Hat sizes

I'm a 7 1/2 + 1/16 XLO. Not a huge selection off the rack. Vintage Stetson's fit true to size and consistent but I find the more modern say mid-seventies into early 90's are way large at 7 5/8ths. The leather used in the sweats is not very tolerant of stretching without lexol prep so 7 1/2 takes steam and patience to get the wonky wave out of the brim after a little stretch. Art sent me a conformer when I ordered my first VS and I traced my head shape before sending it back. I think I've made 15 band blocks so far and I'll be making more. A well fitting hat is worth the effort or you can just go with a beret but it ain't worth a damn if you're trying to keep the sun out your eyes. You have plenty of time to thin your hat collection but the time to collect the classics seems finite. The fine tuning happens on your head.

Tom D.

I remember reading something @Lefty wrote about hats fitting. In essence, he said that hats aren’t like shoes where only one size fits. Lefty wrote he just changed how the hat sat on his head: farther back, tilted up, etc. I can usually wear 7 5/8 to 7 3/4 hats equally well. Some 7 1/2 hats can be stretched using a band block or stretcher, but some are too tight and I won’t even attempt it. Gannon makes my hats in 61.5, and Art made them in 7 5/8 long oval; they all fit slightly different, even those made by the same hatter in the same size, but a day with the band block in place makes them all fit perfectly.


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I have stretched hats and I have padded hats and I definitely prefer padding hats every time.

scottyrocks said:

I have stretched hats and I have padded hats and I definitely prefer padding hats every time.

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That would require finding a hat in a size larger than my head. I’ve found three of those in all my time looking.


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You are a special guy, Brent.

deadlyhandsome said:

That would require finding a hat in a size larger than my head. I’ve found three of those in all my time looking.


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Rmccamey said:

You are a special guy, Brent.

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Yes, indeed. And of course for those with considerably larger than average craniums, finding larger hats would be a challenge.

Rmccamey said:

You are a special guy, Brent.

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Now when you say “special”....


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deadlyhandsome said:

Now when you say “special”....

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Don't ask the question if you don't really want to hear the answer, my friend.