Hat Fitment

[Popeye Doyle]

I have a lot of hats like I image most of you on here do. But I only have one hat that fits me perfect and one that’s near perfect. All the rest are a tad too big and have to have something under the sweatband, and that drives me crazy. I hate the way it makes the sweatband wrinkle up. I know no one but me usually sees that part of the hat but it still bugs me. The hat that fit’s me perfect is a Stetson Open Road in size 7 and the near perfect is an Akubra Territory in 7 1/8. I usually buy hats in that size because with most hats a size 7 is too tight. I don’t know how I got lucky with the Stetson because I bought it online like all the hats I’ve bought. But even other Stetsons that I try on in stores fits too tight In size 7. Anyone else have this problem of being right between sizes? I forgot I also have an Akubra Rough Rider that fits almost right. A bit loose but it doesn’t set down on my ears or anything like most of the 7 1/8 hats do. I’ve about give up on all hats except the Stetson and the Territory. Just wear them until they’re threadbare. Should I continue buying hats in 7 /18 or try to stretch out a 7?

 

[The Lost Cowboy]

I have a lot of hats like I image most of you on here do. But I only have one hat that fits me perfect and one that’s near perfect. All the rest are a tad too big and have to have something under the sweatband, and that drives me crazy. I hate the way it makes the sweatband wrinkle up. I know no one but me usually sees that part of the hat but it still bugs me. The hat that fit’s me perfect is a Stetson Open Road in size 7 and the near perfect is an Akubra Territory in 7 1/8. I usually buy hats in that size because with most hats a size 7 is too tight. I don’t know how I got lucky with the Stetson because I bought it online like all the hats I’ve bought. But even other Stetsons that I try on in stores fits too tight In size 7. Anyone else have this problem of being right between sizes? I forgot I also have an Akubra Rough Rider that fits almost right. A bit loose but it doesn’t set down on my ears or anything like most of the 7 1/8 hats do. I’ve about give up on all hats except the Stetson and the Territory. Just wear them until they’re threadbare. Should I continue buying hats in 7 /18 or try to stretch out a 7?

Over the last ten years, as my hair thinned out, my hat size shrunk from a little bigger than 7-1/8 all the way down to right at 7 (I can even do a 6-7/8 now, though it’s tight). I used to have long, thick hair and now it’s thin and I keep it shaved close.

What I found as my head size shrank was it was easier to stretch up half a size than to put stuffing into sweatbands. It’s a personal choice but I’d rather my hat be tight - if I have to put sizers in, then I probably won’t wear it.

 

[The Lost Cowboy]

I have a lot of hats like I image most of you on here do. But I only have one hat that fits me perfect and one that’s near perfect. All the rest are a tad too big and have to have something under the sweatband, and that drives me crazy. I hate the way it makes the sweatband wrinkle up. I know no one but me usually sees that part of the hat but it still bugs me. The hat that fit’s me perfect is a Stetson Open Road in size 7 and the near perfect is an Akubra Territory in 7 1/8. I usually buy hats in that size because with most hats a size 7 is too tight. I don’t know how I got lucky with the Stetson because I bought it online like all the hats I’ve bought. But even other Stetsons that I try on in stores fits too tight In size 7. Anyone else have this problem of being right between sizes? I forgot I also have an Akubra Rough Rider that fits almost right. A bit loose but it doesn’t set down on my ears or anything like most of the 7 1/8 hats do. I’ve about give up on all hats except the Stetson and the Territory. Just wear them until they’re threadbare. Should I continue buying hats in 7 /18 or try to stretch out a 7?

Oh and one other point that has helped me was to know my head size in inches and cm. I recommend to measure your head and if you change your hair style then measure again. I find cm listings are more accurate than US sizes. For example, a “7” measures all over the board but a “56” usually fits right on.

 

[Rmccamey]

Sizing can be something of a dance. I'm fortunate to be a 7 1/8 (57), all day, every day, so I don't usually have problems. I prefer hats slightly tight than slightly large. A little time on a band block or a hat stretcher, and with some head time, they tend to conform to my head. Most customs I get are originally "too round", even though I am not a Long Oval, so with a band block or stretcher and some head time, they, too, quickly conform.

You might try to find a 7 LO and see how it fits. That's about as close to a between-size as you are likely to find unless you go custom.

Good luck.

 

[Popeye Doyle]

I think the next hat I will try a 7 and see if I can stretch it out a bit. I think it being a little tight would bug me less than a wrinkled up sweatband.

 

[The Lost Cowboy]

I think the next hat I will try a 7 and see if I can stretch it out a bit. I think it being a little tight would bug me less than a wrinkled up sweatband.

Some guys will cringe when they hear this, but I don’t mind throwing a hat over my knee and leaning back into it. That stretches it real good. Just be sure to hold both hands either side of the seem stitching so it won’t pop. And if there’s a wind cord, then be sure to loosen that first.

A lot of guys on here will probably hate me saying that, but I have done it to 70 year old hats and brand new hats and everything in between and have never had a bad reaction (except the time I forgot to loosen the wind cord).

 

[CRH]

Over the last ten years, as my hair thinned out, my hat size shrunk from a little bigger than 7-1/8 all the way down to right at 7 (I can even do a 6-7/8 now, though it’s tight). I used to have long, thick hair and now it’s thin and I keep it shaved close.

What I found as my head size shrank was it was easier to stretch up half a size than to put stuffing into sweatbands. It’s a personal choice but I’d rather my hat be tight - if I have to put sizers in, then I probably won’t wear it.

I buzzed my head for years, just a small amount of hair for lubrication. I need a little bit bigger size to fit a freshly shaved head.

Head size is variable, apparently.

 

[Popeye Doyle]

I have plenty of hair but I keep it buzzed so it doesn’t usually affect my head size.

 

[The Lost Cowboy]

I buzzed my head for years, just a small amount of hair for lubrication. I need a little bit bigger size to fit a freshly shaved head.

Head size is variable, apparently.

Wow, cut your hair and go up a hat size - that’s interesting!

 

[CRH]

I'm in the process of emulating a Johnny Dep, Public Enemies hat. I found this Stetson in 7⅜ but I'm a 58.5 so it's a bit large but that's cool because I look better in a larger crown, or so my arrogant self believes. Lol

Needs a little shim.

 

[CRH]

Wow, cut your hair and go up a hat size - that’s interesting!

Because the sweatband sticks to the bare skin.

 

[CRH]

I use a hat stretcher for small hats, preferably a four way, and this stuff for shiming large hats.

https://www.amazon.com/Frost-King-S...=1712453736&sprefix=Frost+king,aps,444&sr=8-3

 

[belfastboy]

I buzzed my head for years, just a small amount of hair for lubrication. I need a little bit bigger size to fit a freshly shaved head.

Head size is variable, apparently.

I made a hat for a fellow, he was not fat but carrying a bit too much weight overall. He lost 20 lbs and his hat size dropped a full size. The 7 1/4 I made him that fit perfectly until his head shrunk down to a 7 1/8". Never knew a head could lose weight. Now I call him a former fat head.

 

[CRH]

I made a hat for a fellow, he was not fat but carrying a bit too much weight overall. He lost 20 lbs and his hat size dropped a full size. The 7 1/4 I made him that fit perfectly until his head shrunk down to a 7 1/8". Never knew a head could lose weight. Now I call him a former fat head.

The scalp is very thick and vascular and variable and was worth a lot during the colonial period of the Americas from the 16th to 20th centuries. What they did with those scalps is not understood much

 

[RBH]

I made a hat for a fellow, he was not fat but carrying a bit too much weight overall. He lost 20 lbs and his hat size dropped a full size. The 7 1/4 I made him that fit perfectly until his head shrunk down to a 7 1/8". Never knew a head could lose weight. Now I call him a former fat head.

I have lost 65 pounds since January 2023 and my hat size has gone from a 7 1/2 to a 7 3/8 !
I never realized it would change so much.

 

[The Lost Cowboy]

Because the sweatband sticks to the bare skin.

Ah, now I get it - you mean shaved down to skin, right? I didn’t understand that the first time I read your comment.

 

[The Lost Cowboy]

I have lost 65 pounds since January 2023 and my hat size has gone from a 7 1/2 to a 7 3/8 !
I never realized it would change so much.

That’s a lot of weight - congratulations!

 

[RBH]

That’s a lot of weight - congratulations!

Thanks Nathan!!!
I worked on it for a year and I have great hopes to keep it off!!!

 

[The Lost Cowboy]

Thanks Nathan!!!
I worked on it for a year and I have great hopes to keep it off!!!

I was never able to gain weight but since I’ve been sick these last twenty months I’ve put on 20 pounds. First time in my life to weigh above 165 and the change in body style is kind of drastic.

Now I know how normal people (without fast metabolism like I used to have) experience life - I gotta work much harder to keep my figure now!

 

[belfastboy]

I have lost 65 pounds since January 2023 and my hat size has gone from a 7 1/2 to a 7 3/8 !
I never realized it would change so much.

My new strategy if a hat is too large for me.......I just start eating more with the hope I can grow into it!!!!