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Outdoor Research Sahara Sombrero
Long Term Report - November 1, 2004
Contents
Reviewer Information [return to top]
Name: Chuck Kime
Nickname: Fuzzy
Age: 38
Gender: Male
Height: 5' 8" (1.72 m)
Weight: 229 lb (104 kg)
Hat size: 7 to 7¼, depending on haircut
Email address: ckime AT nelsononline DOT com
City, State, Country: Upper Darby (Philadelphia suburb), PA, U.S.A.
Date: November 1, 2004
Product Information [return to top]
Manufacturer: Outdoor Research
Model: Sahara Sombrero
Year of Manufacture: 2004
URL: http://www.orgear.com
Listed weight (on 1 Nov 2004): Avg. weight: 3 oz./85 g (size L)
Measured weight (size M): 4.2 oz (119 g), scale accurate to 0.1 oz
Color: Glacier (light grey)
Other colors available: Bone, Khaki
MSRP: $33 US
Features (from web site) [return to top]
- SolarLite Fabric
- WickLine Headband
- Foam-Stiffened Brim
- External Cinch-Strap
- Chin Cord with Cordlock
- Floats
Description [return to top]
The Sahara Sombrero is made of SolarLite, a lightweight Supplex Nylon. The broad brim – which is longer in the back – is stiffened by a foam insert and is covered on the bottom with a black fabric. The sombrero has a WickLine headband, an external cinch strap that uses a cordlock on the outside of the sombrero, and a chin cord with cordlock.
For a more detailed description, please see my Initial Report.
Field Testing [return to top]
Our Boy Scout troop camps monthly. Almost all of these outings included a minimum of 2 nights of camping, with temperatures from lows around 30 ºF (-1 ºC) to highs around 95 ºF (35 ºC). Elevations ranged from sea level to approximately 2,000’ (610 m). My experiences with the sombrero are basically the same as found in my Field Report.
This is a nice piece of headgear. I have bowed to my lady’s wishes, and now only wear it in the field, but it is always just as comfortable and just as effective whenever I put it on as it has been in the past. Nice job, OR.
Things I was looking for:
- Fit. Does it fit me? Is the sizing on the web site accurate? Does it stay on well in windy conditions?
- Fabric. Is the SolarLite durable (I have no prior experience with the fabric)? Does it stretch? Does it fade? Is it windproof? Waterproof? Does it pill, pull, or snag readily?
- Warmth/cooling. How warm can it get out and still keep me cool? Does it breathe well?
- Comfort. Am I constantly aware of the hat, or does it just seem to disappear on my head? Does the WickLine headband effectively keep sweat out of my eyes?
- Washability. Are there special instructions? Are they easy to follow? Does it dry well? Does it hold much dirt in the first place?
- Durability. Do the fittings (cordlocks) continue working well over time?
My findings:
- Fit. The size Medium just fits (as in shouldn’t be tightened if I am wearing it), and is not affected by gentle breezes. Stronger airflow has occasionally required snugging up the chin cord.
- Fabric. After wearing the sombrero almost daily for months, the only thing I could find is a small smudge from a camping trip. I have noticed no stretching or fading. It does not seem to be windproof, although this is a good thing in a summer hat, as it permits evaporation. The fabric is not waterproof, but will bead water for a short time if I am caught in the rain, and the design will keep rain off my glasses and out of my collar. I have noticed no damage to the fabric at all.
- Warmth/cooling. During a hard 30-minute bushwhack on a Scout trip at 85 °F (29 °C) with high humidity I managed to build up some perspiration. The headband kept this perspiration out of my eyes, and I was able to feel what little breeze there was available blowing through the crown to cool my head.
- Comfort. I have worn broad brimmed hats – or ball caps – for many years, and am used to having a large bill above my eyes. I find that I am actually more comfortable outside with the sombrero on than without it.
- Washability. Instructions are basic: machine wash cold, tumble dry warm, warm iron. There was no staining at all around the headband, which is unusual for my hats. The sombrero had a small brown smudge on it, which came out in the wash. When it has gotten wet, including from the laundry, the sombrero has dried quickly.
- Durability. The cordlocks are still working fine.
Things I like [return to top]
- Lightweight.
- Black underside helps prevent glare.
- Crushable/packable.
Things I don't like [return to top]
- Not my first color choice.
- It bangs rather solidly up against my girlfriend’s fashion sensibilities. She’s at least ok with it as long as I don’t wear it when I am with her. Sigh...
Backpacking Background [return to top]
My family started car/trailer camping when I was about 5. I spent 17 years in the Army Reserve fine-tuning my packing methodology – when I got out, I was down to a fairly respectable 75-80 lb (34-36 kg) load. When my son started Cub Scouts, I carried my 60 lb (27 kg) ALICE pack for a weekend. With Boy Scouts we now camp monthly in locations ranging from flat and lightly wooded to the Pocono Mountains, in all seasons.
Advancing age, arthritic knees and a car accident have led me to seriously rethink my gear choices, experiment with tarps and hammocks, make some of my own gear, and take a closer look at my ‘toys’ with an eye for multi-use and light weight.
Thank you for your time.
Chuck Kime
a.k.a. Fuzzy
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