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Outdoor Research Sahara Sombrero - Initial Report
April 28, 2004
Thomas Vickers
36 years old
Male
5 feet 11 inches tall (1.8 meters)
170 lb (77 kg)
redroach@pobox.com
Southeast Texas, Houston Area
Tester Background:
I grew up
in the piney woods of Southeast Texas. Camping was a quick trip into the mosquito-infested
woods behind the house. I started hiking in
my college years and my style has evolved over the past 17 years - from my discovery,
heavy gear period (internal frame packs, sleeping bags and tents) to - believe it or
not - heavier, more expensive gear. Over the
last 3 or 4 years, I have begun to take a lighter weight approach to hiking gear (I still
use sleeping bags and tents, just lighter versions) and I have rediscovered the pleasure
that can be involved in being outdoors with your gear. While I have flirted with
lightweight hiking, I feel that I am more of a mid-weight hiker now. My philosophy is one
of comfort, while carrying the lightest load possible.
Information from
Tester:
Weight: 2.8 oz (79 g)
Sizes: Medium
Color:Khaki
Head Circumference: 23 inches (54 cm) |
Initial Impressions from Website:
After visiting the Outdoor Research Website, I came away feeling that I had good
grip on the Sahara Sombrero. The pictures of the hat enlarge for good viewing and
the comparison chart explains most of the hat's features. I did wish the color
swatches were larger and easier to see. The Bone and Glacier colors were a bit hard to
discern on my visits. Overall the website was informative and easy to
navigate. I did not expect any surprises from the Sahara Sombrero when it arrived.
Description:
A large mailing envelope arrived one day and inside was a Outdoor Research Sahara
Sombrero. The sombrero itself is a khaki colored, brimmed hat with an unlined crown. It is
made of SolarLite nylon which provides a UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) of 50+
according to Outdoor Research.
The brim ranges from 3.5 inches (9 cm) wide in front and along the sides to 5 inches (13
cm) wide in the back. The brim is black on the bottom and the outside edge of the
top of the brim. It is reinforced internally with foam to add
strength/firmness to the brim.
The crown is unlined, except for a headband around the bottom edge of the crown. Rather
than having an internally adjustable headband like I expected, the Outdoor Research Sahara
Sombrero has a cinch cord that runs inside the crown and is adjusted outside the rear of
the hat, behind the crown. This cinch cord is held by a black plastic toggle and
exits the crown of the sombrero just below the Outdoor Research tag that is sewn onto the
back of the sombrero's crown.
The Outdoor Research Sahara Sombrero also comes equipped with a non-removable chin strap
that can be adjusted/tightened with the attached plastic toggle.
Attached to the chin strap were three tags. These tags described the Outdoor
Research Lifetime Guarantee, the UPF (ultraviolet protection factor), and the features of
the Sahara Sombrero.
Testing Location/Conditions:
This test will have 4 locations:
- Southeast Texas – Little or no altitude. Lots of
sunshine and daylight temperatures from 75 degrees F to 100 degrees F (24 degrees C to 38
degrees C).
- Arkansas (Eagle Rock Loop Trail) – Altitudes of 500
– 2000 feet (152 meters to 610 meters). Lots of sun, with some forest cover. Daytime
temperatures from 80 degrees F to 95 degrees F (27 degrees C to 35 degrees C).
- Colorado (Flat Tops Region) – Altitudes of 9,000 to
13,000 feet (2,743 meters to 3,962 meters). No trees and lots of sun. Daytime
temperatures ranging from 40 degrees F to 80 degrees F (4 degrees C to 27 degrees
C).
- Central Texas – Little or no altitude here either. Lots
of sunshine and daylight temperatures from 75 degrees F to 100 degrees F (24 degrees
C to 38 degrees C).
- These trips will range in length from 5 days each (Colorado
and Arkansas), several 3 day trips in Central Texas, and many weekend and overnight trips
in Southeast Texas.
Test Plan:
Being a teacher, I spend several hours outdoors everyday
during the summer. I am either day hiking, long distance hiking, walking, riding my bike,
working in the yard, disc golfing, or many other outside activities. I just can't stay
inside during the hottest months around here, despite the sun and the heat. Items to address in this test:
1. Does the hat get too hot in the summer heat?
2. Does the fabric hold water (so it can be soaked, then worn)?
3. How large is the brim?
4. Does the brim provide adequate coverage on my neck?
5. How comfortable is the hat?
6. How well does the hat resistant stains (from sweat and dirty
hands)?
7. Is the back of the brim too large/wide to wear with a pack?
Impressions:
I was a bit surprised when I finally got my hands on the Outdoor Research Sahara
Sombrero. All of the other hats by Outdoor Research that I own have an internal size
adjustment strap. The external adjustment on the Sahara Sombrero bothered me for a
while, then I realized that I would no longer have to remove my hat to adjust it if the
headband worked itself loose. While I think it detracts a bit from the appearance of
the sombrero, I think it is a trade off that I can live with, especially if it is as handy
as I think it will be.
I was able to wear the Sahara Sombrero for one day before I filed this report. I
spent a day in the pouring rain with the sombrero. I know it isn't a rain hat, but what
could be a better test? A day of hard rain, 74 degree F (23 degrees C) temperatures
while dangling from the top of a tree that my father wanted me to cut down?
Needless to say, I got the sombrero adjusted to my head, placed the chin strap behind my
head, tightened it up (this is my preferred method for using chin straps and it keeps hats
strapped down pretty well) and started climbing the tree with the saw in one hand.
Despite the rain, my clumsiness and the tree branches, the sombrero stayed on my head the
whole time.
When I was done with the job I threw the sombrero in the car and went home. I was worried
that the foam in the brim might get wet and cause the hat to stay wet for several days.
This was put to rest when I checked on the hat about two hours after it was taken
out of the rain. It was completely dry. No wet foam in the brim, no wet fabric, nothing.
It had been soaked earlier, but there was no sign of moisture after two hours. I was
very happy with this outcome.
At this is point I feel that the Outdoor Research Sahara Sombrero is going to be an
interesting test item. It will be put through its paces and hopefully keep me out of
the hot summer sun.
Read more reviews of Outdoor Research gear
Read more gear reviews by Thomas Vickers
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