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Reviews > Clothing > Hats, Caps and Visors > Sunday Afternoons Sun Tripper Cap > Test Report by David Wilkes

Test series by David Wilkes

Sunday Afternoons Sun Tripper Cap

Initial Report - Sep 2 '10
Field Report - November 9 '10
Long Term Report - Jan '11

Tester Information

Name: David Wilkes
E-Mail: amatbrewer@yahoo.com
Age: 42
Location: Yakima Washington USA
Gender: M
Height: 5'11" (1.80 m)
Weight: 197 lb (89.40 kg)
Head mesurment: 22.75 " (57.8 cm)

Biography:

I started backpacking in 1995 when I moved to Washington State. Since then, I have backpacked in all seasons and conditions. I am currently getting into condition to summit some of the higher peaks in Washington, Oregon, and California. I prefer trips on rugged trails with plenty of elevation gain. While I continuously strive to lighten my load, comfort and safety are most important to me. I normally use a bivy sack for shelter. My current pack is around 30 lbs (14 kg), not including consumables.

Product Information

Manufacturer:

Sunday Afternoons

Year of Manufacture:

2010

Manufacturer’s Website:

www.sundayafternoons.com

MSRP:

$US 24.00
 Weight: Listed: 2.6 oz (74 g)
Measured: 2.45 oz (70 g)

Image courtesy of Sundayafternoons
Image courtesy of Sunday Afternoons

Product Description:

The Sunday Afternoons Sun Tripper Cap is a lightweight cap with features for use in hot sun, such as UV protection, breathable fast drying materials, absorbent sweatband and ventilation slits. It also features adjustable sizing, and folding bill.

Initial Report


Tech Specifications: (from manufacturer’s web site)Inside of hat
  • UPF 50+ certified breathable sun fabric (mesh vents not rated).
  • 2 ½” folding brim allows cap to be packed and put in a pocket.
  • Slipstream mesh venting panels.
  • Lightweight: (2.6 oz.).
  • Adjustable sizing for comfortable fit.
  • Internal wicking sweatband.
  • 100% Polyester.
  • Hand wash, line dry.
  • Sizes: Men and Women’s M, L
  • Designed in USA/Imported

When applying for this test I measured my head and found it to be at the high end of the size guide for their large. 22.75” (57.8 cm). Who knew I had such a large head?!?!
Their size guide states 21.5-22.5” for small & 22-32.5” for large (54.6-57.1 cm for small & 5.9-59.7 cm for large).

Hat foldedWhen I put the cap on the first time I found it to be a bit snug, and I checked to make sure the sizing cord was fully loosened. After wearing it a bit I have found it to be snug but not uncomfortably so. I would like it a bit looser for normal usage, but the snug fit might help keep it in place in windy conditions (something I will try to test).

My first impression of the hat is that it is looks to be styled like a painters cap. It has a bill similar to a baseball cap but straight sides and a flat top. It has 4 side vents as well as a bungee type size adjustment in the back. The bill of the hat has a seam running down the center allowing it to be folded for storage without damaging the bill (I like this feature). Inside there is an extra layer of material split down the middle (held closed by hook-n-loop tabs) creating a pocket. Around the inside perimeter of the hat is an absorbent sweatband and mesh for ventilation (both gray). Embroidered to the left of the size adjustment cord is the Sunday Afternoons name and logo.

The tag that was attached to the hat describes it as having a UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) of 50+ and that it blocks 98+% of UVA & UVB rays. It also describes the warrantee as follows “We will replace any hat or article of clothing which fails to perform as advertised for the lifetime of the garment.” The care instructions say to hand wash in cold water with mild soap and line dry. Do not tumble dry or iron.

Sizing CordI wore the hat around the house for a while and found the snug fit to be more comfortable than I originally expected. When my wife came home, her first comment was “nice hat” with absolutely no hint of sarcasm. So the hat passed its first test: my wife and kids will not be embarrassed to be seen with me when I wear it. I have tried folding the hat along the seam in the middle of the brim and it folds and unfolds with no problem and virtually no “memory” (that is, it seemed no different after folding and unfolding than it was before). When folded I placed the hat in my back pocket and it fit nicely.


Likes

Opportunities for improvement

Snug but comfortable fit

Nothing so far

Light


Folding bill
Soft material inside and out

Field Report

Field Report - Nov 9 '10

Usage:
The hat arrived quite late in the season and as luck would have it, just after the last of our real sunny and/or hot days. I managed to use the hat during a four day backpacking trip in the Esmeralda basin at the foot of Mt Stuart in Central Washington, in addition to some daily wear to work, around town and while doing yard work. I also wore the hat on a weekend trip to San Louis Obispo California.

Most of the time while I was in California it was foggy with occasional drizzle or light rain. I wore the hat for one short morning run and two morning walks, and while on the beach. I wore the hat all day during my backpacking trip, but the days were mostly overcast, and it rained every night. So far the only time I have really used the hat in direct sun was while doing yard work and for short periods while in California.

As I mentioned in my Initial report, when I first received the hat its fit seemed a bit snug. After prolonged wear (have worn the hat all day at least a few times) I can say it is quite comfortable, in fact more comfortable than I would have originally guessed. I have not had the opportunity to wear the hat in strong winds, but its snug fit has me confidant that it is unlikely to fly off in moderate winds. Since it does not have any sort of chinstrap I would probably remove it in very strong winds.

Salt StainsI really like the length of the bill. The bill seems a bit shorter than the baseball caps I have, and I find the end of the bill lines up with the frame of my sunglasses, and so does not obscure any more of my vision than my glasses already do. While on the subject of the bill, I really like the ability to fold the bill of the cap without damaging it. I have folded the cap a few times and placed it in my back pocket. It folds up small enough that it is no more bulky than my wallet and so quite unnoticeable when in my pocket. After being folded for a while I can simply unfold it and put it on with no lasting effect. In addition I have gotten the hat wet a few times, from rain, sweat, and by hand washing it in the sink, and for all I can tell the bill has not been affected by this at all (I have had other hats where the bill would become lumpy or deformed if they got wet).

Between yard work, the 4 day backpacking trip, and wearing the had a few times while running, it had developed some slight salt stains, however they mostly faded on their own, and then were completely gone after a quick rinse in the sink with just a bit of hand soap.

I have not found a use for the pocket in the top of the hat. The hat does fit my head firmly, but since it has no chinstrap, I really do not trust putting things like my ID, cash, or credit card in it, just in the off case a gust of wind does take it off my head.

I have had mixed results with the sweatband. It has worked well at absorbing sweat some times while other times I have still had sweat dripping down the sides of my face. I must note that I have not had sweat drip in my eyes once while wearing the hat. Therefore, I would say it works, but not quite as well as I would like.

While this is a sun hat, on two occasions, I was wearing the hat in a light mist and the water beaded up on the hat. Some of it ran off and the rest evaporated, very little soaked in.

Overall, I like the hat; it is light, comfortable, and looks good. It seems to resist stains and is easy to care for.

Long Term Report

Long Term Report - Jan '11
Wearing the hat under a hood
Sadly this hat arrived late in the year and as luck would have it the Pacific Northwest has experienced cold wet weather. This has made testing a sun hat difficult. Since the Field Report I have worn the hat on one 3 day snowshoe/winter camp trip. I have also worn the hat to/from a few snowshoeing day-trips and daily (around town, work, etc). Over the course of the testing I estimate I have worn the hat while hiking for about 10 miles. I wore it while snowshoeing for about 3 miles total and had it with me in my pack or pocket for another 6-8 miles. I also wore it while running for a total of maybe 6 miles. And I have worn it numerous times when going out on errands and/or to work.

I don’t have much to add to my above review other than observations regarding the fit, comfort, and durability. I have taken to wearing the hat when I want something to cover my hair, such as when returning from a snowshoeing trip or quickly running out of the house for an errand. The fit of the hat remains a bit snug for me, but my head size is at the top end of the size chart so that is to be expected. The ability to fold the hat makes it convenient to put in my pocket or pack when not in use without damaging it. While not insulated, hat sheds light snow easily. As for durability, the hat is not showing signs of wear, despite being repeatedly stuffed in my pocket and pack. The few sweat stains it has picked up were easily rinsed out.

I was hoping to see how wind affected the hat, having no chin strap but a snug fit I wanted to see if it would stay on in moderate to high winds, but the weather simply would not cooperate and I was unable to evaluate this. My impression from the snug fit, is that it would probably remain in place for moderate winds but I would probably take it off in high winds to avoid loosing it.

A sunny day in the snowTo conclude, I like this hat and plan to continue to wear it after the testing has concluded. I especially look forward to having it this summer when a functional as well as fashionable sun hat is highly desirable (by me as well as those who have to look at me).


This concludes my review. I would like to thank the folks Sunday Afternoons, and BackpackGearTest.org for the opportunity to test this hat.

 



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Reviews > Clothing > Hats, Caps and Visors > Sunday Afternoons Sun Tripper Cap > Test Report by David Wilkes



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