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

SUNDAY AFTERNOONS SUN TRIPPER CAP
TEST SERIES BY NANCY GRIFFITH
LONG-TERM REPORT

INITIAL REPORT - August 21, 2010
FIELD REPORT - November 07, 2010
LONG TERM REPORT - January 06, 2011

TESTER INFORMATION

My outdoor experience began in high school with involvement in a local canoeing/camping group called Canoe Trails. The culmination was a 10-day canoe voyage through the Quebec wilds. I've been backpacking since my college days in Pennsylvania. I have completed all of the Appalachian Trail in Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina. My typical trip now is in the Sierra Nevada in California and is from a few days to a week long. I carry a light to mid-weight load, use a tent, stove and hiking poles.

INITIAL REPORT

PRODUCT INFORMATION & SPECIFICATIONS

Image courtesy of Sunday Afternoons website

Manufacturer: Sunday Afternoons
Year of Manufacture: 2010
Manufacturer's Website: http://www.sundayafternoons.com
MSRP: $24.00 US
Listed Weight: 2.6 oz (74 g)
Measured Weight: 2.4 oz (68 g)
Sizes Available: Medium 21.5 - 22.5 in (55 - 57 cm), Large 22 - 23.5 in (56 - 60 cm)
Size Tested: Medium
Colors Available: Black, Cream, Tan, Juniper, Chambray
Color Tested: Cream
Made in Vietnam

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

Image courtesy of Sunday Afternoons website

The Sun Tripper is a cap with a style that is essentially that of a baseball cap. However, it has a military-like flair where the top is flat and the sides somewhat vertical. It is made of 100% nylon with 4 vertical slits with mesh venting panels around the circumference. The brim is stiff but folds in the center for easy packing. There is a pocket in the crown with a hook-and-loop closure at the center. The sweatband extends completely around and is made of a wicking material. There is a locking drawcord at the back to adjust the tightness of the cap. It is rated as UPF 50+ and blocks 98% of UVA and UVB solar rays. The underside of the brim is a dark gray color to reduce glare.

READING THE INSTRUCTIONS

Washing instructions were included:
Hand wash in cold water with mild soap. Line dry. Do not tumble. Do not iron.

There is also a guarantee that they will replace any hat which fails to perform as advertised for the lifetime of the item.

INITIAL IMPRESSIONS & TRYING IT OUT

My first impression was how light the cap is and that it folds in half along the center of the brim.

The hat fits well as is, but I found that I liked to tighten the drawstring slightly for a more secure feel. The cord lock on the drawstring is easy to operate.

The brim is the most interesting part of the hat. It is sewn solid as one piece, but the internal stiffener is split down the middle to allow for folding in half. This makes it really easy to stow without distorting the brim.

The style is fashionable and much nicer than a typical baseball cap.

SUMMARY

The Sunday Afternoons Sun Tripper cap is a well-made lightweight cap that appears to be very functional.

Likes so far:
Brim folds
Lightweight
Stylish

Dislikes so far:
None

FIELD REPORT

FIELD LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS

I wore the hat during the Field Testing period for much of my outdoor activity. I wore it for one 3-day and one 11-day backpacking trip, 2 day hikes and for 4 days of fishing for a total of 20 days. I also wore it for daily use such as working in the yard, going on walks and just around town.

My backpacking trips are as follows:

Desolation Wilderness, Sierra Nevada, California; 3 days; 19.5 mi (31.4 km); 6,560 to 8,220 ft (2,000 to 2,505 m) elevation; 40 to 80 F (4 to 27 C); sunny skies; The trail varied from heavily wooded and shady to above the tree line.

Wonderland Trail, Mount Rainier National Park, Washington: 11 days; 100 mi (161 km); 2,600 to 7,200 ft (792 to 2,195 m) elevation; 32 to 62 F (0 to 17 C). Weather conditions went from bright sun glare off of snow fields to torrential downpours. Trail conditions varied from deep dark forest to snow field crossings above the tree line.

PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD

I was pleasantly surprised with how well the hat breathed. It seems that no matter how light a hat is or how well-ventilated, it is still too hot for me to wear on warm days. Although I didn't get to wear this hat on the hottest days this summer, it did a great job of keeping me cool enough that I left the hat on.

The drawstring was useful in some windy conditions to keep the hat on my head. I also found that I liked to tighten it to give a nice snug fit on my head during normal (not-so-windy) uses too.

Having the brim fold in half was really nice for stowing it in the outside pocket of my backpack although it was usually on my head during the day.

I machine washed the hat one time so far but other than one small spot (maybe tree sap), it had stayed remarkably clean for as much time as it spent outdoors.

The durability has been good; the hat looks nearly new. The brim still has a nice shape and hasn't been altered by being folded into a backpack pocket.

One day during our Wonderland hike, it rained steadily for the entire day during which I wore the hat with my rain jacket hood pulled up over it. Despite the brim getting soaked, it didn't wick to the crown of the hat and thus didn't make my head cool. In the tent, I made the mistake of hanging it and water wicked from the tent making the hat completely soaked by morning. I wore it anyway and it dried quickly. I wore the hat one day while working in the yard in the rain. It got nearly soaked and I just hung it in the garage overnight. The next morning we went out for a hike and the hat was already dry.

SUMMARY

The Sunday Afternoons Sun Tripper cap is a lightweight breathable cap that is also stylish.

Likes:
Brim folds
Lightweight
Stylish
Breathes well

Dislikes so far:
None

LONG-TERM REPORT

LONG-TERM TEST LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS

The weather was more rainy and snowy during this period than sunny, but I wore the Sun Tripper cap for a 3-day backpacking trip, 4 day hikes and 1 snowshoe hike during the Long-Term Testing period.

Backpacking:
Point Reyes National Seashore, California: 3 days; 21 mi (34 km); 0 to 1,407 ft (429 m) elevation; 40 to 55 F (4 to 13 C); sunny to partly cloudy to heavy rainstorm conditions

Day hiking:
Tomales Point, Point Reyes National Seashore, California; 8 mi (13 km); 0 to 854 ft (260 m) elevation; 45 to 50 F (7 to 10 C); rainy to overcast to sunny weather

3 hikes in the Sierra Nevada foothills, California; 3 to 6 mi (5 to 10 km); 500 to 1,262 ft (152 to 385 m) elevation; 45 to 55 F (7 to 13 C); once in partly sunny conditions, once in overcast conditions and once in heavy rain with rain jacket hood

Snowshoeing:
Union Valley Reservoir, Sierra Nevada, California; 4.5 mi (7.3 km); 4,832 to 5,154 ft (1,473 to 1,571 m) elevation; 34 F (1 C); overcast conditions

PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD

Although it seemed silly to take this cap for a snowshoe hike, I was really glad that I did. I get pretty warm during activity and was really happy at how well it breathed. I'll continue to pack it with me on future outings (despite any sideways looks from others). Despite the good ventilation, the cap helped to keep my head warm on some cool hikes. It did just enough to keep heat in without causing me to overheat.

The brim is a nice size to allow for good sun protection without seeming overly bulky or obstructing my view. It also fits perfectly under my rain jacket which is how I wore it several times. I like to wear a brimmed hat under my rain jacket to keep the rain and jacket hood away from my face.

The drawstring again did a nice job in keeping the cap safely on my head during some gusty wind conditions on the Pacific Coast.

I didn't machine wash the hat during this period, so it has only seen one washing. It still looks very clean and like new although it is probably due for a wash. The durability has been great. The cap has been stuffed many times in my backpack or daypack pocket yet it retains its shape.

SUMMARY

The Sunday Afternoons Sun Tripper cap is a lightweight breathable cap that is also stylish. It is a cap that I'm sure to wear for many trips to come.

Likes:
Brim folds for easy packing
Breathable
Stylish
Draw cord holds hat to head

Dislikes:
None

This concludes my Long-Term Report and this test series. Thanks to Sunday Afternoons and BackpackGearTest.org for allowing me to participate in this test.

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