Oppossum Stuff C'est Magnifique!

[Liesl]

that kiwi 'possum stuff is brilliant:  just about as warm and light as down (that's barely exaggerated).  My family is in New Zealand, and so I've had plenty of opportunity to 1) see lots of different 'possum garments, 2) talk to a lot of Kiwis about it, and 3) obtained a few items.  The outdoors folk love it.  The radar hat offered by Riv currently is my absolute go-to winter bike hat (and I should just mention here that I am a hat collector).  Fits under a helmet, covers your ears, double layer so really warm, not scratchy in any way, light as can be, has a brim, doesn't squeeze the noggin.  If you live in colder climes, put it on your or your loved one's  christmas list.

I am also hoping that Grant might consider Kiwi-America's-Cup-Red 'possum socks (even though the originals were wool) because they are currently my all-time favorite socks for comfort and snappy looks. (http://www.sirpeterblaketrust.org/get-involved/red-socks-day/)

yours, liesl

[Eric Platt]

This makes me wonder - how does the current hat differ from the grey one of a few years ago?  The older one is my cool to just about cold weather hat off the bike.  On the bike, end up sweating too much with a hat under a helmet. 

Eric Platt

St. Paul, MN

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[Liesl]

Good question Eric--I have both. There are a few different possum companies. I got my bike cap from riv and my radar cap in NZ; however, the designs across companies were less than minimal. That said, here's my comparison: bike cap is single layer, smaller brim, fits the head snuggly, and is shorter relative to the ears. Conversely, radar hat is double layer, bigger brim (about like a riv cotton cap), and, most importantly for winter riding, when unfolded, it not covers below the ears but the nape of the neck as well. I double checked this on a larger head than mine by placing it on erin's noggin which is a hat size 7 1/4 to 7 3/8. Hope this helps and provides embarrassing evidence of how much I love hats. Also note that when Erin tried on the radar just now, she exclaimed, "oh! This is really nice! Are you gonna get me one?"

'nuff said!

[Liesl]

Ps. Eric--the radar may possibly be too warm for you under your helmet unless it's really Minnesota-cold. as a smaller person, I run colder so it's great for me. (also just saw that I had a missed word--it not *only* covers below the ear...)

[Eric Platt]

Liesl,

Thanks for the write up.  Probably will get one.  Have such a hard time with any hats under helmet.  A Smartwool beanie can fit or possibly another beanie I have sitting around.  No matter what, my ear lobes end up getting cold.  Sigh.   

 

Being a warm rider, and having a large head makes it nearly impossible for me to find a good compromise in winter. 

 

Eric Platt

St. Paul, MN

On Thu, Dec 6, 2012 at 7:26 PM, Liesl <li...@smm.org> wrote:

Ps. Eric--the radar may possibly be too warm for you under your helmet unless it's really Minnesota-cold.  as a smaller person, I run colder so it's great for me. (also just saw that I had a missed word--it not *only* covers below the ear...)

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[PATRICK MOORE]

Ahh, cold ear lobes and non-consistently-positioning cycling hads. I
thought it was just me. I've given up on tuques and beanies -- they
don't stay put and gradually expose the ears. Ditto for head bands.
Tried ear warmers, but those look dorky and complicate the fit of a
hat. Finally "discovered" faux-Peruvian knit caps with (1) earflaps
and (2) little wooly below-chin ties. Dorky? Yes, but they work. I got
a trash-wool/syntho model from Target for $12 and an
acrylic-cum-fleece for sub $10.

Walz has, or had, a nice baggy cycling cap with pull-down "ear band:
rather than flaps, but even that will require a sub-chin tie. Ditto
the custom I had made by Little Package . com. (All my cotton cycling
caps have elastic loops that fit behind my pony tail -- otherwise they
fly off in a strong wind: lost a very nice retro Campy cap that way on
a windy commute home.)

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-------------------------
Patrick Moore, Albuquerque, NM, USA
For professional resumes, contact Patrick Moore, ACRW
http://resumespecialties.com/index.html
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[Christian]

I think cold, exposed ear lobes are pretty common.  Who knows.  In any case, my wife solved the problem for me when she got me a pair of ear bags.  www.earbags.com or http://www.amazon.com/Earbags/dp/B002WQ7R2O.  They look ridiculous on their own and fall off, BUT under a headband or a beanie they are perfect!  I've not found a better solution.  I've had happy, warm ear lobes for two years now.  Highly recommended.  

Christian