Dad Hats, despite their name, are great choices for dads and non-dads alike! Because they sport a flexible frame, gentle fabric, and comfortable fit, these hats are a great choice for anyone who’s looking to chill. Plus, Custom Dad Hats give you a hat choice that’s both fashionable and comfortable, a win-win for your Dayton, OH, wardrobe. At Hat.Co, with our wide selection of over a dozen models and expert logo design assistance, you can turn your Dayton, OH, Custom Dad Hat dreams into a reality.
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 try out the design studio today.
On this page, we’ll overview how to tell if a hat is a dad hat, the advantages of customizing dad hats, advice for custom dad hat, and frequently asked questions. You can find a specific section below:
- What Are Dad Hats
- Who Wears Dad Hats
- Advantages and Disadvantages of Custom Dad Hats
- Steps To Customize a Dad Hat
- Pro Tips for Designing Your Dad Hat
- Dad Hat FAQs
- Start Designing Your Dad Hat
Let us know how we can help – we’re available at (636) 926-2777 for any questions or concerns
What Makes a Hat a “Dad Hat”?
Dad hats are a popular style of hat in Dayton, OH, 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 ordinarily with a brim that is not very curved. Most of the time, they are made of softer materials to enhance comfort.
Here’s the elements that you’ll see in most dad hats:
- Unstructured panels in the crown
- Gently curved visor
- Made with softer materials
- Normally has a smaller, simpler logo
- Designs are sometimes intentionally faded or distressed
Who Wears Dad Hats (Besides Dads) in Dayton, OH?
In the 1990s, dad hats experienced their first boost and fall in modern culture, and became popular again in the mid-2010s in part due to a 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 a popular choice for everyone, from celebrities to everyday folks:
- Families in Dayton, OH, like to make custom dad hats for gatherings.
- Vacationers can protect themselves from the sun and the elements while staying in style.
- Teens wear custom dad hats for both events and just casually.
- Barbecuers wear dad hats for comfortable sun protection.
- Fishermen will sometimes wear dad hats for low-intensity outings.
- Golfers make great use of dad hats for casual weekends out on the green.
- Musicians have been seen with custom dad hats while out and about.
- Anyone can show off style every day with a custom dad hat.
A custom dad hat is a great way to represent yourself or your brand in a low-key way, in a unique way that doesn’t compromise on fit or function.
The Pros and Cons of Custom Dad Hats
Dad hats work well in Dayton, OH, for day-to-day wearing, and are easy to customize, too. But just because they’re comfortable doesn’t mean that they’re right for everyone and every event. If you’re undecided on whether you want to customize a dad hat or another style, think about these pros and cons below:
Custom Dad Hat Pros
- Unparalleled Comfort: Dad hats are often considered one of the most comfortable hat styles, due to their softer fabrics and looser fit.
- Transportability: Because they can bend more than other hats without harming them, they travel well and don’t require special packing.
- Lower Maintenance: Dad hats are easier to clean and maintain because of the unstructured crown.
- 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: The lack of structure in the crown isn’t the best for logo display.
- Looser Fit: With a looser fit, dad hats are more prone to falling off during activity.
How To Customize a Dad Hat
Not sure where to start to make 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?”
- Set A Due Date – If you don’t need your hats for a while, take some time to refine the details and get everything right.
- Make Your Logo – Sometime’s it’s possible to work with an existing logo, if you already have one If not, you can always draw your own, or collaborate with professional designers.
- Pick a Logo Application Method – The main ways to apply your logo to your hat are screen printing, embroidery, DTF/heat transfer, and on patches.
- Decide on 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 this fashion, but different hat styles will be suitable for different occasions.
Pro Tips for Dayton, OH, Dad Hat Custom Design
Even though the basic tennants of hat design customization are applicable to all hats, dad hat’s soft crown and looser fit are most well suited for subtler decorations. Below, we’ve listed out some pro tips to help you find the best fit for your custom dad hat.
Pro Tip 1: Use a Small and Simple Logo
- These hats are meant to be casual – their emphasis on a soft feeling should also be seen in the 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 are long lasting, but also don’t have a major impact on the dad hat’s pliability.
- A small patch can also work, but can get in the way of the trademark foldability.
Pro Tip 3: Expect A Looser Fit
- When picking your hat size, remember that dad hats fit loose on purpose.
- This is done so that they don’t squeeze the heads of Dayton, OH, wearers.
- Most dad hats have an adjustable size, which can help if the feel is too loose for your liking.
Dayton, OH, Custom Dad Hat Frequently Asked Questions
You’ve got questions, and Hat.Co has answers. Check out the top Dayton, OH, custom dad hat FAQs here:
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. They are less likely to squeeze a larger head, and typically have an adjustable size strap.
Do hats get looser over time?
Normally, it’s the opposite – as they are washed and go through the sun and rain of Dayton, OH, hats normally tighten a bit over time. The one exception is that when they are put on for the first few times, they typically stretch a bit to fit your head.
How can I make a dad hat smaller?
If your hat is too loose, you can speed up the shrinking process using water and heat. 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?
Dad hats are meant to be comfortable, so wear something comfortable to go with it. Hoodies and t-shirts are good topwear, while jeans and shorts are good bottomwear. If you want to emphasize your logo, you can get a custom shirt to match.
Are dad hats still cool?
Absolutely! The combination of comfort and style is timeless, and you can see this in their popularity today today. The casual nature fits all types of people and settings.
Have more questions? Check out our top 10 custom hat FAQs for more answers.
Start Customizing Your Dayton, OH, Dad Hat
When you’re ready to make your Dayton, OH custom dad hat, Hat.Co is ready to help. Or if you’ve read this far and think another style might be better, Hat.Co has plenty of other hat options available for you to choose from, too. Our custom hat services are industry-leading and at your fingertips.
We’re with you from day one until you put the hat on your head, and are ready to get started on your order today. Start designing your custom dad hat online, get in touch at (636) 926-2777, or get a quote now to start your order.