Columbia Sportswear Bora Bora Booney

I have had these hats for a number of years, mostly bought from [@] I bought them three at a time, because they get lost, etc. I considered them a necessity for my outdoors activities. No more.Reason? These hats have a fatal flaw. After about three months (or less!) of sun exposure, the top fabric rots from UV degradation, weakens, and shreds. When Ma Boyle ran the company they would replace the defective, sun-weakened hats, no questions asked. Now, they won't. And now, I have about six of these with shredded top panels.Last time I sent three shredded hats back to Columbia Sportswear, they returned them with a terse message the equivalent of, "They are more than a year old, so it's too bad for you. Please refer to our warranty." Problem was, they were bought under the Ma Boyle Warranty, so how could they be "too old"?When I told them this, the answer was something like, "That was then. This is now. We are not going to repair or replace your hats for you. And that's it".Same thing with some of their shirts and other clothing - poor quality that Columbia won't back up, because they know their fabrics weaken, stain, shred and fade. Columbia clearly has obviously abandoned their former concern for their reputation for quality. But - you still pay for that missing quality and support. I guess Ma Boyle's legendary quality was a victim of mass marketing, something like Coleman's, but worse. Beware, go elsewhere, like [@], for decent value in generic fabric products like hats and shirts and shorts. By the way - same with Sportif gsrments, too!This is not a "sour grapes" review, but an honest attempt to be fair about these hats, and to warn prospective buyers that they may not be getting what they think they are getting and paying for from Columbia Sportswear products ....

This hat arrived today and I love the styling, the mesh at the sides, the wide brim, the dark under rim. I actually got myself one as well in a grown up version. Only one problem: no chin strap! I don't know how I didn't notice it when I ordered it but that was the first thing my son said when he saw it. "No chin strap!" He tried to appropriate mine. So, while I love it, and he loves it, it will be going back. I will be getting him the grown up version, which for whatever reason comes with a chin strap. It won't fit as well, but it will also be less likely to fly off his head.