Australian Hiker

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Outdoor Research Radar Sun Runner Cap Review

Let’s talk about caps. The Cancer Council’s ‘Slip, Slop, Slap’ campaign featuring Sid the Seagull first hit Australian TV screens in 1981. It is ingrained into the memories of generations of kids all over Australia to slip on a shirt, slop on some sun screen lotion and slap on a hat! Well not just any cap but one that gives you great protection from the sun.

Well the Outdoor Research Radar Sun Runner Cap is the kind of cap that would make the Sid the Seagull proud.

My personal preference is to wear a floppy hat with a wide brim to protect the back of my neck. Over the years I have found that wide brimmed floppy hats either battle with my pack or result in a rustling sound as I move, the latter driving me crazy on a long hike. This results in me folding the brim up at the back which clearly defeats the purpose and exposes my neck to the sun.

Enter the Outdoor Research Radar Sun Runner Cap. It has a stylish design, good sized peak with a split which allows an excellent fit and when combined with the snap on cape, provides excellent face and neck protection on the hottest and sunniest of days. The cap is made of a lightweight water resistant fabric but still provides UPF 50+ protection.

The Outdoor Research Radar Sun Runner Cap is packed with other features including three colours – Khaki, Hops (greenish) or Pewter. I have the older Khaki version but would have preferred the Pewter colour which I could source at the time. The cape can be also be stored in the pocket at the back of the cap when not in use. The underside of the brim is darker which helps cut down glare and the brim also folds which makes it easier to put into a pocket or stuff into your backpack.

Perhaps the only downside is that when the weather is overcast and a little humid, the cap gets a little warm when the cape is attached. Outdoor Research does claim that the fabric is breathable but I’m not sure how this is being measured because there are times when I need to roll the cape onto the top of the cap and secure it with the under-chin strap! Speaking of the chin strap it is ideal on those windy days when you don’t want your hat to blow off.

We Like

• UPF 50+ providing great block out protection for your whole head and neck which helps to prevent sunburn
• Water-Resistant fabric means the peak will keep water off your face during light rain
• The cap is made of a breathable fabric which ensures you won’t sweat heavily on hot days and if you do sweat, the moisture will be wicked away which means you stay dry
• The cap is quick-drying so if you do get it wet, it won’t be long before it dries
• TransAction™ headband ensures better fit and comfort
• Foldable brim allows you to pack the cap away into the smallest of pockets
• Dark under-brim fabric reduces glare on sunny days
• The removable cape converts the cap to ensure face and neck sun protection, and when not needed, the cape can be stored in the centre back pocket
• Two colours (Khaki and Pewter) and two sizes (S/M and L/XL) ensures most people are accommodated
• Lightweight at 79 g (L/XL size) so it won’t weigh you down. great for those ultra lighters

We Don't Like

• The fabric could be a little more ‘breathable’ for my liking
• The S/M size cap fits me well when the cape is folded into the back of the cap however the cap is a little loose when the cape is attached

Best Uses

• Sunny days
• Great in the wind as well with the chin strap keeping the hat in place

Buy One

You can purchase the Outdoor Research Radar Sun Runner Cap online from Amazon Australia or Amazon

Disclosure: We may earn a small commission, at no additional expense to you, if you click through and make a purchase. Please note that our affiliations do not influence, in any way, the independence of our reviews. If we don’t like a product, you’ll hear about it from us!

If you have worn the Outdoor Research Radar Sun Runner Cap or if you have questions, we’d like to hear from you. Post your comment or question below

Investment

$52.75 AUD

Other Versions

The Outdoor Research Radar Sun Runner Cap is available in various colours and two sizes. Outdoor Research has other cap and hat ranges from which to choose

Disclaimer

This review was done with product purchased from a retail store by Australian Hiker

Outdoor Research hat fully unfurled. Note the long protective cape and the chin strap

Outdoor Research Hat with the protection cape not being used

Outdoor Research Hat with the protective cape not being used. The cape packs away and is stored in it’s own little pocket at the back of the hat when not needed

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