REI Co-op Paddler's Hat Review
Cons: Very deep crown, brim hits backpack, not stylish.
Manufacturer: REI Co-op
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
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REI Co-op Paddler's Hat | |||||
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Awards | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||
Price | $34.95 at REI | $42.00 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $33.56 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $36.00 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $27.73 at REI Compare at 2 sellers |
Overall Score ![]() |
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Star Rating | |||||
Pros | Great sun protection, well ventilated, adjustable | Lightweight, durable, good sun protection | Good protection, comfortable, good in wind, breathable | Total protection, removable cape, good in the wind, good value | Great protection all around, especially on the back; brim is angled for longer protection, good ventilation, comfortable |
Cons | Very deep crown, brim hits backpack, not stylish | Not super stylish | Less durable than Tilley, not great for backpacking | Looks a little funny, can get hot on the back of your neck | Not stylish, brim is not crushable, shows stains easily |
Bottom Line | While this isn't the best hat we tested in any category, it holds its own across the board | The highest performing and most versatile in our fleet, this hat takes our Editors' Choice Award | A great choice for boating, the Sombriolet has decent protection from the sun and good wind performance | What it lacks in the style department, it makes up for in protection. It is versatile and wins our Best Buy Award | This dorky looking hat has great sun coverage and we'd recommend it for any activity |
Rating Categories | REI Co-op Paddler's Hat | Ultra Adventure | Outdoor Research Sombriolet | Sun Runner Cap | Adventure Hat |
Protection (30%) | |||||
Comfort (25%) | |||||
Breathability (15%) | |||||
Durability (15%) | |||||
Style (15%) | |||||
Specs | REI Co-op... | Ultra Adventure | Outdoor Research... | Sun Runner Cap | Adventure Hat |
Weight (ounces) | 3.3 oz | 2.6 oz | 3.1 oz | 2.8 oz | 2.64 oz |
Size of Brim (inches) | 3" front, 4" back | 3.25", with 6" neck cape | 4" front/back, 3.25" sides | 2.75 brim, 7.25" neck cape | 3.75", with 7.25" neck cape |
Material | Nylon | 88% nylon, 12% polyester dobby | 86% nylon, 14% polyester double weave ripstop | 100% Supplex nylon | 100% nylon with 100% polyester mesh insets |
UPF rating | 50 | 50+ | 50+ | 50+ | 50+ |
Cinch Cord | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Packable/compressible | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No - do not fold or compress the brim. Packs Flat |
Size tested | L/XL | L | L | L | M 21" - 23" |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The REI Co-op Paddler's is a protective and comfortable hat that performed well in a variety of tests and real-world use scenarios. While our testers were annoyed by its surprisingly deep crown, they were pleased by its adjustability and breathability. Other models, most notably the Outdoor Research Sombriolet, performed as well or better than the Paddler's across the board. So should you settle for the Paddler's, or spring for another model? Read on to find out.
Performance Comparison
The Paddler's hat didn't excel in any category, but it got relatively high marks everywhere except style.
Protection
The Paddler's has one of the widest brims of the hats we tested, measuring 4" in the back and 3" in front and on the sides — though you should note that the Paddler's closest competitor, the Outdoor Research Sombriolet, has a wider brim. The Paddler's has a cinch cord so you can comfortably adjust it to fit your head, which means it stays firmly in place and provides reliable protection. We knocked it down slightly in this category because the wide back brim constantly interferes with a pack if you're wearing one, which makes it more likely that you'll take it off.
Comfort
Overall, the REI Co-op Paddler's is a comfortable hat, though we had a couple of gripes. On the up side, the crown material is soft and conforms to your head, and there are no areas that dig in or chafe. The adjustable cinch cord in the crown allows the hat to fit snugly without pinching. On the down side, this hat has a very deep crown, so that it came down well over the tops of our ears and almost touched the tops of our eyebrows. This was a lot of coverage and made the Paddler's a little uncomfortable. It also meant that the hat brim rode low in our field of vision, which was annoying. The Paddler's only comes in two sizes, so getting an ideal fit might be challenging, though the cinch cord in the crown definitely helps with this. We found the Outdoor Research Sombriolet to be a little more comfortable than the Paddler's because its crown isn't as deep. The Filson Summer Packer also scored very well in this category, though it isn't adjustable.
Breathability
REI took considerable effort to make this hat breathable, and the Paddler's did well here. This hat features both a double layer of light mesh and three eyelet vents on either side, which really allows the air to flow through even when the cinch cord in the crown is tight. The rest of the crown is covered in light, pliable material, so we never felt stifled in this hat. The Paddler's closest competitor, the Sombriolet, performed similarly in this category. the KUHL Sun Blade took top marks here, but it fell down pretty much everywhere else.
Durability
The Paddler's will certainly hold up to sustained light use, but this is not the most durable hat we tested. The quality of the stitching and materials doesn't feel quite comparable to its competitor hats from Outdoor Research, and it feels much flimsier than our co-Editors' Choice, the Filson Summer Packer.
This hat does hold up fairly well to being packed and crushed, though it's not perfect. After being crammed into a Ziplock for 30 minutes, the Paddler's brim was significantly creased, but these creases almost disappeared after a few wears. If you're going to be repeatedly stuffing your sun hat into a backpack or vest pocket, we'd recommend a model that can better hold up to crushing, like the Filson Summer Packer or the Arc'teryx Sinsola.
Style
The Paddler's is a great functional hat, but it's not super stylish. This is definitely a cap that says "I made a wise and economical choice about sun protection" before it says "I give a damn about looking cool." It's not sleek, it has a deep, baggy crown and a big ol' floppy brim, and it comes in one color: drab. If you want a hat you can proudly wear on the patio of your local brewpub after your hike, consider the Filson Summer Packer or the Arc'teryx Sinsola, or peruse the other reviews in this category to figure out which hat best matches your style.
Best Applications
Given that it's protective, comfortable, breathable, and packable, the Paddler's would perform well in a wide range of applications, from gardening to casual hiking to multi-day river trips. The wide back brim will likely interfere with a loaded backpack, so this would not be the best pick for backpackers.
Value
At just under $35, this hat has the potential to provide you with many years of comfortable, versatile sun protection, and we think that's a pretty good deal. Note, though, that the Paddler's closest competitor, the Outdoor Research Sombriolet, retails for just $42, and for that extra $7 you get a more stylish and durable hat with a more thoughtfully designed crown shape. If you've got money left on your REI dividend, get the Paddler's! Otherwise, consider the Sombriolet.
Conclusion
The REI Co-op Paddler's is a jack of all trades and a master of none. It's protective, but it's not the most protective. It's comfortable, but there are more comfortable options. It's breathable and durable, but other hats are more so. And in terms of style, it lags behind most of the competition. If you wind up with this hat, you likely won't be disappointed, but there are better options out there.
— Joanna Trieger