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 the go-to for people who are looking to relax. What’s more, Custom Dad Hats feel good on your head and look good with your outfits, making them the perfect choice for Tacoma, WA headware. We at Hat.Co take pride in our Custom Dad Hats, and can help you with everything from design to delivery.
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.
Here, we’ll go over what defines a dad hat, what makes them a great option for custom hats, how to do so, and frequently asked questions. You can find a specific section using these links:
- What Makes a Hat a “Dad Hat”
- Who Wears Dad Hats
- Is a Dad Hat Right for Your Custom Project
- How To Customize a Dad Hat
- Pro Tips for Dad Hat Custom Design
- 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 Are Dad Hats?
Dad hats are a popular style of hat in Tacoma, WA, because of their combination of comfort and pliability. Dad hats are a specific baseball hat style, with a loose, structureless crown, and typically without much of a curve in the visor. Most dad hats are also made of softer materials to enhance comfort.
To recap, here are the main factors that make a cap a “dad hat”:
- Unstructured panels in the crown
- Slightly curved visor
- Made with softer fabric
- Normally has a smaller, simpler logo
- Sometimes, they are artificially aged to look more worn
Who Wears Dad Hats (Besides Dads) in Tacoma, WA?
Dad hats have been around for decades, and had their first rise and fall of popularity in the 90s, but in the mid-2010s, came back into style as a part of a celebrity-led resurgence, which is still going on even today. Their name comes from that original 1990s burst of popularity, when people mostly saw their wearers as middle-aged men; however, they’re a popular choice for everyone, from celebrities to everyday folks:
- Families in Tacoma, WA, make use of custom dad hats for their comfortable nature.
- Vacationers like custom dad hats to commemorate the event and enjoy their soft touch.
- 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 are known to wear custom dad hats to events.
- Anyone can enjoy a dad hat as a way to give off a more relaxed vibe.
With a custom dad hat, you can boost your brand in a low-key way, and the hat could easily become your new favorite for daily use.
The Pros and Cons of Custom Dad Hats
Dad hats work well in Tacoma, WA, for day-to-day wearing, and customizing their design is easy, too. But just because they’re comfortable doesn’t mean that there aren’t situations where another hat style might be a better fit. If you’re not sure if a dad hat is right or wrong for your project, consider these pros and cons below:
Custom Dad Hat Pros
- Unparalleled Comfort: Softer builds and materials make dad hats almost unrivaled in hat comfort.
- Transportability: Because they can be partially rolled up without being damaged, 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 great for family events or other relaxed gatherings.
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: With a looser fit, dad hats are more prone to falling off during activity.
How To Customize a Dad Hat
Are you looking to create the ultimate custom dad hat? We’ve got you covered. 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?”
- Establish Your Timeline – The sooner you need your hats, the less time you can spend on the logo and other customization options.
- 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 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 ask for a quote before sending in your order.
Dad hats aren’t the only hat style you can customize in this fashion, but different hat styles will be suitable for different occasions.
Pro Tips for Tacoma, WA, Dad Hat Custom Design
Even though the basic tennants of hat design customization are a great starting point for 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 that we recommend considering when working with dad hats.
Pro Tip 1: Use a Small and Simple Logo
- These hats are meant to be casual – their focus on comfort should also be seen in the logo.
- Massive logos get in the way of the hat when folding or rolling it.
- Complex logos can lose their details when shrunk down and put on softer hats.
Pro Tip 2: Default to Embroidery
- Embroidery’s style is a great fit for dad hats, with retro feel to it.
- Embroidered logos stand up to wear and tear without compromising on the dad hat’s comfort.
- A small patch can also work, but can get in the way of the trademark foldability.
Pro Tip 3: Expect A Looser Fit
- Don’t automatically order a size down; the looser fit is intentional.
- This is on purpose, so that they rest easy on the heads of Tacoma, WA, wearers.
- If they feel way too loose after arriving, you can normally tighten them using the strap in the back.
Tacoma, WA, Custom Dad Hat Frequently Asked Questions
You’ve got questions, and Hat.Co has answers. Check out the top Tacoma, WA, custom dad hat FAQs here:
What’s the difference between a dad hat and a regular hat?
A regular baseball cap has more structure in the crown, versus the form-fitting nature of an unstructured 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?
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 ordinarilly 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 – as they are washed and go through the sun and rain of Tacoma, WA, 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 the loose fit is too much, there are several ways you can shrink them down. 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. Hoodies and t-shirts are good topwear, while jeans and shorts are good bottomwear. And if it’s a custom dad hat, you can get a custom shirt to match.
Are dad hats still cool?
Absolutely! Being comfortable never goes out of style, 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 Tacoma, WA, Dad Hat
If you’ve read this far and are ready to create your new favorite Tacoma, WA, dad hat, Hat.Co has you covered. 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 can help with all parts of creating your custom hat, and can gets started right away. Start designing your custom dad hat online, get in touch with us at (636) 926-2777, or get a quote today to get started.