Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Need a Waterproof Fishing Cap

It's not unusual for me to be out fishing in my kayak in 40 deg weather, spitting rain and wind a blowing. I've got a dry suit that keeps me toasty warm as long as I wear appropriate clothes underneath it. Got waterproof gloves and boots, too. The one thing I don't have is a good waterproof hat. The Simms Challenger pretty much ticks all the boxes (waterproof, ear flaps, warm, buckles under the chin) for what I need but it's $50. Anybody know of a similar hat that's less $$$ ?

Good equipment is essential as we all can attest to. Buy once flinch once. You won’t have to wish you’d bought it instead of another inferior one…and then have to buy it anyway. Don’t ask me how I know! 🤣

$50 for a good hat IS cheap.

Simms is top shelf.

I think Wilson's hat was waterproof...

I have a couple of Gore-tex insulated caps that I got from Cabelas some years back and they work very well. Unfortunately, they (along with a lot of other items) were discontinued when Bass Pro took over. I'd say the Simms cap looks like a decent deal.

I can't say that I do. One thing I'd consider is finding something that would continue insulating when soaked. Hypothermia would set in instantly, so perhaps a woolen fiber?
I've not had a need yet, but looked into getting buffalo down gloves/ mittens. I'm told that a lot of ice fishermen use them because they will be warmer than lamb wool or alpaca when wet. They won't be cheap either or something you could get at Gabe's. Maybe that would be the one birthday or Christmas present next time around? Maybe worth a request.

The first places I'd shop would be ice fishing gear.
Lookup "buffalo down verses _____ for ice fishing".
Maybe you'll find what you're looking for.

I wear glasses and kayak with a fly fishing cap that has a wider and longer brim with a sunshade hanging down the back. In our country, the sunshade runs rain outside my collar, and I wear it when still hunting deer.

When warmth is needed, I add a Canadian fleece toque (stocking cap) pulled over the cap and down over my ears. If cold enough or raining, pull the hood from a rain jacket over cap and toque. that layered combo is toasty warm and still keeps rain off of face and glasses. It looks dorky to me so I switch to a regular ball cap on my way home. Can't get an image to post. I got mine on E-bay.

One might always go with a good Souwester.

Been keeping fishing folks heads dry since like.....forever.

Get any hat you like and do this.......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_R0gEDZhAI

Check out Filson.

Filson Wildfowl Hat

I fish under the bridge

no specialized, technical attire necessary

Thanks, men. Appreciate the suggestions.

I'll probably buy the Simms. Buy once, cry once. Then I'll probably lose it a week later!

Slumlord, thanks for your thoughts on the matter as well. I know I can always count on you for some good down home wisdom! Hope you're feeling better.

Grocery bags make good hat covers and they're FREE...in most states.

I have the Filson hat and use it when I do the snow blowing at my house.

I'd forgotten that he dated an Asian girl.

I have one of the Filson tin cloth Packer hats with a brim. Good stuff but not cheap.

I've got several hats (not the one in your OP pic though) and gloves/glommits from Simms and in every case I've considered them well worth the $$. Never cheap but they do what they're designed to do

Get a good Gilligan's Hat that really fits your head then soak it down with silicon spraynand let it dry for a week or so ... out in the sun preferably. Let it dry until the petro smell is complete gone and nothing but the silicone remains.

Beat boonie hat ever. It's how we did our boonie hats in the Ranger Regiments and they work.

I have a Filson's fedora .... it's one of my favorite hats but I'm not wewring it fishing.