Posts Tagged travel hats
Keep Your Head Cool With Hats From Headsweats
You’ve probably seen Headsweats hats in action without knowing their name: they supply a lot of hats used by runners that are emblazoned with some sponsor’s logo. Headsweats is often in the background, content to let someone else snag the limelight. They’ll just deposit the order check instead.
You can get a Headsweats hat without signing up for a big event or even being a runner, however. They sell through their own site, at athletic stores, and at Amazon. So you can get the benefits of a reflective hat that lets the steam out and weighs next to nothing.
I’ve been trying out two of their caps as a regular traveler who doesn’t run. (And I wouldn’t wear one of these to bike because I don’t trust the drivers where I live—helmet on at all times.) The first, the Airlite, is a great all-around travel hat. It only weighs two ounces and is easy to pack. The “Eventure” woven fabric makes it far more breathable than most baseball-style caps, which is great because, well, your head sweats when it’s hot. The Coolmax fabric stays cool and there’s a sweatband where it touches your head.
The bonus is that it’s reflective to keep you safe. Even if you’re not a runner, your travels will often take you down dark streets and paths where it can’t hurt to be seen in the headlights. And if you are somewhere you feel safe biking without a helmet, this will give you extra visibility. And hey, you can just toss this in the washing machine if it needs a clean-up.
The Airlite comes in white with a variety of accents and lists for $20-$23. Buy direct or see if it’s in yet at Amazon.
The Protech hat goes beyond protecting your head and has a built-in flap to keep the sun off your neck. I bought my first hat that did this at least 15 years ago in Bali, so the idea isn’t new, but today’s wonder fabrics allow a hat like this to be lightweight, wicking, and quick-drying. All great assets for a traveler on the move.
Made of Coolmax fabric, it provides UV protection while wicking away moisture and it’s not much heavier than the Airlite. This one also has a Coolmax terrycloth sweatband and you can toss it in the washer or do a sink wash at your guesthouse and it will dry quickly.
I’ve used this hat a few times while kayaking (like in the photo here) and it has kept me from turning into a redneck. It’s also good for the golf course or any hiking trip where you won’t be in the shade all the time. One unique feature of this is that the underside of the brim is black, so it absorbs the light from the water instead of reflecting it back in your face.
With it being so lightweight though, it’s probably not great for windy conditions, like a powerboat moving at full throttle. Rely on sunscreen for that.
The Protech sun hat comes in two colors and lists for $26. Buy it from Headsweats or search prices online.
Related reviews: see our Headsweats Beanies review or more travel hats.
Posted by Tim L. in Adventure Gear, Travel Light on March 22nd, 2012
28 Winter Beanies From Outdoor Research
I’ve talked before about the staggering number of hats put out by Outdoor Research, so it seems kind of unfair to just review this Town Wall Beanie I’ve been wearing for two winters without talking about the other 27 styles you can pick from instead. So first this one, then a few others for your consideration.
This Town Wall Beanie is very warm, very comfortable, and doesn’t get sweaty. For me those criteria matter far more than the look, so I haven’t been too bothered about the fact that I look like a walking OR billboard with the giant logo integrated into the design. Mine is at least black and white (only green and orange shown on their site now), so it’s a little more subtle.
What makes this hat worth it’s $28 list price is the construction: there are two layers of treated Dri-Release poly/wool, a blend that is very warm but isn’t itchy. In my experiences skiing and hiking in cold conditions, it has performed well in wicking the sweat away. It’s also treated with “FreshGuard” to keep it from getting stinky. You can get yours at Backcountry.com or Altrec.com and both have all three colors.
If you don’t like this style, there are plenty of others to choose from. Follow this link to see the whole OR beanie collection.
Overall these aren’t meant to be outrageous or funny like some of the skiwear marketed to those who need to be the center of attention at all times. They’re serious performance wear that will look good with a variety of outfits. Even when you’re just walking around town and need to keep your ears warm. What’s great about beanies though for travelers is that they pack flat in your suitcase or pack and provide a lot of warmth without a lot of bulk.
The one that’s not flat is the popular one pictured here—the Transcendent Beanie. It’s fun, funky, and as warm as a sleeping bag. It’s got 650 fill down to protect your head in frigid conditions. It’s still easy to pack though: it compresses down and will pop back up like the Aflac duck when you get to your destination. It’s also got stretch stitching, so it’ll adjust to multiple head sizes.
The Transcendent Beanie comes in three colors and retails for $40, but you can find it for a bit less at Moosejaw.com and Zappos.
See other travel hat reviews from past posts.
Posted by Tim L. in Adventure Gear, General Gear, Travel Light on February 8th, 2012
Fun, Funny and Downright Useful New Travel Gear
What’s on the way in travel gear? I just got back from the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market held each year in Salt Lake City. It’s a place where retail buyers come to see what’s new and different for the upcoming fall season and place their orders. For us media types, it’s a chance to get a sneak peak at what’s going to be hitting stores later.
Over on our sister Cheapest Destinations Blog I already posted a rundown on new trends in travel gear that you should go check out before or after reading this post. It’s all about light gear getting lighter, but basic materials costs driving up prices. Plus some buying advice and a rant about retro bags.
When covering this show, most gear and outdoor publications get all serious and dive into the technical specs for all the new wonder jackets and slightly changed backpacks. I’d rather cover those items here in detail later—the ones fit for normal travelers—after they hit the market. I saw three developments that might be true game-changers though.
1) Lightweight shoes that are not just for runners. We’ve had ultra-light running shoes for quite a while now, thanks to the barefoot running style craze. But now the technology is making it to the mainstream. The post I mentioned before has some very packable winter boots from Teva. The picture above has some ultra-light Nike running shoes on a scale—and a pair of comfy Rockport shoes that weigh less.
2) Treated down that repels water. I saw two companies talking about this process, where down is subjected to a microscopic polymer that repels water, before it goes into a sleeping bag or jacket. Sierra Designs is the one that’s leading the way on this and is putting the most marketing muscle into it. From what I saw at the demos, it really works.
3) More and better rechargeable devices. I’ve tried some solar chargers over the years with mixed results, but now I’m seeing some solar panel/battery combos that pack some serious juice, like enough to charge a laptop once or an iPad multiple times—after a few hours of sunlight. Plus there are more items hitting the market that can be charged via USB instead of having to deal with AA batteries. The SteriPEN Freedom is a hit already and as this year goes on you’ll see more flashlights, lanterns, and purifiers that plug and charge. I’m especially excited about a Camelbak bottle coming in March that has its own UV purifier lamp built in.
Bring on the fun!
Enough serious stuff. Here are some of the items that I found more interesting to take shots of than yet another waterproof ski shell.
First up, two new face warmers to give you a cozy beard while on the slope. The left photo is me with a sample from 5 O’Clock Shadows. On the right are sample styles from Bearded Apparel.
I’m a sucker for silly winter hats for kids. The ones at the top of this post are from Knitwits. The ones pictured here are from Nirvanna Designs—made in Nepal.
Actually most of the gear that makes you smile is geared to kids, which means I think we all need to lighten up a bit. I mean how can you not smile when you see this backpack from MadPax? Or these fun mittens that look like bear paws (and have an opening where you can get your hand out to pull up a zipper) from Bear Hands & Buddies?
Okay, okay—I’ll put some photos of some serious gear to watch for on our Facebook page if you really want to know what’s coming to a store near you in six months. So go like us there and watch for pics the next few days.
Meanwhile, stay tuned the rest of 2012 as we review the best travel gear for your money.
Posted by Tim L. in Adventure Gear, General Gear, Kids and Family, Travel Light on January 25th, 2012
Ventilated Sun Hat From Outdoor Research
Outdoor Research just might make more travel hats than anyone else around, with sun hats that can appeal to pretty much everyone. (There’s now a summer version of the double-duty Odd Job hat I reviewed before, which comes with its own beer bottle opener!)
The problem with many sun hats is, if it’s sunny enough to need a wide-brimmed hat, it’s probably hot too. That means your noggin heats up even more if it’s got something trapping the heat rising off your highest point. That’s why some cowboy hats and Panama hats can fry your brain. The obvious solution is to ventilate it. That way the heat doesn’t build up and the breeze can flow through.
Enter the Outdoor Research Acacia Sun Hat. It’s got your usual wide brim, your chin lace (removable) for a windy boat ride or mountaintop trekking, and organic cotton with a bit of spandex to make it a little stretchy. With an SPF factor of 50, you can ride a camel for hours without getting a sunburned scalp or nose.
If a hat’s organic cotton and ventilated, the natural comparison is going to be to the Tilley Air Flow hat we’ve reviewed here before. The differences? This one has a little wider brim and it’s not as soft and floppy. The brim is more rigid and the top is cushioned, which is good, but you probably can’t just jam this into a backpack for a decade straight like Tilley’s pre-shrunk version and expect it to come through okay. (And alas, no secret stash on this one for your cash or a credit card.)
I’ve reviewed quite a few Outdoor Research hats though and since it’s been quite a few years since I had a head of hair like the guys on Entourage, I use them a lot in my travels. This lightweight Acacia travel hat lists for $42 (sometimes about 10 bucks less online), but it’s worth the premium over a superstore cheapie. It will accompany you on journeys to many mountains, deserts, and rivers and keep going strong. With a stiffer brim than some floppier versions (including the Tilley Airflo), it keeps its shape well in a stiff breeze.
Get the OR Acacia hat in this khaki color or plaid from Amazon or Backcountry.com
* Editor’s note 2/10/12 – this appears to be in closeout mode and sold out at some retailers, so buy it now if you like it!
See all our reviews of travel hats and clothing: get the RSS feed!
Posted by Tim L. in Adventure Gear, General Gear, Travel Light on August 3rd, 2011
Inexpensive Travel Staples from Columbia Sportswear
I’m willing to pay for quality travel gear sometimes, but I’m also a big fan of clearance ranks and end-of-season sales. Because Columbia Sportswear cranks out so many new products and styles each year, you can often get their travel clothing at a very reasonable price if you time it right. Here are a few staples of theirs I’ve bought in the past 18 months that were well worth their (discounted) price tag and another one to consider right now for a son or nephew.
I spent all of $15 on a reversible bucket hat on sale at a sporting goods store more than a year ago and somehow she managed to not lose it in all that time. It held up well through a few washings and she still wears it. The one pictured here is not an exact match, but it has the same SPF30 sun protection and two looks to sport. There are a lot of colors to choose from and it’s just $10 at Amazon.
I bought two pairs of Columbia shorts at 50% off at a June sale in 2010 and both styles are off the map now online. I’ve worn them both a lot though in the meantime and they’re still going strong. So check out the available Columbia shorts at Campmor, where they have several styles $25 or less right now, deeper discounts coming later probably when it gets closer to autumn.
Columbia sent me a Silver Ridge travel shirt to review way back when it came out, so I didn’t have to wait for it to go on sale. That time is now though if you want to get a cool travel shirt for your own boy or someone else’s at a bargain price. The boy’s Silver Ridge II long-sleeve shirt is comfortable, wrinkle-resistant, and quick-dry—all for only $16.47 right now at Backcountry.com. A steal for something with vents and roll-up button sleeves.
Look for other Columbia items on sale regularly at Backcountry, Campmor, Rock Creek, and REI.
See more reviews of Columbia Sportswear items here at Practical Travel Gear.
Posted by Tim L. in General Gear, Kids and Family on July 14th, 2011
