Gear Review

REI Microfleece Watch Cap

1. warmth
2. insurance
3. stylish
4. 1.6 oz (unisize)

Can we bring back the REI Microfleece Watch Cap? This little fleece gem adds just the right balance of warmth, breathability, and wind resistance in a so-tiny-you'll-never-notice-it's-there 1.6 ounce package. Unfortunately, as far as I can tell, you can't find these any more.

Ah well, at least mine is still servicable. Pound for pound, REI's microfleec hat may be the smartest single gear item I carry—and I carry it a lot.

My REI watch cap goes with me on practically every hike, climb, and ski tour I do in the Sierra. Think of it as 1.6 ounces of survival insurance.

Most times you won't ever need a hat on your fair-weather dayhikes.

But if something goes amiss and you end up spending the night in the wild, oh boy you'll be glad to find this little hat sitting inside your backpack.

On chilly overnights, you can sleep in this soft fleece hat for extra warmth, and of course you'll need it when it's cold and windy. Bringing a good hat along lets you travel lighter more comfortably. You can sleep in a lighter sleeping back, take less insulation layers, less bulk. Polartech WindPro™ fabric is a perfect blend of breathable yet wind resistant fleece.

You won't find yourself sweating up a storm in this cap, but neither will you feel the cold fingers of the wind blasting through, either. The watch-cap style can be rolled up or down to cover or uncover your ears. You'll definitely want one of these in your gear collection. Now we just have to find one...

» Bottom Line: Pound-for-pound, the best piece of gear you'll ever carry

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