ActionHat Review

I find that video device-holding headbands are difficult to manage and uncomfortable to wear while out hunting or on the water fishing, so I started searching for a replacement to the headband. I came across a startup for the ActionHat and began to read more about it. The more I read, the more interested I became – this baseball-style cap allows you to connect your GoPro or smartphone to the brim. Then at the 2017 ICAST, I met Robert Fields who is an ambassador for YakGear/Railblaza andI got a firsthand look at the ActionHat. He told me he is never without this product when out on the water, so I was very interested in trying one. I was informed they would be available by the end of the summer.

After some time, I contacted Rex Deguzman, founder of the ActionHat and LiveLiveGear.com, for an opportunity to review the hat. After several days, I received an ActionHat, cell phone adapter, and DIY kit and began trying them out. First, I tried connecting my Samsung S8+ and, although being kind of top-heavy which I somewhat suspected would happen, it wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it would be. I can understand that with a large, heavy cell phone, the chances of it moving or flying off would be much greater than with a small sports camera, such as a GoPro Hero. Next, I tried mounting my GoPro Hero 6 to the ActionHat. For a bit, it was very noticeable to me, but I quickly became comfortable with it and almost forgot it was there. Both the cell phone and Hero felt balanced on top compared to a headband setup or other caps I’ve tried.

(Photo courtesy of Rex DeGuzeman)

I then installed the ActionHat DIY kit on my YakGear hat and found it to be very simple to do except for one part: putting the short bolt through the cap to mount the GoPro mount. Now on this hat, which had a patch/logo on it, I placed it on the top of the logo, and it works just fine. But if there isn’t anything on the front of the hat, you would need to go about two inches above the brim and install it. There was a little wrestling with pushing the bolt through and screwing it to the mount but nothing major. After a couple of minutes, I was done and had a mount for one of my favorite hats to wear while out fishing. There are a couple of color choices and styles to choose from for an ActionHat.You can choose from a black or gray mesh cap with a curve or no curve bill or a black visor. The cap is very light and seems as though it will be comfortable to wear when the weather warms up soon.

The price for the ActionHat with the cell phone adapter is $49.99 and the GoPro/Sports Cam mount is $39.99. Pricing is the same for the visors. The ActionHat DIY kit is $29.99. Finally, the aluminum mount for the ActionHat is $17.99. Now, you say that is a lot to pay for a cap with a camera or cell phone mount on it, and I would have to agree except for one big thing – it floats! Yes, even with your GoPro on it, if it falls in the water, your $400.00 camera stays on top of the water and does not film its way to the bottom for someone in the future to find and watch your footage. The floatation is in the ActionHat FlexFrame which gives the hat its buoyance. The website www.ActionHat.com has videos on how to install the DIY Kit and so much more. Pricing and descriptions are available as well. Please note that there is a weight limit to what will float. I advise you check the ActionHat website for that informationbefore assuming. I’d also recommend testing the weight limit of your hat with your camera choice near a shallow shoreline.

The ActionHat is a perfect way to quickly and easily film your hunt or catch your personal best out on the water. It has an insurance policy of $40.00 for that $400.00 camera. Also, to accommodate for the lack of color or camo choices, they have the DIY kit to let you make an ActionHat out of yourfavorite color or style hat.

For more information, please visit www.ActionHat.com.

Review written by Gary Elliott, facilitator of www.Facebook.com/GarysOutdoorNewsandReviews and @garys_outdoor_news_and_reviews.

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