Patagonia Tenpenny Review

Grab the Tenpenny for some time on the water or leisurely walks, or stuff it in your glove box or travel bag in case you need it.

Performance Comparison

The Patagonia Tenpenny scored on the lower end and had lower than average performance, but is very durable and well priced.

Protection

The Tenpenny's brim measures 2.75 inches and provides decent coverage, but is one of the least protective in our fleet. North Face Brimmer has the widest brim of the bunch, measuring 3.75 inches, along with the Sunday Afternoons Adventure Hat that has a wide 3.75" brim and long neck cape for maximum coverage. If you're out in full sun with the Tenpenny, you'll still want to apply sunscreen to cover your neck.

There is a neck drawcord that will help prevent the had from blowing away in a gust, but no cinch around your head to keep in on your head, like on the Outdoor Research Sun Bucket.

Comfort

We noticed that the brim tends to press into your head if the hat fits you properly, making it a bit uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time and can leave a line on your forehead. We like the Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure, as it is light and comfortable to wear all day.

This hat fits on the large size. We tested a size “small”, which on Patagonia's size chart is 21.75"-22.75". Our tester with a 21.5" head was swimming in this hat, and it fit a 23" head snugly, and our tester reported that they would not want to wear it all day. The Tilley LTM6 Airflo fits on the small size but is slightly more comfortable than the Tenpenny. It is twice as heavy as the lightweight Sun Bucket and is not as comfortable to wear all day.

Breathability

The Tenpenny's material is a thick, sturdy cotton/nylon blend that does not lend itself well to breathability; this contender also only has two small holes on each side, with no mesh for breathability. The Ultra Adventure's materials are much lighter and breathable feeling and both the LTM6 Airflo and the Outdoor Research Sombriolet have more mesh, lending itself to more breathability.

Durability

Because of its thick materials, the Tenpenny is quite durable and rugged, and we imagine it can stand up to a lot. We crush tested all of our hats by putting them in a small ziplock bag for 30 minutes, and the Tenpenny came out unscathed, its brim bouncing back from all the creases. For other stiff brim models, like the Adventure Hat and the Sombriolet, we could not say the same. The Tenpenny boasts a Durable Water Repellent (DWR) finish that helps retain its shape when it gets wet. The Columbia Bora Bora Booney II also has a DWR finish, but we found it less effective than the Tenpenny's.

Style

The Tenpenny is not the most stylish of the bunch. It is not as dorky as the Adventure Hat, but we think it is just somewhat generic looking. The Arc'teryx Sinsola was the most stylish of the bunch, albeit the least functional, at least technically speaking. We think that the Tilley LTM6 Airflo is a much more stylish version of the Tenpenny, although it costs significantly more.

Best Applications

This competitor could be a decent choice for any boating activity or light day hiking. Its stiff brim would get in the way if you tried to backpack with it, as it would hit the top of your pack.

Value

Retailing for $39, the Tenpenny is a good value, especially for a Patagonia product, which is known to be pricey. If you're looking for something that is more versatile and a good choice for backpacking, check out our Best Buy Award the Outdoor Research Sun Runner Cap. If you want to invest in a quality hat that has similar function and durability, but is more stylish, we recommend the Tilley LTM6 Airflo.

Conclusion

This hat fell flat in our opinion and is somewhat unremarkable. It is very durable, and good value. This could be a good choice for something to grab on your way to the lake for some fishing or boating.