AOPA Staff Pilot Gear Product Review

At the AOPA headquarters, gear from the AOPA Pilot Gear Store is coveted. You will always catch staff coming in in the mornings (some a little late, might we add😉) with a warm cup of coffee sloshing around in their speckled tumbler. If you pay attention while walking through the hallways, you can see the patterns of our unmistakable pilot socks peeking through the space between shoes and pants. On Fridays—our designated casual day—various tee shirts from fly-ins past are sported on many employees. Oh, and did I mention the countless blankets you’ll find neatly thrown over staff’s chairs? It gets pretty frigid in the building, so it’s our favorite way to warm up.

Needless to say, pilot gear products are very popular among the staff; we are always waiting for the next product drop. So, we thought the best way to give you our honest opinions on our most popular products in the Pilot Gear store would be to reach out to AOPA staff and get their feedback. This way, you won’t have to worry if what you are purchasing will fit, feel comfortable, or work with your fall wardrobe. Without further ado, here is Erick, Lili, and Nick reviewing our trucker hat, windsocks, and backcountry tee.

Erick and the Trucker Hat:

AOPA: Is it comfortable?

For me, I’ll give it a 3/5 for comfort. The way it’s made, it creates a hotspot on my forehead where the seams all overlap and come together, so I don’t wear it for long. Otherwise, I’ll wear it backward.

AOPA: Is I breathable?

Yes. Of course, it’s breathable. It’s a trucker hat! 😝

AOPA: Would you recommend it for a friend?

Sure would! I bought one for my lady friend a couple of years ago!

AOPA: Any overall comments about the hat?

The colors and look are pretty stylish, and the quality is good.

Lili and the Windsocks:

AOPA: How would you describe the fit?

The perfect fit.

AOPA: How does the material feel?

Breathable, well-crafted, and soft.

AOPA: Any overall comments about the socks?

What a fun, whimsical pair of “wind” socks! I generally find that novelty socks don’t last long or shrink up, but that has not been the case with this pair of AOPA socks. They’re high quality and pair well with jeans and slacks alike. Will definitely be on the lookout for more fun AOPA socks—the best thing is, they’re designed by AOPA’s own graphic designers! Super cool.

Nick and the Backcountry Tee:

AOPA: How would you describe the fit?

Snug.

AOPA: What is the length of the shirt/Where does it hit?

At my low waist.

AOPA: How does the material feel?

It’s very comfortable and soft and is not too heavy for summer wear. No signs of the design fading after a handful of washes.

AOPA: Any overall comments about the tee?

When I wore this for the shoot, I was about 40lbs heavier than I am now, so it was a little snug about the tum, and ‘comfortably fitted’ about the top-half. Now it is still the latter, but much more accommodating about the midsection. Hangs to a nice length, for somebody of a fairly lengthy stature.