Reviews > Clothing > Hats > Outdoor Research Prism Cap > Ryan Christensen > Initial Report

Ryan Christensen
March 10, 2006

Reviewer Information:

Name:  Ryan L. Christensen
Age:  41
Gender:  Male
Height:  6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:  225 lb (102 kg)
Head Circumference:  22.88 in (58.2 cm)
Email address:  bigdawgryan@yahoo.com

City, State, Country:  Idaho Falls, ID, U.S.A.

Backpacking Background:

I began hiking, camping, backpacking at twelve, and continued until twenty-five. After a long hiatus due in part to a bad back, I resumed hiking and camping four years ago. I now share my love for these sports with my teen-age boys. The past several years, we have hiked or camped nearly every month, year-round. We vary our experience: desert, forest, meadow, and mountain; spring, summer, fall, and winter; and sunshine, rain, wind, or snow. We began backpacking together last summer. I carry a full array of necessary gear, but am quite interested in lightening my load.

Product Information:

Product Description:

At first glance, the OR Prism Cap^TM seems to be an ordinary baseball-style cap. However, in reality, it is a high-tech variant. The outer-shell is 75D Gore-Tex^® to make the cap lightweight, waterproof, and breathable. The Tricot inner lining should provide both moisture management and warmth. There are integral, tuck-away, flaps to provide warmth and weather protection for the ears when needed.

Unlike most baseball-style caps, the Prism Cap^TM has a plastic-stiffened bill. Like the bills on other caps, it should deflect glare. However, because of the Gore-Tex^® shell, I also expect the bill to deflect precipitation from the wearer's face. Another neat thing is the plastic in the bill should help retain its shape--even after getting wet; anticipate no wavy, or disfigured bills here.

The hook and loop cinch strap on the back of the cap enables the wearer to get a “personalized” fit. Fundamental design intent of the cinch strap is to hold the cap securely in place. This is very important, as no one likes losing his or her cap during physical activity.

The reflective logo on the front of the cap is an added touch of quality. The reflectivity, and therefore visibility, makes this a good cap to wear while participating in activities during the darker hours of the day.

Initial Impression:

My initial impression is that the OR Prism Cap^TM, a lightweight Gore-Tex^TM cap, will provide exceptional head and ear protection from rain, snow, and wind. Moreover, it will provide the head and ears with some light insulation against the cold. The Prism Cap^TM is extremely lightweight, non-bulky, and offers great utility; an excellent gear item to carry on any venture into the backcountry in case of inclement weather.

Initial Testing:

The first thing I did was try the cap on for fit. After adjusting the hook and loop cinch strap, the cap fit nicely. The cinch strap is very easy to adjust. Because I am at the extreme lower end of the Large/Extra Large size, there is no issue with the cap fitting my head.

My trial fittings included ear flaps deployed and tucked inside the cap. With the ear flaps down, I had to pull the cap completely down on my head and even then, the flaps just barely covered the bottom of my ear lobes. I had to adjust the cinch strap for a little more room and the proper fit with the flaps tucked inside the cap—not a big deal.

Test Plan:

Although winter is fading, there will be several cold wet days before summer arrives. Whether it is mid-winter or not, staying dry and warm is essential to me. When I get too cold or wet, my “fun-o-meter” starts falling off quite rapidly. Therefore, my testing activities, whether hiking, biking, or simply knocking about, will focus on how well the Prism Cap meets these two essentials.

1.     I have plenty of experience with Gore-Tex^®, and therefore expect the Gore-Tex^® to perform well.  Nevertheless, I will be checking to see how effective it is in keeping moisture out.

Reviews > Clothing > Hats > Outdoor Research Prism Cap > Ryan Christensen > Initial Report