Review: Fabulous Hat from A Toy Garden

Mmmm... Strawberry picking! A delicious, but hot and sunny adventure even at 9:30 am! Good thing that Lil had on the Fabulous Sun Hat from A Toy Garden. The wide brim and long flap on the back of the hat kept her well-protected from the morning sun. You can see from picture on the left how much shade this hat really creates!
Now, I have to admit that when I got this hat in the mail, I was a little confused. I had thought (because of my poor reading skills) that I was getting a hat for Max--what came was this crazy-big, adjustable thing that I jokingly put on my own head- Turns out it was no joke, the Fabulous Sun Hat is actually intended to be a hat for all ages! Click on Read More to see the full review.

The Official Review (on a four star scale):
Design and Ease of Use: **** The hat is very easy to use and easy to adjust for any size-- really! You just push a button and pull on the string to tighten or loosen- this can even be done while the hat is being worn. There is also a string on the back with a clip on the end, which I like especially because Max has a tendency to just rip his hat off and toss it without warning! Although we have not had much use for the zippered pocket, I can imagine that there are many different situations in which it might be handy. The brim of the hat is wide enough to provide a lot of protection and well-designed so as not to droop down in front of the child's face (another problem that poor Max experiences!) Inside, there is a really soft terry cloth strip that rest right on your head (good for sweaty folks and for not catching on hair as well!)
Materials and Durability: **** The Fabulous Sun Hat is very soft and flexible and very comfortable to wear. It has mesh areas on the sides that allow your head to "breathe". I had imagined that having all of that fabric hanging down her back would bug Lilly since she has never worn a hat like this before; however, since the fabric is so lightweight, she did not seem to mind. The hat seems to be very well made and although I have not yet had the need to wash it, I do imagine that it would wash well because of the high quality material and stitching.
Style: *** I am always honest with you, right? The thing is, my husband has stated that he will not be wearing this hat and I have to admit, although I imagine myself to not be all that vain, even I will consider my audience before donning the hat. It is really pretty big! That said, both of kids will be wearing it this summer! And it is at least cooler-looking than ones that look like a baseball cap with a flap attached or some of the other sun-protection options out there.
Sizing: **** Four stars here-- I guess one size fits all really does say it all!
Price: Priced at $21.59, the Fabulous Sun Hat seems to me to be a pretty good deal for something that can be worn by anyone in the family!
Overall: ***1/2 With an spf of 45 and priced at about $20, I do recommend considering this hat if you are looking for a high quality sun hat! Plus, one of the really great things is that you will be making a purchase from one of my favorite online stores: A Toy Garden! I love that their toys are chosen to "inspire peaceful play" and that they are designed to allow for creative play. They have everything from play silks (you can read Crystal's review of those here) to art and craft items to a wide selection of dolls. They have a lot of unique items, many of which are US-made or fair trade items. The prices are good, they do free gift wrapping...I could go on and on!

Want to win a Fabulous Sun Hat for your family? Visit A Toy Garden and choose two of your favorite items from the selection of hundreds. Come back here to this post and tell us your faves and you'll be entered to win a Fabulous Sun Hat in your choice of color. Entries must be received by 11:59 CST on Wednesday, July 8, 2009. Winner must be a resident of the U.S. and 18+ to win. Check out our giveaway rules here.