Outdoor Research Sahara Cap, Long Term Report

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Name:   Carol Crooker

Age:  45

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:  October 13, 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, Colorado, 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.  See my Initial Report for a more complete description of the Cap.

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)

OBSERVATIONS 

See my Initial Report and Field Report for more detailed observations.

Walks, day hikes, and at home

The Sahara Cap is my favorite hat now for hiking in warm weather.  It is significantly cooler than my collection of cotton ball caps and even my beloved Tilley LT5 hat.

I prefer not to wear the skirt unless it is super hot out.  It is noisy which makes it hard to hear anyone I’m conversing with while hiking.

I have a size large Cap and, with my size 7 ¼ (22 ¾” (57.8 cm) circumference) head, it is almost too large.  When it is windy and I tighten the adjustable Velcro strap in the back, I almost run out of Velcro.

It cleans up nicely in a washing machine.

The seam tape covering the back of the Cap has come unsewn.  

Backpacking trips

I wore the Sahara Cap on a three-day backpacking trip in the Grand Canyon in early June.  The Sahara Cap and skirt provided very good sun protection and allowed even slight breezes to cool me off hiking in up to 107 F (42 C) temperatures. 

I wore the Cap on overnighters near Prescott, Arizona in June and the Flagstaff Peaks in July.  I wore the Sahara Cap on a four-day trip in the High Uintas of Utah in August.  During a long rain in the Uintas, I found that the Cap’s bill was indeed stiff enough to keep rain off from my glasses. 

I like the Sahara Cap because it is lightweight and cool, and still has enough structure in the brim to withstand high winds and heavy rain without collapsing.  It dries quickly too! 

I like the Cap so much I bought two more similar caps from Outdoor Research.

What I like:

- Cool.

- Floats.

- Stays on my head in wind.

- Great sun coverage with skirt.

- Brim does not collapse in wind and rain.

- Lightweight.

What I don’t like:

- The skirt is noisy.

- It is hard to put the Cap back on my head with the skirt attached.

- Quality problem with cloth tape coming unsewn.