You have questions and we have answers
Q. Who invented the SierraShade?
A. The SierraShade was invented by Rod Java, a Sierra Club Backpack Leader, avid backpacker, environmentalist, kooky inventor, husband and father.
Q. What is the SierraShade?
A. The SierraShade is really a very simple idea with a simple design. Many people call it a "low-tech wonder" or "curiously practical". Some people scratch their heads and think "Why didn't I think of that?" It's made up primarily of rip-stop nylon and fiberglass rods. The SierraShade has many obvious advantages and features, like hiking under the hot sun, hiking while it's raining and hiking in light snow. It's like having a small canopy hovering over your head at all times. Where every you stop along the trail, you don't have to look for a shaded place to rest because you carry the shade with you!
Q. Why do you say "It's better than hiking with a hat?"
A. Just think? Heat exhaustion is the #1 concern for all hikers. When you wear a hat, a lot of heat builds up under that hat. You start to sweat bullets, get tired easily, grunt and groan and complain how hot it is! With the SierraShade, there is some ventilation around your head. You won't sweat as much and get tired as easily. Instead of complaining how hot it is, you can now enjoy the views. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying don't bring a hat, just don't wear a hat while you are hiking. I always pack a ultra lightweight hat for my side trips and for just hanging around base camp.
Q. What does the SierraShade weigh?
A. 8 ounces.
Q. Why would I want to carry the extra 8 ounces?
A. Because it weights only 8 ounces. Duh. Just think about the benefits? You probably pack a Swiss Army knife with a gazillion features that weights close to a pound. Why don't you leave the knife behind and pack one or two single edge razors instead? Save 2 pounds or more by switching to a down sleeping bag. Leave the can of spam or Vienna sausage at home and eat some freeze dried food. The point I'm trying to make is you don't want to leave the trail head without the SierraShade. Ounce for ounce, the SierraShade is the best piece of equipment you could every take on your next trip.
Q. What's that "thing-a-ma-jig" hanging from the front of the SierraShade.
A. That "thing-a-ma-jig" is the optional Mosquito netting. It simply attaches in less than 1 minute with hook and loop strips to the brim of the SierraShade. It's made from a very fine no-see-um netting which will keep those pesky bugs from attacking your face. The first time you need to use it you will think to yourself, "Hey this thing really works!"
Q. No, I mean what's that plastic "thing-a-ma-jig" on the front of the SierraShade?
A. That, my friend, is the optional Sun Visor attachment. It's great when hiking in the morning or late in the afternoon when the sun is just above the horizon. The Sun Visor gives you that little extra coverage at those critical times. The Visor simply attaches with hook and loop strips in just seconds. I personally keep the Sun Visor on most of the time because it just looks "too cool!" Oh yeah, the Sun Visor can also be used at the same time as the Mosquito netting.
Q. Will the SierraShade fit my pack?
A. At the present time, the SierraShade is meant to fit almost all external framed packs without any modifications to the frame or the pack it's self. The SierraShade simply attaches to the external frame with hook and loop strips.
Q. I have a internal framed pack. Am I out of luck?
A. Actually, most of our SierraShade testing was done with internal framed packs. The combination is like a marriage made in heaven with some internal packs. Or like a jacket you buy on sale, but don't try it on until you get home and find out it doesn't fit! In other words, "what a waste of money" We found out that there must be a gazillon different makes and models, and not all packs could be easily modified for the SierraShade.
Q. I heard that you have a "Special SierraShade" for the desert hiking? What's up with that?
A. Who ever told you that, must be a very good friend of yours. Yes, we do have a very special SierraShade just for hiking in the desert. It's still in the testing stage. It's a SierraShade made of a high-tech gold mylar bonded to a cloth backing. The look is out of this world! It's special because of it's reflective qualities and is light weight and tough as nails. A hiker could possible hike farther in the desert, carrying less water. And if you got lost in the desert and needed to be spotted by a plane flying overhead, you would be seen from 15,000 feet up in the air. The extremely reflective gold mylar material is really meant for desert hiking and not while hiking in the forest. The basic SierraShade in Black, Blue or White blends well while hiking in the forest. We are looking for experienced desert hikers to be testers for us. E-mail me at rodjava@SierraShade.com and put desert hiker in the subject line.
Q. Did you patent your idea?
A. You better believe it! We hired one of the best patent attorneys in San Francisco and received U.S. Patent number 6,024,624 in the year 2000.
Q. Are you going to hassle me with spam and other junk?
A. Of course not! Your life is yours. Your privacy is yours. You may visit our site (thank you very much) and give us some personal information, but that doesn't give us the right to make anything of yours, ours. Refer to our Privacy Statement for more information. TOP
Q. It's 2006 and I remember the PackShade from 5 years ago when it first came out. What happened in between?
We were excited when the PackShade was first developed and was introduced in the market. We might have rushed too much and cut a few corners just to get it on the market. Most of our PackShade's were individually hand sewn at this time. We started to ask hikers from around the world how we can make improvements, and we listened to them. We received a lot of good as well as not so good comments and suggestions. We immediately stopped the production to concentrate on the many new features and improvements that were needed. I personally have hiked the California Sierras for the past 10 summers, with more than 30 hiking days each summer, testing and re-testing the latest production model. Now, it's October, 2006 and we have the perfect production model. We made a lot of mistakes in the past which we don't want to repeat. This is why it took us so long. We have our family name at stake and want to produce the best possible product and offer the best possible customer service.
Q. I can tell that SIERRASHADE.COM is not just an ordinary company. Why do you bother with by all the extra Customer Service?
A. We are glad you noticed. Java's Innovations is a family operated business and we have our family name at stake. Being consumers ourselves, we have experienced bad sales people, lousy customer service and empty warranties. When we decided to start our own business, we knew that we wanted to be different and unique. At Java's Innovations and SIERRASHADE.COM, we think we know what it will take to make you a loyal customer. We only ask that you give us a try.
If there are any questions that are not on this list, please E-mail us at info@SierraShade.com
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