Hello COW! Question on hat sizing

BoilermakerJones · Post by **BoilermakerJones** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 12:44 am

I've finally been given the green light to post, so I have my first question.

I measured around my head with a large piece of paper and then used a metal tape to get the measurement. It translated exactly to a 7 1/2 hat size. I went to the local hat shop and tried a 7 1/2 and it was too big. The top of my head hit the top of the hat before the sweatband made full contact. The store said I was a 7 3/8 and I ended up with a black Stetson Temple to match my dress coat (NOW I know they aren't that great a hat from all of you - luckily it is only for occasional use).

I finally realized that I have a bump just below the back of my sweatband. When I measured, I must have included the bump. But the hat I looked at didn't sit low enough to fit my whole head. I am now looking for an real Indy hat for regular use and am unsure of what size to order.

Will the additional height of a Raiders hat allow me to fit my head into a 7 1/2 hat? I think I would have a more secure fit if the hat wasn't sitting just above the largest circumference of my head.

Any similar experience would be greatly appreciated!

Matt

Weston · Post by **Weston** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 1:34 am

I think the people at your local hat shop probably got you into the right size. A taller crowned hat will not fit better. Another thing to consider is that the sizing on a felt hat is not necessarily a precise thing. I used to work at a store that sold western apparel and my specialty was hats, and I noticed that some of the hats we carried could varie somewhat even though they had the same size indicated on the label. From the info you gave us, I would say if your Raiders hat is going to be a Stetson (Miller Hats has a nice one if you like Stetson), or some other factory hat, go with the 7 3/8. If you are going custom, I'd go back to that hat store and have them measure your head and give you the measurement in inches or centimeters. Then give that measurement to your hatter.

Weston

Mulceber · Post by **Mulceber** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 1:51 am

If I were you, I'd order the 7 1/2, and here's why: hats tend to shrink over time - they expand again when the heat and pressure of a too-big head is in them, though. But the thing is, they only shrink down to a certain size. If you order a size that's too big, it's like getting it pre-shrunk and it won't fluctuate in size as much after rain storms.

All I know is that when I ordered my Adventurebilt, I ordered a 7 5/8 and found it was pretty loose on my head. After wearing it around for a week or so it fit perfectly. :junior: -M

BoilermakerJones · Post by **BoilermakerJones** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 2:14 pm

Thank you both for your replies, even if they are different!

Being new around here, it takes a while to come to terms with all the hat choices there are. Having to mail order one makes it doubly hard. I wasn't favorably impressed with my trip to the hat shop. They told me I was a 7 3/8 based on the fact that the 7 1/2 was loose, not from measuring. They ended up stretching out a 7 1/4 to fit me when they didn't have a 7 3/8 in black. At the time I didn't know that it wasn't a good idea and that the hat is likely to eventually return to its original size.

I suppose should have mentioned in my original post that my head is more toward a long oval. One of my thoughts on 7 1/2 was that I could, if necessary, add some padding at the sides to allow a little more front/rear space.

I didn't mean that I was keen on Stetson. Once I got my hat home and noticed how it was made, I was disappointed. My bald father has always worn hats, and several of his good hats are Stetsons. I got the Temple thinking it was a nice looking fedora. Since it was black, I wasn't really looking for a definitely Indy accurate hat. Only later did I realize how the current Stetson quality compares to the hats my father has from the late 50's through the early 70's.

If it helps, I am considering a Federation or a Camptown - and possibly a factory AB if they are ready when I am. The Fed because I could go for the bigger size and see how it works without risking as much money. And as everyone seems to agree around here - you can never have enough hats. If I could be confident on the size, I would rather go for the other options.

Thanks for listening,
Matt

Indiana Kev · Post by **Indiana Kev** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 2:30 pm

What I did to measure my head was to use a cloth tape measure and measure my head where I thought/wanted my hat to sit. I sent Steve the measurement in inches and when I got my hat it fit perfect.

I suggest giving the cloth tape measure a try.

Piker · Post by **Piker** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 2:53 pm

You can get fit strips to stuff in the sweat band if you find a hat loose. Akubra's come with fitting strips. You can even use weather stripping from a hardware store. If it is to tight? You can try stretching it with a hat-jack, very slowly.

gabrielle · Post by **gabrielle** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 9:20 am

My head is 22 5/8 or there about. In some hats that's a 7 1/8 and in others 7 1/4. It depends on the hat so when I order now I just give the size in inches to avoid any problems.

Also if the hat is too big you can put that gray foam in the hatband to make it smaller or use a hat stretcher to make it bigger, that way you always get a perfect fit.

theinterchange · Post by **theinterchange** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 10:53 am

Mine's right at 23" so what size would that make me?

gabrielle · Post by **gabrielle** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 11:09 am

Right between 7 1/8 and 7 1/4...you could go with 7 1/8 and stretch it or the 7 1/4 and use the foam padding under the sweatband.

Post by **Michaelson** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 11:48 am

theinterchange wrote:Mine's right at 23" so what size would that make me?

7 3/8, same as mine.

Regards! Michaelson

Argonaut · Post by **Argonaut** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 2:20 pm

I'm at 21.9 inches, so I've been currently working under the assumption that size 7 is the best for me.

Hunter Jones · Post by **Hunter Jones** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 2:50 pm

Mulceber wrote:If I were you, I'd order the 7 1/2, and here's why: hats tend to shrink over time - they expand again when the heat and pressure of a too-big head is in them, though. But the thing is, they only shrink down to a certain size. If you order a size that's too big, it's like getting it pre-shrunk and it won't fluctuate in size as much after rain storms.

All I know is that when I ordered my Adventurebilt, I ordered a 7 5/8 and found it was pretty loose on my head. After wearing it around for a week or so it fit perfectly. :junior: -M

Same here. When I received my AB I thought it was a little loose so I emailed Steve about it and he explained that the band should be a little big to start with because the hat band will shrink with sweat. Was he ever right. After wearing it a few times the band had shrunk and now it's a perfect fit.

KrYpToNiAn1 · Post by **KrYpToNiAn1** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 1:34 pm

I received my AB last week, and after wearing it practically every second since, it's now fitting perfectly. I've also been 'clapping' the crown to encourage a bit of taper, as Steve recommended to do. I'm very happy with it, but I'm worried about shrinkage... how much will it shrink? I'm gonna get this sucker wet, and I'm not gonna baby it. Should I be concerned?

s.