Dad Hats are for everyone from children to grandparents! With their soft fit, comfy feel, and easily transportable design, these hats are a popular choice for anyone wanting some relaxing headwear. Plus, Custom Dad Hats are a popular choice in Wilmington, NC, to combine style and comfort, giving you the best of both worlds. We at Hat.Co take pride in our Custom Dad Hats, and can help you with everything from design to delivery.
Whatever questions you have or assistance you need, we’ve got your back. You can get a free quote online or test out the design studio today.
Today, we’ll go over what defines a dad hat, the pros and cons of using a dad hat for your custom project, advice for custom dad hat, and frequently asked questions. You can find a specific section here:
- What Makes a Hat a “Dad Hat”
- Who Wears Dad Hats
- Is a Dad Hat Right for Your Custom Project
- Steps To Customize a Dad Hat
- Pro Tips for Dad Hat Custom Design
- Dad Hat FAQs
- Start Making 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 Wilmington, NC, known for their coziness and flexibility. Dad hats are a specific baseball hat style, with a loose, structureless crown, and normally with a visor that is just slightly curved. They’re also typically made of softer fabrics, which is responsible for their trademark comfort.
Dad hats main features and design trends are:
- Unstructured top
- Barely curved bill
- Made with softer fabric
- Doesn’t have a large, boisterous design
- If they have designs printed on them, sometimes they are deliberately faded
Who Wears Dad Hats (Besides Dads) in Wilmington, NC?
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. They got their name in the 1990s, after the men who were known for wearing them, but they’re great fits for people of all ages and walks of life today:
- Families in Wilmington, NC, like to make custom dad hats for gatherings.
- Vacationers can protect themselves from the sun and the elements while staying in style.
- Teens will sport dad hats while out on weekends.
- 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 make great use of dad hats for casual weekends out on the green.
- Musicians, particularly hip-hop stars, frequently wear dad hats, contributing to their recent resurgence.
- 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 way that will last for a long time.
The Pros and Cons of Custom Dad Hats
Dad hats are great hats for Wilmington, NC, everyday wear, and are highly customizable. But even though they have several benefits, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t situations where another hat style might be a better fit. If you’re undecided on whether you want to customize a dad hat or another style, consider these pros and cons below:
Custom Dad Hat Pros
- Unparalleled Comfort: Comfort is the primary goal of dad hats, and they deliver in spades.
- Transportability: Because they can be partially rolled up without being damaged, they are easy to pack for travel.
- 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: Even though they transport easily, they tend to be a bit less durable.
- Logo Display: The low profile doesn’t display logos as well as some other hat styles.
- 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
Are you looking to create the ultimate custom dad hat? We’ve got you covered. Just follow the steps below to get started:
- Decide Your Audience – Everything you design should be with the wearer in mind.
- Figure Out When You Need Them – If you don’t need your hats for a while, take some time to refine the details and get everything right.
- 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 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 either purchase directly through our online store or you can request a quote before sending in your order.
Other hat styles can be customized in a similar way, but depending on your purpose, you might want another hat style.
Pro Tips for Wilmington, NC, Dad Hat Custom Design
Even though the basic tennants of hat customization are applicable to all hats, the soft crown and looser fit fit well with subtler decorations. Here are some pro tips for you to make sure that you’re getting the most out of your custom hat.
Pro Tip 1: Use a Small and Simple Logo
- Dad hats aren’t meant to be loud – their casual nature should be reflected 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 also strike a great balance between flexibility and durability.
- A small patch is also a good option, 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.
- They’re designed this way to make them more comfortable for Wilmington, NC, wearers.
- If they feel way too loose after arriving, you can normally tighten them using the strap in the back.
Wilmington, NC, Custom Dad Hat Frequently Asked Questions
We’ve got answers for your dad hat questions. Learn about the top Wilmington, NC, 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’ visors are also less curved than a typical baseball cap.
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 don’t squeeze larger heads as tightly as they might be in others, and normally can have their size adjusted as well.
Do hats get looser over time?
Actually, they often get a bit tigther – after being out in the world of Wilmington, NC and washed, 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?
If the loose fit is too much, there are several ways you can shrink them down. One method is to soak your cap in water, then let it dry somewhere 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?
We certainly think so! Being comfortable never goes out of style, and you can see this in their popularity today today. The casual nature is appealing to everyone.
Did you have another question we didn’t answer? Check out our top 10 custom hat FAQs for more answers.
Start Customizing Your Wilmington, NC, Dad Hat
If you’ve read this far and are ready to create your new favorite Wilmington, NC, dad hat, Hat.Co has you covered. But we do more than just dad hats – we offer a variety of other hat styles if something else would be a better fit. 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, reach out to us at (636) 926-2777, or get a quote now to get started.