I have to believe Harley explanation. This new hat is supposed to deliver 80-percent wind resistance (in this case, not sure about the correct definition of wind resistance) because it is made from 55/45-percent acrylic/cotton knit and lined with Polartec® WindPro® micro fleece,
In addition two reflective stripes and embroidered graphics add an extra dose of visibility. The Reflective Knit Hat is already available now at most Harley-Davidson dealerships. $30.00. See your local Harley-Davidson dealer. To find a dealer near you, call 1.800.LUV.2RIDE in the U.S. or Canada
“supposed to deliver 80-percent wind resistance (in this case, not sure about the correct definition of wind resistance) because it is made from 55/45-percent acrylic/cotton knit and lined with Polartec® WindPro® micro fleece”
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A Tale of Two Knit Hats:
• An HD® alternative to the standard issue (blue, black, or green) G.I. watch cap – the “80% resistance” means that acrylic, cotton, and Polartec® all breathe. The “different densitiy” layers of material could be arranged so & “reflective” is good. Acrylic dominates over cotton here, so shrinkage will be minimal and once worn the acrylic will stretch-out again.
• There’s an open-op now available to revive an “abandoned style” of watch cap that was designed and once marketed as a Big Mountain Beanie™ by Patagonia®, a “wilderness-in-style” mfgr. from Santa Barbara. And here we have a fork in the road caused, imo, by mistake.
The “BBM” looks like a Peruvian Andes “eared” knit-wool (Alpaca, you betcha’) that has the long string on each side of the ear-flap that serves as a (howling wind chin-strap. Patagonia took the chin strap off, softener the transition lines as they dipped to cover the ears, and constructed the watch cap using 51% Merino wool and 49% Acrylic, with a “hand wash” advisory.
As do all things cloth, they eventually make it to the washing machine. Well, those first models shrank. And here’s how critical these fiber blends are:
Patagonia® got hip to the shrinkage problem. The next year the same soft-eared BBM’s were blended of 49% Merino wool and 51% acrylic. Throw it in the dryer – not a problem. Patagonia cleverly re-sized the hats to fit large initially (in the store) and looked ugly until you cooked them in the dryer. The “flip-change” in blend was the tipper.
[They’re no-brain-necessary-caps, that to me, hair challenged, are worn constantly in a wash & dry rotation. Wish I had them in solid black, gray, and brown instead of these “snowflake” patterns Patagonia® is fond of.]
The problem in 2008, occurred when Patagonia® management didn’t inform their store clerks about the BBM “new fit technique” and so after 2009, the BBM was discontinued – because customers thought the caps were too big for their head!
I have (3) of the 49/wool 51/acrylic to keep me forging-ahead out in the elements. They are many times warmer (because the outline covers your ear), and it would be the cap I would reach for if I had a choice.
“supposed to deliver 80-percent wind resistance (in this case, not sure about the correct definition of wind resistance) because it is made from 55/45-percent acrylic/cotton knit and lined with Polartec® WindPro® micro fleece”
Well, they have to have some sort of spin to justify the $30 price tag.
Oh yeah…and it says Harley-Davidson on it. That’s 15 bucks right there!