Outdoor Research Nimbus Sombrero
Field Report - 29 July 2006
OR Nimbus Sombrero
This report is part two of a three part series. Please see the Initial Report for more details.
BIOGRAPHY
Name: Jeff Jackson
Age: 30
Gender: Male
Height: 5’ 10” (178 cm)
Weight: 185 lb (84 kg)
Website: http://www.tothewoods.net/
Email: jwj32542 at yahoo dot com
Location: Monterey, CA, USA
Backpacking Background:
I have been backpacking for about eleven
years. I started as a three-season overnight-only hiker in the North Georgia
mountains, and have since hiked in California, Colorado, Georgia, New Jersey,
New Mexico, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Virginia. Weather has generally
been mild (50-85 F/10-30 C), although I sometimes hike in winter (~20 F/-7 C) as
well. My current pack weight is roughly 30 lb (14 kg). I generally wear only
very light insulation and a wind shell when hiking, even in sub-freezing
temperatures.
PRODUCT INFO
Manufacturer: Outdoor Research (http://www.orgear.com/)
Product: Nimbus Sombrero (2006)
Listed Weight: Avg weight 3.4 oz (96 g)
Measured Weight (Size L): 3.1 oz (90 g), scale accurate to 1/8 oz (2 g)
Color: Java (dark grey-brown color)
MSRP: $38 US
Product Description:
A waterproof breathable hat with a wide brim, adjustable headband and removable chin strap. See the Initial Report for full details.
Testing Update
I have been very impressed with this hat's performance. I have worn it backpacking and dayhiking in sunny, drizzly and moderately rainy conditions, and from temperatures ranging from 40-90 F (4-32 C). Winds have ranged from zero to about 20 mph (32 km/h), and terrain was forested mountains and beaches.
The breathability impresses me most. I generally don't wear hats while hiking because I get so warm, so I was very surprised when I put on the hat in 90 F (32 C) weather and barely noticed a difference in the heat buildup. This hat appears to be more breathable than the cotton baseball caps I usually wear. I noticed a bit of moisture building up during some of the rainy times, but far less than I have experienced with hooded ponchos and rain jackets. Additionally, snapping the brim's side up has made the hat much cooler in low-wind conditions.
I'm also impressed by the fit. Even in windy conditions, I have not needed to attach the chin strap. Simply tightening the headband's drawcord holds the hat snugly to my head without feeling constricting or giving me a headache. When conditions were warm with only a slight wind, I fully opened the drawstring to provide more ventilation; this ability to adjust the fit makes this hat very comfortable to wear.
The brim is designed very well. The extra 1" (2.5 cm) on the back flap seems to really improve the performance. I wore the Sombrero with my GoLite Clarity and with Frogg Togg's jackets with the hoods rolled to the inside, and the brim protected my neck perfectly. Without that extra length, I think the wind would have blown water into my neckline. As designed, the brim was exactly the right size to make me feel comfortable with the protection.
When my backpack (GoLite Speed) was full, the back of the brim occasionally scraped on the top of the backpack. This did not affect the Sombrero's performance and was only mildly annoying. After eating one day's worth of food, the pack was small enough that it no longer scraped.
Lastly, I was concerned that packing the hat would permanently deform the brim. This has not been an issue so far. I generally strap the hat very tightly to the outside of my pack with the sides folded in (see picture). When I unpack the hat and put it on, it returns to its original shape after only a few minutes. Even when packed unevenly, with creases across the brim, the Sombrero eventually returns to its shape.
 Sombrero Packed Tightly
At this point, I think I am converted to waterproof hats for good...I don't plan to rely on a hood in rainy conditions again. And this hat has definitely surpassed my expectations. Unless something drastic happens during the Long Term Test phase, I will likely be using this Sombrero until it falls apart!
Test Plan
Rainy season has passed in Monterey, so I continually watch the weather reports for rain in my nearby hiking spots. I'm still hoping to catch a good storm. Otherwise, I will continue using the Sombrero in rainy, sunny, foggy, and windy conditions. I will wear it at the beach, on a kayaking trip, and on several 1-3 day hiking trips to Los Padres National Forest, the Big Sur area and the rainy Big Basin area. I will test the Sombrero in temperatures ranging from 40-90 F (4-32 C), and at elevations from sea level to ~10,000 ft (3,000 m). I will wear it as sun protection, rain protection and warmth.
I will continue evaluating the Sombrero on the basis of comfort, durability, performance and style.
- Comfort. The questions posed in my IR have been answered above. This hat is very comfortable and I have no reason to believe this will change during the test period.
- Durability. Does the fabric show any wear over time, such as abrasion, punctures or fraying? Does it remain waterproof for the duration of the test without needing periodic treatment? Will the foam-stiffened brim continue to regain its shape if I don't pack it carefully?
- Performance. How well does the brim protect my face from windblown rain? Will any water leak in from the snaps or the headband adjustment? Does the foam-stiffened brim flap if I experience higher winds? Do the snaps hold the brim well on windy days? Is the drawcord easy to store when I don’t need it?
- Style. Never substitute function for fashion when tooling around town or in popular parks. How good do I look in it?!
What I Like (So Far)
- VERY breathable
- Much more comfortable than hooded jackets and ponchos I've used
- Durable - I don't have to pack it carefully
What I Don’t Like (So Far)
I would like to thank Outdoor Research and BackpackGearTest.org for the opportunity to
test this excellent piece of gear.
Jeff Jackson
Read more reviews of Outdoor Research gear
Read more gear reviews by Jeff Jackson
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