Field Report: PDW AG Watch Cap

Contributor Piotr takes his recent Pack Essential to new heights of testing to bring us this informative Field Report.

by | 11, Feb 2016 | Field Report, Piotr Ma | 0 comments

So I finally had the chance to test the PDW Watch Cap in really serious winter conditions. I decided to take a hike into the Polish Tatra Mountains. I spent couple of hours at 6800 ft in the windy winter weather, nominal temperature from -12°C down to -18°C (due to wind the perceived temperature was even below that). The day started nice and sunny, but on my way back it was dark, cloudy and windy, with an ice and snow blizzard… perfect conditions to test outdoor gear, LOL!

Merino wool is a clear winner for me! During the first part of the hike I was moving up the hill at -12°C in full sun, and the thermal comfort was perfect. I didn’t feel any cold and the perspiration was great, I stayed warm and dry, with no sweat on my head.

In the middle of my hike I had a 15-20 minute break for a cup of hot tea and some snacks, and also to check if my Watch Cap was warm enough without any physical activity. Well, it was still OK at the beginning but at the end, when wind started to blow, I had to use my hood to prevent from getting chilled. That was at 6800 ft and about -14°C. I had hot tea thanks to the PDW Thermal MIZU flask.

At the end of the day I had to use my hood to prevent from getting really cold. -18°C with no sun and a strong wind was too much for the Watch Cap of course… actually it’d be too much for most caps I have except an ultraheavy merino and fur cap, but it’d not make any sense to take it to a hike in the mountains, the PDW Watch Cap and a slightly down-padded hood was just enough for the day.

And finally in the blizzard… a serious padded hood was mandatory, no other way to survive in such conditions. I don’t know any cap, which would be good enough alone.

So… conclusion? The Merino Watch Cap from Prometheus Design Werx is a great accessory for your next winter mountain hike. During the day, in moderate frost, it’s good to go on it’s own. However, when temperature drops below -10 Deg C be sure to have a hood ready. At -14 Deg C or less and/or in windy conditions a decent hood is mandatory as merino wool is not a wind stopper of any kind. Treat it as a base layer head protection (for severe conditions), combine it with a hood or other windproof layers, and it will help you to keep proper thermal comfort during day-long hike.

By the way, my backpack was the Patagonia Ascensionist 35L (other colour choices here), it’s a very good choice for a winter day pack in my honest opinion. Lightweight, easy to operate in gloves, and looks good too!