Skida Nordic Hat – Effective for the Backcountry

Made in Vermont, The Skida Nordic Hat has been my go-to headcover for splitboarding in the Colorado backcountry. Originally made for cross country skiers, the poly-blend of polyester and spandex allows for effective breathability and moisture-wicking. As Skida’s first product ever created in its lineup, the Nordic Hat continues to be a winner for backcountry recreation.

Aaron with his eyes on another lap in the Skida Nordic Hat (Photo by Seth Linden)

Before this past season, I always had difficulty keeping my head from excessively sweating and the water vapor from fogging up my sunglasses, therefore affecting my overall efficiency on the skintrack.

The Skida Nordic Hat changed the dynamics of my touring and transitions. I never had to take off my nordic hat as I could fit my helmet over the thin material. These extra few seconds would give me ample opportunities to tease my buddies about their progress in transitioning to downhill.

Aaron heading back up the skin track for another lap in the Skida Nordic Hat (Photo by Ian Garrity)

Skida Nordic Hat Review

The Skida Nordic Hat also helped secure my cochlear implant processor (like a hearing aid) and keep it from shifting around so that was a bonus as I couldn’t rely on neck gaiters. The fit didn’t also interfere with my sunglass frames either.

Climbing 1-2k vertical feet in an hour tends to generate a lot of heat and I can’t afford to waste any time fiddling with my headgear or regulating my sweat to keep it from leaking into my eye protection. The Nordic Hat did its job in dumping the excess while protecting my ears from the wind chill.

Aaron smiling in the Skida Nordic Hat on the skin track (photo by Ian Garrity)

If you’re wondering about the stink and the risk of washing, well don’t because I’ve washed it according to instructions multiple times and it comes out smelling clean each time.

The rad thing about Skida Nordic Hats is that there’s so many designs to choose from. I personally rock the Fire Mist. If you want something warmer, check out their Alpine Hats, which include a fleece lining to trap heat. S/M sizes fits head measurements 20” to 22.5” while M/L sizes fit 22.5” to 25”

Aaron grinning as he heads back up to milk more pow in the Skida Nordic Hat (Photo by: Seth Linden)

The Skida Nordic Hat gets two big thumbs up from the Gear Destroyer. Pick your pattern at https://skida.com/collections/nordic-hat

Aaron above the clouds in the Skida Nordic Hat (Photo by Seth Linden)

Aaron Rose