow is not particularly durable. Conner Hats claims it is crushable, so we threw it in our suitcase with little regard for maintaining its shape during our travels. We were very disappointed when we took it out of our luggage. It was wildly misshapen and we could not make it go back to its original form. After this, it was a very strange and wonky looking hat.
We greatly prefer the foldable brim of the Ultra Adventure when traveling with a hat. The Outdoor Research Oasis Sun Sombrero also works well, laying flat in our suitcase.
The recycled materials that Connor uses to construct the Airflow are very lightweight. While this helps keep the hat comfortable and airy, it does not seem like it will stand up to much abuse as a result.
Style
At first glance, this hat seems very stylish — if you're into the Australian outback cowboy kind of look. If you are careful with it and maintain its shape, it could work for you. But if you aren't vigilant and the hat gets bent out of shape, it becomes very un-stylish very quickly.
The Airflow has a certain Australian outback style, if you're into that sort of thing.
Best Applications
This could be a good choice for many outdoor activities from boating to yard work if you size up and treat it with care. But there are more durable and protective options available to keep you out of the sun.
Value
Retailing for $37, the Connor Airflow is a decent value. Still we'd pay $90 for the Tilley LTM6 Airflo if we wanted a hat with this type of style. It will last much longer and has a lifetime guarantee.
Conclusion
The Connor Airflow is a stylish hat that with an eco-friendly conscience. But it's recycled materials let us down by getting completely bent out of shape. Its inconsistent sizing is also a pain.
