Wool vs Polyester Baseball Caps - a Classic Matchup
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- Опубликовано: 26 июн 2024
- Review of the two primary materials used in fitted baseball caps - the more traditional and reliable wool versus the newer performance-oriented polyester.
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Very informative. Both materials have their pros and cons, but polyester is slightly better. Always an education with these videos.
When Derby was around I was a poly guy. Now I’m a wool guy, it has a more form-fitting feel. A lot of the poly caps I’ve bought in the last couple of months feel like the hat sits higher on my head like a low crown.
Hi Dre, thanks again for your content and for helping us get more out of our caps. I have 4 Fear of God New Era collab wool caps. One of them has a mix of poly, while the rest of my NE caps are 100% polyester. Based on my personal experience and after watching closely both materials I find wool allows the cap to mold better to one’s head shape and preserves its form over time, but it is more prone to shrinkage, especially in hot weather conditions. In the case of poly, it is more durable especially for training and heavier usage, making it more functional overall. Both materials have their own pros and cons and I tend to alternate between them based on the situation. For more formal and indoor situations, I prefer wool made caps. For more casual plans, outdoor and sports, poly is my choice. The wool-poly mix caps are interesting. In the FOG cap I own, the crown is made of wool while the visor is poly. Thank you for your great content, and keep up the good work!
I’m a wool guy through and through. I am very familiar with its nuances and use to it. It just means it’s time for a new hat. I don’t like how the poly feels. The wool to me is a living breathing material. It will start off fresh and crispy but over time it has that nice vintage look and will age with the owner. Just don’t get it completely wet because you will need a new one. That could be a good thing or bad but wool all the way.
I am an older guy and this is a great video for people that weren’t around to remember the original wool hats.
Good informative video for people getting into wool. The original.
Always buy wool a size large because you'll eventually want to wash it.
You should do a hat collection video
Cool, thanks - I'm getting closer to doing one of those as the collection continues to grow.
There is nothing like my wool hat that I've had for 5 years. But I like the really worn-in look ala Tim Lincecum, soft and fits perfectly to my head. It's about 3 shades lighter from all the wear but I love that.
How have you managed to keep the fit after 5 years? The one wool hat I wore extensively for years shrunk to the point where I couldn’t even fit it down on my head
@@TheVsa17, remove the structure from the front two panels. I'm wearing a destructured 25 year old wool cap right now that shrunk too tight to fit until I removed those plastic needles that were uncomfortably poking my head anyway. Fits great again. Looks the same, too.
Great video, as usual. Can’t beat poly as it obviously maintains size much better than wool. Your pros and cons are spot on with wool v. polyester. Since I live in VA I do have to take the fabric into consideration as summers here are brutal! Once it shrinks, wool caps look strange to me. They contour too closely to the scalp.
Hey thanks, appreciate it!
how do you fix a shrunken wool hat?
@@jakob.2is968 try using a hat jack for the sizing issue. That’s the only method that has produced any results for me. That said, I have never permanently gotten wool hats back to their true size. They always revert back to their shrunken state. If you have a nu-cap, or re-cap, that might help with the shape of the crown.
Wool for the feel
Poly for the longevity
Both materials are useful. The real differentiator for a lot of caps is something you touched on in this video: manufacturer origin. Nothing is beating made in the USA and it's sad we'll never get anymore.
Yes, the raw materials just seemed to be a notch above on those caps, thanks for the comments.
Great video! I have both materials in my collection and agree the Made in the USA caps are of much better quality than the overseas garbage New Era is selling these days. But neither is my favorite. My absolute favorite were the all nylon caps. They were light weight, easy to clean and the colors never faded. I wish more teams had gone that route.
Have you ever considered doing a video about the different types of sweatbands? Or maybe comparing and contrasting vintage 30’s-50’s caps to modern day caps?
Excellent - thanks for the comments, and the questions! I have indeed considered other areas of the cap construction such as sweatbands, and might do something along those lines in the near future.
I ordered a new Auburn tigers snapback from fanatics, and I was very surprised to find it was wool. It's a very comfortable hat. I also bought a vintage Reebok Jaguars sideline fitted, which is also wool. Some of the most comfortable hats I own.
That's a good surprise, I've been meaning to check out at least one of the Fanatics branded caps, thanks for posting!
@@dreinthe616 it's a new era hat, my bad. I bought it from the fanatics store. The fanatics brand hats are pretty awful in my experience
From my experience, some of my favorite hats are wool because of that shape memory and one of them shrank to perfectly fit me regardless of a haircut. The thing about polyester that ive loved is that in summer months, ive felt cooler with them on. What intrigues me is how i should treat a Wool Low Profile 5950 in ordering
I have very little experience (this is the one hat I've ordered and it's polyester lol) but when I ordered a corduroy fitted low profile it was at least one size too big compared to the rest of the normal crown hats. Made me nervous about the material and low profile hats in general 😂 but maybe this will be helpful
recently scored an sf giants cap that is the older made in USA with no side logo. it just has the mlb logo in red white blue. I paid $12 for it too on ebay. thank you for the information it was very useful.
Sounds like a good find, thanks!
Great video, pretty dang in depth! Trying to build up my MLB caps from those 50s era teams ( NY Giants, Brooklyn Dodgers, St. Louis Browns etc. ) Are there web stores that sell these? The MLB and New Era sites seem to have pretty limited options.
Thanks again for the information.
Cool, and thank YOU for checking out and commenting on some of my other videos! Glad I could help out
Have you ever used No sweat hat liners? I started putting them in all of my hats, fitted, snapback or dad hat and I was very impressed with how they keep my hats like new. Might be worth giving them a shot and reviewing. I have had hats in the past that sweat stained all the way through in an unfixable way, and using hats to workout with the no sweat liner in them prevented that amazingly well
What hat should I get I don’t want my hats getting faded fast
I miss the old MLB wool authentic collection hats before polyester in 2007. They molded to my head perfectly. Ones today take longer for me to break in but I always loved the black undervisor and sweatband to hide my nasty brown sweat stains.
Yep, I think a lot of cap fans agree with you.
What details of the polyester do I need to get the kc royal blue material new era uses for their hats? I need just enough to make lumber jack style ear flaps?
Doug, keeping real as usual. Love the vids!
I definitely like having both materials in the collection. Wool broadcloth, as used in the Ebbets Field Flannels vintage caps is pretty cool.
I definitely appreciate the wool options in the Cooperstown Collection but I'm satisfied with the On-Field offerings when it comes to 59Fifty. The shape of the On-Field wool caps pre 2007 were not very stylish IMO.
The Hex Tech is probably my favorite material ever. The Pivot Mesh of recent Clubhouse and BP Collections has been a disappointment in comparison.
AJ, good to hear from you, it's been a minute! I also really liked the Hex Tech and wish that it would find its way into more caps.
Hi sir. May I ask why do you size up on 59fifty low profiles?
love hats Its my hobby
I watched this video to clean my 1962 Angels hat. It’s from the cooperstown collection
I definitely like the oldschool wool version. New Era quality is trash. A size 7 cap (I wear a 7)varies from hat to hat some are a little bit too lose and some a little too tight. MLB, NFL, NBA Etc. Logos on the back aren't centered properly. And they charging $40 for a hat...gotta due better
Gotta spell better
I fit perfectly into a 7 5/8 on-field polyester, should I size up to a 7 3/4 for a wool hat or stick to 7 5/8? I do not plan to wear the wool hat day in and day out, it would be one of my "nicer" hats and thus worn less frequently
I usually stick with my normal size in New Era caps regardless of material. Only time I size up is when I buy a low profile 59Fifty, or get a retro cap like an Ebbets Field Flannels. I'd invest in a Hat Jack if you don't have one already and will be wearing a lot of caps - sometimes the wool shrinks with normal wear, so you might want to give it a little stretch now and then, thanks.
Very good and informative video.👍🙌🤟🔥✌️😎
What’s the best way to clean wool caps?
Hey thanks... I use a lot of the same cleaning techniques, I've got a couple of videos posted at my channel for what I recommend - look those up if you are interested.
@@dreinthe616 Thank you and I had subscribe too.
I've watched the 2 videos and I'm still debating if I would dip my wool cap in water to thorough clean it to get rid of sweat and oil.
Doug great vid as always but you can't compared modern overseas wool over the wool from 2007 and earlier. Also early version of Polyester was much softer than modern overseas Polyester. The best hats New Era made were from 2002-2006 as far as wool. BTW I'll take wool over polyester due to the fact wool is easier to break in and easier to manipulate the helmet crown overseas construction
All good points... and even though I took a look back at those New Era events of 2007 and 2019 for background, I was really just trying to compare what to expect if you buy a 59Fifty today. I agree that wool is easier to edit in general, thanks for the comments.
Informative video! I typically wear a 7 3/8 on 59fifty. Would a wool hat shrink to a point that I can't fit my head in (sweat band part)? How much does a wool hat shrink in general?
Yes, it is possible for it to shrink to an uncomfortable level - up to 1/8 of a size or more depending on how severe the use is (heat/moisture). If you've got a lot of hats, I always recommend owning a hat jack, in case you need to refresh the size/shape every now and then... plenty of vids at my channel page on stretching/hat jacks. Thanks!
@@dreinthe616 do you know how clean a 100% percent polyester hat because because they say not to clean like a cotton or wool hat
@Dre in the 616 how difficult is it to stretch a hat from a 7 to a 7 and 1/8th???
Not difficult at all for 1/8th of a size... go to my channel and look for my tutorial on stretching and shaping, and you should plan to invest in a hat jack to do it successfully (~$20), thanks.
I’m only buying hats from 90s-05. These are the best hats to me. Wool and made in USA
You got it - a good historical period for NE caps... many viewers feel that the wool on the US made caps was also better than current.
Same here. I started buying fitted caps in '90 - '91 and lost the interest in 2007. I won't even consider buying a hat after 2016 due to the introduction of the unsightly New Era "flag" on the temple, and the offshoring of manufacture to China. I have only purchased four hats from the 2007-16 (poly/USA) period because of sleek new and retro redesigns, such as the Blue Jays and Orioles. Despite being Sz. 7 3/8, all four fit differently. Nowadays, I just look for lightly used caps on eBay from before 2007.
When I get a new wool hat, after every use I brush it off and keep it in a large gallon size plastic bag and seal it. So far, it’s managed to keep the dust and wear off a lot of my wool hat. Any other tips you can give for those of us who have a little bit of money invested a bit in wool baseball hats over the many years?
Normally I just try to keep them on a shelf behind a closed door (closet)... often I stack in groups of 5 or 6, so only the top cap is vulnerable to dust - but I rotate the stacks by wearing them, so they don't get too bad. My storage system is shown in another video - ruclips.net/video/AHeoO5awIC4/видео.html - thanks.
I’m new to fitteds, do all the Cooperstown caps have grey undervisors? The Black undervisors ruin the hat.
In most cases, they are gray or green... usually black stays on the on-field 'authentic' collection caps... and since you're new to fitteds, a lot of cap enthusiasts feel the same way about using black on the undervisor and sweatband, thanks.
Can i have some view or advice..I only have polyester cap...my size is 7-1/4 and it fit perfectly on my head (comfortable). I want to try wool cap but i read it shrinking. I afraid the cap will become thigh so how much it will shrink? Roughly what size should i get for wool cap? should i go 7-3/8?
Even though wool can shrink more than poly, I still buy my same size in wool caps. It's best to buy a Hat Jack too, so if it shrinks a little you can restore the size and shape. Thanks.
Great video, do you know what type of polyester they use
Not sure, actually... but it's got a more organic and softer feel than some of the more "athletic" polyesters used as wicking materials these days.
Hey man I have a question, I have a 100% wool hat from Cooperstown that fits me a bit snug, but my other hat is 100% polyester and that fits better. So would the on field hat fit me good. Both are size 7 1/8
There's so much variation in caps - even in the same sizes and materials - that it is very hard to predict. I'd stick with the 7-1/8 on future caps, but pick up a hat jack sometime, in case you need to stretch a cap every so often, thanks.
@@dreinthe616 thanks man for the reply, will do. Starting to get back into buying caps !
Just a quick question, do wool hats shrink and adjust to your head no matter how big it is the first time you get it?
No, your choice of size is crucial, be careful. In addition nowadays the manufacturers make the sizing big. Best advice I can give you is to try and buy in a store to do not be deceived.
I have noticed that wool hats fit a lot tighter right off the bat for me than polyester, should I consider sizing up in wool hats? Or do you think with wear it would just break in?
That could be a little bit of the normal variation in cap sizing, I've never actually had that direct difference with the wool feeling tighter. But wool does shrink easier, and I think you'd more likely have it get smaller with wear, as heat and sweat will probably shrink it a bit. I've never sized up just for wool - and what I'd recommend is just investing in a hat jack if you don't have one already, so you can give those caps a little stretch when needed. Thanks
@@dreinthe616 Alright thank you
...and if you've not seen it already, this is my basic tutorial for a hat jack - ruclips.net/video/8N-EL-rmgIc/видео.html
What hats are better for staying it’s color ? Idk what hat to get because I don’t want it becoming faded
The NE polyester will probably outperform the wool for keeping color in heavy UV exposure... but it still takes a lot of wear for a cap to really fade, especially if you have a rotation of caps.
How do you size vintage, pre-2007 wool new eras? I have to size up 1/8-1/4 on these vintage hats.
With the M-USA Wool caps, I don't have very many because there was a long gap in my collecting of Fitted caps. I'm not surprised to hear the difference, because one of the last ones I had did seem to be on the small side. But I don't buy any vintage, so unfortunately I can't offer any guidance.
Is there any way how to shrink polyester 5950 crown? I have small head so it looks big on my head especially crown sides/top. I tried method with hot air or hot steam and glove, but that fucker is coming back everytime.
I hear you, it's sometimes tough to get the reshape to last. But I am now getting the best results by using a bump cap insert (plastic shell) that I reviewed here - ruclips.net/video/e9pSynl4O7M/видео.html - these days I just pop that into the cap and steam the front two panels and pull them back across the shell when warm. It's the plastic fiber in the buckram that can really help hold, so getting those to soften and reshape is the most important thing. Next time I do it I'm going to time how long I keep it in the steam, and I'll post results. I also use filler materials like here - ruclips.net/video/6z4atFY3M9E/видео.html - when you put these in back, it can help draw the sides closer. Thanks for the question.
Decided to get my first fitted! But a little bit hesitant on my size since I’m getting a wool one, should i go a size up or go true to size. Btw I’m planning to curve the brim
Stay true to size, and check out some other videos on my channel page - such as the one about size variation in New Era caps, or the Fitted Cap FAQ video, thanks.
@@dreinthe616 thanks appreciated!
what is the material in the brim of the cap? and what should you do if these get wet?
Did a whole video on visor materials - ruclips.net/video/wD2jpl_fNUA/видео.html - thanks
Which is more durable in terms of long time use Wool or Polyester?
I really love wool for all of its physical properties, but in terms of the long-term durability of a modern 59Fifty, I'd personally give the edge to Poly. However, I think that the quality of wool used in some other caps, such as Ebbets Field Flannels, is probably going to have very strong long-term performance. Long-time New Era collectors would say that the wool in the M-USA caps prior to 2007 was much better than the wool in a current imported cap.
I prefer the feel and fit of the softer polyester that was in the made in usa new era fitted caps before they switched polyester materials and went overseas a couple years ago.
The new polyester is just not very soft feeling. That being said, I try to go with wool now a days over the current poly since it just feels better in hands and on head.
Still the overseas wool is nothing compared to the made in usa wool. Ive got a red sox 2004 world series cap I purchased in 2004 and the wool is luxurious just like they all used to be back in the days.
Agreed on many points - and I've had viewers over the years say much the same thing, especially about the M-USA wool prior to 2007... thanks for the comments!
Hey, I have a clothing company. Manufacturing fitteds. Want wool but very expensive, was considering a wool mix or just going 100% poly! What do you think?
I actually like either one, they both have their benefits. People are of course sometimes willing to pay more for premium material and craftsmanship (e.g. Ebbets Field caps), but I think if you're just getting started I don't think it's bad to go with poly. It's more resilient and won't shrink like wool.
Sizing has always seemed to be an issue with New Era hats for me. My 7 3/8 wool hats fit much better than the 7 3/8 poly ones which is a bummer because some retailers don't list the fabric on the site when ordering online.
Timely comment, as my next post will feature a discussion on sizing, thanks.
@@dreinthe616 yeah it makes it tough especially if you're ordering limited edition hats that cannot be returned. I purchased a New Era hat from Supreme a couple summers ago and it's just way too tight
@@AaronBorland You should definitely invest in a hat jack if you own a lot of fitted caps. I have to 'refresh' cap sizes all the time by stretching them on a hat jack - check the links in description for my video on stretching and shaping, if you've not seen it before, thanks.
Did you see the new Yankee that Hatclub put out with patches all over it all the way around? I thought of you when they released it and laughed really hard
Yes, I think I've seen that cap or variations of it - way too much visual noise for a minimalist like me!
@@dreinthe616 I can deal with a patch here and there the cap they listed must have had at least 10 patches on it
I have to size down with polyester hats compared to my wool hats. My polyester size is 7 5/8 while my wool ones are 7 3/4
Besides having a rotation, what’s a way I can stop black hats from fading?
Nothing that I know of... unless you are able to avoid heavy UV light exposure.
any tips on cleaning the yellow visor on my a’s hat?
i cant garuntee it but maybe the hat cleaner from hat club
At my channel I've got two videos on Cleaning, and if you want to go further, you could check out The Captician, find him on YT or the web, thanks. The trick with the visor is not soaking it, so you've got to keep a light touch with the water.
Problem with poly footed they do not stretch and mold to your head for a perfect fit
They are constantly uncomfortable
I normally use 3/8 but im so confused on how some hats fit me huge and there the same size
I made an entire video about size variation - ruclips.net/video/aeZ0olFQQyc/видео.html - thanks.
Im between a 7 1/8 (snug without curve) and 7 1/4 has a little more room. I don't know which one to keep. (100% Wool)
also considering the shrinking process overtime *
Do you plan to curve the visor at all, and do you own a lot of hats? If so, I'd go with the 7-1/8 and pick up a hat jack if you don't have one. Unless the 7-1/4 looks natural on your head right now, and you expect to sweat a lot in it. Also remember that sizes vary between caps (covered in one of my videos), and sometimes both materials need a "refresh" on stretching them over time.
How can I fix a loose soft Brim on my Baseball Cap and harden it ?
I've never been able to do that - once the visor gets 'fatigued' from all the flexing and/or exposure to moisture, it usually gets very soft, and can't be recovered.
Check out ProCapRepair.com website. They can definitely fix it. Will replace the visor board.
@@dreinthe616 thank you
I bought an all black 9fifty hat with no outside logos. The inside does have all the proper logos, but it is made out of 100% cotton . I own other new era hats and they are all polyester. Did i buy a knock off or does new era actually make cotton hats ?
Yes, New Era has made some caps in cotton over the years, so it may be a genuine NE cap... but I have not spent a lot of time spotting knockoffs, so I can’t say for certain whether that one is legit.
@@dreinthe616 thanks for the info.
Spanish fan subtitulos!!
Hi Dre, i just bought a yankees wool cap and i didnt like it so much, greetings from mexico
Greetings to you also - thanks for watching!
do wool new era mlb caps itch?
I would say the wool used in the current era is not as high quality as pre-2007 wool… and it feels a little rough and scratchy compared to the poly. But it does not make my head itch.
What is your take on 100% cotton baseball caps
Probably have not owned or worn enough of them to have an informed take - so that's something I'll have to explore in the future, thanks.
@@dreinthe616 Hey bro can you recommend any good online baseball hat shops
I’m glad I just love hats and wear a 7 1/4. Lol I can shrink my hats with moleskins or wear some makes from Sportsworld regular. Sportsworld Hats are tighter than HatClub
Wow.. A social media influencer channel on Baseball Caps.
I remember when people just bought a good cap and wore it. Now a full detailed analysis of a cap and it's material is required, before buying and wearing one. And buy a custom coffee mug and sweatshirt while you are here. LOL
Approaching 12k subscribers, the vast majority of whom have responded positively to my advice on Fitted caps - and a way bigger community than you’re probably thinking. I only added merch on request of friends and family and a few viewers, so please don’t assume that you’re making some sharp social commentary about “influencers.” I’m sure you’ve got some interests that you follow here on YT, so I’m not following your logic of degrading the interests of others. And rest assured, I’ll stay off your lawn.
cringe comment lol
wool
polyester is more flimsy and can shape to your head much better wool takes a while to shape to your head but once it does it stays like that
Team Poly for the win...🏁🤘🏼💯✔
it’s because Poly isn’t a natural material and is not really stretchable..natural materials like wool or cotton can be manipulated with heat
From my own shopping experience, polyester > wool. Wool just isn’t it for me in terms of look, feel, and comfort.
Edit: AND THE SHRINKAGE IS BAFFLING. Usually after 1 -2 wears I notice a significant snugger fit.
Wait y’all sweat in y’all’s hats?? I mean I get a lil bit but a lot unless it’s the two designated gym hats the hats stay dry 😂
Чего такой серьёзный ?) хоть разок бы улыбнулся бро )
Why do you have every team hat? No rap favorite team
Cap styles and designs are the most important items for me, although I do have slight preference for Tigers (MLB) and Pistons (NBA) caps, and tend to have more of their stuff than others.
Yea, I looked up this video because this is the first time I've bought some new baseball caps in awhile and the new new era caps IMO are cheap junk compared to my older ones. The comfort is different, the feel is different... They feel like the plastic junk they are. Just awful. And even stretching and sizing feels different... too bad. Another product on the "increase the bottom line" pile.
why on earth would someone want a plastic (polyester cap) how cheap!
Honestly can't tell if you're joking, but you do know there's been about 50 years of development in performance fibers using plastics, right? I'm not sure if you actually watched the video, or have ever seen or felt a polyester New Era cap.
I can't stand the polyester hats I was born in 1980 and in high school I used to buy the wool Red Sox hats and I love the way they felt and they fit and I can't stand the new ones at all
The polyester ones are hot 🥵 I hate them
They went with polyester cus its cheaper NOT because its better 😒
I’m a poly guy 100%
You're a tool, wool is the original and it's soft and clean