Field Report: Outdoor Research Sahara Cap

Date: June 16, 2004
Item Tested: Outdoor Research Sahara Cap with detachable skirt

Manufacturer Information
Name: Outdoor Research
Website: www.orgear.com

Product Information
Product Tested: Sahara Cap, Style # 80900
Year of Manufacture: 2004
Fabric Description: SolarLite, a lightweight tightly woven nylon, is durable and dries fast. It provides maximum sun protection with a UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) rating of 50+.
Color: “Bone”, which is a light tan; the mesh side panels, and bill underside and edges are black.
Size: Large
Weight Listed: None
Weight as Delivered: Hat 1.2 oz (34 g); skirt 1.5 oz (43 g); total 2.7 oz (77 g)
MSRP: $37 US

Product Description
The OR Saraha Cap and skirt are made of SolarLite, a lightweight nylon fabric that is breathable and very UV resistant.  The cap by itself is the OR Taklamakan Cap, a lightweight high ventilation cap for aerobic activities. It has mesh side panels for extra ventilation. The large contoured skirt attaches to 2 snaps on the bill. When attached, the skirt wraps around the mesh sides, but it can also be pulled down to expose the mesh panels for added ventilation when needed. Features summary of the Sahara Cap: SolarLite sun protection fabric, mesh side panels for ventilation, removable sun skirt, foldable foam bill (the cap floats!), cinch-strap rear size adjustment, 5-panel construction, and a drawcord adjustment on the skirt. This 2.7oz (77 g) cap has a lot of features!

Specifications—For information on the Cap’s specifications, features, construction, and fit, see my Initial Report.

Field Report
Test Locations and Conditions—I tested the Sahara Cap on trips in Southern Colorado and Northern New Mexico from early April to mid-June. Terrains included badlands desert, canyon country, pine forest, montane forest, and high elevation alpine tundra. Weather conditions encountered were: dry and arid, intense sun, strong winds, dust storms, snow showers, low temperatures, high temperatures, and high elevations with intense UV radiation. Temperatures ranged from 40-85 F (4-29 C).

Activities—I wore the Cap a total of 23 days, broken down into the following activities:

How the Cap Was Worn—I wore the OR Sahara Cap with the skirt 11 whole or partial days and without the skirt 12 days.

Comfort—The OR Sahara Cap by itself is the OR Taklamakan Cap, a lightweight high ventilation cap for aerobic activities. It is very “outdoorsy” to wear and I often wear it to run errands in town. The cap is very comfortable over a wide temperature range. It is easy to adjust with its Velcro cinch strap in the back, and it stays on well in the wind. The Cap’s sweatband works well. I wore the cap over a bandana on several occasions and it worked out well.

The Cap’s skirt works well in the wind. It encloses the back and sides of my head and eliminates much of the roar of the wind in my ears. It is comfortable in cooler and windy conditions, but a bit too hot in warm calm weather. I like the sun protection that the skirt can provide, but the discomfort from overheating makes me averse to wearing it. When wearing the skirt in the wind I found it necessary to tighten the chinstrap to hold it in place. The skirt has elastic on the back and is a little too tight for my head. As a result the skirt inches up the back of the hat and I am constantly grabbing the back of the skirt and pulling it back down. In order to expose the mesh on the sides of the Cap, I have to pull the skirt way down, and it is then too tight around my head.

Versatility—The cap works well in a variety of outdoor activities. However the Cap with skirt does not work very well for gardening. When I bend over to work on something, the skirt obstructs my view and generally gets in the way. The skirt tends to ride up on the back of the hat, then the whole hat wants to shift.
 
Ultralight Use—The Sahara Cap is a good balance between durability, functionality, and lightweight. It is well suited for backpacking and especially appropriate for high elevation alpine terrain where it is usually cool and often windy.

Usability—The Cap and skirt are very light and packable, so I have no reluctance to take them along on trips. They dry out quickly after they get damp from sweat or rain. The Cap is very easy to adjust; when it gets windy, I tighten it up a bit so it stays on. The skirt is a bit complex to attach to the Cap and put on my head. It attaches to two snaps on the bill of the Cap. Then I have to hold it with two hands and lower it on my head so the chinstrap is in front and the skirt is in back. So far, I really like the skirt for wind protection, but it is too hot to wear for sun protection when the temperature is over 70 F (21 C).

Durability— I have run into several tree stubs while wearing the hat and there has been no damage to the Cap or me. The Cap and skirt are resistant to getting dirty, and clean easily. I have washed the Cap once in the first three months of testing. 

Update On My Expectations For The Or Sahara Cap
Following are my expectations for this Cap from my Initial Report, with the addition of my comments after three months of use.

1. The OR Sahara Cap is well designed, fits well, is very functional, and looks good. (True, the cap is very well designed and constructed. It fits well except for the elastic on the top back of the skirt being too tight.)

2. The Sahara Cap with the skirt on will provide excellent sun protection. (True)

3. The Sahara Cap with the skirt on will be acceptably comfortable in hotter weather and when hiking uphill with a backpack on. (False, it tends to be hot. It helps to keep the chin cord loose to increase air circulation.)

4. The Cap will be convenient to adjust for wearing over a helmet liner or balaclava. (True, the Cap is very easy to adjust and has a wide adjustment range.)

5. The Sahara Cap will be stable in the wind, with or without the skirt. (Very true. I adjust it so it fits a little tighter. In the wind, the chin cord must to be tightened to hold the skirt in place.)

6. The Sahara Cap can be used to provide sun protection for a variety of outdoor activities. (Somewhat true. I do not like to wear the skirt while gardening because it blocks my view and gets in the way when I bend over.)

7. The Sahara Cap will be a very lightweight and functional component of an ultralight backpacking system. (Very true, especially when hiking at high elevations where there is intense radiation and more wind.)

8. The Cap will not get dirty easily, and will launder well without damage or retaining stains. (Very true so far.)

9. The OR Sahara Cap will be adequately durable for normal use in a variety of terrains, climates, and weather conditions. (True so far.)

10. The Cap will be very versatile and perform well in a variety of outdoor activities. (Mostly true.)

Further Testing
In the next three months I plan to do the following in order to provide a thorough test of the OR Sahara Cap:

1. Wear the Cap and skirt more for sun protection on the trail and at higher elevations. I want to be more definitive about the comfort range for the skirt.

2. Do more backpacking using the Cap and skirt. The high country is opening up and I plan to be there during the next three months.

3. Try to overcome the problem with the skirt being too tight. Since we are not allowed to modify a product, I will simply stretch the elastic some and hopefully loosen it up.

Personal Information
Name: Will Rietveld
Age: 61
Gender: Male
Height: 6 ft (183 cm)
Weight: 170 lb (77 kg)
Head Circumference: 22.5 in (57 cm)
Email: willi_wabbit@bresnan.net
City & State: Durango, CO 81301 USA
Location for Testing: Southwestern US (Colorado, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico).

Backpacking Background
I have been an avid backpacker for 46 years. Backpacking is my passion. I am retired and in excellent physical condition. In the fall, winter, and spring I backpack in UT, AZ, and NM. In the summer I backpack in several wilderness areas in southern Colorado. Backpacking Style—I have been a lightweight backpacker for many years, and an ultralight backpacker for 5 years. My wife and I give presentations on ultralight backpacking in the local area, and have developed a website called Southwest Ultralight Backpacking to share information.

Acknowledgements
I would like to thank Outdoor Research and the BackpackGearTest Group for selecting me to participate in this product test.

Will Rietveld