Coolibar Trail Hat
Initial Report – July 26, 2006
Tester Information:
Name: Jason Boyle
Age: 29
Gender: Male
Height: 5' 6"/ 1.68 m
Weight: 170 lb/ 77 kg
Head Size: 21 ¾ inches/ 55 cm
Email address: c4jc "at" hotmail "dot" com
City, State, Country: Snoqualmie, WA, U. S.
Backpacking Background:
I have been camping and backpacking for about 18 years. My introduction to the outdoors started with the BSA and has continued as an adult. I have hiked mostly in the Southeastern and Northeastern United States. I am generally a lightweight hiker, but will carry extras to keep me comfortable. I have recently relocated to the Pacific Northwest and spend most of my time hiking and backpacking in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, but I can be found exploring the other wild areas of Washington!
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Product Information:
Manufacturer: Coolibar
Model: Trail Hat
Color: Tan, Moss (received)
| Size: |
S/M |
L/XL |
XXL |
|
21.125”-22.75” |
22.125”-24” |
25” |
|
54 cm – 58 cm |
56 cm – 61 cm |
64 cm |
Year of Manufacture: 2006
URL:www.coolibar.com
Listed weight: none listed
Measured weight: 4.1 oz (116 g)
Fabric Content: Brushed Cotton
MSRP: $29.95 US
Country of Manufacture: China
Product Description:
From the Coolibar Website – “The Coolibar Trail Hat is a men's sun hat designed for easygoing everyday use, with side snaps to create a lean profile, and a 3" brim to shelter your face and neck from midday sun. A toggle cord keeps it securely in place; attractive styling and durable details make it the choice of fishing hats and hiking hats. Made of 100% brushed cotton; rated to block 98% UV.”
Initial Impressions/Use:
The Coolibar Trail hat is exactly what I expected based on viewing their products online. I like the button up sides; it will allow me to look like my favorite Australian Crocodile Dundee! The hat fits snuggly on my head, right on the border of being too small. I think it will stretch over time so I am ok with the current fit. I am sure the toggle cord will be useful in high winds, but I don’t like things around my neck so I will arrange it so it rests on the brim of the hat unless weather conditions require the toggle. The quality of the hat is excellent. All the seams are well sewn and there are no loose strings.
Coolibar puts a lot of information on their garment tags about how much sun protection they provide. I am interested to see if I can notice a difference from other hats that I have worn. The care instructions are pretty simple; gently hand wash with mild detergent and air dry.
Expected Field Conditions:
Average temperatures range from highs in the 70’s F to 90’s F and lows in the 40’s F (21 C to 32 C highs and around 4 C lows). The average precipitation is very little in July and August and will build heading into the fall. Most of my trips during this time frame will be in the Mt Baker - Snoqualmie National Forest. Specifically in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, 20 minutes from my house. Elevation may vary from sea level to around 10,000 ft (3048 m). My normal outdoor routine consists of at least two day hikes a month, and no less than 2 nights of backpacking a month.
Improvements:
None at the moment.
Testing Plan:
I will evaluate the Coolibar Trail Hat on the following characteristics over the test period.
Comfort:
How well does the hat fit?
Is the hat sized according to Coolibar’s sizing chart?
How does the brushed cotton fabric of the hat feel against my head?
How comfortable is the hat to wear in the heat?
Does the headband effectively keep sweat out of my eyes?
Does the hat effectively keep the sun out of my eyes?
Does the hat effectively keep the rain out of my eyes?
Does the cotton fabric of the hat retain smells?
How quickly will the hat dry if it gets wet?
Durability:
How well does the fabric stand up to normal use?
Is the fabric waterproof? Windproof?
How will the brim snaps stand up to normal abuse?
Does the brim permanently deform if it is stuffed into my backpack?
Thanks to Coolibar and BackpackGearTest.org for the opportunity to participate in this test.
Read more reviews of Coolibar gear
Read more gear reviews by Jason Boyle
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