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Reviews > Clothing > Hats, Caps and Visors > Sunday Afternoons Adventure Hat > Test Report by Ray Estrella
Sunday Afternoons Adventure Hat
INITIAL REPORT - June 06, 2010
TESTER INFORMATION
I have been backpacking for over 30 years, all over California, plus many western states and Minnesota. I hike year-round in all weather, and average 500+ miles (800+ km) per year. I make a point of using lightweight gear, and smaller volume packs. Doubting I can ever be truly UL, I try to be as near to it as I can yet still be comfortable. I start early and hike hard so as to enjoy the afternoons exploring/chilling. I usually take a freestanding tent and enjoy hot meals at night. If not hiking solo I am usually with brother-in-law Dave. The Product
Manufacturer: Sunday Afternoons Product Description
The Sunday Afternoons Adventure Hat (hereafter called the Adventure or hat) is a light weight hat that offers major sun protection. It is a five-panel hat with the center panel running straight across the head from forehead to nape of neck. The next two panels are cut on an arc and go down to either side of the hat. The bottom most panels are made of mesh to allow ventilation. Quick & Dirty, Nitty Gritty The Sunday Afternoons Adventure hat has been everything I want in a hat and nothing I don't want. I have zero complaints for this super sun blocker and it even helps keep mosquitoes and ticks off me. Read on for the details. Field Data
I have been very active this year hiking and the Adventure hat has been with me on every hike to date. Here are most of the hikes I have had it on. I took it on a 26 miles (42 km).overnighter in Cleveland National Forest to Fisherman's camp starting from the Ortega Candy Store. I started with it weighing 19.4 lb (8.8 kg) in temps to 85 F (29 C). Went to the same location as a dayhike taking a shorter brutal route in temps to 90 F (32 C). This hike saw 20 mi (32 km) and 3740 ft (1140 m) of gain. The shot above is from this trip. (Notice the flat, wide brim.) Then I went with a friend to the Upper Kern river area on a backpacking/fishing trip for two days. It was very hot and sunny, getting to over 90 F (32 C) during the day A week later I went back to the Upper Kern area for three days trying to get down to the Durwood Creek/Kern River cable crossing, and to find and take pictures of waterfalls on feeder creeks. Temps ran from a low of 48 to over 90 F (9 to 32 C). It came along on a backpacking trip with my children to Itasca State park where we made camp at McKay Lake. Next I spent two days backpacking and fishing in the Dinky Lakes Wilderness. The weather was great, nice and sunny with highs around 80 F (27 C). I snuck in a two-peak bagging trip in the Baldy area in temps in the 80's F (29 C) once past the saddle and in the bright sun. Next was my big trip, a 91 mile (147 km) backpacking trip through Yosemite National Park where some days it passed 90 F (32 C). Last was a hot two-day hike in the San Jacinto Wilderness where I camped above Miller Creek at Law's Junction. Observations
The Sunday Afternoons Adventure hat has certainly seen some major use so far this summer. Between backpacking, camping and dayhiking I have had it out 23 days. Because I am testing it I make sure to wear it always by not bringing my sunglasses, forcing me to keep the hat on. And it shows by this being the first summer I have not received a sunburn, even on my long Yosemite trip.
I was disappointed in the sharp curve at first and attempted to re-flatten it by washing it and letting it dry flat. It never did regain the shape but I ended up liking the way it was as it blocked reflected glare from rock and water. One thing I realized right away is that I should have got the next size down. When the wind blows I prefer to tighten the strap at the back rather then resort to the drawstring. Even pulled all the way tight the strap is still loose enough for the hat to easily blow off, which it has done many times. In the picture below the wind is cranking as I look at the heavy flow Kern River.
The Adventure has been easy to keep clean. I have washed it a couple times and have just rinsed it many times. In fact if the weather is hot (as it has been for most of the trips with it so far) I rinse it in each stream I cross to let the hat cool me as I hike. Another thing I have done to it is to soak it in a permethrin solution. This gives it the same properties as the hats and clothing that use the Buzz Off fabric to keep mosquitos and ticks at bay. It works quite well. The best use of this was on my three day hike in the Upper Kern area where I did much of it off trail. The ticks were horrible and dropped from the brush and trees as I push through. Any landing on the hat decided quickly to roll off rather than crawl down to find edible me… Here is a shot overlooking some waterfalls on Peppermint Creek.
To date I see no wear to speak of. The color is still fast, no sun bleaching that I notice. No pulled threads or holes from passing brush. But the summer is young! Well, no it's not. But I do have some more hiking planned to use the Adventure hat on so please come back in two months to see if it is still doing me right. Field Data
I went up the East Fork San Gabriel River for an overnighter. I stayed in the Narrows near Iron Fork where it only made it down to 53 F (12 C) and was 97 F (36 C) in the shade which was pretty much non-existent for two thirds of the trail. The shot above was taken at the beginning of the Narrows. Next was a 21-mile (34 km) group hike back to Willett's Hot Spring in the Sespe Wilderness. This was a very hot hike under full sun with almost no shaded areas until we made camp. The temperature was 96 F (36 C) the first day and hotter the second, although we never sat in a shaded spot long enough to get an accurate measurement on the way back out. Dave and I did an overnighter in the Mono Pass area. The picture below is taken past the pass looking over the Owens Valley. He actually has the exact same hat in his hand, but took it off for the picture. Last was a 26-mile (42 km) overnighter in the high Sierra Nevada in the Piute Pass/Pine Creek Pass area. It was partially cloudy both days with a tiny bit of rain.
Observations
Well, after a total of 31 days of use over the past four months I think I can say that the Sunday Afternoons Adventure Hat is a great backpacking hat.
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