Melin A-Game Crushed Hydro Hat Review

Features:

Floatable
Water Friendly
Lightweight
Antimicrobial
Moisture-Wicking Lining
Breathable
Hidden Besom Pocket
Durable
Water-resistant exterior
Reflective piping for visibility
Honeycomb Visor is designed for weight reduction and packability
Adjustable strap closure

Recommended for: Hiking, running, outdoor adventures

Review Date: April 2022 – July 2022 in Idaho/Colorado

Size: Classic Fit (one size fits all)

Color: Granite Grey/Yellow

Retail Price: $79.00

Dave’s Review:

Brian McDonell and Corey Roth founded Melin in 2013. Lovers of the outdoors and action sports, they were disappointed in headwear offerings not being able to keep up with their lifestyle. They spent years researching materials, constructing, and modifying them to create the perfect products.

Melin A Game Crushed Hydro Hat Underside

The Melin A-Game Crushed Hydro Hat was designed for outdoor adventures and held true to this. This hat is a Vintage Shape, having the look and feel of a traditional ball cap. One small difference is that it does have a narrower curved visor.

The hat fits well and molds to your head nicely with its 4-way stretch material and is easily adjusted with a strap closure. The A-Game Crushed Hydro hat is very lightweight and comfortable against your skin. There is lots of flexibility throughout the whole hat and it stays snug without feeling tight and the material is soft against your forehead. It sits higher on the forehead than many “trucker” style caps and has a slim profile, allowing for extra visibility while sitting snugly on your head.

Melin A Game Crushed Hydro Hat side view

It’s loaded with great features for all of your outdoor adventures. Moisture wicking, water resistant, and reflective piping, just to name a few. There’s a hidden besom pocket in the forehead area to stash emergency money, etc. Unlike most hats, the bill of the hat is made from a honeycomb foam material. This allows several things: it keeps the weight down, the hat floats in water, and you can fold the hat up without damaging the bill. It doesn’t provide the ability to mold the brim, but for those that prefer a flat visor, this one’s for you.

Another great feature found in several Melin hats is that it is machine washable. It’s pretty nice just to be able to throw it in the washer with clothes when it’s dirty. It seems to uphold well to the wear and wash and dries quickly so you can be back out on the trail in no time.

Overall impressions:

The Melin A-Game Crushed Hydro Hat is a great option for all of your outdoor adventures. It’s lightweight, comfortable, durable, and best of all machine washable when it becomes dirty.

Pros:

Lightweight
Durable
Floats
Machine washable
Moisture wicking

Cons:

Foam bill does not allow shaping

Chris’ Review:

Review:

The Hydro is a minimalistic hat that everyone should look into for your travels. From camping to rafting this packable hat provides protection from the sun and elements. The honeycomb visor is narrow, so this works out well for those of us with small to medium face profiles, and it has Melin’s signature undervisor seal where you can press on when your hands are dirty and not worry about thumb prints on the visor. The hat is completely washable too so it can look and smell fresh for every new adventure.

These hats come with their own carry case which is great for pack and go use anytime. They may be on the expensive side, but they are built to last and withstand years of use and will easily become a travel companion wherever you go, they are so light you will hardly know you’re wearing a hat!

Adjusting the fit on the hydro is extremely easy and the buckle style clasp is easily adjustable and keeps it’s fit secure. I’ve really enjoyed wearing this on my hiking trips around Colorado and highly recommend it for anyone who needs a packable hat for any outdoor activities.

Overall Impressions:

The ultralight Hydro by Melin is a great hat for your outdoor adventures from camping to rafting you can pack this hat up in it’s own carry case and stow it away until you want to use it, it’s water resistant lightweight material make this a no brainer to add to your outdoor adventure hat collection!