Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure Hat Review

Overview

The Ultra Adventure Hat is a UPF 50+ sun hat that covers the face, ears and neck for about 2.6 ounces. It folds flat enough to live in a hip-belt pocket or the top of a pack lid. It suits hikers who spend long days above treeline, in desert or on open ridgeline. The trade-off is a floppy neck cape that wind can lift, which undercuts the coverage it is supposed to provide.

Key Specs

Spec	Detail
Weight	73.7 g (about 2.6 oz)
UPF rating	50+
Brim	3.25 in, Reverse Split Brim
Neck cape	6 in
Material	88% nylon, 12% polyester
Water resistance	PFAS-free DWR finish
Ventilation	Crown vents
Sweatband	Wicking
Extras	Sunglass Lock sleeves, adjustable fit with chin cord
Packed size	Roughly 10 x 5 x 1.5 in when folded inside out

Performance

Sun coverage. The 3.25-inch brim is moderate by wide-brim standards, and the 6-inch cape does the heavy lifting on the neck and ears. Outdoor Gear Lab’s testers wore it on trails and at the beach. They described it as comfortable, breathable and protective, with enough head and neck coverage that the wearer forgets it is on. A Section Hiker reviewer wore it for a full day above treeline and reported that it performed very well. A reviewer with a Mohs surgery history on Zappos said the UV protection was exactly what the situation called for.

Weight and comfort. At 73.7 g, it is a fraction of the weight of a straw hat or a structured boonie. Outdoor Gear Lab put the weight at 2.5 ounces and said it stayed unnoticeable under an overstuffed pack. The crown vents and wicking sweatband keep it cooler than a solid-panel nylon hat. Outdoor Gear Lab’s best-sun-hat roundup recommends it as the more consistently breathable pick when a cape-style competitor runs warm. Runners have used it in 30-degree-plus heat, soaking the cape to cool the neck.

Packability. The Reverse Split Brim is the hat’s signature. A fold line at the front of the brim lets the hat turn inside out into a flat package, about 10 by 5 inches and 1.5 inches thick. It slides into a pack without crushing and springs back into shape.

Pack compatibility. The cape is soft and floppy, so it collapses against a pack instead of pushing the hat forward. A PCT section-hiker on Zappos said the hat doesn’t bump the pack. Another Zappos owner says the flexible back keeps it clear of a high-riding pack on big trips.

Wind. This is where the design struggles. REI buyers and Zappos owners both report the neck flap blowing up onto the crown in even a light breeze. One REI reviewer discovered a sunburned neck after noticing in photos that the cape had been riding up for hours. A chin cord keeps the hat on the head but does nothing for the cape. Hikers in open, windy terrain should expect to tuck or pin it. Some owners suggest a small weight or a hook-and-loop closure would fix it.

Sunglass Lock. The sleeves on the front of the hat hold sunglasses arms securely once they are seated. Section Hiker’s reviewer said it takes some fiddling to get glasses in while the hat is on. Some Zappos owners say they had trouble finding the openings, and one PCT hiker would rather do without them.

Fit and details. Owners praise the adjustability and soft feel. The recurring requests are a ponytail opening, which an older version of the hat had, and more color choices. The PFAS-free water-repellent finish sheds light moisture. It is not a rain hat, and the hat is not built to stand up to a downpour.

Durability. Owners describe years of use, with fading the main complaint. One reports that a 15-year-old hat discolored but had nothing else wrong with it. REI’s 881 reviews average 4.7 out of 5.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 73.7 g, light enough to forget on the head
• UPF 50+ fabric with full face, ear and neck coverage
• Folds flat via the split brim, with no crushing or deforming
• Soft cape stays clear of pack tops
• Crown vents and wicking band keep it cool in heat
• PFAS-free DWR finish

Cons

• Neck cape lifts in light wind
• Sunglass sleeves are fiddly to use
• No ponytail opening
• Brim is shorter than a full wide-brim straw hat
• Not a rain hat

Who Should Buy This

Hikers in exposed, sunny terrain such as the Sierra, desert Southwest or alpine routes will get the most from it. It also fits anyone who wants real neck protection without carrying a bulky hat. Ultralight hikers will appreciate that it weighs less than most baseball caps with a bandanna or cape attached. Hikers who regularly face sustained wind should look at a hat with a snap-down or hook-and-loop cape, or add a clip to this one. Anyone who wants a wider brim for maximum face shade should also look at a larger-brimmed hat.

Verdict

The Ultra Adventure Hat is one of the best-rounded sun hats for hiking. It is light, cool, packable and well protected for its 73.7 g weight. The cape that blows up in wind keeps it from a higher score. Most sun-exposed hikers should buy it.