The Arc'teryx Sinsola is a stylish sun hat for women, meant more for strolling down a city street than pushing your limits in the outdoors. It is lightweight, but not durable, and does not have a way of keeping it on your head in the wind. We tested it in the unfortunate black color but think it is a comfortable hat that is great for wearing around town.
Arc'teryx discontinued the Sinsola in Fall 2018
Better suited for music festivals or hanging out in your yard than backpacking or running, the Sinsola is the most stylish in our fleet.
The Sinsola scored high points in the style and comfort department but falls short in durability and breathability.
The Sinsola falls in the middle of the pack concerning sun protection. It has an interesting brim shape that is widest (3.75") at the front and tapers around the sides to its narrowest (2.5") at the back. This design is clever if you're wearing a backpack, as the brim doesn't hit your pack, but does not provide very much back of your neck coverage. Most hats in this test were the opposite of this and had wider brims or longer capes to cover your neck. The Sunday Afternoons Adventure has a 7.25" neck cape and the OR Oasis's brim is 4.25" in the back.
This hat is exceptionally comfortable. Its design is straightforward and is meant to just sit on your head, with nothing really to attach it there. There is no kind of band around the crown to absorb sweat or grab your head, like on the Outdoor Research Sombriolet, nor is there any drawcord around your head or a chin cord to keep the hat on in the wind. Because of this, the Sinsola feels very comfortable as it just sits there on your head. It is also the lightest hat we tested, along with the Outdoor Research Sun Bucket, both of which are super comfortable. If you need a hat that will stay on your head in the wind, check out the Tilley LTM6 Airflo and the Sombriolet.
The Sinsola does not have much in its design to deal with ventilation, other than the four small grommet holes on the sides. The fabric is lightweight, and we imagine that it is more breathable than the thick material of the Tilley. The Bora Bora has large mesh panels for ventilation as does the Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure.
This hat did not appear to be of the utmost durable, although we did not damage it during testing. Its fabric is very light and seems exceptionally delicate. We did, however, experience some fading of the black color from being out in the sun for a few days. The Sinsola is very packable, and you can roll it up and stuff it in your bag and forget it is there until you need it. It did well in our crush tests and regained its shape easily. The Tilley LTM6 Airflo is highly durable and may be a better option if durability is what you're after.
Style is where the Sinsola shines. We think its unique design is the most stylish of the bunch and would wear this hat in a casual setting, like going to the market or to a music festival. We also like The North Face Horizon Brimmer hat for this purpose as well. We can't say that purchasing this hat in a black color was the best idea we've ever had and discovered that we should have opted for the grey or pink color that it comes in. Maybe next year Arc'teryx will make it in more colors! If color is absolutely important to you, the Oasis Sun Sombrero comes in many appealing colors, as does the Tilley LTM6 Airflo.
The Sinsola will feel more at home in an urban setting than in the backcountry. We did take it backpacking but were nervous about losing it every time the wind picked up and made sure to put sunscreen on the back of our neck. Throw this lightweight hat in your purse or beach bag and pull it out when the sun is beating down.
Retailing surprisingly low for an Arc'teryx product, the Sinsola sells for $45. We think this is a reasonably good deal for this product, especially if it is treated with some care. It is a stylish piece and seems to have some thought put into its design from a style perspective.
We liked wearing this hat to the farmers market and around town. It's a great hat to throw in your bag in case you need it for any kind of outing; it's lightweight and you'll forget it is there. We were a bit disappointed with its durability as it faded in the sun, and we were constantly afraid of losing it in the wind. The Sinsola is the least dorky of this review, and it is very comfortable to wear.