Chillba

It’s more awesome than could’ve ever imagined. And it’s way lighter than I thought it would be.

Warning >>> Long review <<< (TL/DR at the very end) Wonderful upgrade from the rigid rice hats! Ive been slowly and steadily upgrading every few years hunting for the best "float trip" hat. Started with a clamp on umbrella but quickly found that that is not compatible with most types of kayaks I was renting. It quickly evolved into an umbrella hat from novelty/toy store. It worked but was laughable and very uncomfortable (metal bits, snaggy, super cheap) and didnt last two floats. At the beginning of the next float it self destructed right out the gate. I now use this as a shade cover for my ice chest so it wasn't a loss. Next up was a halloween store costume grade rice hat. Everyone loved it on the river and it quickly became a signature look for me. It was stylish and practical, but having dreads, again it was very snaggy and needed to wear a bandana or head wrap which made my head hotter than it needed to be. The rope was rough and uncomfortable and the wood bead bled colored dyes onto my shirt/chest. These costume grade ones are also very cheap and didn't last more than a float or two. Went through a couple of these cheap-ees over the next year or two. That next Xmas i got gifted a very nice Vietnamese rice hat that was built well, had a lacquer coat and adorned with some embedded leaves (prolly why it was lacquered) that was great. It survived a couple years worth of float trips and held up well, but began breaking down, fading, and like all the ones before, snags on my hair. Bandanas are inconvenient and head wraps do trap a lot of heat and prevent the scalp from breathing. Same rough-ish rope and dyed wood bead. These ropes are "meh" at best in keeping the hat where it needs to be. They tend to slid around and are easily knocked off kilter, making them look sillier than Id like. Also the rigid-ness of this hat was not great for paddle boarding, since if the hand or paddle touched the hat, it gets knocked off kilter pretty bad every-single-time. Well, at the end of this last float i see the first other rice hat on the water in over 6 years and it looked amazing! We gave each other "knowing glances" and noding in approval, but I was impressed with his, I could see it was soft, and saw the logo on the back. It was clearly Kavu, so i hit the web, and low and behold, i had finally unlocked the ultimate upgrade with the Chillba! Im SO happy with this hat. I would (and prolly will) happily buy another one if I see a color I like more. I cant beleive i never knew about these. THANK YOU STRANGER ON THE RIVER WEARING A CHILLBA! I owe this all to you. So, I buy one, and instantly fell in love with the dual adjustability, the comfort (NO SNAGS!!!!), Soft flat rope and useful toggle, and the raised design that allows for excellent ventilation and cooling. Huge upgrade! This feels like the future. Ultimately comfortable! Im just so pleased with it. As with all rice hats (coolie, pointy, oriental shaped) they are NOT great in high wind, but low to moderate should be no problem due to the ability to not only cinch it around your head (which this can even accommodate the extra girth of my head from the dreads, easily and securely), but the soft cordage and toggle will keep it around your neck if you do find yourself in an unforeseen high gust situation. If it DOES get too windy, simply take it off, *roll it up,* (Roll it! Don't fold it.) stash it and keep on going! This compact-ability is yet another really superior upgrade from the old school, rigid, woven rice hats. Best of all, this one matches my boat almost perfectly! So happy with this thing. TL/DR - Hat is really amazing. YES it's worth the price. Dual adjustable, comfy, breathable, non snaggy, stylish and very functional, new colors keep being released periodically. Great Sun hat, decent rain protection, water resistant so will saturate over longer rain times. HIGHLY recommend buying direct from Kavu.com cause they know how to ship it properly. Other re-sellers apparently do not know *not* to fold them and send out ruined hats (ie- DO NOT FOLD HAT). Kavu direct eliminates this risk. Its a style not everyone can pull off, but if you don't think it looks bananas, it could be the hat for you too! I super duper love mine and will happily buy another if I lose or destroy this one.

Hi. Kavu chillba sun hat fits well. I bought it for a 56 mile river trip last week. It keeps the sun off but does not hold up to river paddling headwinds. The hat catches any winds and blows off my head. I will probably make an adaptation by glueing some little velcro dots to the inside to keep the brim down and in place when the wind blows.

We’ve ended up getting several of these hats for our family! They even go tight enough to fit our young children’s heads. They keep the sun off and the heads cool! We love them!

Great! Love this hat! It’s perfect for my walks on the beach!

Polar Plunge 1/1/21. Saw this lady with this hat - went right over to ask her what it was. After jumping into the ocean, I went home and ordered it that afternoon. I now have my very own and Love it! Yay.

I love love love this hat. Had it over a year now. It's my go to on hikes and river trips. This style performs so well on trips, whether it's in the rain or sun. It stows away easy on your pack when not in use. Goes right back to form when you use it again. Impressed with its durability. You get amazing air flow under it. You can feel a breeze all around the top of your head. On chillier days the band adjusts very easily to accommodate a buff/sleeve. Also a great conversation starter. Always seems to get peoples' interests. If I was going to improve it. All I would do is change the jaw strap from a rope to a ribbon.

Love the Chillba hat because it's so comfortable and keeps the sun out of the way. Also found it great for bird watching because the brim provides protection but doesn't get in the way of the binoculars.

I love this hat so much! This thing is basically indestructible. It was a little pricey but sooo worth it! I will never need to be in direct sunlight again. Thanks kavu! P.s. there belts will last your entire life. Just clean it every once and a while and your good to go!

Hanging lake in Colorado. This hat is excellent in every way. Very light and the mesh that goes on head is very breathable. No sweat up top and defused the heat from the sun. Naturally tons of compliments and I always direct them to the website.

This is the best hat so far for keeping the sun off of your face/neck. The adjustable band holds tight on your head while riding in your boat.

Gardner review here- if you spend a lot of time working on your yard or yhr oudoors in general-YOU NEED THIS HAT!! The brim provides excellent coverage and it feels lightweight and breezy on. If you keep the chin strap tightened light winds won't be a problem but hold on to it tight if its super windy out. I get compliments all the time on this hat, it might not win any beauty contests but it does get the job done and is unique to boot. I have lots of other Kavu packs and this seems to be constructed just as well. Best investment I've made in my yard working and adventuring equipment in awhile :)

Love the comfort, style and the attention I get from the Chillba. LOL...My first day out wearing it and I got a “love your hat” and a “that’s an interesting hat” I also love the extra protection from the sun while out on my hikes.

Absolute best hat I have ever owned!! Keeps me cool by shading my head, face, and neck. When water gets on it, it beads up and rolls right off! Can’t wait to get the jungle hat!!!

Legit piece of gear for the farm and the beach! The adjustable pieces are easy to use and the mesh liner lets it breath and keeps your head seriously cool. Sun shading is good enough that i can skip sunglasses. Wish i had found these years ago!

The perfect sun hat!

Was tired of appropriating my husband's gardening hat when I wanted to sit in the sun, but wanted something fun and stylish as well as functional. This hat fits the bill perfectly. Received a ton of comments after this picture of my friends and I having a social distancing parking lot party was posted and most of the compliments were for my hat!

my wife loved the hat! Great Mothers Day gift for us this year!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hat works well in protecting you from the sun. Wish there had been more color choices. Don’t love the color. Picked the tan but wishing now I had gotten 2 black instead. Too much going on to return. Ordered so we could sit on the tiny balcony since we need to #stayathome. There were no grays, blues, greens. Very limited options. Hoped I would like it better in person. I didn’t. In light of everything around us, not a big issue, but you asked so I answered!

My daughter fell in LOVE with this hat the second she saw it! And since it is adjustable, it sizes down enough to fit her 7 year old head! She’s outside all of the time and has never found a hat that she is willing (and proud) to wear... until now! Oh, and the compliments that she gets from EVERY. SINGLE. PERSON. she meets don’t hurt either!

What an awesome sun hat! I work a lot outside and find the hat gives me incredible sun coverage, keeping me cool in the process. It was hot (96F) and sunny without a cloud in the sky the first day I wore it and the hat kept me so cool I can't see how I have ever lived without it. OK, my coworkers snickered a bit initially, but by the end of the day they weren't. I know one for sure went on and ordered one.

Love these hats, I'm not one who really wears anything on my head I just can't stand how hot my head gets. But these hats changed the game for me, they cast a great shadow of shade and the mesh top allows for air to move across the top of my head which is what makes it less hot to have something over or on my head in this Florida heat and sun. I own 2 this one in "surf wax" I believe is the name for the beach and fishing etc and the other in "moss" which I wear on my tractor while bush hogging, plowing and planting fields on 200 acres. I wish the colors where still available but neither appear to be..hope this hat isn't on the way out because I hope to use them for years to come.

Best sun hat ever! Our sons gave their Dad this hat years ago! It has been a great hat! And whenever he wears it people comment on it! Positively! Please tell me how to wash it safely.