Initial Report- Outdoor Research Prism Cap

Personal Information
Name: Chad Fike
Age: 33
Gender: Male
Height: 5’ 10” (1.77 m)
Weight: 150 lb (68 kg)
Email address: abnersdonkey@yahoo.com
City, State, Country: Oakland, Maryland, USA
Date: March 9, 2006

Backpacking Background:
        I have gone camping, usually very close to home, for over 15 years, but only started seriously backpacking about 3 years ago. I do mostly weekend trips and often take day hikes. My backpacking experience has been mostly in West Virginia, Maryland, and Virginia, including parts of the Appalachian Trail. Each trip has been a learning experience about techniques and equipment. I try to balance weight, durability, and cost with my gear choices.

Product information
Manufacturer - Outdoor Research
Year of manufacture - 2006
Website - www.orgear.com
MSRP - $35.00 US
Average listed weight (size L/XL) - 2.6 oz (74 g)
Weight as delivered (size L/XL, using a kitchen scale) - 2.5 oz (71g)
Lifetime guarantee

Product description
        The cap arrived with a cardboard hang tag that provided general information about Outdoor Research and indicated the size is L/XL and the color is Mojo Blue. Another smaller Gore-Tex advertisement tag was also attached. The tags did not provide much specific information about the cap, but the Outdoor Research website advertises the following: “Tour through spinning flakes and dense winter storm systems: Gore-Tex® fabric provides waterproof and breathable protection in backcountry white outs. The tricot lining manages moisture when you’re making a steep ascent, and offers warmth as you make your turns. A shaped, plastic-stiffened bill deflects winter glare and channels precipitation away from your face, while the tuck-away, tricot-lined earflaps provide warmth when needed. The external hook and loop cinch adjustment keeps the Prism firmly seated in all conditions”.
        The majority color of the cap is Mojo Blue. A small amount of black trim around the bill and a few small black triangles provide some contrast. The reflective silver letters “OR” are located on the front of the hat. The bill is stiffened and is pre-shaped in a slight arc. The underside of the bill is all grey. I expected a darker color since the website specifically mentions “dark fabric under bill reduces glare”. The entire inside of the cap and earflaps consists of a thin black tricot lining. This lining feels very soft to the touch. When folded down the exterior of the earflaps is of the same color and material as the rest of the hat. The interior care tag indicates the shell is 100% polyester. The rear of the cap has an external hook and loop cinch adjustment with GORE-TEX stitched in blue thread.
        The cap fits me very well. My head size fell exactly between the measurements for the two available sizes of S/M and L/XL offered on the Outdoor Research website. I am glad I chose the L/XL since there does not seem to be much extra room. When the earflaps are tucked inside, the cap does not feel overly bulky. It looks a little bigger than a regular baseball cap, but still has a rather slim profile and I do not think it looks awkward. When folded down, the earflaps fit very securely. There is a small bit of elastic on the bottom center rear of the earflaps that keeps the earflaps form-fitting. The earflaps seem to extend much farther towards my face than I expected. This feels a little strange at first, kind of like Gore-Tex muttonchops. However it does seems to provide a very secure fit around my ears without any gaps for wind and cold to enter.
        The hat appears very well made. I do not see any loose stitching or obvious defects. The only real design issue that I wonder about so far is the hook and loop cinch adjustment. Prior to adjustment, the two sides of hook and loop material fold over exactly in half and attach evenly to each other. However, if the strap is pulled any tighter, it now bypasses the opposite side of hook and loop. Any excess strap then hangs freely with nothing to attach to. I do not think this will be a problem since the hat fits me well without much adjustment, but if I wanted to cinch it down tighter I would not want this excess strap hanging loosely. The hook and loop does not seem to attach very easily either, but instead takes some pressing together to assure a sure fit.

Field information
        Testing will take place mostly in forested terrain of the Appalachian Mountains of western Maryland and West Virginia. The elevation ranges from around 2500 to 4800 ft (762 to 1463 m). I expect temperatures to range from as low as 10 F to warmer days near 80 F (-12 to 27 C) during the test period. The cap is advertised for colder weather and although spring is nearing, I still hope to get the opportunity to test it while snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. If the temperature warms, the cap seems ideal for cool, rainy spring weather. I expect to use the cap on day hikes, backpacking, and jogging. I am hoping to plan a backpacking trip in the next few weeks and look forward to using the cap. In addition to these outdoor activities I will also use the cap for everyday tasks such as walking to work and working around the house.

        I will attempt to ascertain the following from my testing:
Fit/Comfort- How well does the cap fit? Is it easily adjustable? Is it comfortable? Does it feel bulky if the earflaps are folded up? Is it stylish enough to wear around town or do I look like Elmer Fudd? Are the sizes provided for the product accurate?
Durability- How well does the cap stand up to use? Does it seem well-made?
Performance- What activities and conditions are the cap best suited to? How much does the cap weigh? What temperature range is the hat best suited for? Does it breathe well? How well does the tricot lining manage moisture? Is it waterproof?

        Thanks to BackpackGearTest.org and Outdoor Research for the opportunity to test this cap.