Reviews > Clothing > Hats > Outdoor Research Rando Cap > Andrew Mytys > Field Report

Tester's Biographical Information:

Reviewer: Andrew Mytys Email: amytys@gmail.com Homepage: Andy's Lightweight Backpacking Site Location: Detroit, Michigan Age: 33 Height: 6'1" (183 cm) Weight: 185 lbs (84 kg) Head Circumference: 23 1/4 inches (59 cm) Hat Size: 7 1/2

OR Rando Cap on the left

     Backpacking Background:

I live in Michigan and have been hiking seriously for 15 years, although I've camped since I was 6 years old. I consider myself a lightweight hiker. I carry the lightest gear I can get my hands on which will provide a comfortable wilderness experience and adequately support the goals of my trip. Unless my goals are time/distance oriented, my pace is always slow. I rarely exceed 1.5 miles (2.4 km)/hour. I rest frequently, hike long days, and enjoy whatever nature throws my way.

Product Information:

Manufacturer: Outdoor Research (http://www.orgear.com) Item: Rando Cap Year of manufacture: 2005 MSRP: $45.00 Size: Men's Large Listed Weight: 2.5 oz (71 g) - size unknown Weight as delivered: 2.5 oz (71 g) - size Large Color: Black (also available in Mojo Blue and Deep Green) Warranty: Outdoor Research's "Infinite Guarantee" - covers manufacturer and material defects for the life of the product. OR will either repair or replace the item, at their discretion. Made In: China

The information in this Field Report of the Outdoor Research Rando Cap is to be taken in addition to my Initial Report.

Product Description:

A classic bomber cap design that's lined with 100-weight fleece and protected from the elements by a Gore-Tex waterproof/breathable shell. Earflaps can be worn down for maximum warmth, or up over the ears when milder conditions are present. The Rando Cap sports a foam-stiffened bill with a moldable wire edge that allows the wearer to customize the bill's shape and style. An external drawcord adjustment insures that the cap stays secure, even when assaulted by high winds.

Field Conditions:

The Outdoor Research Rando Cap has been worn while dayhiking, pulling a sledge filled with winter gear during a four-day trip, and on daily walks around town with my dog.

Outside temperatures have ranged from 5 - 42 F (-15 - 6 C).

Trail conditions have varied. The cap has been subjected to periods of high winds, with gusts blowing at up to 30 MPH (50 KPH). Including the wind-chill factor, the lowest temperature I experienced felt as if it was -10 F (-25 C). The cap has been worn while hiking in periods of both rain and snow, in addition to nice, sunny days and everything in between. I have also attempted to sleep in the cap.

Impressions From the Field:

Fit:

Since the writing of my Initial Report, the OR Rando Cap has stretched a little, to the point that its fit no longer feels tight around my head in any way. The fit of the cap remains secure around my head, whether the earflaps are positioned up or down. I have not come upon a situation where the cap's drawcord, which runs inside a channel along the sides of my head, needs to be tightened. When the cap was new, the Gore-Tex fabric found on the outside of the cap molded itself smoothly around the shape of my head. Today, there's a slight wrinkling to the Gore-Tex material when I wear the cap. I have not noticed any ill effects due to the stretching of the Gore-Tex - the cap remains waterproof and windproof. I prefer the looser fit of the cap today to the way it fit when I initially received it.

Comfort:

The OR Rando Cap is very comfortable to wear, and works well when worn over my OR Motion Fleece Balaclava and/or neck gaiter. The cap breathes exceptionally well and, as a result, my hair doesn't get all sweaty and limp underneath.

I've also attempted to sleep with the Rando Cap on, but found that the cord lock at the back of the cap pressed uncomfortably against the back of my head while I laid on my back.

Warmth:

The OR Rando Cap has kept my head and face warm in the areas it covers, even in below 0 F (Initial Report). When wearing a heavy down jacket, complete with a thick baffle of down around my neck, the coverage was sufficient. While such a jacket is great in camp, I find it to be too warm for active hiking. When I'm on the move, I tend to wear a simple base layer of 100-weight fleece and a windshirt over my torso, at times augmented with an insulated flannel shirt. Neither one of these garments really protects the neck to any degree, and as a result I've found wearing a fleece neck gaiter in conjunction to the Rando Cap to be almost a necessity. I find that the two work well together. During those times when I feel overly hot, I simply secure the Rando Cap's earflaps along the top of the cap, leaving my ears exposed. The cold air blowing against my ears quickly cools me off. Once I begin to feel a chill, I just bring the earflaps back down. I can even pull my neck gaiter up over the cap's bill, letting it ride securely around my head while I wait for conditions to cool down again. When the earflaps are secured below the neck gaiter, the "hook and loop" closure holds securely. At the same time, the "hooks" of the closure system are soft, and do not bite into or snag fabrics they come into contact with, which so far has included an array of piled garments made of fleece, wool, and cotton.

Ability to Withstand the Elements:

The Rando Cap is completely waterproof. I've walked for hours in both snow and rain, and the cap's 100-weight fleece lining has remained completely dry. I've even stuck my head into the base of a 25-foot (7.5 m) waterfall with no ill effect. The bill on the cap, while small in size, has proven to be sufficient in shielding my eyeglasses from falling precipitation.

Utility:

I've found the cap to be awkward to pack into a jacket pocket, as its bill, which is reinforced with an internal wire, cannot really be crumpled into a compact shape. Thankfully, I've yet to encounter temperatures that would make the hat "too hot" to wear - in warmer conditions, I've simply warm the cap with the earflaps positioned up and remained content.

The "OR" logo at the front of the cap is reflective, and it does a good job in reflecting light, as evidenced in any picture taken of the cap where a flash is used - it always appears as if I'm wearing a LED headlamp over the cap (see photo at the top of this report). This characteristic provides and added degree of safety while walking along streets in the dark.

Durability:

With the exception of the slight stretching of the cap, noted above, the OR Rando Cap remains in "like-new" condition. There are no stains on the cap and the durable water repellent (DWR) finish is still present on the Gore-Tex shell (water that falls onto the cap continues to bead up). I have not noticed any pilling on the fleece lining, all seams remain intact, and the "hook and loop" closure continues hold the cap secure, whether the earflaps are worn in the up or down position. The cap's reinforced bill remains pliable and holds any form I shape it into.

Maintenance:

I've washed the Rando Cap a total of four times thus far. I have washed it simply to test durability - I didn't notice any stains or smells attaching themselves to the cap, even after wearing it for four consecutive days in the field.

Next Steps:

Long-term testing will fall commence during late winter and spring, a time characterized by a mix of mild and lingering cold temperatures. I'm sure to find myself in conditions that are both wet and cold, with snowmelt, rain, sleet, and high levels of humidity in the air. The insulating, wicking, and moisture management characteristics of the Rando Cap are sure to be put to the test, and my final report will comment on the results.

Reviews > Clothing > Hats > Outdoor Research Rando Cap > Andrew Mytys > Field Report