Tilley’s Endurables

As a Canadian, the Tilley’s travel sportswear brand was to me as iconic as, say, Land’s End is here in the US. It’s only in doing a little research for this article that I realized that the company has only been around since 1980. Only? Yeah, that’s 30 whole years, but in my mind the Tilley Hat is legendary and in general, legends are older than 30 years old…

My husband is on his third Tilley Hat. Not because any of them have been worn out, but rather because he has been losing them in transit. No other hat will do for him. He has worn his through the Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Canada, Europe and Asia and whenever in the bright outdoors.

For Tilley, what started off as the quest for the perfect sailing hat became “the best travel hat in the world” (read the whole story here). The science and meticulousness that went into the making of the hat then went into the clothing, making it durable, comfortable, easy to wash and fast to dry, and seldom in need of ironing.

Handcrafted in Canada with Care. Most Tilley Hats are born from a process involving 41 steps, 23 sets of hands and 15 pieces of fabric/notions. The fabric for each Tilley Hat style is rigorously tested for durability, breathability, sun protection, comfort and of course, good looks!

Lauded as the best-made and most practical hats of their kind worldwide, Tilley Hats have a protection of UPF 50+, the maximum UV rating given to hats and clothing. They are also water resistant and will float should they happen to end up “in the drink”.  They also all have a “secret” pocket in the crown to store little but important things like a key, a credit card and some cash.

My husband also swears by the Tilley Unholey Socks. They are guaranteed for three years to be hole free. He has not yet had a pair wear out, and he’s had some pairs for over 5 years. They are designed for travel (comfortable and dry quickly for overnight washing) but my husband wears his all the time.

Personally, I’ve gone for the clothing, choosing the True Blues jacket and skirt that have been wonderful traveling pieces. Classic enough to endure fashion trends, comfortable and they bounce back fabulously from washing.

I love this brand. And not just because it’s Canadian. Lucky you, they ship everywhere.