Customer Reviews Outdoor Research Frostline Hat

I wrote an earlier review just after receiving this hat in which I gave it four stars based on my first impression and optimism. I also wrote at the time that I was concerned about its thinness and also about the Velcro that is not Velcro closures. After less than a month I am returning this hat. I had wanted to like it, but this Velcro that is not Velcro is not working out. The straps on the ear flaps connect together under the chin using this non-Velcro to grasp the material of the other ear flap. It was fine at first, but had to be positioned just-so since there was not more than minimal overlap of the flaps under my chin. That was OK, but it resulted in the same small area being used repeatedly as the grasp area for the non-Velcro. Now, in less than a month, that small grasp-area has been exhausted of its ability to be connected to the non-Velcro material of the other flap. It would have taken longer for this exhaustion-failure to happen if a larger area were available for the connection, but however large the connection area it certainly will fail much sooner than could be considered a reasonable life of the hat. To be clear, it is the material of the hat itself which after a number of connect-disconnect cycles loses the capacity to attach to the non-Velcro. If the hat was constructed of a different material the non-Velcro might work much longer and be acceptable. I do not know about that. But in this use, with this hat material, the combination of hat material and non-Velcro failed to provide a dependably secure connection in less than a month. Either the manufacturer did not bother to test this non-Velcro product together with the hat material adequately before deciding to use it, or the manufacturer figures that a few months product life is good enough. Either way I will not be buying Outdoor Research goods again in the future. This is just not acceptable from a company claiming to provide quality goods. On the positive side, the thinness of the hat which had concerned me has not been a problem. It is very warm and comfortable down below 20°F. But that closure problem is a deal-breaker.

Fantastic hat! The face guard performs well down to low teen temperatures in case you're caught without a face mask.

I've had dozens of hats over the decades, and this is a perfect one when I'm generating some heat from exercise (hiking, skiing). (A warmer hat's needed for standing around in cold weather.)

5

Great overall hat to pack for light trips . Light , does the job on high wind and I've used the mouth cover a few times when it's really ripping through. It could be a little deeper wear by having the hat while ear flaps are up have the overall come down more a bit over the ears , and to add vents in the mouth part would be a good add. This hat is well worth the money, so far daily use for me .

My daughter grabbed one of these hats off the shelf and asked "Daddy, can you buy me one of these hats?". I did and she loved it so much that she convinced me to buy one too. I am so glad I did as it's my all time favorite winter hat. I live in Colorado and spend every weekend in the mountains between 10k and 14k feet. I wear this hat for every outing from mountaineering, ice climbing, hiking and belaying when not wearing a helmet. It is warm, versatile and comfortable. I have used this hat down to -5 without needing another layer.

I wear this hat when it's cold and rainy. It keeps my head and neck warm. Only criticism is that I wish it had a larger bill.

This hat is warmer than expected given its light insulation. I spent a week with it recently in Michigan's Upper Peninsula forests. In 20F temperatures when moving it was warm. As would be expected, not moving in 20F it was acceptable but only moderately warm and less so with wind. In the teens it was ok while moving but not warm enough when sedentary. I also took my wool shearling leather ushanka that was, as expected, warmer than the Frostline in wind and lower temps. The Frostline's face mask is a great feature especially in wind. (However I prefer a fleece neck gaiter.) A very good feature is its packability and light weight. In changing weather conditions this would be a great hat to bring along.

Awesome hat!

Love the warmth and protection with the face shield. Super warm and the fold down brim is awesome in high wind. Use it for snowshoeing, winter hiking and when stuck outside for work.

Excellent, very warm.

This hat is perfect for cold seasons. I really like the face mask that is attached to the hat and I'm not worried about losing my face mask anymore. The face mask is nicely stored in a tiny side pocket. Highly recommended.

I love this hat because it is so versatile! Can wear it flaps up for long snowshoe rides in the bush, and take the flaps down to protect your ears from the wind when crossing lakes. The face protector incorporated is a great idea, and very useful! I recommend this hat to all winter adventurers!

Got this at MEC, for those windy winter days along the river trail where I often walk for 5K or so. Hat is super wind proof, very light, and toasty warm. The face buff is a handy feature when walking into freezing wind. The hat is not too bulky, so for those -40 wind chill walks, it fits under my jacket hood and I stay very protected from the elements.

I wear the hat every day in winter to walk the daog

like most other or products this is a great product. fits well and keeps head warm. can also wear under ski helmet. bill stays up with magnets. face mask is good and stores well.

Lost my first one. Had to get another. Great for frigid weather where you need a Swiss Army knife hat. Too sunny? Drop the brim. Ears cold? Bring down the ear flaps. Freezing air? Unfold the face mask. It isn't exactly a sexy hat- but if you need function over style this is awesome.

Love the hat. Great for snowy, cold winters in MN. Well-made and warm. Fits true to size.

Tried the rabbit fur things. Didn't fit right. Stocking cap rides up. This hat stays put.

have hats ...baklava....gloves etc... can't say enough positive about the gear

Received my Frostline Hat this morning. First impression... I was surprised by how "unbalky" and light weight the shipping package was. After opening the package, I tried it on... perfect fit! I have been purchasing and wearing OR hats since the year 2000. In OR sizes, I wear Medium. That fit has been true to form for the past 17 years. Shortly after the package arrived, it was time to walk the dog. The outside air temperature was 6F. I specifically purchased this hat to accompany a three season jacket. For this situation, I combined the jacket with a lightweight 800 fill down jacket and a 100 weight Polartec fleece full zip jacket. After securing the velcro chinstraps, I unzipped the side storage pouch, removed the faceshield and affixed it to the velcro on the opposite side. It is a clear sunny day, so I wore sunglasses, too. The temples of the sunglasses fit easily between the hat and my head and the flip down hat visor reduced further facial exposure. Breathing in through my nose and exhaling through my mouth prevented the expired air from fogging my sunglasses. i had no problems with the faceshield clogging nor accumulating ice from the moisture in my exhaled breath. A pair of OR fleece gloves completed the outfit. Given the OAT, this ensemble was on the low side of the comfort curve, but is sufficed to provide me with the information I wanted. I keep a dedicated hat and gloves in the pockets of each of my jackets and coats. This hat will stay with this jacket for use when the temperatures are between 40F and 20F. I travel frequently and have been caught on a few occasions in the past by not having gloves or a hat to match the weather. This is particularly true when traveling between the northern and southern United States during the winter.

This is my go to for really cold days or belching snow. It is too warm for extreme activity but just right for snow blowing or drinking beer outside of the yurt. It is not stylish, at all, (which makes it cool!). I often use mine with ear flaps up over the top. Keep in mind it is very difficult to hear with this hat sinched down for warmth.

I bought this hat at some other site and it was on sale for $30.00. I picked the black colored one and I received compliments from it. Not only is it good-looking, I like the endurance of it too. It keeps me warm, it's light, and it's easy to manage. The fur in the inside is incredibly soft as well; probably softer than a puppy. Overall, it was a $30 well spent.

Awesome hat. I put this hat threw some tough conditions last Winter, and it really provided great warmth. The face mask is an added bonus and surprisingly is quite warm in pretty low temperatures. I had it at work when a Noreastern blew in, it was about 10 degrees outside and it kept me warm when I thought it wouldn't do the job. It is also very comfortable with a faux fur lining. I think most people would be happy with this hat, especially people doing physical activities outside. It's definitely in my top 5 Winter Hats for freezing temperatures. One other thing, I have a huge head and the largest size fits me very well.