Gideon W.
Best hat ever!!
While on vacation in Alabama I stumbled upon a Chiluba in the wild. The whole week we were talking of the wonders of rice farmer hats and how we needed one. Lo and behold, during some quick shopping while waiting to be seated at a restaurant; my eyes caught a Chillba. I tried it on and instantly fell in love! This one was sadly creased from being folded (ONLY ROLL IT!) and the last one in stock. My dreams were crushed and I moved on.
Looking online I saw the Pine Cones colorway and knew it would one day be mine. After a few months of being a penny-pincher I decided to purchase and have been monumentally happier since!!
Fantastic rain and sun protection! You can see me wearing it on the sidelines of my highschool football game. Paired with a light rain jacket, I stayed utterly dry! Not a single drop of rain fell upon my face.
If this review has graced your eyes, PURCHASE A CHILLBA!!!!
Alexander P.
I got the mushroom hat. The print is dope, the hat is pretty dope too. I like that I can adjust the head strap to fit my noggin. I will say that the logo woven into the outside of the top of the hat is pretty tasteless. It clashes with the design of the hat and is completely out of place. Also, the alignment of the chin strap and mushroom pattern are less than ideal. Theres only one direction to wear the hat, which leaves the logo off to the side and the mushrooms sideways instead of upright. Overall I’m happy but it has plenty of room for improvement.
Jerryd M.
Original hate never showed up but customer service was amazing and two day shipped one out to me. Hat is goofy lol but over all great hat. Provides plenty of shade and well ventilated.
Jessica W.
I love how much coverage you get and that it’s collapsible for travel. It has a fun design and I can wear it during a variety of activities without having to worry about it falling off, thanks to the head strap and the chin strap. I wear it running but also in the pool. Plan on wearing at the beach or on the boat next time I go out.
Alana M.
I wanted to love this hat… but I think it might be defective? Any time it catches the wind it flies off my head. It looks as if the inside of the hat isn’t sewn to the head net and it balloons out funny.
Clark D.
This hat is fun looking, but the most important part is its functionality. It breathes so well in the headband area. My straw hats are actually hot compared to the Chillba. So, thank you for the crazy fun design that is made in the USA. It is now my go to headgear.
James B.
I just received this hat yesterday and even though I haven’t had the chance to put it to good use, I love it! I am curious though…is it supposed to be this loose on the inside where the mesh meets the inner cone? On the strap end it’s stitched, but the sides and front are loose and seem to have no stitching as shown in the photo…
Eric S.
Yeah, seriously - this is the best hat ever made. I am not exaggerating at all. There are 3 types of people in the world, people who have this hat, people who want this hat, and people who are ignorant of the best hat in the world. It is the coolest hat in the world because it barely touches your head when you wear it. But it can be the warmest hat in the world because you can actually wear a knit hat under it and allow it to protect you from the rain and sun at the same time. Sun blocking is supreme - it is like having an umbrella above you everywhere you go. Do not even get me started about the rain - even if you are wearing a rain jacket, this will keep the water away from your face, collar, and it will just roll off past your shoulders all day long. The only reason to not wear this hat - could be high wind (the straps do a great job in medium wind) or if you have to navigate tight doorways all day or something like that - otherwise I am living a similar life, I am just doing it better and this hat is one of the reasons.
Jordan Wesley L.
Love this hat! It gave great protection from the sun while being outside and I received a lot of compliments for it! 10/10 would recommend
Takoda J.
Got one as part of a deal though work, and I ordered the galaxy-print Chillba because I thought it would be a fun silly-looking hat to have around -- put it on and immediately decided it would be my new go-to sun hat! The mesh inner part is super comfortable and super secure, and it's much better at keeping the sun off than my previous hats. Looking forward to using it through many, many adventures!
Marguerite H.
I bought the Kavu hat because I lead walking tours in Portland, OR and it rains A LOT here. I needed something to keep my head dry without the awkwardness of using an umbrella or some other hair-smashing hat. Kavu does the trick!
Jackie O.
This is my third Chillba. No hat is more comfortable, or effective against rain or shine. I just roll it up and put it in my pack when the wind is strong. But, NO hat works in that kind of wind. I wore this hat walking 450 miles across northern Spain. Perfect.
Helene D.
My new Chillba hat just arrived... to replace the one I've had for 35 years! I wear it all the time, in the sun and in the rain. Everyone wants to buy it off my head, so this time I ordered 7... should have bought more, I already have takers again.
KERI M.
I'm glad that I resisted the urge to use my Amazon gift card and ordered directly from Kavu after reading reviews about the hats shipped by Amazon being folded and misshapen. Absolutely love this hat. After reading some reviews I was worried that I would be disappointed in the size but I'm very happy with this purchase and highly recommend giving this hat a try.
Daisy P.
Check out the shade this hat is throwing! Bought several for family members because they’re so awesome! Good life choices!
Daisy P.
We love to ride 4-wheelers on our local creek and it’s difficult to find a hat that provides the shade and wind resistance necessary for our hobby. These are perfect! The adjustable band makes for an excellent fit no matter your head size. The chinstrap keeps the hat on even at high speeds and the sun protection can’t be beat! New favorite headgear!
James K.
Loved this baby the moment I put it on.
I work on a farm, and it kept the sun out of my face/neck better than any of my previous hats, and also super comfortable, breathable, light weight, and adjustable.
Money well spent. Cheers
Hb E.
The issue with the Chiluba, is it does not fold or collapse for travel; beautifully crafted and a wonderful blue color……
Douglas S.
For me this hat brings out the BIG vibe energy in me. Haha! I should be a model for you all!
Omar R.
I came across this hat in a travel store. I had problems with all hats because I have a large head and even larger hair. I live in New Mexico where there is a LOT of sun.
I tried it on - it fits perfectly because it's adjustable. I hesitated because of the price then I bought it. I have not regretted that decision.
Great sun protection and ventilation. I can't say anything about rain because we don't get much of that here. I saw some people complaining about wind but so far by getting the hat adjusted snugly and tightening the chin cord it has not been a major problem.
The look works for me. And no more messing up my hair and trying to stuff it into cowboy hats, which I don't think really are well suited to long curly hair
Kiana V.
I think this hat is great. I wore it/carried it for my entire thru hike of the Continental Divide Trail this year. About 5 1/2 months of near-constant use. I have only 1 complaint, and because of that I give this hat 4 stars instead of 5.
Merits:
1. Unbeatable shade canopy in comparison with other hats. Especially if spending plentiful hours in the sun.
2. Basically an umbrella hat in the rain. I was the envy of other hikers and their flimsy raincoat hoods.
3. Great seat cushion. Just whip it out, set it down, and my buns stayed clean, dry and debris-free.
Demerit:
1. It is absolutely useless in the wind. And I mean, ABSOLUTELY. The flexibility of the hat and the head mesh do not lend themselves to the wind. If you do not anticipate wind nor hike/paddle anywhere super windy, it is fine. If you find yourself in any type of wind over 7mph, you will be fighting it all day. A few times the wind was blowing at such a degree that I could angle the hat into the wind, and it would manage, until the wind changed directions.
If this could be remedied, it would indeed be a perfect hat.
Something else to note, which I find to be neither positive or negative, if you are to roll up or fold away the hat, it may take up to half a day or so for it to regain it's original form un-bended.
Rikki
OK if you are sitting still-Aesthetically pleasing and blocks some rays. Would Not Rely On This Hat for solar protection while trekking, hiking, or simply walking.
Anastacia L.
My son had one of your amazing hats and I always wore it when he wasn’t, which isn’t much! He’s had his for about 2 years I believe and it’s still going strong. He’s super active and at the beach a lot. Here in South Florida it’s hard to find a decent hat that truly shades you and is comfortable. I work music festivals all over the country and I CANT wait to wear this beautiful hat. Thank you!!!
Tara L.
Best sun hat ever. I work outdoors and play outdoors so I've tried a lot of different sun hats, but this is the best. It doesn't flop in your face and is very shady, but doesn't get in the way either. Stays on in the wind and fits all sizes.
Denise G.
Chillba hat is perfect in the summer rain. Very cute & unique
Mei Y.
I love this hat ! It’s my best sunhat , and so stylish ! I got three different colors of these hats already , and the strap are adjustable with my small head so the wind don’t blow out of my hat and I don’t have to chasing around , also it’s packable for travel , or when I don’t wear this hat indoor, I can just simply wear from the strap and put my hat backward , and it looks so cool like the ninja.
Janice B.
At first glance I wasn’t sure. I liked the way it looked but was concerned I looked like a mushroom. But the fit is so nice and adjustable and I walked outside and realized that I would be able to read while sitting in the sun. I have large pupils , don’t laugh , and struggle with glare
Scott H.
It’s more awesome than could’ve ever imagined. And it’s way lighter than I thought it would be.
Dustin C.
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.
Deb H.
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.
Amanda
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!
Elle S.
Great! Love this hat! It’s perfect for my walks on the beach!
Karen W.
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.
Michael K.
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.
Michael W.
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.
Jonah M.
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!
James C.
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.
Charles J.
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.
Jocelyn W.
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 :)
Michelle F.
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.
Austin S.
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!!!
Brian S.
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!
Troy D.
The perfect sun hat!
Tracey H.
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!
RICHARD L.
my wife loved the hat! Great Mothers Day gift for us this year!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sandra B.
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!
Allison S.
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!
Leif K.
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.
Jo F.
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.
Marybeth McVie
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.