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Reviews > Clothing > Hats, Caps and Visors > OR Sun Runner Cap > Test Report by Nathan Kettner
OR - SUN RUNNER CAP
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TESTER INFORMATION
I'm a medium weight backpacker, meaning my pack usually weighs 30-35 lb (13-16 kg), and I generally hike a moderate pace and mostly in mountainous terrain. I almost always use a tent (lightweight when backpacking, wall tent when hunting). I'm a weekend backpacker and make lots of day trips and single nights out, plus a few week-long backpack trips. All of my outings have been in the beautiful and rugged Rocky Mountains of Colorado and Wyoming since I started backpacking in 2004.
INITIAL REPORT
PRODUCT INFORMATION & SPECIFICATIONS
Manufacturer: Outdoor Research INITIAL IMPRESSIONS
READING THE INSTRUCTIONS There were no instructions to speak of, just the info cards that are basically advertisements - like the ones I would expect to see on any apparel item hanging in a retail store. TRYING IT OUT
TESTING STRATEGY
I intend to test this cap on several upcoming single and multi-day trips in the Lost Creek, Sangre De Cristo, and Flat Tops Wilderness areas in Colorado. The average temperature will vary significantly, from lows near 32 Degrees Fahrenheit (0 Degrees Celsius) to highs near 90 Degrees Fahrenheit (32 Degrees SUMMARY
The cap fits well and seems very functional so far. FIELD LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS I used the Outdoor Research Sun Runner Cap on two overnight backpacking trips in late July; one in the Sangre De Cristo mountains in southern Colorado and one in the Mt Evans Wilderness area in the Arapaho National Forest of central Colorado . Both trips started near 9,500 ft (2,900 m) and took me as high as 12,000 ft (3,600 m). On both hikes I had temperatures into the 80's degF (27 degC) and lots of sunshine. I also tested the cap in the Pikes Peak area on day hikes and a short run around 7,000 ft (2,100 m) in various temperatures between 60 and 90 degF (15 - 30 degC). PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD
The cap seems to have done its job well. That is, I never got a sunburn on my neck or face when I wore it, even though the combined sunny skies and high elevations did their best to scorch me. The cap was comfortable and lightweight so that I enjoyed wearing it most of the time whether I had the detachable sun shade on or not. SUMMARY I think the cap performed as designed. Its light weight and overall coverage against sun damage were excellent. However, as noted above, there are some drawbacks (tight elastic band, clamminess, and noise) that make it less desirable in some conditions and situations. TESTING STRATEGY
The end of summer is near and so my need for the full sun shade of the SunRunner Cap is dwindling. The next two months of testing will most likely find me wearing the cap without the detachable shade. I also don't have anymore backpacking trips planned, so I will mostly be wearing the cap on short hikes around town and possibly a few more short, 3 mile (5 km), runs. LONG-TERM TEST LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS I wore the cap during several trips to the Incline, a 1 mile (1.6 km) hike up 2000 feet (600 m) of an old cog railroad (the tracks are gone, but the ties are still there and make good steps), along with a 4 mile run back down the much gentler grade of the Barr Trail on Pikes Peak, just west of Colorado Springs, CO. The temperature was approximately 60 degF (15.5 degC) on each of my trips. PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD I used the cap without the sun shade, as anticipated, because the sun wasn't nearly as hot these last couple months, and because I've come to dislike the noise and clamminess of wearing the sun shade while I'm perspiring intensely. The ventilation and light weight of the Sun Runner made it usable where I think any other hat would have been too warm. SUMMARY In the end, I'm glad to have the Sun Runner with me whether I'm backpacking, hiking, or running. I think the unique sun shade design would work well in situations where I'm not moving or perspiring too much, such as when I'm fishing. However, in active situations I found the sun shade restricted air movement around my neck and head and generated too much noise to be comfortable. Thankfully, it is easily detached and stowed and the cap by itself is lightweight and very breathable. This report was created with the BackpackGearTest.org Report Writer Version 1. Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.Read more gear reviews by Nathan Kettner Reviews > Clothing > Hats, Caps and Visors > OR Sun Runner Cap > Test Report by Nathan Kettner |