Outdoor Research Women's Oasis Sun Hat

I own the Columbia Sun Goddess Booney Hat, which I LOVE and was looking for something equally awesome but a bit prettier. Both hats are easily 4-1/2 to 5 star hats and you can't go wrong with either. So, if you are deciding between the two or looking for a way to compare this hat to another hat, I hope this review helps with the nit picky details. (I purchased "pool" which is exactly the pretty shade of aqua in the picture.) Size: The OR Oasis runs a bit larger than most Medium hats. This is ok because the drawstring can easily be cinched for perfect fit and the slight extra room makes it easier to accommodate a tucked in ear or ponytail. But for a hat that comes in so many sizes, I expected a closer fit. I measured my head before purchasing and looked up the size chart, and it said I should get medium. I also wear medium in official MLB caps. The (Sun Goddess) Booney is a one size and fits like a typical medium. Sun coverage: the OR Oasis has an extra 3/4 inch all around the brim over the Booney hat and is UPF 50 vs. UPF 40. However, my blinding white Irish heritage skin seems adequately protected by the Booney hat, so the UPF difference is negligible. I suspect the difference is solely due to the Booney hat being a much thinner material on the cap of the hat, so if you have no hair or thin hair, you may notice a difference. The larger brim on the OR Oasis obviously shades a slightly greater area, which would put it ahead of the Booney if UPF was your only concern. Style: the OR Oasis is hands down prettier. The toggles are much more minimilistic, the fabric has a finer look and the slightly wider brim & stiffer brim, I personally think looks more balanced and polished. What I didn't see in the pictures were the pretty tone on tone flowers on the underside of the brim. Don't get me wrong, they are both techie style hats but the OR pulls off the look with a touch more grace. If you are very petite, the OR hat just might feel a bit overly large but it still wins on style points. Wind: both hats perform equally well in the wind but I feel the wind a teensy touch more with the OR Oasis hat. Visibility: You notice the OR oasis much more in your view. I'm constantly reminded I am wearing a hat when I open my eyes. It doesn't really impact your visibility, I just feel like my brain keeps reminding me I'm wearing a hat. Hot weather: the Booney hat is super breathable and light as a feather. I forget this hat is on. The OR Oasis is also very light but not as much as the Columbia Booney. It's probably lighter than any other hat you can find except the Booney. Travel: the brims on both hats have a nice soft yet stiff foam to keep the brim from flapping in your face. The brim on the OR hat is stiffer, it would pack flat but take up a giant oval footprint. I would be afraid to fold the OR hat. The brim on the Columbia hat is slightly more flexible: I can fold it and easily reshape it making it easy to compact into a purse. So why keep both? Here's where I'll wear each hat: OR Oasis: at the pool or beach. At sporting events. For day trips where I know I will spend the most of the day outside. For light yard work & fussing in the garden. As my general go-to sun shade hat. Columbia Booney: for travel - especially travel to hot climates, for day trips where I am more likely to be taking the hat on and off. When I'm doing yard work that will make me hot & sweaty (like mowing in the summer or doing heavy digging/moving dirt. When I'm wearing something that clashes like crazy with the pool blue - which will be hard because it brings out the blue in my eyes. (My Booney hat is sandstone, or whatever name they call something that should be sandstone). I might pull out either hat for hiking (day trips only) depending on my mood.

I did a fair amount of research on what kind of sun hat would be best for a three-week overseas trip in sunny climates, and found this brand less costly on Amazon than at an outdoorsy store. I love that it lies flat in the suitcase and folds up easily into quarters to carry in my day bag. The neck strap is great on a windy beach day, and when you go back and forth from sun into shadow the strap makes it easy to push the hat off and have it dangle on your back. The struggle with sun hats is whether it's cooler to wear a snug hat because of the shade or go without and let the breeze ripple through your hair. This hat was definitely cooler to wear because of its white reflective protection and the quality of the lightweight material. Came home, put it in the washing machine, and hung dry—cleaned up beautifully and the shape is as it was originally.

Hat is great! Keeps the sun off my face, it fits with a slight adjustment, and strap keeps it on my head on a windy day. I always wear it with a ponytail no problem.

it's a comfortable hat and is very pretty & flattering to many face shapes. One star off for early version of this hat had cute flower print on the dark brim lining. This one doesn't.

I purchased this hat because I love my daughters OR hat...and I have a big head so it's hard to find a women's hat that fits. I'm a bit disappointed that the inside circumference of the hat is about 1 inch too big, compared to my daughters hat, and causes the brim to warp (when I tighten the internal adjustment) in a way that isn't super appealing. Since we both have the same size, I have to assume the pattern on THIS color was just a bit bigger. But I haven't returned the hat because of ALL the terrific features this hat has. 1. The hat is light and very comfortable to wear 2. It provides excellent shade 3. The elastic cord inside the hat band, that allows for custom adjustment, is thin and sturdy 4. The adjustment tab in back small, but easy to use while wearing the hat 5. The color is amazing, and there's a lovely design on the underside of the brim...no one sees it but me--it's a nice touch! 6. The neck strap, in combination with the brim adjustment, males it so I can wear my hat even on a windy beach I love this hat, and next year I'm going to buy another color!

This is a terrific hat if you spend a lot of time outdoors and want to avoid the sun on your face and bugs buzzing around your head. It is very light and comfortable. I especially like that one can adjust both the headband and the chin strap for a perfect fit. I typically have a difficult time finding women's hats to fit my small head - I ordered a size S/P and it fits perfectly. I couldn't be happier with the purchase. These hats (I've owned others) last a LONG time, by the way, and survive many washings and heavy wear. Other reviewers have mentioned two negatives: that it is hot and that it will blow off in the wind. I haven't found it to be hot at all. The crown material is actually thin and ventilated sufficiently. Also I bought the lightest color possible, which may help. However, the brim is sufficiently stiff to be lifted easily in a strong wind, so it may not be so good in a very windy climate though I haven't experienced any problems with it.

I wouldn't call this hat stylish, but it seems to do its job in the Arizona summer sun. I measured my head as instructed to determine the size. I measured Medium but decided to order one size up because I always wear a size Large and have a lot of fluffy hair. Large fits with a bit of room and I was pleasantly surprised to discover I can tighten the hat. It is also comfortable and has a brim that keeps sun off from above. It does not have a tail in the back so you may get sun on your neck if the sun is behind you.

Great Hat. Light weight, great coverage, and love that it has a strap in case you're wearing it in windy conditions. Very well made. Actually got it in two colors - the taupe & a white. Only kept the white - but the taupe was a nice color too.

Ich habe den Hut für einen Wanderurlaub gekauft und getestet. Die Passform war perfekt und konnte dank des eingearbeiteten Gummiband an meinen Kopf angepasst werden. So hielt der Hut auch bei Wind auf meinem Kopf. Er hat mich gut vor der Sonne geschützt. Meine Befürchtung, dass es mir zu warm wird, hat sich nicht erfüllt. Ich kann den Hut empfehlen.

Great hat. This is actually my second one (lost the previous one last summer). Light, good coverage and easy to pack.

Excelente calidad y ajuste. Se puede ajustar tanto de la cabeza como del cuello. Cubre a la perfección del sol

Great hat, wide brim, hat is adjustable

Muy recomendable y se puede doblar,