Gear Closet: UGQ Down Scully vs. Blackrock

I’ve had a couple of down hats over the years and have found that the warmth to weight ratio to be superior to any other type of beanie. My first was a OG Blackrock Hat that served me well until it got scorched in a fire. It held it’s insulation qualities through rainy NW days under a bomber rain hood to even lofting back up after I left it in my short pocket while swimming on the JMT. After the fire accident, I went through a period where I couldn’t justify buying one of these expensive buggers again until I just broke down and purchased another as a birthday present for myself. I found that my new Blackrock had far less durable fabric than my old OG Hat did. It started stretched out fast and also got shreddy when I would would use it to sleep in. In the begining, I couldn’t figure out how this was happening, but eventually realized that my zipper on my sleeping bag was tearing it up while I slumbered. My old OG Hat never shredded (even after a few years of use) in the same scenarios, which leads me to believe that they are using a cheaper fabric than before, which sucks when they charge 70 bones for one.

I decided to get a UGQ Skullie used to switch it up a bit. They say the temperature rating on these bad bears is 10 to -30, and at 28 to 38 grams or around an ounce, that is a pretty darn good weight to warmth ratio. Blackrock has a similar claim on their hats too and they are about 24 grams for a medium, it seems like a good summer/shoulder season weight. However, there is no doubt to me based on loft alone that my UGQ Hat has more down in it and is warmer too. The UGQ is $5 cheaper and for the added warmth that it would provide, especially in winter, that is a good thing. I usually bring a bit of insurance for the cold weather like this, it makes me feel better in case some nasty weather rolls in. For a winter hat here in the cold Southeast winters, this would be a bomber addition to a nice down coat.