Reviewer Information[return to top]
Name: Chuck Kime
Nickname: Fuzzy
Age: 39
Gender: Male
Height: 5' 8" (1.72 m)
Weight: 240 lb (109 kg)
Email address: chuck_kime AT yahoo DOT com
City, State, Country: Upper Darby (Philadelphia suburb), PA, U.S.A.
Date: May 9, 2006

Backpacking Background[return to top]
My family started car/trailer camping when I was about 5. After 17 years in the Army Reserve fine-tuning my packing methodology I was down to a fairly respectable 75-80 lb (34-36 kg) load in my ALICE pack. Advancing age, arthritic knees and injuries have led me to seriously rethink my gear choices, experiment with tarps and hammocks, make some of my own gear, and look closer at my ‘toys’ with an eye for multi-use and light weight. I now have a sub-30 lb (14 kg) 3-season load, and should be able to reduce it well under 20 lb (9 kg) – before food, fuel and water – without much more effort.

Additional Information applicable to this test
Hat size: 7 to 7¼, depending on haircut

Product Information[return to top]
Manufacturer: Outdoor Research
Model: Rando Cap
Year of Manufacture: 2005
URL: http://www.orgear.com
Listed weight (size L): 2.5 oz (71 g)
Measured weight (Size M): 2.3 oz (65 g), scale accurate to 0.1 oz
Measured weight (Size L): 2.4 oz (68 g)
Color: Black
Other colors available: Deep Green, Mojo Blue
MSRP: $45.00 US

Features/claims (from web site)[return to top]

Waterproof/breathable 70D Gore-Tex® PacLite® fabric
Fully seam taped
100-weight fleece lining
Foam-stiffened bill with moldable wire edge
Dark fabric under bill reduces glare
Fleece-lined earflaps with hook/loop closure
External drawcord adjustment

Description [return to top]
The Rando Cap is part of the Outdoor Research (OR) Cold Weather line. It is constructed with a Gore-Tex outer shell and a grey 100-weight fleece lining. A small wire-stiffened bill shields the eyes, while a hook-and-loop fastener connects the earflaps under the chin, and an elastic shock cord with a captive cord lock at the back can be used for further adjustments. A reflective OR logo is printed on the front of the cap, and a GORE-TEX logo is embroidered on the rear. A fabric care tag is sewn on the inside of the cap.

Field Testing [return to top]
Our Boy Scout troop camps monthly, generally in the wooded areas of southeastern Pennsylvania and the Pocono Mountains. Almost all of these outings included a minimum of 2 nights of camping, with temperatures from lows around 25 ºF (-4 ºC) to highs around 55 ºF (13 ºC) on the days I wore the cap during the 4-month test period. Elevations ranged from sea level to approximately 1,500’ (457 m).

Since I posted my Field Report, the weather in this area warmed up significantly, precluding too much more wearing of the cap. I did wash the cap (machine wash cold, line dry), however, and found it came out looking like new. I am quite happy with the cap, and will keep it at the top of my winter hat pile.

Things I was looking for:

Fit. Does it fit me? Is the sizing on the web site accurate? Does it stay on well in windy conditions?
Fabric. Is the PacLite durable (I have no prior experience with the fabric)? Does it stretch? Does it fade? Is it windproof? Waterproof? Does it pill, pull, or snag readily?
Warmth. How cold can it get and still keep me warm? How much warmth does it add to my sleep system?
Comfort. Am I constantly aware of the cap, or does it just seem to disappear on my head? Does the headband effectively keep sweat out of my eyes? Can I wear it comfortably while sleeping?
Washability. Are there special instructions? Are they easy to follow? Does it dry well? Does it hold much dirt in the first place?

My findings:

Fit. My experience suggests that the caps run just a bit small. The cap has not felt like it was going to come off, even in heavy winds.
Fabric. Not a mark yet, after 2 months of nearly daily wear. It still fits the same as when I got it.
Warmth. As noted previously, the cap kept my head – and ears – warm down to well below freezing with a wicked wind chill.
Comfort. The cap is quite comfortable, and is barely noticeable except for its warmth. It does result in some muffling of my hearing, but not so much that I feel the need to uncover my ears to hear normal sounds.
Washability. The cap remained surprisingly clean, considering the mileage I have on it. It washed well and was dry by morning.

Things I like [return to top]

Light.
Secure.
Comfortable.
Warm.
It’s a small thing, but the hook-and-loop on the flaps – which feels like loop-and-loop to me – does not stick to anything (i.e. my fleece gloves) but itself. Nice.

Things I don't like [return to top]

Very slight muffling of sound.
The bill is a bit small for sheltering my eyes, but still partially blocks my headlamp.

Thank you for your time.

Chuck Kime
a.k.a. Fuzzy

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