{"product_id":"pdw-apex-boonie-hat-recce","title":"Apex Boonie Hat","description":"\u003csection data-cap-container=\"short-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe PDW Apex Boonie Hat is a modern interpretation of a Vietnam Era classic, built on the RECCE short brim, a field modification born in the jungles of Vietnam that produced the most functionally refined sun hat profile in the history of outdoor headwear. Custom-milled 2-way stretch NYCO+ Ripstop, a bug-proof NoSeeUm mesh liner, synthetic micro-suede sweatband, and a cinching crown fit system update every detail that made the original work. Available in Universal Field Gray, All Terrain Brown, and Ranger Green.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003csection data-cap-container=\"long-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe boonie hat is one of those rare pieces of equipment that transcended its origins so completely that most people wearing one today have no idea where it came from. It started as improvised headwear sewn by Vietnamese tailors from salvaged parachute fabric, made its way into the field with American troops in the early 1960s, and within a decade became standard issue across all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. For over half a century the design held. That kind of longevity does not happen by accident. It happens when a piece of equipment solves a problem so well that no one can improve on the core concept. \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/prometheusdesignwerx.com\/blogs\/dispatches\/from-the-boonies-to-the-trailhead-the-history-of-the-boonie-hat-and-the-pdw-apex-boonie\"\u003eFor the full history of the boonie hat and the design decisions behind the Apex, read our field notes on PDW Dispatches.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt Prometheus Design Werx, the approach every piece of equipment the same way: is to identify what works, understand why it works, then apply contemporary materials science and design thinking to push the concept forward without losing the functional DNA that made it essential in the first place. The Apex Boonie is a refinement, not a reinvention.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe shell is constructed from a custom-milled 6.8oz NYCO+ Ripstop, 55% Cotton \/ 42% High Tenacity N6 Nylon \/ 3% Spandex. The nylon delivers durability, quick-dry performance, and resistance to rot and mildew. The cotton contributes breathability and a natural hand feel. The 3% Spandex adds 2-way stretch that no standard boonie offers: the hat conforms to the wearer's head, packs flat without permanent creasing, and returns to shape after being rolled into a pack or stuffed into a cargo pocket.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVentilation is engineered through soft, low-profile slit vents rather than the stamped, corrosion-prone metal eyelets of the original. Each vent is backed by NoSeeUm mesh, the same fine-weave netting used in high-performance backpacking tent construction, blocking insects while allowing airflow through the crown. The interior is finished with a synthetic micro-suede sweatband that wicks moisture and resists odor over all-day wear. Fit is dialed in by a cinching crown system with custom nylon toggle locks. A cinching chin strap secures the hat during active movement and high wind. Classic foliage and accessory loops run the crown.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor overlanders, it is the hat you reach for when you step out of the vehicle and into a full day of sun, wind, and dust. For hikers and packrafters, it packs flat, dries fast, and keeps the sun off an exposed ridgeline. For anglers, it cuts glare and sheds rain while you work a line. For travelers, it performs in a tropical market, a desert crossing, or a monsoon trail without needing a different hat for each environment. That is the boonie's case for itself, and it has been making it for sixty years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Apex Boonie Hat is made in Vietnam, the country where the modern boonie hat was born. The sewing workshops that produced the first locally made boonies in the 1960s established a garment manufacturing tradition that today serves the world's leading technical outdoor and premium apparel brands. Making the Apex Boonie in Vietnam is a direct acknowledgment of that lineage. It is a homecoming.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003csection data-cap-container=\"specs\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMaterials:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e6.8oz, 55% Cotton \/ 42% High Tenacity N6 Nylon \/ 3% Spandex NYCO+ Ripstop\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e70D Nylon Ripstop\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePoly Synthetic Micro-Suede\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNylon Noseeum Mesh\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCustom Nylon Slotted Buttons\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCustom Nylon Toggle Locks\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePoly Flat Lace\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eT40 Nylon Thread\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSizing:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eS\/M: 20.41\" - 23.16\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eM\/L: 23.16\" - 24.34\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFeatures:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCustom Milled 2-Way Stretch Technical Ripstop Fabric\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInterior Map Pocket\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBug-Proof Noseeum Mesh Liner\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSoft, Low Profile Slit Vents for Air Flow\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSynthetic Micro-Suede Sweatband\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCinching Crown for Dialed in Fit\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCinching Chin Strap\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eClassic Foliage\/Accessory Loops for Camo Add-Ons While Stealthy Tracking Sasquatch to Securing Those Woolly Buggers to Fancy Dancers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRear Loop Panel: Cate Eyes, Insignia, Reflective Tape\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTailor Made In:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVietnam, the Country Where the Boonie Hat Was Born\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003csection data-cap-container=\"faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFAQ:\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat is the RECCE brim and how does it differ from a standard boonie?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe RECCE cut originated with Vietnam-era reconnaissance teams who trimmed their brim widths to improve peripheral vision during close-quarters jungle movement. The Apex Boonie follows this low-profile brim pattern, providing meaningful sun coverage across the face and neck while keeping the silhouette clean and unobtrusive. It wears like a boonie but carries none of the oversized mushroom cap look of most military surplus offerings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat sizing should I order?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Apex Boonie is available in two sizes: S\/M fits head circumferences of 20.41\" to 23.16\", and M\/L fits 23.16\" to 24.34\". The cinching crown system allows fine-tuning within each size range, so if you fall between sizes, choose the larger and dial it in with the crown adjustment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat colorways are available?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Apex Boonie Hat is available in three colorways: Universal Field Gray, All Terrain Brown, and Ranger Green. Each color is suited to a broad range of environments, from alpine and urban to riparian and tropical.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs the Noseeum mesh liner actually effective against insects?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNoSeeUm mesh is a fine-weave netting developed for backpacking tent construction, specifically designed to block the smallest biting insects including no-see-ums (biting midges) that pass through standard mosquito netting. The mesh liner in the Apex Boonie vents air through the crown while blocking insects at each vent opening.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy is the Apex Boonie Hat made in Vietnam?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVietnam is the birthplace of the modern boonie hat. The sewing workshops that produced the first locally made boonies in the 1960s established a garment manufacturing tradition that today serves the world's leading technical outdoor and premium apparel brands. Manufacturing the Apex Boonie in Vietnam is a direct acknowledgment of that lineage, and an intentional choice to adhere to quality.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCan the hat be packed flat?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. The 2-way stretch NYCO+ Ripstop shell and soft construction allow the Apex Boonie to be rolled or packed flat without permanent creasing. It returns to its original shape when worn.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow do I care for the Apex Boonie Hat?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMachine wash cold, gentle cycle. Tumble dry low or hang to dry. Do not iron the slit vents or NoSeeUm mesh panels.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e","brand":"P D W","offers":[{"title":"Universal Field Gray \/ Small-Medium","offer_id":31948193923158,"sku":"3017401","price":59.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Universal Field Gray \/ Medium-Large","offer_id":31948193955926,"sku":"3017402","price":59.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"All Terrain Brown \/ Small-Medium","offer_id":52588516966687,"sku":"3017403","price":59.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"All Terrain Brown \/ Medium-Large","offer_id":52588516999455,"sku":"3017404","price":59.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Ranger Green \/ Small-Medium","offer_id":52588517032223,"sku":"3017405","price":59.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Ranger Green \/ Medium-Large","offer_id":52588517064991,"sku":"3017406","price":59.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0407\/6641\/files\/apex-recce-boonie-hat-3-colors.jpg?v=1782808893","url":"https:\/\/prometheusdesignwerx.com\/products\/pdw-apex-boonie-hat-recce","provider":"Prometheus Design Werx","version":"1.0","type":"link"}