Breaking in a fitted hat without wearing it?

[BunnyHardaway]

Re: Breaking in a fitted hat without wearing it?

Drying

DO NOT put them in the dryer!

Oops. I only did air dry though, so I guess it isn't so bad.

[dkgojackets]

Re: Breaking in a fitted hat without wearing it?

I may have to try the soaking thing on some caps that have the square front which I dont like at all.

[Fiddy]

Re: Breaking in a fitted hat without wearing it?

dont put in dryer? lmao, works sweet for me

[sportsdude]

Re: Breaking in a fitted hat without wearing it?

Really random, I know, but this has been bothering me for awhile.

I bought an authentic MLB fitted hat, and I like to wear my hats low. When I put the thing on, it's so tight that it feels like it's cutting off circulation to the top of my head. I tried getting the next highest size, but that's way too big for me. Is there a way to break the hat in and not feel as if it's got a death grip on my head without wearing it for extended periods of time? I had some ideas like taking out some stitches, but I'm not sure if that'd work or not.

I have the same exact problem as you. By authentic MLB fitted hat, I'm assuming you're talking about the caps made by New Era. Growing up, I wore many hats, but those were always my favorite. When I stopped growing, my head no longer fit correctly in the New Era mlb fitted hats. One size is a little too small for me, and if I wear it for more than an hour it leaves marks on my forehead. The next size up is too big however. I have yet to find an answer, but I'm guessing that taking out some stitches is not a good idea. If you unravel one thread, the entire hat might come apart.

Since I'm still a hat lover, especially fitted hats, the ones that fit me best are the MLB Franchise series made by Twins Enterprise (found easily on hatworld.com) and any fitted hat made by Zephyr (I'm not sure if that's a brand of hat or the actually company itself). I avoid any fitted "stretchfit" hats because, well, they never turn out to be what you thought they would.

[BunnyHardaway]

Re: Breaking in a fitted hat without wearing it?

I actually like the flexfit hats the best myself. They're very comfortable, I've never had a problem with them.

Zephyr Hats is a company, and I like their hats also. They have some great NCAA hats with self-designed alternate logos, plus their fitted hats don't strangle my head. They also don't look like they have a carboard box holding up the front, which is nice.

[Brandon13]

Re: Breaking in a fitted hat without wearing it?

I just bought one of the new New Era MLB caps that are 100% polyester. Any ideas on breaking in this hat, other than wearing it all the time?

[Husker_OS]

Re: Breaking in a fitted hat without wearing it?

I just bought one of the new New Era MLB caps that are 100% polyester. Any ideas on breaking in this hat, other than wearing it all the time?

Rip the guts out of it. I think there's a link in this thread to it, if not, its somewhere in the forums. I did it for one of my fitted hats and it worked great.

[oakfan162]

Re: Breaking in a fitted hat without wearing it?

Rip the guts out of it. I think there's a link in this thread to it, if not, its somewhere in the forums. I did it for one of my fitted hats and it worked great.

There is a picture by picture how-to on uniwatch.com. You'll have to search for it though.

[sportsdude]

Re: Breaking in a fitted hat without wearing it?

Rip the guts out of it. I think there's a link in this thread to it, if not, its somewhere in the forums. I did it for one of my fitted hats and it worked great.

I would recommend against this heavily. It takes a lot of precision to do this, and one bad movement can ruin the entire hat.

Honestly the best way to break in one of those New Era wool hats is to wear it a lot, work on bending/stretching it at night and that's it. Do anything else and there's a good chance you'll ruin the hat.

When I buy new hats, I do it with the expectation that I will have a break in period and may not be able to wear them right away.

[skitch]

Re: Breaking in a fitted hat without wearing it?

I would recommend against this heavily. It takes a lot of precision to do this, and one bad movement can ruin the entire hat.

Honestly the best way to break in one of those New Era wool hats is to wear it a lot, work on bending/stretching it at night and that's it. Do anything else and there's a good chance you'll ruin the hat.

When I buy new hats, I do it with the expectation that I will have a break in period and may not be able to wear them right away.

That's the thing, we're not talking about he wool hats anymore. New Era has gone to a polyester version of 5950's that doesn't shrink to your head.

[TheTruth916]

Re: Breaking in a fitted hat without wearing it?

i have the same prob with new era caps.. i could wear a 7 1/8 but it is to snug, the 7 1/4 is just a bit big... but i buy the 7 1/4, soak it in hot water, then put it on while still soaked to get it to mold on my head for a few mins..then take it off and put it in the dryer and bam..

.it shrinks to a perfect fit for me..and the front also doesnt look like cardboard standing up on the bill lol..that is how i turn my new era caps into basically franchise relaxed fit caps..

i do this b/c everyone now seems to wear those franchises and i want to have a diff look with my caps. people ask man, where did you buy that new era hat broke in? i say hatworld lmao, then they go and look for em and cant find broken in ones...what a bunch of beavis's

does that work for the new new era mlb hats??

[skitch]

Re: Breaking in a fitted hat without wearing it?

To an extent. I just recently bought two more (I have a small collection) of New Era's, but this process isn't as money as it used to be. The best advice I can give is to try on every hat at the store of the correct size, since they are all made by hand. Pick the one that fits the best from the store, then go with the soaking technique.

[mike01]

Re: Breaking in a fitted hat without wearing it?

To an extent. I just recently bought two more (I have a small collection) of New Era's, but this process isn't as money as it used to be. The best advice I can give is to try on every hat at the store of the correct size, since they are all made by hand. Pick the one that fits the best from the store, then go with the soaking technique.

yep.

I have 25 or so of these hats....All the older style. I also recommend the soaking in hot water and wearing for 15 minutes or so and letting it dry. Don't get the bill wet though. Wouldn't put it in the dryer unless you want to shrink it, and be prepared to possibly ruin it.

Each hat size actually has 2 different sizes in terms of CM circumference. Like I think 7 1/4 hats can be 57.7 CM or 57.9...the old ones at least have it on the sticker. But they all fit differently which is incredibly annoying so your best bet is trying them on.

[IlliniM1ke]

Re: Breaking in a fitted hat without wearing it?

Decided to just bump an old thread rather than start a new one, just curious for those of you who wear fitted hats.

I own many hats only one of which is fitted (Cardinals New Era), anyhow I am just curious how exactly is a fitted hat supposed to fit? Obviously its easy to tell if its way too big or way too small, but in terms of knowing your size I'm assuming you want it to feel snug but not to where it feels like its cutting off the circulation to your brain, at the same time you don't want it falling off if you lean over or something?

My hat feels like a good fit, once its on but as I'm putting it on you have to push it on a little at first more than you would with most hats, just curious if thats normal or if it should slide on and off pretty much like nothing. I'm not saying I'm sitting here really being forceful or anything, but where a flex fit hat goes right on cuz it stretches a bit, this one has to slide right down and doesn't stretch since its fitted.

Thanks for any help, like I said I am a complete noob to fitted hats and really wasn't sure which size to go with when I was purchasing this but I really like it, just want to make sure it doesn't sound like its too small or anything.

[8]

Re: Breaking in a fitted hat without wearing it?

It sounds like what your describing depends on the shape of your head mostly, not saying you have a huge head or anything just the way it's shaped. I like my hats tight, to the point where if someone tried to flip it off it wouldn't go anywhere. Not so tight as to cause headaches or anything.