While Detroit Free Press Travel Writer Ellen Creager is away, here is one of her reader-favorite columns from 2012. Ann Bagley was on a Galapagos Islands ferry when she spotted the Tilley Hat Man.

Ann Bagley was on a Galapagos Islands ferry in February when she spotted the Tilley Hat Man. “Our friend had on his Tilley hat,” she recalls. “Then a man walked up to him and said, ‘Has anyone ever ...

Alex Tilley was in his early 40s when he set out to design a classy, durable hat for weekend sailors like himself. The iconic Tilley hat became a Canadian success story, and spawned the Tilley ...

Tilley is a Canadian apparel and hat company inspired by life outdoors with a focus on sustainability and an emphasis on sun protection. The brand was founded in 1980 by Canadian businessman Alex ...

CALGARY – As an avid sailor, Alex Tilley was tired of hats that blew off his head, sank when they fell into the water or shrunk when they got wet. So he decided to oversee the creation of his own ...

• What: Hemp hat with built-in UV protection. • Aimed at: Boaters, beach bums, safarigoers and other active travelers looking for extra protection from the sun. • How much: $69. • Evaluation: $69 for ...