Dad Hats are for everyone from children to grandparents! With their flexible, supple feeling and easygoing nature, these hats are a popular choice for anyone wanting some relaxing headwear. Plus, Custom Dad Hats are a popular choice in Berkeley, CA, to combine style and comfort, giving you the best of both worlds. And there’s no better place to make your Custom Dad Hat than Hat.Co, with a wide range of options and support at your fingertips.
Whether you’re just getting started in the design process or you’re already ready to put your logo on fabric, we’re here to help. You can get a free quote online or test out the design studio today.
On this page, we’ll teach you about how to tell if a hat is a dad hat, what makes them a great option for custom hats, how to do so, and frequently asked questions. You can jump ahead using these links:
- What Are Dad Hats
- Who Wears Dad Hats
- Is a Dad Hat Right for Your Custom Project
- How To Customize a Dad Hat
- Pro Tips for Designing Your Dad Hat
- Dad Hat FAQs
- Start Making Your Dad Hat
If there’s anything that you still have questions on that we didn’t address on this page, call us at (636) 926-2777 and we’ll help you out.
What Are Dad Hats?
Dad hats are a popular style of hat in Berkeley, CA, as a result of their casual, easygoing feel and ease to maintain. They are a type of baseball cap with a more form-fitting top, and normally with a brim that is not very curved. Most dad hats are also made of softer fibers, which is responsible for their trademark comfort.
Dad hats main features and design trends are:
- Unstructured crown
- Slightly curved bill
- Made with softer materials
- Doesn’t have a large, boisterous design
- Designs are sometimes intentionally faded or distressed
Who Wears Dad Hats (Besides Dads) in Berkeley, CA?
Dad hats have been around for decades, and had their first rise and fall of popularity in the 90s, and experienced a comeback in the mid 2010s, resulting in part from a celebrity-led resurgence, which is still going on even today. While they are named for the middle-aged men who tended to wear them in the 90s, they’re comfortable and stylish hat choices for anyone and everyone:
- Families in Berkeley, CA, make use of custom dad hats for their comfortable nature.
- Vacationers can protect themselves from the sun and the elements while staying in style.
- Teens enjoy dad hats as a way to show they’re cool without sacrificing comfort.
- Barbecuers protect their skin and their easygoing vibes in dad hats.
- Fishermen wear them when taking it easy and enjoying a peaceful day on the water.
- Golfers sometimes wear them for their leisurely sport.
- Musicians, particularly hip-hop stars, frequently wear dad hats, contributing to their recent resurgence.
- Everyone can enjoy a dad hat as a way to give off a more relaxed vibe.
If you’re managing a business or running a project, you can use a custom dad hat to promote your brand in a low-key way, in a way that will last for a long time.
The Pros and Cons of Custom Dad Hats
Dad hats can be an excellent choice for regular wearing year-round, and customizing their design is easy, too. But just because they’re comfortable doesn’t mean that they’re right for everyone and every event. If you’re still picking between hat styles and want to know more about dad hats, check out these pros and cons below:
Custom Dad Hat Pros
- Unparalleled Comfort: Softer builds and materials make dad hats almost unrivaled in hat comfort.
- Pliability and transportability: Because they are more easily folded and bent without damaging them, they are easy to pack for travel.
- Lower Maintenance: The lack of structure in the crown makes dad hats simple to clean and maintain as well.
- Low-Key: They’re excellent for everyday use and chill hangouts.
Custom Dad Hat Cons
- Durability: While the lack of structure makes them easy to maintain, they do wear out a bit faster.
- Logo Display: Large, bombastic designs or logos don’t have as much real estate to work with on dad hats.
- Looser Fit: Activities with a lot of movement are not good fits for dad hats – the looser fit makes it easier for them to fall off.
How To Customize a Dad Hat
Need help designing the ultimate custom dad hat? We’re here to help. Just use the following steps as a guide:
- Decide Your Audience – If you start with the audience, anytime you’re making a decision you can ask yourself “what would the person wearing the hat like?”
- Figure Out When You Need Them – The sooner you need your hats, the less time you can spend on the logo and other customization options.
- Make Your Logo – Sometime’s it’s possible to work with an existing logo, if you already have one If not, for expert advice, think about consulting one of our professional designers.
- Pick a Logo Application Method – The four main methods to apply your logo to your hat are screen printing, embroidery, DTF/heat transfer, and on patches.
- Pick Base Colors – Since you already know the colors of your logo, pick something that will complement it.
- Send In Your Order – at Hat.Co, you can send in your order online or you can request a quote prior to sending in your order.
You can also customize other hat styles in a similar way, but depending on your purpose, you might want another hat style.
Pro Tips for Berkeley, CA, Dad Hat Custom Design
Although the above steps on custom hat design are applicable to all hats, the soft crown and looser fit are most well suited for subtler decorations. We’ve put together some pro tips to keep in mind while designing your custom dad hat.
Pro Tip 1: Use a Small and Simple Logo
- Dad hats aren’t meant to be loud – their emphasis on a soft feeling should carry over into your logo.
- Massive logos get in the way of the hat when folding or rolling it.
- Finely detailed logos can lose their intricacies when resized for a hat.
Pro Tip 2: Default to Embroidery
- Embroidery is probably the most popular way to apply logos to dad hats, because of the vintage look and feel.
- Embroidered logos stand up to wear and tear without compromising on the dad hat’s comfort.
- A small patch might work as well, but will affect the comfort more.
Pro Tip 3: Expect A Looser Fit
- Don’t automatically order a size down; the looser fit is intentional.
- This is done so that they rest easy on the heads of Berkeley, CA, wearers.
- If they feel way too loose after arriving, you can normally tighten them using the strap in the back.
Berkeley, CA, Custom Dad Hat Frequently Asked Questions
We’ve got answers for your dad hat questions. Check out the top Berkeley, CA, custom dad hat FAQs below:
What’s the difference between a dad hat and a regular hat?
Dad hats are a subtype of baseball hats, without any crown structure to hold its shape. Dad hats also typically have less of a curve in the bill, though they’re not completely flat.
Are dad hats good for big heads?
Because of their form-fitting, looser nature, dad hats are often great choices for people with large heads. Dad hats avoid the headaches from other hat styles’ tightness, and typically can have their size adjusted as well.
Do hats get looser over time?
The inverse, actually – over time, with exposure to the Berkeley, CA, elements and washing, hats normally tighten a bit over time. That said, the first time you wear them, they will probably loosen as you break them in.
How can I make a dad hat smaller?
Shrinking a dad hat requires two ingredients: heat and water. The first method we recommend you try is to carefully soak the hat, then leave it out to dry somewhere that’s warm. Another is to gently steam it.
What should I wear with my dad hat?
Embrace the comfort of the dad hat with the rest of your outfit. We recommend keeping it simple with a t-shirt and jeans. And if it’s a custom dad hat, you can get a custom shirt to match.
Are dad hats still cool?
Yes they are! The combination of comfort and style is timeless, and you can see this in how many people wear dad hats today. The casual nature can fit well in for a variety of occasions and environments.
Did you have another question we didn’t answer? Check out our top 10 custom hat FAQs for more answers.
Start Customizing Your Berkeley, CA, Dad Hat
Hat.Co is your top choice for Berkeley, CA custom dad hats. We don’t stop at dad hats, though – you can pick from a wide variety of makes, models, and styles to find one that is perfect for you. Our custom hat services are industry-leading and at your fingertips.
We can help with all parts of creating your custom hat, and are good to go as soon as you are. Start designing your custom dad hat online, reach out at (636) 926-2777, or get a quote now to get started.