REASONS TO BUY
Looks good
Good sun protection
REASONS TO AVOID
Fewer color selections
Not breathable
Need to size up
Outdoor Research Oasis Sun Sombrero - Women's Review
This cute women's sun hat fell short in the comfort and breathability categories
Credit: Outdoor Research
RELATED: Best Sun Hat
Our Verdict
The Outdoor Research Women's Oasis Sun Sombrero comes in some nice feminine colors and we think it is a nice-looking hat. It has a huge brim providing excellent sun protection, but we were disappointed to find that it has no built-in ventilation. It's a decent choice for slower-paced leisure activities, but we would reach something else over the Oasis Sun Sombrero for anything active where you'll likely be sweating. This cute hat has a nice look and shape but falls short in the breathability and comfort categories.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Outdoor Research Oasis Sun Sombrero - Women's | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  |  |  | | |
| Price | $25.17 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $42 List $25.91 at Amazon | $48 List Check Price at REI | $38 List $38.00 at Amazon | $40 List Check Price at REI |
Overall Score  |
|||||
| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Looks good, good sun protection | Lightweight, durable, great sun protection | Comfortable, stylish, breathable, durable for a straw hat | Excellent protection, removable cape, good in the wind, good value | Comfortable, very breathable, good color, great value |
| Cons | Fewer color selections, not breathable, need to size up | Not super stylish | Heavy for a sun hat | Looks a little funny, can get hot on the back of your neck | Not very stylish, brim could be wider |
| Bottom Line | This cute women's sun hat fell short in the comfort and breathability categories | This hat wins our Editors' Choice for Technical Use for being the highest performing and most versatile of the bunch | This breathable and durable straw hat protects you from the sun and looks good while doing it | This super protective hat is lightweight, versatile, and an excellent value, winning our Best Buy Award | One of our top choices for a full brim hat that is extremely comfortable and breathable and a great value |
| Rating Categories | Outdoor Research Oa... | Sunday Afternoons U... | Sunday Afternoons I... | Outdoor Research Ru... | The North Face Hori... |
| Protection (30%) | |||||
| Comfort (25%) | |||||
| Breathability (15%) | |||||
| Durability (15%) | |||||
| Style (15%) | |||||
| Specs | Outdoor Research Oa... | Sunday Afternoons U... | Sunday Afternoons I... | Outdoor Research Ru... | The North Face Hori... |
| Weight | 3.2 oz | 2.6 oz | 6.2 oz | 2.8 oz | 2.9 oz |
| UPF rating | 50+ | 50+ | 50 | 50+ | 40+ |
| Brim Size | 3.25" front/sides, 4.5" back | 3.25", with 6" neck cape | 3" | 2.75 brim, 7.25" neck cape | 2.9" |
| Material | 86% nylon, 14% polyester double weave ripstop | 88% nylon, 12% polyester dobby | 100% natural tripilla straw | 100% Supplex nylon | Nylon Ripstop, 97% recycled polyester mesh lined |
| Cinch Cord | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Packable/Compressible | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Size Tested | M | L | L | L | L/XL |
Show full specification detailsHide full specification details
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Outdoor Research Women's Oasis Sun Sombrero scored lower overall in the pack than its competitors, mostly because of its lack of breathability and comfort. We do think it is a stylish-looking hat, so it would be best used for more passive leisure activities.
Performance Comparison
We think the Oasis Sun Sombrero is one of the most stylish women's hats in this review.
Credit: Ian McEleney
Protection
The OR Oasis Sun Sombrero has a wide brim that measures 3.25 inches in the front and 4.5 inches in the back for extra neck coverage. The Oasis Sun Sombrero has a stiffer brim than many other sun hats and would stand up better to gusty winds.
The Oasis Sun Sombrero has a huge brim for great sun protection.
Credit: Ian McEleney
Comfort
This cap is not as comfortable compared to some other hats we tested. The fit is a bit snug with this model. And, we could feel the brim dig into our foreheads. It may even leave a dent there if worn for a long time. This time around, we tested a size medium, which Outdoor Research says is for heads sized 22 ¼ - 22 ⅞ inches, and our tester with a 21.5-inch sized head found it more comfortable than the size small we had previously tested. This leads us to believe that it's worth sizing up in this model.
Breathability
We were disappointed to discover that the Oasis Sun Sombrero has no added built-in ventilation features. The Oasis Sun Sombrero's crown is one solid piece of material with no holes or mesh. The nylon/polyester material is somewhat breathable inherently. And, there is a sweatband around the rim to wick sweat away from your head. Still, this hat is less breathable than most.
We like the Oasis' purple color, and wish it came in more bright colors like it did previously.
Credit: Ian McEleney
Durability
We were much more pleased with this version of our Sun Sombrero than the model we tested previously. This one seemed to keep its brim shape much better than the previous model. We didn't notice any permanent creases in the model after the ziplock bag crush test, either. And, the brim held its shape well overall.
Style
There have been a few changes to the newest version of the Oasis SunSombrero. Outdoor Research has removed the floral patterned material from the underside of the brim and replaced it with flat grey, which we think looks just as good. The previously huge color selection of this hat was definitely a leg up in the style department over the competitors and we're sad there are fewer colors to choose from. Of all the wide brim hats in this review, we think the Sun Sombrero is one of the most stylish.
The Sun Sombrero is a great choice for activities like sunny dog walks.
Credit: Ian McEleney
Value
This hat is right in the middle of the pack for value. It has a reasonable price compared to the rest of the lineup and provides nice aesthetics for the right wearer. We would choose something else if you're looking for more sun protection and versatility, though.
Conclusion
A cute and effective sun hat, we like the overall quality of the OR Oasis Sun Sombrero. We like its rigid brim, stylish look, and the amount of sun protection it provides. But, it falls short in the ventilation department. This hat could be a good choice for activities where it is windy and sunny, like day hiking in the mountains or out boating where you want to keep your hat. It would also be a good choice for leisurely activities like gardening or taking the dog for a walk. We wouldn't recommend this one for backpacking as the long brim in the back would annoyingly hit your backpack.
—
Jessica Haist
You Might Also Like
Ad-free. Influence-free. Powered by Testing.
GearLab is founded on the principle of honest, objective, reviews. Our experts test thousands of products each year using thoughtful test plans that bring out key performance differences between competing products. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. No cherry-picked units sent by manufacturers. No sponsored content. No ads. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing and comparison.
Learn More