Basic Cap Bicolor

Introduction

What I wanted from a cap was "the reassurance of having your head cradled."

That thought is what gave rise to this "Basic Cap."

With a shallow cap, I could never quite settle, and especially on windy summits or seaside walks I'd notice myself on edge, keeping the hat from blowing off. What should have been a chance to enjoy nature ends up spoiled by a small stress... After repeating that experience many times, I set a deep fit that covers firmly down to the ears, and a form that gently holds the whole head, at the core of the design.

The brim is designed at an optimal length that blocks sunlight firmly while resisting the wind's effect. It's an exquisite balance—resistant to flapping even in strong wind, yet without blocking your view. For the fabric, we chose a lightweight, highly durable high-density nylon. It has the toughness to withstand a bit of rain and abrasion. The sweatband uses a moisture-wicking, quick-drying polyester mesh that prevents stuffiness and stickiness even over long use.

The "Basic Cap," born in 2019. The concept and design put into this cap are still carried on unchanged today.

For everyday use on windy days, and for the strong midsummer sun—always something you can wear with peace of mind. That dependability is what we put into this single cap.

The RIDGE MOUNTAIN GEAR "Basic" Series

At RIDGE MOUNTAIN GEAR, we put a special meaning into the products named "Basic." As the name suggests, the "Basic" series is a group of products that pursue the essential elements of everyday life and the outdoors. A design philosophy lives in this series: "strip away the unnecessary and leave only what is truly needed."

[Essential simplicity and function]

The name "Basic" carries the idea of removing decoration and focusing on necessary function. Its simple, refined design is intuitive to handle and eases the burden on the user. Designed to be used without strain both outdoors and in daily life, it embodies the importance of being "basic." Within its simplicity, the essence of function lives firmly on.

[Versatility for a wide range of uses]

The "Basic" series is not intended to be limited to specific scenes. Rather, its hallmark is a versatility that blends naturally into all kinds of situations, from everyday life to active outdoor pursuits. Flexibly meeting the user's style and purpose, it aims to be "usable not only on special occasions, but every day." It should become an item you can rely on across a wide range of settings.

[Universal, long-lasting design]

Another hallmark of the "Basic" series is a universal design unswayed by era or trend. Without being tossed about by passing fads, we put our energy into long-loved design and material choices. Designed with durability in mind, it's meant to be an item that keeps by your side in daily life. That's why it becomes something you grow more attached to through use—not from the moment of purchase—naturally blending into your lifestyle.

The name "Basic" holds a meaning beyond mere simplicity. It's about staying close to the user and playing the role of a "basic" you can be your natural self with in any environment. True to its name, the RIDGE MOUNTAIN GEAR "Basic" series continues to exist as a dependable "foundation" for any moment.

By pulling the plastic tab at the back, you can tighten the elastic and easily adjust the size. This adjustment improves the fit when worn and delivers a stable feel even in windy environments. It shows its worth especially in outdoor scenes where strong wind is expected, such as summits and ridgelines.

When worn by a man with an average head size (head circumference) (the model on the left), the back draws in a little for a fit that creates a clean silhouette. This moderate fit lets you wear it comfortably without the cap shifting even in windy scenes. It's also a design that doesn't hinder movement in outdoor or everyday use.

On the other hand, when worn by a woman with a somewhat smaller head circumference (the model on the right), the back takes on a softly rounded silhouette. This gives the whole cap a gentle air and a casual, relaxed impression. This "softness" is an appealing point that matches a variety of styles regardless of gender or age.

Incorporating natural changes in shape to suit each head circumference, we've finished it as a design that anyone—men and women alike—can wear comfortably. And because it also has a size-adjustment function, it flexibly adapts to your own style and situation.

Material

For the body of the cap, we use Toray's Stunner®, a 100% nylon material that combines water repellency, wind resistance, and excellent moisture permeability. This high-performance material protects firmly against the elements such as rain and wind, while reducing stuffiness and discomfort from perspiration to sustain a comfortable fit.

Stunner®'s greatest feature is its excellent durable water repellency. It handles not only light rain but also sudden changes in weather, and because the repellency lasts, you can enjoy it over a long period. It also has excellent wind resistance, blocking the intrusion of cold air to keep you warm even on chilly days. At the same time, its high moisture permeability releases excess humidity to the outside, maintaining comfort even during intense activity.

Though a synthetic fiber, this material has a big distinguishing feature: a natural, refined look like a cotton blend. That natural appearance achieves a design that fits perfectly into everyday and around-town styling while retaining high functionality as outdoor wear.

Furthermore, a special coating applied to the back gives it a moderately crisp, resilient hand. Despite being a lightweight material, this treatment lets it hold a firm shape, and its resistance to wrinkling during use is another major appeal.

The sweatband uses COOLMAX® fabric.
A 100% polyester piqué material, it combines moisture-wicking quick-dry performance with UV protection (UPF 40+).

Spec

Material : Body Nylon 100%, Sweatband Polyester 100%
Size : One size
Depth approx. 17.5cm (laid flat), Brim length approx. 6cm, Head circumference approx. 60cm (adjustable with elastic)
*Finished product dimensions may vary by about ±1cm. Please understand in advance.
It expands somewhat when actually worn.
Weight : approx. 39g
Country of origin : Japan
Manufacturer : Shimada Co., Ltd., Kanonji City, Kagawa

Color

*About product color

We do our best to make the product images as close as possible to the actual colors, but the shade may differ from the real thing depending on your viewing environment and monitor settings.
Please also note that the texture and sheen of the fabric are difficult to reproduce perfectly on screen.

Grey × Beige

Black × Grey

Karekusa × Beige

Mulberry × Grey

Size Guide

*Finished product dimensions may vary by about ±1cm. Please understand in advance.
It expands somewhat as you actually wear it.

The recommended head circumference is up to about 60cm. Head circumference is the red line in the image above—the figure measured once around the widest point across the forehead, temples, and back of the head.

Collaborateur

In Collaborateur, we introduce the people who produce our products.

All of RIDGE MOUNTAIN GEAR's headwear is entrusted to Shimada Co., Ltd.

Shimada Co., Ltd. is located in Toyohama-cho, Kanonji City, Kagawa.
Founded in 1935, it started out making straw hats and is a hat maker that has stayed devoted to hat-making by the hands of its craftspeople.

Even "hats" come in all kinds of specifications. Shimada has introduced two cutting methods—CAD-CAM (computer-aided design) and metal dies—choosing whichever suits the product. For products these two methods can't handle, or for small-lot production, craftspeople sometimes draft individual patterns and cut them by hand. They always proceed by choosing the best method for the hat and for the customer.

Sewing is handled by experienced craftspeople who support the made-in-Japan hat-making we've always insisted on. Using different lockstitch and chainstitch with varying stretch to suit the material, use, and finish, they pour in the experience, knowledge, and skill they've gained to keep quality consistently high, sewing each piece one by one with heart.

In apparel (clothing) sewing, a seam allowance of about 1–2cm is common, whereas a hat's seam allowance is usually about 4mm. Because a hat's seam allowance is so small, high precision is required in sewing.

But a small seam allowance also means less variation in the finish. So even though hat-making is done by hand, there's little individual difference, and it's possible to make products that are nearly identical.

Making, with a level of skill, technique, and ideas that no one else can imitate, the very products they themselves "want to use"—that is Shimada's goal and core philosophy. And through making products, they hope to keep bringing the "country craftspeople" who have quietly worked behind the scenes, supporting Japanese manufacturing, out onto the main stage.

"Thinking in Japan, making in Japan. We want to send such 'all made in Japan' products from here in Toyohama-cho out across Japan and the world. Sparing nothing—skill, knowledge, experience, and heart—we'll keep making high-quality products."
It's by such craftspeople that RIDGE MOUNTAIN GEAR's headwear is made.

Shimada Co., Ltd. is a hat maker that insists on made-in-Japan and offers quality hats born of a careful manufacturing spirit. It began as a family-run business making and selling straw hats for farm work.

A few years after the current owner, Kazuhisa Takarada, took over the family business... a certain president of an Osaka hat company, who happened to be on the Shikoku 88-temple pilgrimage, wandered in while following his navigation. That became the catalyst: amid the decline of the farm-work straw hat business, to try his hand at the world of fashion, he trained for about half a year at that president's hat company. After that, the current form of the business began...

Having started from straw at its founding, it holds experience, techniques, and equipment rare even within Japan, and has since evolved broadly—from felt blocking to woven-fabric sewing—so that offers from brands insisting on high-quality made-in-Japan are now its mainstay.

At Shimada, the goal is to make products with a level of high skill, ingenuity, and things they themselves want to use—things found nowhere else, that people in Japan and around the world will want.
We hope to bring the "country craftspeople," long imagined as behind-the-scenes support, out onto the main stage where they can be in the spotlight.
And from Toyohama-cho, a peaceful place surrounded by sea and mountains in "Udon Prefecture," we carry in our hearts the wish to send "all made in Japan" products—thought up in Japan and made in Japan—out to the world, continuing to make high-quality products with care every day.

Shimada Co., Ltd.
769-1603
1876-1 Wada-otsu, Toyohama-cho, Kanonji City, Kagawa
https://www.shimada-oem.com/

Attention

・We recommend placing it in a laundry net when washing.
・Dark-colored products may transfer dye; to be safe, wash them separately from other items.
・Do not use detergents containing fluorescent brighteners or chlorine bleach.
・Avoid tumble drying.
・When ironing, always use a pressing cloth and apply from the reverse side.
・The brim uses a soft core, so the core itself won't break when bent; however, folding the brim too tightly will crease it and it will take time to return to its original state. Please avoid bending it intentionally.