| A hunter faces a wide variety of conditions over | | | | produce their hunting caps in those heavily |
| the course of a season. Hot, cold, dry and wet. | | | | marketed patterns. |
| Appropriate head wear is critical for several | | | | Waterproof |
| reasons. In this article I take a look at some of | | | | There are few hunting scenarios that do not |
| the factors that make a quality hunting cap. | | | | involve some risk of rain or snow. Most hunters |
| Camouflage | | | | know that there is nothing more miserable than |
| I start with this because for most conditions, | | | | being wet. One of the best waterproof materials |
| concealment is an important factor in hunting | | | | in cap construction is Gore-Tex. Gore-Tex is a |
| success. The sole exception would be the | | | | waterproof-breathable material that has been |
| firearms deer season, or seasons that have a | | | | used for years to protect hunting caps, jackets |
| legal requirement that the hunter be wearing blaze | | | | and boots. Again, there are other alternatives to |
| orange above the waistline. Even in these | | | | Gore-Tex. Many manufacturers offer a |
| conditions, there are blaze orange materials that | | | | waterproof-breathable fabric that work very well |
| provide a form of break-up pattern with black to | | | | for the conditions you might encounter. |
| provide a semblance of camouflage. It is | | | | Insulated |
| important to note here that the "popular" | | | | When the conditions involve cold and/or windy |
| camouflage patterns are meeting stiff competition | | | | conditions, insulation is a must. There are several |
| from other manufacturers that are trying to | | | | good options here. Wool was one of the first |
| reduce costs by adopting patterns that are not | | | | insulators. The nice thing about wool it that it |
| so well-known. These patterns are just as | | | | continues to provide insulation even when it is |
| effective (camouflage patterns have been heavily | | | | wet. Many caps come with poly insulation. One of |
| marketed and hyped over the years) and often | | | | the most popular materials used in hunting clothing |
| mean you save money because the | | | | now is Thinsulate. |
| manufacturer is not paying hefty licensing fees to | | | | |