I came here for one thing: a sun hat that I could wear on my next cruise since the last time I saw…read moremy dermatologist, he said I had to stay out of the sun. Yea, right, on a cruise? I need vitamin D3, says me.
Back to The Hat. I had a couple of requirements for The Hat. It had to be a lighter color like tan, be packable, have a drawstring so that it didn't end up in the ocean, guarantee 50 SPF protection (in case my dermatologist is reading this), and be somewhat stylish (like that is possible), plus I didn't want to mortgage the house or sell a kidney.
First stop on my shopping trip for The Hat: REI.
Before I could even find the hat section though, I was sidetracked by the winter sale--mittens, scarves, hats, coats. I like to do my Christmas shopping early. Name brand stuff like North Face at low prices. Handed off those items to the hubby who was busy eyeing the snowshoes (maybe he is taking up a new hobby) and continued my quest for The Hat.
I knew this place would have some great choices (I checked their online selection), brands like Columbia, Outdoor Research, and REI, of course. I found one full aisle (both sides) and a sale rack on the adjacent aisle full of potentials. I eventually chose one after some consultation with the hubby. It came from the sale rack, too!
While purchasing the winter gear and The Hat, the clerk asked if we had a membership or if any member of the family had one. Sure, let's try a family member's name. Bingo.
The clerk explained that attaching my purchase to a membership allows me to bring the items back within one year of purchase if not completely satisfied. There are other benefits (check the REI site for information).