Bridge seasons can be difficult times to hike and backpack as the weather can be more erratic. Heat loss through the head can be pretty significant especially when the wind is up even a little. My ears tend to get pretty cold, but having cold wind whistling through my ears causes them to hurt even more. Hence I was really happy to discover Chaos''s Combo Skully.
Combo Skully at Arches National Park
The Combo Skully is a lightweight, form-fitting skull cap from the Adrenaline2 series. The cap, with four-way stretch panels, has flat-lock seams for comfort. The Combo Skully is designed to not only be used alone but to also be used as a liner cap under helmets. The ear panel, which drops down to cover the ears, is a double layer panel adding extra protection to the ears and forehead. The Combo Skully is a mix of polyester, Merino wool and spandex.
The Combo Skully cap joined me on a long section hike along the Appalachian Trail. The seasons were just starting to change and with a cooler bite to the wind, I wanted to protect my ears. The weather wasn’t nearly cold enough to warrant heavy protection so I brought the Combo Skully for light protection. I knew at some point I would need to have something along to protect my ears early in the morning and late in camp.
Combo Skully on the AT
Mornings were just starting to turn cool when we got to Shenandoah National Park. The Combo Skully came in handy most mornings to keep the chill wind out of my ears. I also donned the hat in the evenings as the temperatures would drop, sometimes even sleeping with the Combo Skully on for extra warmth. The Combo Skully did a great job keeping the wind out of my ears. What I also found was that while the cap kept the wind out of my ears, it didn’t severely restrict my hearing. I was still capable of carrying on a conversation with people.
Biking with the Combo Skully
The Combo Skully has proven very useful under helmets. The Skully blocks the wind very well and its low profile fits great under the helmet. I haven’t noticed any pressure points or bunching underneath the helmet while wearing the Skully. I’ve used it under both a bike helmet and a snowboard helmet without any issues.
The Combo Skully really proved its worth when the remnants of hurricane Nicole swept through the region combining cold rain with high biting winds. The top of the cap is thin enough to vent excess heat so my head doesn’t quickly overheat but is still protected from the cooler weather. I wore the cap under the hood of my rain coat and it kept me warm and protected. The hat eventually soaked through but was still able to keep me warm.
Hiking with the Combo Skully
So far wear and tear on the cap has been minimal in spite of how hard the Appalachian Trail can be on gear. The cap has been washed several times and has not lost its shape, nor any wicking abilities. I’ve wadded the cap up into pockets, shoved it into my pack and stored it wet in my rain coat after soaking it in the rain.
I love the fit of the Combo Skully cap. It stretches over my pony tail nicely, I can stuff all my hair up into the cap and it gives good ear coverage. The Combo Skully is now my go to hiking cap when I need light protection in cool or windy conditions.
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