Sunshade

Introduction

When enjoying summer outdoors, sun protection greatly affects your comfort. How long you can stay outside under strong UV rays depends on how well you're prepared. However, we often hear from "cap people" who say, "Wide-brimmed hats just don't suit my style" or "I want something lighter and more freedom of movement." It was to meet these real needs that RIDGE MOUNTAIN GEAR's "Sunshade" was born.

The "Sunshade" is designed to firmly cover sun-sensitive areas such as the neck, ears, and nape of the neck, without compromising the lightness or personal style of a cap. It aims to find the perfect balance between functionality and design, addressing the dilemma of wanting to wear a cap but not wanting to compromise on sun protection.

Caps are loved for their lightweight and breathable nature, superior fit, and versatility that blends naturally into daily life. Especially in the outdoors, their wide field of vision, excellent ventilation, and portability that allows them to be easily stored in bags or pockets are all reassuring features.

However, under the direct sunlight of mid-summer, a cap alone inevitably leaves some areas uncovered. Everyone has probably experienced that tingling sensation of the sun beating down on the back of their neck or above their ears. The "Sunshade" was born to provide that "little bit of extra peace of mind." To preserve the freedom of cap wearers while adding necessary protection, we paid meticulous attention to every detail, from its shape and material to its attachment method.

Just attach it to your usual cap

Simply hook it onto your favorite cap, and you're done. No complicated steps involved. It's designed to fit smoothly not only with RIDGE MOUNTAIN GEAR caps but also with your existing caps. We've embodied the desire to "keep your cap style as it is." The elastic cord allows for head circumference adjustment, ensuring a snug fit for your head size.

The "Sunshade" provides excellent protection for your ears, neck, and nape, areas that hats often miss. Its design covers the entire neck, effectively blocking sunlight. Furthermore, it's made from a lightweight material, ensuring comfort even during extended wear.

3 Ways to Use It

This "Sunshade" can be used in three ways.

① As is.

The "Sunshade" provides extensive sun protection by securely covering the nape of the neck and ears, which are particularly sensitive to strong summer sunlight. Furthermore, its well-ventilated attachment method prevents stuffiness even on hot days, ensuring a comfortable wearing experience.

However, due to its design that thoroughly covers the nape of the neck and ears, the surface area exposed to wind increases, which may cause the fabric to flap in strong winds. This characteristic is a result of prioritizing comfort and sun protection while striving for a balance between lightness and protection.

② Worn with the snap buttons fastened.

By attaching it with the snap buttons provided at the neck, fluttering in strong winds can be effectively prevented. This simple yet secure fastening method ensures stability even in windy conditions.

By securely fastening the snap buttons at the neck, the area around the neck, which is prone to sun exposure, is thoroughly covered. This extends the range of sun protection and enhances peace of mind during activities.

③ Worn with the snap buttons fastened at the back of the head.

This method involves fastening the snap buttons at the back of the head. It allows for ventilation around the neck while minimizing flapping in the wind. This method is particularly effective on hot days or in mild wind conditions, providing a more comfortable wearing experience by releasing heat and moisture that tends to build up around the neck.

Wearing it at the back of the head is ideal when you prioritize ventilation or don't want to feel excessive constriction around your neck. Conversely, fastening the snap buttons at the neck is more effective on windy days or in situations where the sun directly hits your neck. Thus, the "Sunshade" is designed to allow flexible switching of wearing methods depending on the situation.

When wearing a hat

The "Sunshade" features a highly versatile design that can be used not only with caps but also when wearing hats. Even for those who prefer wide-brimmed hats, this item is incredibly useful for providing thorough sun coverage.

When wearing a hat, simply attach the "Sunshade" to your neck first, and then put on your hat. Especially when wearing a hat with a brim that extends to the back, using the "Sunshade" in this way will effectively block sunlight from your neck to your ears and nape.

While wide-brimmed hats protect the face and entire head, the "Sunshade" provides complementary protection for the neck and around the ears, areas that hats might not fully cover. This combination offers ideal protection, allowing you to enjoy outdoor activities with peace of mind even under intense summer sun.

The "Sunshade" is designed to fold into a compact size, making it convenient for carrying. Its lightweight and space-saving nature allows it to be easily stored in a backpack or pocket.

Material

This product uses COOL DOTS®, a 4-Way stretch fabric with stretch in both vertical and horizontal directions. COOL DOTS® is a high-performance material made of 100% polyester with countless microscopic air holes, developed by Komatsu Matere Co., Ltd. The features of this material are its excellent stretchability and breathability.

Due to its excellent stretchability, it flexibly responds to all movements and reduces stress during wear. It naturally conforms to body movements and maintains comfort even during sudden movements during hiking or active daily life. Furthermore, its high breathability due to microscopic air holes suppresses stuffiness even after long hours of wear, keeping you cool. You can stay comfortable even in summer or during intense physical activity.

Breathability and Water Repellency

The fabric has countless microscopic holes (micropores) created by a special weaving method, achieving excellent breathability. This technology allows air to flow efficiently from inside the shirt, reducing stuffiness and maintaining a comfortable feel at all times.

Furthermore, the design of these micropores is engineered to suppress transparency during wear. Normally, emphasizing breathability can make the fabric thinner and more transparent, but this shirt balances visual reassurance with functionality. It ensures the breathability required for hiking and exercise without compromising comfort or design.

【Breathability (cm3/cm2.sec)】
Test method: JIS-L-1096 A method (Frazier method) → 59.6

【Water Repellency Rating】
Test method: JIS-L-1092 Spray method → Class 4

※This material is treated with C0 (non-fluorine) water repellent.
C0 water repellency is a treatment that repels water droplets and dirt on the fabric surface without using fluorine compounds.
It quickly repels light rain and splashes but is not completely waterproof.
The effect gradually diminishes with use and washing, but can be restored to some extent by following the washing instructions.

Please play the video to see the water repellency in action.

Stretch and Lightweight

This material boasts a lightweight of 104g/㎡ and also has excellent wrinkle resistance. Even if you stuff it into a backpack pocket or storage space, it will quickly regain its shape when taken out. You can maintain the beautiful silhouette of the shirt without any hassle.

【Elongation Recovery Rate and Stretch Rate (%)】
Test method: JIS-L-1096 B-1 method, B method 14.7N
Stretch rate → Vertical 31.9, Horizontal 16.6
Elongation recovery rate → After 30 seconds: Vertical 74.9, Horizontal 86.7

【Wrinkle Resistance】
Test method: JIS-L-1059-1 Monsanto method 5N
Length direction → 85
Width direction → 78
Wrinkle resistance rate (%)

UV Protection

【UV Measurement (%)】
Test method: JIS-L-1925
Shielding rate, measurement wavelength 280mm-400mm → 96.8

UPF29.9
UV shielding rate 90% or more

Durability

Abrasion resistance test in dry and wet conditions.

【Abrasion (grade)】
Test method: JIS L 0849 (Type II) Dry abrasion 4-5 grade, Wet abrasion 4-5 grade (maximum 5 grade)

Environmental Considerations

Some of the stretch components use plant-derived LYCRA T400® fiber.

Spec

Material: 100% Polyester
Size: Free
Weight: Approx. 25g
Country of Origin: Japan
Manufacturer: Fashion Kobo Kuroishi Co., Ltd., Kuroishi City, Aomori Prefecture

Color

※About product colors

We strive to match the product images to the actual colors as closely as possible, but please note that the actual colors may differ depending on your browsing environment and monitor settings.
Also, please be aware that it is difficult to perfectly reproduce the texture and sheen of the fabric on screen.

Quiet Grey

Wearing Quiet Grey

Sky Haze

Wearing Sky Haze

Sage Dust

Wearing Sage Dust

Saffron Mustard

Wearing Saffron Mustard

Coast Grey

Wearing Coast Grey

Solid Black

Wearing Solid Black

Size Chart

Collaborator

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

Fashion Kobo Kuroishi is a factory in Kuroishi City, Aomori Prefecture, with about 50 employees. It was established in 2003.

They specialize in shirt sewing and produce shirts for famous domestic manufacturers throughout the year. They produce about 60,000 shirts annually.

Each factory has its own specialty, such as factories good at shirts, factories good at pants, and factories specializing in cut-and-sewn items.

As the saying goes, "Let the shoemaker stick to his last," we entrust each item to the factory that specializes in it. We often receive feedback from these factories on points we hadn't noticed as manufacturers, which sometimes leads to quality improvement.

I love making things, and while I enjoy making them myself, I also love these production sites. Sometimes I'm asked, "Does a factory mean everything is left to machines?" but that's not entirely true. Even now, there are many processes involved in completing a product, and many people's hands are involved.

President Watanabe. He works on the factory floor every day, operating sewing machines and ironing. On this day, we were able to speak with him briefly between his production of RIDGE MOUNTAIN GEAR products.

If you've ever held one of our products, you'll know that I can confidently vouch for the quality of the sewing finish.

He said that he and his staff are diligently studying every day to sew and finish products beautifully. And indeed, the products always turn out perfectly beautiful.

"Using such amazing materials from this or that place." Like that, "Sewn in such an amazing factory from this or that place."

I think sewing factories should become brands in their own right.

Fashion Kobo Kuroishi Co., Ltd.
42-2 Kamimachi, Kuroishi City, Aomori Prefecture 036-0386

Attention

To ensure the longevity of this product, please follow the care instructions below.

・Please use a neutral detergent for washing.
・Turn the product inside out, place it in a laundry net, and wash it separately.
・The water temperature limit is 40°C; avoid washing with hot water.
・Do not tumble dry.