Dad Hats are for more than just dads! Because they sport a flexible frame, gentle fabric, and comfortable fit, these hats are a great choice for anyone who’s looking to chill. What’s more, Custom Dad Hats feel good on your head and look good with your outfits, making them the perfect choice for New Haven, CT headware. 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.
No matter if you’re a novice hat designer or an old pro, we’re here to help. You can get a free quote online or test out the design studio today.
On this page, we’ll go over how to tell if a hat is a dad hat, the pros and cons of using a dad hat for your custom project, steps to take when customizing, and frequently asked questions. You can skip to a section using these links:
- What Are Dad Hats
- Who Wears Dad Hats
- Pros and Cons of Custom Dad Hats
- How To Customize a Dad Hat
- Pro Tips for Dad Hat Custom Design
- Dad Hat FAQs
- Start Making Your Dad Hat
If you have any questions or need any help, call now at (636) 926-2777.
What Are Dad Hats?
Dad hats are a popular style of hat in New Haven, CT, because of their combination of comfort and pliability. Dad hats are a specific baseball hat style, with a loose, structureless crown, and ordinarily without much of a curve in the visor. Most of the time, they are made of softer fabrics, which is responsible for their trademark comfort.
To recap, here are the main factors that make a cap a “dad hat”:
- Unstructured panels in the crown
- Barely curved visor
- Made with softer fabric
- Often features a simple design
- Sometimes, they are artificially aged to look more worn
Who Wears Dad Hats (Besides Dads) in New Haven, CT?
Dad hats had a boom and fall in popularity during the 1990s, and became popular again in the mid-2010s in part due to a a celebrity-led resurgence, which is still going on at present day. While they are named for the middle-aged men who tended to wear them in the 90s, they’re great fits for people of all ages and walks of life today:
- Families in New Haven, CT, make use of custom dad hats for their comfortable nature.
- Vacationers wear them at the beach, in the woods, and anywhere they go to relax.
- Teens will sport dad hats while out on weekends.
- Barbecuers can make custom dad hats to wear while they’re out by the grill.
- 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.
- You can enjoy a dad hat as a way to give off a more relaxed vibe.
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 New Haven, CT, for day-to-day wearing, and are highly customizable. But while they have an unparalleled style and comfort combination, that 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: Comfort is the primary goal of dad hats, and they deliver in spades.
- Easy to pack and transport: Because they can be partially rolled up without being damaged, 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 good choices for when you’re not looking to stand out or make a large statement.
Custom Dad Hat Cons
- Durability: The form-fitting design can go through more wear and tear as it bends.
- Logo Display: The low profile doesn’t display logos as well as some other hat styles.
- Looser Fit: If you’re running around, you’ll want a hat with a tighter fit to avoid losing it.
How To Customize a Dad Hat
Are you looking to create the ultimate custom dad hat? No need to worry. Just use the below list to get an idea for the process:
- Decide Your Audience – The wearer should be the guiding force behind your design decisions.
- Figure Out When You Need Them – If you need the hats ASAP, think about using an existing logo or design.
- Make Your Logo – If you have an existing logo, that’s great! If not, you can always draw your own, or collaborate with professional designers.
- Pick a Logo Application Method – The main ways to get your logo on your hat are screen printing, embroidery, DTF/heat transfer, and on patches.
- Pick Out Base Colors – There aren’t any hard and fast rules on colors, but if you want to compliment your logo, think about using a color wheel.
- Send In Your Order – at Hat.Co, you can send in your order online or you can get a quote prior to sending in your order.
You can also customize other hat styles in this fashion, but depending on your purpose, you might want another hat style.
Pro Tips for New Haven, CT, Dad Hat Custom Design
Even though the basic tennants of custom hat design are applicable to any hat, the soft crown and looser fit work best with subtler decorations. Below, we’ve listed out some pro tips to keep in mind while designing 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 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 limits the dad hat’s trademark elasticity.
Pro Tip 3: Expect A Looser Fit
- When picking your hat size, remember that dad hats fit loose on purpose.
- This is on purpose, so that they don’t squeeze the heads of New Haven, CT, wearers.
- Most dad hats have an adjustable size, which can help if the feel is too loose for your liking.
New Haven, CT, Custom Dad Hat Frequently Asked Questions
Hat.Co searched for the top questions on dad hats, and has answered them all. Learn about the top New Haven, CT, custom dad hat FAQs now:
What’s the difference between a dad hat and a regular hat?
Baseball cap is sometimes used as a catch all, but they typically have a crown with structure to keep its shape, versus the form-fitting nature of the dad hat. 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?
People with big and tall heads often really like dad hats, due to their looser fit. They are less likely to squeeze a larger head, and often can be tightened or loosened if the fit isn’t perfect right away.
Do hats get looser over time?
Actually, they often get a bit tigther – over time, with exposure to the New Haven, CT, elements and washing, hats tend to get a little tighter. They do typically loosen up a bit when you first break them in, though.
How can I make a dad hat smaller?
If the loose fit is too much, there are several ways you can shrink them down. One method you can try soaking it, then drying it in a warm place. Another is to gently steam it.
What should I wear with my dad hat?
Keep it casual with your outfit to compliment your dad hat. 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! Everyone wants a cozy outfit, and you can see this in their popularity today today. The casual nature can fit well in for a variety of occasions and environments.
Did we miss anything on this FAQ? Check out our top 10 custom hat FAQs for more answers.
Start Customizing Your New Haven, CT, Dad Hat
If you’ve read this far and are ready to create your new favorite New Haven, CT, dad hat, Hat.Co has you covered. 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.
From design to delivery, we’re at your side, and can gets started right away. Start designing your custom dad hat online, get in touch at (636) 926-2777, or get a quote today to get started.