[pct-l] Headcover Question

[Hiker97 at aol.com (Hiker97@aol.com)]

Protecting your head is important on a hike.  The sun's radiation can do a 
number on you, plus dehydrate you.  I was wondering what everyone thought about 
this.  What have you found to be great head gear?

I am seriously thinking of going to the SunDay Afternoons Sport Hat (REI.com 
#708-145 ~ 2-3 ounces).  It is very comfortable and the hat brim is of 
excellent design.  The best I have seen and the hat material is 50 UPF.  

The only modification I am going to make (you knew I would) is take my 30 UPF 
neck drape off my old hiking hat and put it on this new hat.  It should be an 
awesome combination for the trail.  I also use a solar umbrella, which cuts 
down tremendously on my dehydration/radiation exposure (I do not normally use 
the umbrella for winter season hiking).  Note that SunDay makes a similar hat 
(REI.com #651-611) that would be excellent to use if you did not use a solar 
umbrella.  It is so big that I cannot figure out how to keep it from hitting my 
handsfree umbrella pole holder on my pack shoulder strap.

Thanks, Switchback