Outdoor Research Sahara Cap, Initial Report

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Name: Carol Crooker

Age: 44

Gender: Female

Height: 5’ 10” (178 cm)

Weight: 160 lbs (73 kg)

Hat size: 7 ¼, 22 ¾” (57.8 cm) circumference

Email: cmcrooker AT att DOT net

City, State: Phoenix, Arizona

Date: April 10, 2004

Backpacking background: For the past 7 years, I've backpacked about 30 days each year. Most of my trips were three to six days long, and were in Arizona, the High Sierras, Idaho, Wyoming, Oregon, Utah, Pennsylvania and New York. My three-season base pack weight varies from 12 lbs (5 kg) to 8 lbs (4 kg). I use a tarp for shelter in all four seasons.

PRODUCT SYNOPSIS

The Outdoor Research Sahara Cap is a ball cap style hat designed for sun protection. It features mesh side panels for ventilation and a snap on skirt to protect the ears and neck from the sun.

Manufacturer: Outdoor Research

URL: www.outdoorresearch.com

Year of manufacture: 2004

MSRP: $37 USD

Manufacturer’s listed weight: none listed

Weight as delivered: 2.7 oz (77 g)

Cap only: 1.2 oz (34 g)

Skirt only: 1.5 oz (43 g)

INITIAL IMPRESSIONS

The Sahara Cap arrived in a plastic mailing envelope on April 6, 2004. The envelope contained the cap and a packing slip. There were three hangtags attached to the skirt of the cap: a card with style number and UPC code on the front and the Outdoor Research lifetime guarantee on the back, a card describing the UPF rating system, and a card listing the features of the Sahara Cap.

The first thing I did was try the cap on. After a slight adjustment to the Velcro strap in the back, the size large cap fit my head nicely. Checking out my look in a mirror, I saw that the bone colored hat had a slight hint of yellow, which was not the best match for my skin tone. The foam bill stayed flat, rather than forming a curve and looked a bit dorky. (The bill now has a slight curve after several days of use and looks better.) Both the mesh side panels and the underside of the brim are black.

I wore the cap without the skirt on my morning walk the next day in bright sunlight. The cap felt comfortable and very lightweight. It shaded my eyes from the sunlight, although a curved brim would have shaded the sides of my eyes better.

When I returned from my walk I grabbed the skirt, and stood in front of the mirror again. The skirt attached to two snaps on the brim easily. (I later had no trouble attaching the skirt while wearing the cap without looking in the mirror.) The skirt covered the mesh side vents. I pulled it down, stretching the back elastic section, to uncover the vents. The cap felt a little too tight on my head worn that way.

The skirt covered the sides of my face as it hung down. There is a draw cord with toggle attached to the bottom of the skirt. When I cinched the draw cord tight, the skirt pulled in close to my face to offer even more coverage for some parts of the front of my face without hindering my peripheral vision. The skirt definitely provided more coverage of the sides of my face and neck than my previous method of sun protection, a bandana worn under a ball cap.

I examined the skirt more closely to find that it was formed from three pieces of material sewn together. The middle back piece was triangular and sewn so that three gaps were left on each side for venting. That may prove to be a very nice feature! The skirt was edged with black cloth tape, which may act to weight the skirt so that it doesn’t fly up easily, and leave my skin unprotected.

Both the cap and skirt were made of a nylon material called SolarLite with a UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) of 50+.

The cap brim had vertical lines of sewing, which made the brim stiffer than the other foam-billed hat I own. I’ll see how it holds form when it’s windy.

The sweatband was soft and fuzzy and encircled the whole inside of the cap except for the size adjustment strap.

The cap and skirt appeared to be well constructed.

TEST PLAN

My test plan is to use the Sahara Cap on my backpacking trips, day hikes, and walks during the test period. I usually take a morning walk around my neighborhood and temperatures will soon be in the 90’s F (30’s C) and higher. My day hikes will all be here in Arizona. I generally hike about once a week until it gets too hot. I have backpacking trips on the agenda for April and May in Arizona and to Montana in September. I’ll be hiking in temperatures up to 100 F (38 C) and walking in temperatures above that. The normal high for Phoenix in April is 85 F (29 C), May 94 F (34 C), June through August above 100 F (38 C), and back down to 98 F (37 C) in September. My trip to Montana will involve higher elevation hiking and I expect that the sun will be quite intense at times.

The following are particular AREAS I’LL BE CHECKING OUT:

- How well does the Sahara Cap work to protect me from the sun?

- How does it behave in wind; does the brim hold its shape, does the skirt still provide coverage, does it stay on my head, with and without the skirt attached?

- Is it easy to put on and remove the skirt under field conditions?

- How well does it handle the washing machine?

- Does it dry quickly?

- Do the black side mesh panels attract heat?

- How well does it hold up to use.

- Does it float as claimed?

- How well does the sweatband absorb sweat?

- Does the cap shake out and look good after being stuffed into a pack?

- Does the draw cord stay attached to the skirt?