I need some advice...

by cubs2234 on Aug 16, 2007 9:44 PM CDT

OK, while it's not life-threatening or anything, I bought a new Cubs hat the other day at Wrigley. My old hat, which I had for two years just looked awful, and i thought it was time for a change. Like all new hats, the fabric is very stiff and the crown of the hat looks geeky. I've done the Google searches and I can't find a reliable answer to my question: How do I break in a fitted hat?

Fellow Cubs fans, help me!

This is the hat: http://shop.mlb.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2626701&cp=1452346.1452692

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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what i do

i roll my bill and rubber band it for a couple days. after the 2 days i can then shape it to exactly where i want it and it stays.

Here comes the nasty leftie to shut it down in the 9th......Clay Rapada!!!!

by cubsluver22 on Aug 16, 2007 9:43 PM CDT reply actions

Sorry...New Era hats don't see to be meant for...

breaking in. Something about the way kids wear them these days.

by Rogue 52 on Aug 16, 2007 10:32 PM CDT reply actions

yeah

I have that one too, I was able to unflatten the brim by pushing the sides in, as I'm sure you did as well, but as for the crown, I tend to agree with the poster above me. I kind of like it as is, except for the flat brim. Had to change that

by Walker71421 on Aug 16, 2007 11:12 PM CDT reply actions

I agree.

I don't like the flat brims on the new caps, and I don't really care for the high crown on fitted caps, either.

These days I wear almost exclusively the low-rise non-fitted caps; they seem much more comfortable.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Aug 17, 2007 8:12 AM CDT up reply actions

Um, you wear it?

Santo Forever!

by BeerCub on Aug 16, 2007 11:16 PM CDT reply actions

Depending on your taste

I like The Franchise hats. Such as this one:

http://www.lids.com/pid/20009094

They just seem to be lighter weight, broken in, and more stylish than the traditional 'official' mlb caps. They also offer more alternative logos and colors. Like I said, depends on what you're looking for.

by steinmer on Aug 16, 2007 11:50 PM CDT reply actions

Yep...

that's what I prefer, much more comfortable and already broken in per se.

You are freaking out man!

by crw89 on Aug 17, 2007 8:40 AM CDT up reply actions

Of course,

if you are 18 or 19 years of age, -- or you are Dontrelle Willis, C.C. Sabathia, or Chad Cordero, you leave all the tags on, you wear it slightly off-center to the left, and you never touch the brim. Oh, and the hat is at least one size too big.

And you will look like an unprofessional idiot, because you think you are some sort of gangsta rapper.

Looking back 20 years from now, you will wonder why you did this and you will wish somebody had the balls to tell you that you looked foolish.

Just go ahead and bend the brim. You'll be fine. And, you'll be secure knowing you wore the cap the way it should be worn.

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Aug 16, 2007 11:59 PM CDT reply actions

Some more advice

Wrap the brim in a rubber band.
Put the hat in the dish washer for a full cycle (preferably alone, unless you wish to have food on your hat).
Let air dry.

Should take care of the brim bending business.

by steinmer on Aug 17, 2007 12:08 AM CDT reply actions

Yea,

you guys aren't noing to be able to bend those brims. My generation wears em that way. No offense to anyone here, but I think they target us because we're wreckless.

The deadline has come and gone. Looks like our Triple A Hall O Famers will have to lead us to the promise land.

by cubbyblue137 on Aug 17, 2007 12:11 AM CDT reply actions

I washed mine in the washing machine...

and, unfortunately, the crown fell and I had to buy a new one. After a while, the brim will stay.

If you're the right size, I can send you my old beaten up hat (which is clean due to the washing machine).

Why do I care so much about a kid's game?

by audiospeedwagon on Aug 17, 2007 2:03 AM CDT reply actions

haha

7 and a quarter?

by cubs2234 on Aug 17, 2007 9:23 AM CDT up reply actions

Well...

It's 7 and three eights. I don't wear it anymore.

Why do I care so much about a kid's game?

by audiospeedwagon on Aug 17, 2007 10:40 AM CDT up reply actions

From what I understand

Willie Mays wore his hats the wrong size so they'd fly off his head when he ran to catch a fly.

I learned a trick from a friend of mine a while ago. If you bend the brim of the hat into the back of the cap and let it sit for some time it bends the brim in just that right manner. You have to work it a little bit to get it that way, but folding the cap up helps.

They fit better if they've gotten wet right before you where them. Wool tends to do that.

phat

by phatass on Aug 17, 2007 2:31 AM CDT reply actions

it takes some doing.

to get it to fit right. phatass has the right idea with the brim. With the crown, I'ved had a few New Era fitted hats over the years and it seems with a bit of wear you can break em in, but yes, untill they break in it looks a little dorky. My hats also tend to get a little beaten up so that may have helped with that.

AC 00 00 00 - BELIEVE

by mike @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Aug 17, 2007 7:05 AM CDT reply actions

I broke a new hat in last year

By throwing to the ground and kickin' after each Cubs loss.

Around loss number 90 I just gave up and left it where it layed.

by El Borto on Aug 17, 2007 10:54 AM CDT reply actions

I wear mine in the shower

Form like you want it and wear it until dry. It's weird, but mine come out fitting good.

Warning-it will shrink slightly.

by jbowling13 on Aug 17, 2007 12:15 PM CDT reply actions

Not weird

I've been doing this for 15 years - fitted, non-fitted whatever. This is the best way to fit a hat.

Dang...I just want something to root for in September

by GamePenguin on Aug 17, 2007 9:27 PM CDT up reply actions

Just so

everyone knows, the "throw it in the wash/wear it in the shower/get them a little wet so they shrink to fit" routine dosen't work anymore. Up until last season, the New Era 59Fifty's were made of 100% wool, and getting them wet was the best way to break them in.

Unfortunatly, however, New Era switched to 100% Polyester for the 2007 season (note the cap in the link). Not only do poly caps not shrink from being wet, they don't move at all (break in). I think the only thing you can do with these new caps (aside from forcing the brim to a curve with rubber bands or a coffee can), is to actually wear them to break them in...

Moose

FWIW, I've got a couple college baseball team caps that are 70% poly/30% wool, and you can't break them in with water either...

Hubbs!

by moose97 on Aug 17, 2007 12:29 PM CDT reply actions

They switched?

I'm glad I got mine last year, then.

I don't know what I'll do in future, though.

phat

by phatass on Aug 17, 2007 10:52 PM CDT up reply actions

I have a question.

What's the best way to clean a cap? I've heard different ways from different people.

phat

by phatass on Aug 17, 2007 10:53 PM CDT reply actions

Depends...

First, you have to look at what it's made out of...

If it's either wool (100%) or cotten (100% or a 50/50), you can't really get it too wet, or you've got to worry about shrinking it. What I do with these is either use a lint brush for grime on the top of the cap, or just let it look worn, and only clean the sweatband. That can be done with an old toothbrush. Just make-sure to use as little water as possible.

If you're cleaning either a poly (100% or the 70% I mentioned above), you can do just about anything you want to it. Throw it in the washing machine, wear it in the shower with you. Wash it in a sink. Doesn't matter, it won't lose its shape...

Moose

PS. Can you tell I wear a lot of hats?

Hubbs!

by moose97 on Aug 18, 2007 7:27 AM CDT up reply actions