Fitted Hats

[JohnT]

I am looking to get a fitted umpire hat, but I have never bought a fitted cap before. How do you size them? Do you measure the distance around your head or how does that all work?

Thanks in advance!

[Umpire in Chief]

Ump-Attire has a chart on their site as to how to measure your head. I would suggest going to a store in your local mall to try on different caps and get a idea what your size is. I have personally found that sizing, even among the same brand can be off. I usually wear a 7 5/8 cap which is a bit too big, but the 7 1/2 is a bit too small. A friend gave me a brand new 7 1/2 cap which is larger than all of my 7 5/8 caps.

Richardson and Cliff Keen make flex-fit caps. I just found out there are two different types of flex fit caps from a post on ABUA. I have wool flexfit caps with only a small amount of give, and really like them. Apparently there are other flex fit caps with greater streach ability. Apparently other umps have a problem with these hats.

[blue bomber]

Yeah, fitted is a really tough thing to order if you're not trying on THAT hat to check the fit properly. I'd say it's not as tough as wearing a trucker hat with the adjustable plastic thingy in the back in public.

I really enjoy flex fit in my regular hats, but I don't know how I'd feel about it behind the plate. A lot of guys complain that the flex fit gets loose and doesn't secure their mask properly. I can sympathize, but to that I also simply say all the more reason to buy a sexy new ultramega lite weight mask.

[semperfiguy]

I am a uniform freak. fitted is the only way to go. Try on many hats to get the right size. A nice fitted wool cap is not only good looking its tradition. Best of luck!!

[celt62]

Go a size smaller because they stretch out. Particularly the mesh ones.

[littleleagueump]

Make sure that you don't get one that is too tight. You will endure a headache after calling games all day. If you have the funds, get two hats. One for the field and one for the plate. The one for the plate needs to be tight so it won't come off during a play when you take off your mask.

I have found that buy fitted hats are like buying shoes. You need to try them on before you buy to get a right fit.

The flexfit hats are good too.

[strike3scott]

I have several hats - all fitted. I wear 7 5/8 on the plate and 7 3/4 on the bases. Both are different brands and fit the same. The Richardson I have fits OK but I like the New Era. New Era creases well and looks sharp. Like semperfiguy I am a traditionalist. The flexfit do not crease well and after a while (a buddy has one) they look like s*** - all stretched out.

[littleleagueump]

Try this site for hats. They are flexi-fit mesh hats, and they are cheap too.

http://www.sport-smart.com/proflex-fit-hats-jersey-mesh.htm

[catsbackr]

Go a size smaller because they stretch out. Particularly the mesh ones.

Disagree.

My hats always seem to shrink after a good sweating and drying out.

[BrianC14]

Don't buy a mesh hat.

Please, just don't.

[Stan W.]

This is all IMHO............and I encourage everyone to do what their association puts forward as acceptable...

To that end.....

DO NOT BUY:

Adjustable Caps........This should not be a debated issue. Nothing says low rent like an adjustable cap.......if your association issues them, do everything you can to dissuade them, or have your own fitted cap made.......

AVOID:

Flex-fit CAPS...........I know there are some of us that are out there who have an in-between head size and find this a good fix, and I dont have a problem with that. But if at all possible, get a proper fitted cap.........you can tell... and if you are a crease cap wearer, they do not hold a good crease....

If you are wearing your mask correctly your cap is part of the support system and will need to stay on when you remove the mask. The most often complaint I hear about flex fits is that the mask pulls them off.

My local umpire equipment provider sells these flex fit caps.....he says they are perfectly acceptable........(He is a NCAA umpire).......yet he does not wear them..........

MESH CAPS............Again if your association issues them, that is fine.....then all of you at least look the same.....Ive got one, and I use it when thats all my partner has........but I dont like the way they look.

CAP ADVICE:

New Era- all our caps used to be New Era. Then a few years ago we started having serious sizing issues with New Era. In the same box, 3 caps all 7 3/4 were 3 different sizes......when you are ordering by size for a large group, thats a problem. Ive been told that since they moved to polyester rather than wool, that this problem is solved...........dont know about that.

Richardson- we have since moved to these caps.......good true to size....nice finish, takes a good crease.

DO NOT BUY A SIZE SMALLER.......dont know a cap one that does not shrink some in sunlight and salty sweat..........

Again, just my advice and opinions.............

[Kyle_Stevens]

I hate to say it but I have mesh. I bought them at a local sporting goods store when I started back up, quick and easy. This is one thing that is on my list of up grades, give me time, I will be ready by next spring!

[LMSANS]

This is all IMHO............and I encourage everyone to do what their association puts forward as acceptable...

To that end.....

DO NOT BUY:

Adjustable Caps........This should not be a debated issue. Nothing says low rent like an adjustable cap.......if your association issues them, do everything you can to dissuade them, or have your own fitted cap made.......

AVOID:

Flex-fit CAPS...........I know there are some of us that are out there who have an in-between head size and find this a good fix, and I dont have a problem with that. But if at all possible, get a proper fitted cap.........you can tell... and if you are a crease cap wearer, they do not hold a good crease....

If you are wearing your mask correctly your cap is part of the support system and will need to stay on when you remove the mask. The most often complaint I hear about flex fits is that the mask pulls them off.

My local umpire equipment provider sells these flex fit caps.....he says they are perfectly acceptable........(He is a NCAA umpire).......yet he does not wear them..........

MESH CAPS............Again if your association issues them, that is fine.....then all of you at least look the same.....Ive got one, and I use it when thats all my partner has........but I dont like the way they look.

CAP ADVICE:

New Era- all our caps used to be New Era. Then a few years ago we started having serious sizing issues with New Era. In the same box, 3 caps all 7 3/4 were 3 different sizes......when you are ordering by size for a large group, thats a problem. Ive been told that since they moved to polyester rather than wool, that this problem is solved...........dont know about that.

Richardson- we have since moved to these caps.......good true to size....nice finish, takes a good crease.

DO NOT BUY A SIZE SMALLER.......dont know a cap one that does not shrink some in sunlight and salty sweat..........

Again, just my advice and opinions.............

I find it ironic that Jim Evans gives out the adjustable cap at the Liberty Classic. In one of his speeches, he (like everyone else) puts the rap on adjustable caps as looking unprofessional. So why give them at your clinics? Oh, yeah cheaper and little or no wasted inventory. Thanks Jim.

I have about 9 caps, one is the flex fit. I only wear it on the bases. It's looser than the fitted and I sometimes feel like it's falling off. It will be moving to the bottom of the pile.

[blue32]

I am a uniform freak. fitted is the only way to go. Try on many hats to get the right size. A nice fitted wool cap is not only good looking its tradition. Best of luck!!

I agree that the best way to go is trying on different caps. The only problem is that in Boise, ID, there are no retailers that stock umpire equipment, except for the "smitty essentials kit"-the nylon rawlings ball bag with the outside pockets. We have to go online to get all of our gear. So, if you order a fitted cap that doesn't fit right, too bad. You can return it, but usually you get stuck with paying the return shipping. It turns a 12 dollar hat into 25-30 bucks real quick. For that reason, I just order the flex fits. I only use them on the bases anyway, because I wear a HSM behind the plate.