Not Your Grandpa’s Tilley
It is a common occurrence for Tilley Endurables to be mentioned in travel clothing. And it’s not a fashionable one. Henk, who was with me when I travelled to Myanmar, had the chance to test Tilley’s form and function. Here is our review.
Tilley Hats
Myanmar is hot, so I needed a hard-working, breathable hat to protect me from the sun’s 41-degree heat. I also needed something that looked good, whether exploring Inle Lake or temple-hopping in Yangon. This is the hat I chose, Tilley Endurables Raffia Fedora Because I prefer a wide brim to protect my Italian nose. I wanted it to breathe in hot weather. Another criteria I had was “no grommets!” And even if it meant I would have to carry the hat and not pack it, that was fine with me. Raffia isn’t as portable as other Tilley hat materials. I thought it was a small price to be paid for the style. It looked great everywhere it went, even in airports. I wore it while travelling, rather than packing it.
My rating: Style: A, Function: A
Henk instead chose the Tilley Endurables Hemp Hat. It mirrored his style and provided plenty of protection for his neck and face. However, it was also packable, washable, and wicking around the headband, which Henk needs. Because it has mesh sides, this model is ideal for hot days as it allows more airflow. After 20 days of wear, Henk was satisfied with the result. He put it in the washer and let it air dry. It smells and looks as good as new. Overall, the leather hat was as good as new. Henk’s rating Style and Function: A- (he doesn’t like chinstraps).
Tilley Undies
Every little bit counts to pack light, even if it is underwear. Tilley’s guarantee of overnight dry-ability was my assurance. I brought 4 pairs of CoolMax panties with me and a few of my regular cotton pants to help me compare. Henk also did the same for their men’s line.
Style-wise, I must say that I was expecting granny panties. I was pleasantly surprised to find their briefs short. They lived up to their promises of quick-drying sink-washability and wicking performance (way more than cotton), which were tested on an especially long, hot hike.
My rating: Style: B, Function: A
Henk was also impressed by the selection of men’s underwear, particularly the boxer short style. (Again, Henk was expecting tighty whiteys). He liked the fit and the cotton feel of the fabric as well as how they performed. He didn’t need to store any cash in the secret pocket’. They dried quickly and were true to their promise.
Henk’s rating Style: A, Function: A
Other Tilley Endurables Clothes
Socks
Henk and I tried many pairs of Tilley socks. We tried the ‘Unholy’ dress, hiking, and short versions. They were very comfortable and had the right amount of stretch. We didn’t use a lot of socks during the trip (and laundry isn’t something we enjoy), so we didn’t put them through an overnight drying test. It will be interesting to see what the future holds. Our rating: Style A, Dryability TBD
Shorts and Shirts
Henk went to Tilley a bit more than me and bought this pair of shorts and a shirt with short sleeves. He loved both. Henk wore the shorts a lot, but they didn’t wrinkle. They were spot-cleaned with a Tide stick and had enough pockets not to look like he was carrying a bag. He favoured the shirt because it was simple and hid everything. (SPF is part of the Tilley promise). It looked great for city walks and on adventure hikes. It wicks moisture quickly and is made from a piece of performance fabric.
Henk’s rating shirt: Style A, Function A shorts: Style B, Function A
My Tilley Takeaway:
I must say that I was very impressed by the Tilley Endurables products we selected. I was also pleasantly surprised at their style, which was more 30-something than 80-something. Although they were not cheap, they weren’t expensive. Their guarantee is even more impressive. They stand behind every product they make.
We’ve found that Tilley is a great value for money.
