There are many types of baseball hats available. There are two kinds – constructed and unconstructed hats. There are also fitted, and flex fit hats. And there are adjustable hats. Each of these would fit the wearer differently.
When talking of a baseball hat, we talk about a soft one with a rounded crown. It also comes with a stiff peak that projects at the front.
Most of the time, the front of the garment has designs or logos. The logo can be of a company or a sports team.
Company logos use baseball hats as a way for them to advertise.
If you are a fan of a sports team, you can wear their logo at the front of your baseball cap.
The back of the cap tells a different story. This is where the cap is actually fitted to the head size of the wearer.
Some caps would come with plastic adjustments at the back. Others use Velcro. And others use an elastic material that one can adjust for a better fit.
For players, baseball caps are actually part of their traditional uniforms.
It comes with a brim that points forward. This should shield the eyes from the glare of the sun.
From about the 1980s, this is the type of cap that gained popularity as a fashion accessory. This is more popular, particularly in the US.
The Types of Baseball Hats
As mentioned, different kinds of baseball hats are available in the market.
One type is the constructed or the unconstructed. There are also fitted hats as well as flex fits. And finally, there are adjustable hats as well.
Each of these hats has a different fit and size.
It is thus important that when choosing a cap, one has to consider these types.
How should the hat fit? Would you need adjustments or not?
Here below are the types of baseball hats according to their crown type.
One type is the six-panel cap. Then, there is the five-panel cap.
There are also high, mid, and low-profile caps available. There are also structured and unstructured ones.
Everything has something to do with the slant of the front part of the cap.
A low-profile cap has the least steep slant of all types. This is usually related to a sport or a golf-style cap.
A mid-profile type is a bit steeper compared to the low-profile one. These types are those that you see baseball players usually wear.
Also, the mid-profile types of hats are those that come with a deeper fit.
And finally, the high-profile types. These are those that have the front so steep they almost look straight up. These are usually those associated with a trucker-style cap.
Structured vs. Unstructured
It should also be important to know the difference between the two.
Baseball cap crowns can come in two types.
It can be the structured type or the unstructured one. Other times, these types are also called as constructed and unconstructed.
A structured cap crown is stiffer. Its fabric inside is supportive. Because of such materials, the hats can hold their shapes when crumpled.
This is the type of cap that baseball players traditionally wear.
They also come in different colors and fabrics.
When you have an unstructured cap, it means that its front panels are not super supported.
These hats are those whose front panels actually flop flat. When the panels drop flat, this is an unstructured hat. Put it on a table.
Size Fitting Types
There are also different types of baseball hats according to their size fittings.
Here they are.
Fitted Hat
This type is not adjustable.
When one buys this type of hat, one has to get the one with the correct size. Otherwise, it would be ill-fitting.
These are the most popular types of baseball hats.
The hat does not come with an adjustable strap commonly found at the back. As such, the hat is not as bulky-looking as the others.
The disadvantage, however, is that this is something you cannot adjust. You cannot make this tighter, or you cannot loosen it up.
These types of hats are those you wear for fashion. This is not for sports.
Flex-Fit Hats
These types are also not adjustable.
But these are those that come in three sizes-small, medium and large.
The back part comes with an elastic band. This should give the wearer a bit of space when needed as the band allows stretching.
Most of the time, these types of hats are for sporting events. Other times, people also wear this for fashion.
If the wearer gets the right size, the hat usually fits perfectly.
Adjustable Fit
This type is the most common of all baseball hats.
The hat comes with either a Velcro or a snap-style strap at the back.
Because of this feature, such a type is often called the one-size-fits-all type of hat.
Women also prefer such a type. The reason for this is because the opening at the back allows the women to wear a ponytail.
This is also the least expensive of all types. As such, the hat is often used and distributed during marketing campaigns.
What are the materials often used for baseball hats?
Most of the time, baseball hats are of cotton or polyester. Other caps are actually made of wool or cotton. There are also brushed canvas types as well as mixed blends of wool and something else.
Baseball tops are usually made of cotton.
The other most popular material is polyester.
Such materials allow the texture to support the head. This is despite the dampness caused by sweat.
But despite its popularity, there are also other materials used for baseball caps. One such example is wool, a material used for vintage caps.
They are thicker than the popular baseball caps we see these days.
Baseball caps are actually supposed to come with tags. These tags should let the buyer know of the type of materials used for such a cap.
This should enable the buyer to make an informed decision before the purchase.
Different materials have different textures.
And this is the reason why some users can be picky when it comes to materials used in a cap.
Here are a few of the most common materials.
Brushed Cotton
This material brings to the forefront a delicate texture.
Brushed cotton is the type that went through countless brushing. This is always done up until the material attains the perfect delicate texture.
There are different weights to this texture. These range from the light to the substantial texture.
Cotton Twill
This texture should be lighter than brushed cotton.
Its lightness brings an unobtrusive sheen to it.
This texture is very common. But if there is one thing we commend, it is its durability that can withstand the test of time.
Washed Chino Twill
Lightweight and delicate. These are the two words that can describe this material’s texture.
The downfall of such a material is that it cannot 100% support a brilliant color.
They always come in primary colors.
Despite the basicness of its colors, caps of this material are super comfortable to wear.
Polyester Mesh
This material comes with a mixed texture.
Such would give the wearer a delicate and breathable cap. And this is one common material used for caps.
In fact, it is so common that mainstream baseball has this cap most of the time.
Such caps are trendy during the late spring games.
Brushed Canvas
Brushed to a quality equal to a calfskin texture, this is how this material is often described.
It comes with a light surface. But the texture is tough. It is more solid than the other materials.
Aside from the cotton twill material, this is the other one that brings to the table durability.
Wool Blends
This comes with waffle-like surfaces.
They have more weight than cotton mixes. This material is also heavier than polyester blends.
They, however, are rarely produced these days.
The material is not as popular compared to the others.
But if there is something about this material, it is its finished product that is solid.
How do you fit a baseball hat?
A perfectly fitting hat should be comfortable above your ears. Its bill should rest in the middle of your forehead. The crown of the hat is on top of your head. There should also be little space between the head and the cap.
A baseball cap is something almost everybody wears. It can be for fashion. Or it can also be for sports.
No matter your purpose, baseball caps are here to stay. They’re comfortable!
What more could you ask?
Baseball Caps Over the Years
These types of caps came into the world at the start of the 19th century.
In the beginning, it was common to find baseball hats from cotton materials. Its bill was huge enough to shield the eyes from either the sun or the rain.
In previous years, a button covered in cloth sits at the top of the cap. Eyelets also surround the cap. This should help out in the ventilation and breathability of the garment.
These days, baseball caps are ever more popular. In fact, these caps are popular for both sexes – males and females.
They come in many sizes, colors, and forms.
Baseball caps now also come with adjustable features at the back. This makes these caps more wearable, no matter the head size.
But when it comes to wearing them, how are baseball caps supposed to fit?
The Perfect Fit
In order to identify a perfect fit, the baseball cap should sit comfortably above the ears.
The bill should be resting right in the middle of the forehead. Also, the crown, as crowns should be, is on top of the head. And when it sits on top of the head, there should be minimal space between the head and the cap.
The advantage of a perfect fit is that it does not easily get blown away by the wind. A perfectly fitting cap will also not leave a mark on your head after hours of wearing it.
An indication is if you spin it. Spin the cap around. Can you easily do it? If you can, then the fit should be perfect.
The First Time you Wear It
When you have a new baseball cap, make sure to dampen it with hot water before wearing it.
And while you are wearing the cap, make sure to curve and flatten the bill. Use your hands to shape the bill depending on how you want it to look.
While the cap dries, wear it on your head. This is, so it takes the shape of your head when completely dried.
Shaping the Bill
What is in fashion now is a bill that has a slight curve. It is actually almost flat if you ask us.
When you have a new baseball cap, you may want to flatten the bill a bit.
To do this, get some hot water.
Dampen the bill with the water. Next, you can place the cap on a surface. Put some weight on the bill to make it flat.
But if you have a new baseball cap and want to curve the bill, you still have to use hot water.
Spray the bill with hot water.
Roll it gently. Do this some more until the bill can fit into a large mug.
Leave it there until it completely dries.,
Once dried, it should already be a little more curved than when you bought it.
Wearing it New
A new cap’s bill can always conform to the shape, depending on how you want it.
Upon wearing the cap, it needs your frequent customizing of the bill. Either you flatten the bill, or you curve the bill with your hands.
In time, the bill will react and retain the curve that you frequently shape it to.
By this time, it should be perfect.
Just the way you want it.