Filson Summer Packer Hat vs The North Face Horizon Breeze Brimmer Hat

The Filson scored 9/10 for style in expert testing — the highest of any hat reviewed — and testers reported that strangers and friends alike called it out as sharp. The North Face Horizon Breeze Brimmer looks like what it is: a performance fishing hat. That's fine on a trail, but it means you'll leave it in the car every other time you want to wear a hat. A hat you actually wear everywhere is worth more than a hat you only wear on hikes.

The Horizon Breeze Brimmer has a mesh panel running the entire crown with an unsewn outer layer — testers said it felt cooler on than off in direct sunlight. The Filson uses DWR cotton with four eyelet vents, which is decent but not in the same league. If you're grinding up switchbacks in July heat, this gap is real and you'll feel it. But if you're doing anything less intense, the Filson's breathability is perfectly adequate.

The Filson comes in five actual sizes, which means you get a hat that fits your head like a hat should. The North Face relies on an elastic sweatband and flat cinch cord — functional, but it's the difference between a hat that's yours and a hat that's adjusted to fit you. On a long hike, a properly fitted hat stays put and doesn't require fiddling. The Filson's no-adjustment-strap approach is a feature, not a flaw.

Multiple testers flagged that the Horizon Breeze Brimmer's floppy brim droops over your eyes in wind or after getting wet — which is exactly when you need your brim working hardest. The Filson's brim holds its shape through abuse, stuffing, and moisture. A brim that collapses when it rains or gusts isn't doing its job, and this is a consistent complaint across North Face reviews, not a one-off.