Product Review/call for swag- Rapha Cap

I mentioned my "sweet prize" in the last post about the Freddy/Jason/Predator Race that happened last week. Now your going to hear all about it. As the first cycling product if bought/obtained in 2009 it will also be my first product review on this blog.

First off I should say that I think of myself as a craftsman. Ive worked for Parlee (as a framebuilder) and for Seven (as a painter and finisher). Ive also built rowing shells, Kayaks and spars that in their realm are quite high end. In my current job I deal with a lot of rowing equipment that is handmade and a lot that is "manufactured", and have a good eye for thoughtful design and quality construction. I dont mind paying for quality, things like Oakley glasses and Iphones are expensive because they work better, and im fine with that.

Second, since this hat was a prize I cant say for certain that it is first quality. It is entirely possible that this is a second or a reject, and given my opinion of it i hope this is the case.

So I really wanted to like this hat. I really want Rapha clothing, which is about as high end as you can get, to be worth it. I am still looking for a pair of boots that will last me forever and hold out some hope that there is cycling apparel that will as well. After wearing it for a week and looking it over a bit in good light. I have to say i feel let down.

The design is great and the materials certainly feel high-end, but the construction just doesn't seem to be up where it ought to be if this hat is sold for $40 US.

Cycling hats are a pretty simple design and there is not many places you can make a mistake. The most obvious one on this hat though is pretty obvious. The brim isnt centered on the hat. When your only major design element is a black stripe on a white hat, you pretty much have to get this right or things look a little "off". Mine is not right, its not off by much, but its of by enought that I notice it and that means its wrong.

Inside the hat there are some stiches that are loose, loose enough that the top thread pulls through and stands out. I am guessing that with time i will start seeing the stripe lifting where the thread is loose.

I should say that functionally it is a great hat, it sits on my head and I enjoy wearing a little bit of fancy when i go for an evening ride. It has also stayed remarkably clean for a white hat that my hands have touched while i am at work.

If it saves my life or catches fire, there will be an update. As it stands I feel a little bit let down, like i just figured out Santa wasnt real. If Rapha cant make a fancy hat that impresses, who can? And if Rapha misses on hats, how nice are the $750 tweed softshells really? They take pretty pictures of some really impressive rides, and they know design. But at the end of the day, the stuff also has to work as a hat. If in fact this hat was donated as a prize because it was a second, Ill retract my sadness, and happily review any first quality product Rapha wants to send me.


Loose stiches inside the hat.
Classy branding, just enough to know who made it.
A view askew of the slanty brim.