Your noggin is exposed to all sorts of rough treatment on Kilimanjaro: heat, UV, dust, rain, wind, cold… Here’s the gear you need to keep your head happy.
Wide-rim sun hat: Capestorm R.A.D Hat
Squish it, scrunch it, rinse it out and klap it back on your kop. More stylish than a cricket hat, its fabric is rated to give UV protection equivalent to factor 50 – totally RAD. Ray reckons if you wear one of these, there’s no need for pore-blocking, dust-attracting, eye-stinging sunblock on your face, but I burn easy, so I used both just to be safe. Result? Not a bit of sunburn for me.
Weight: 86g
RRP: R220
Variable sun protection layer – High UV Buff
The new High UV Buff claims to block more than 95 per cent of UV radiation, plus it has that Coolmax stuff in it, which reduces your skin temperature. The microfibre tube is highly breathable, fast drying and flexible in the ways you can wear it. Today, I’m a pirate.
Tip:
When you’re walking through dusty areas (there are lots of those on Kili), pull your Buff up over your nose and mouth to breathe clean air.
Weight: 34g.
RRP: R179
Variable insulating layer – Polar Buff or Matt
A Polartec fleece combined with Microfibre on both of these products means you can wear them as a scarf, mask or balaclava when the temperatures drop. Both the polar Buff and Matt come in a special South African flag print. I thought this would be great to wave for photos when I got to the top, but in the event, I refused to take it off at all. Don’t start for the summit without one.
Polar Buff
Weight: 58g
RRP: R249
Polar Matt
Weight: 59g
RRP: R205
First Ascent beanie muff
First Ascent’s new take on the classic beanie is one you can wear as a scarf or hat. It has an elasticated drawstring at the top you can tighten for beanie mode, or loosen to pull down around your neck and over your nose and mouth. It’s made of Firestorm microfleece that retains heat but not moisture and doesn’t pill or prickle.
RRP: R115
Capestorm Freak
Can you love a piece of kit? If so, I love my Freak beanie. This loony-looking hat keeps your head and ears warm and the soft fleece never itches. Climbing Kili has nothing to do with making a fashion statement, but it does have a lot to do with morale. When you’re wearing a Freak, everyone smiles at you. It’s a pretty good feeling. (Just beware, they may also try to steal it from you!)
Weight: 50g
RRP: R195
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