Tilley is known around the world for it's hats. They've been making the best quality hats since 1984, and have since expanded their product line into other clothing and accessories.
In the box with our hats?
Two pairs of underwear each, one pair of socks each, and one Cobber each. A Cobber? What's a Cobber?? We'll show you in a minute.
Now, I know you're expecting a few photos of us modelling these garments, the same we we did with our hats.
Our Tilley hats in Namibia, Africa, keeping the rain off our heads!
But darn it all, none of the pictures of us in our underwear turned out! So you'll have to make do with these...
The Men's Tilley underwear cost $32 CAN.
Yes, $32 bucks for a pair of underwear.
Now, you all know that we are very frugal, and I have to say that I would never have paid $32 for a pair of underwear. However... now that I have experienced these underwear for almost nine months, they are in fact worth every penny. You all know that we tell it like it is. Here's why...
As the Tilley ads say, you can travel the world with only two pair. Totally true. If you hand wash these underwear in the evening, they will be dry and ready to wear the next morning. We put this into play many times while in Africa, and only very rarely was the band still a little damp in the morning.
They're totally comfortable, and they're covered by the famous Tilley guarantee.
Yes, I am officially done with cheap underwear!
Ruth is totally happy with hers too. The Tilley ladie's underwear are a little cheaper (less material?) than the men's...they're only $18 CAN.
Now, the socks are a little different story. For me, the men's travel socks are fine. Again, they're quite pricey for a pair of socks at $16 a pair. But when you take into account the "no holes barred" 3 year guarantee, they become quite reasonably priced. So far, nine months and no holes. I have found that cheap no name brand socks, like the ones where you buy five pairs for $10 tend to last about six months a pair.
Unfortunately, not the same story for Ruth's pair of socks. One of them developed a hole after only one month. We think it caught on something though, and it does look like that. It's just a tiny hole, and she's been wearing the socks anyhow without the hole getting worse.
Tiny hole in one of Ruth's socks.
Now, you wanted to know what a "Cobber" is...
A Cobber is a fabric necktie containing gel crystals that you soak in water...
Ruth, wearing her Cobber and her Tilley hat. Keeping cool on a baking hot day in Namibia.
Ruth really likes her Cobber. She wore it almost every time we went for a hike in the desert. I found that mine kept my neck cool, but I was constantly fiddling with it and flipping it over to get the cool side against my skin. So ultimately, Ruth likes the product, and I am a little up in the air about it.
It also seems to look a little more fashionable on the ladies than the men!
So here's the breakdown. We love our Tilley hats. We love our Tilley underwear. The socks feel like socks, but the three year warranty makes the price worthwhile. And we're split on the value of the Cobber.
But all Tilley products are extremely well made. And so far, we'd say they're worth the extra money. We'd love to try out some of their lineup of other travel clothing, so maybe we'll get a chance on our next big trip...South Korea in October of 2014!
Well I suppose I didn't want to see either of you in your undies, although I suppose I could have suffered at least ONE of you, but it's OK, really. *Some* of us are Grandparents, after all....
ReplyDeleteI sadly miss my Tilley hat that I stupidly left behind momentarily in the change room at the Condado Plaza Hotel in San Juan, P.R. *grrr*. Went back as soon as I realised and alas, it was gone.
Just haven't gotten around to buying a new one. Glad to see you enjoy yours.
Bob, "They include a manufacturer's two year, All-Peril Insurance Policy to protect against loss, theft or the hat's untimely demise."
DeleteYour are almost correct on that statement Croft it is "With your Hat or Cap, you’ll be provided with ‘The Straight-Shooter’s Statement of Loss of a Tilley Hat’ insurance policy. The insurance is for two years, all perils, 50% deductible, and is not issued by Lloyds." and it must be the exact same style of hat. You also have to add in the shipping cost.
DeleteAs soon as I recover financially from the solar install, I will consider an investment in Tilley. I figure two hats, 2 pair of underwear each will be nudging $300..
ReplyDeleteYep, it does add up, but I would now have now qualms at spending the money, now that I know how good the product is. The hat, socks and underwear got a lot of use and washing while in Africa and now that we are working here at the park and they still look as good as new, other than one of my socks but it hasn't got worse since I got that hole in it. We will definitely be buying a second pair of socks before leaving for South Korea and possibly even looking into their pants and coats.
DeleteInteresting. Especially the socks. In Borrego Springs just in April, I purchased a pair of socks for walking for $16.00 from the Borrego Outfitters. In about a month, I had a hole in one sock. No guarantee. Grrrrrrr. I just may give Tilly my time and $$$
ReplyDeleteDid you try taking them back to Borrego Outfitters and ask for your money back? If you had moved on by that time, I think that we would have contacted the maker of the sock and sent them an email explaining what happened and what could they do to make it better. It would be good customer service on their part.
DeleteHope that you will try it again with Tilley, we have been totally happy with their products and yes, that guarantee is a nice added bonus.
they say you get what you pay for! and it sure seems that Tilley products are worth the extra money!!
ReplyDeleteYes, and I think there is a lot of merit to that statement. For travel clothing, I think that we will now buy top quality stuff, that is light weight and durable. We really do think that the Tilley product is a good product now that we have used them over the last 9 months, and believe me we certainly put them to the test.
DeleteI have worn a Tilley hats for most of the last thirty years, mostly on boats. I think I am on the second free one after just plain wearing out the first two:)
ReplyDeleteSo glad to hear that you love your Tilley hat so much. Gotta love that guarantee!
DeleteGreat article!
ReplyDeleteGreat post, and as you said, some things are just worth spending the extra money for! Your photos are lovely.
ReplyDeleteThanks Linda and yes, some things are worth the extra money.
DeleteI am a believer that most of the time you get what you pay for, Tilly has great products for sure.
ReplyDeleteI am glad that you said "most of the time" because we have had products that we bought at a higher price but found that they weren't a better product afterwards. Luckily that is not the case with Tilley, they make an excellent product and they stand behind it with their guarantee.
DeleteYour endorsement of Tilley products carries more weight for me than any advertising slogan. Thank you for sharing. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Dianne for your trust in our word.
DeleteNo substitute for quality! You got your monies worth and then some. :c)
ReplyDeleteYou are so totally right, Paul and Marti!
DeleteWe love our Tilley Hats. I also have a pair of Tilley Cargo pants (longs) that I found in a Thrift Store for $5, ten years ago! I am still wearing them. They wash easily, dry overnight and never crease! I love those too.
ReplyDeleteGood to know about the cargo pants because we are thinking that we would like to get some for our trip to South Korea in October. Nice that you were able to find them at the Thrift Store, I doubt that many make there way there.
DeleteI see our mutual friend Les threw his hat away on the trail in Spain. When he asked for recommendations for a hat, I recommended a Tilley but Les, being the penny pincher he is ;) bought an inferior brand.
ReplyDeleteI hope he won't be sorry for that decision down the road.
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