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Breaking In Ballcaps

TransMonk Feb 10 2006 12:04 AM

So, I plunked down $50 on 2 New Era 5950 Ballcaps last week. One is home blue and the other is road black and blue. I haven't bought a new cap since 2000, which was, at the time, the new black alternate style. Over the past year, that cap has been misplaced, so I figured it was time to restock. I ordered them online since I live in 'Sconsin, and unless you like the Brewers, Cubs, Twins or Yanks, you either go hatless or have them shipped to you. My new headgear should arrive tomorrow or Monday and I've been trying to research the best way to break in new ballcaps. I have the same problem most do with brand new New Era caps, they sit too high on my short, wide head until they break in after about 2-4 months of constant wear. I've done some Google searches and found links to guys on forums asking the same question that I'm asking here and getting a variety of answers. These 2 were the most informative: [url]http://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20050227203716867[/url] [url]http://ask.metafilter.com/mefi/18523[/url] along with the [url=http://www.neweracap.com/cap_info/index.cfm]New Era Website[/url]. But, because I trust yous guys a lot more than I would some stranger on another forum, I thought I would ask if anyone had tips or methods of breaking in new caps. My plan is to follow the advice of soaking the caps and letting them dry on my head. But if anyone has any horror stories on why I shouldn't, please let me know. Also, has anyone cut the backing out of the front of their cap? I would be afraid of looking like David Wells if I did that, and that's a little more broken in than I need.

Zvon Feb 10 2006 12:22 AM Re: Breaking In Ballcaps

TransMonk wrote: Also, has anyone cut the backing out of the front of their cap? I actually use to insert a piece of cardboard in my hat for bridge backing, or support, back in the 70's, before they had these mesh things built in. Ill never forget my 1st pro Met hat which I ordered thru the mail. There were no Hermans in Queens or sporting good stores that sold authentic Met hats then, Im pretty sure. None that I knew of, anyway. Damn, I loved that hat. I collect Met hats and have ever since. But these days I would never order em thru the mail. As a matter of fact that was the only one I ever did order. Ive got to check out a hat and try it on b4 I plunk my money down. For me it needs to have a kool, solid bridge (tho styles these days dont seem to agree with me on that point). Ill go thru a stack of em looking for the perfect bridge. But im lucky. I live close enough to NY that I do see them in stores around here.

Yancy Street Gang Feb 10 2006 08:25 AM

All I do is bend the brim. A lot of new caps come "pre-bent" but you may want to customize your bend. Years ago, a lot of caps shipped with the brims completely flat, and whenever you'd see someone wearing it that way they'd look, like, totally dorky.

Johnny Dickshot Feb 10 2006 08:30 AM

I tried removing the lining on a cap once, but couldn't manage to cut out all the plastic mesh so the remaining peices stitched into the seams would sorta poke me in the head. I eventually decided caps look like crap on me and hardly ever wear them: I have a wide head to begin with, so getting the right width usually leaves xtra room on top. Sis got me a sharp new Nationals/Senators hat for xmas but I haven't worn it yet for its hugeness.

Edgy DC Feb 10 2006 08:35 AM

Nationals hats took on a strange alternative meaning last year on Capitol Hill. Democratic staffers for Democratic congressmembers would wear the "DC" hats, and their Republican counterparts (not quite the only Republicans in Washington, but maybe some of the only ones openly representing in public) would wear the "W" hats. I stayed away from Nationals hats last year.

Johnny Dickshot Feb 10 2006 09:14 AM

Old-skool "W" for me, but I wish you hadn't said that. Come to think of it, the hat whose liner I removed also said "W" on it -- it was a U. of Wyoming baseball cap --very cool, btw: Chocolate brown with a yellow old-west W, and a tiny embroidered cowboy with one hand on the reigns of a bucking horse and the other holding onto his hat on the back. Here he is:

ABG Feb 10 2006 09:46 AM

Ah, an issue on which I consider myself an expert. Here are ABG's 6 steps to improving your hat. 1-Cut out the inside webbing, using a sharp yet very small scissor. 2-Roll (do not bend) the brim of your cap (you can use a baseball if you like) and secure with many rubber bands. Keep this way for several days at minimum. 3-Each day, bring the hat in the bathroom with you while you shower. The steam will help soften the hat. Alternatives to this include putting in the dishwasher and/or washing machine, but I do not recommend these approaches. 4-Handle (do not wear) the hat (not the brim, which should still be in rubber bands) while watching tv or doing other daily activities. Rubbing, bending, etc will help break in and have a similar effect to wearing for a prolonged period. 5-Wear while exercising. 6-Enjoy!

Yancy Street Gang Feb 10 2006 09:55 AM

That's far too much work for me. I bend the brim and slap the cap on my head. The whole process takes about three seconds.

Elster88 Feb 10 2006 10:18 AM

Yancy Street Gang wrote: All I do is bend the brim. A lot of new caps come "pre-bent" but you may want to customize your bend. Years ago, a lot of caps shipped with the brims completely flat, and whenever you'd see someone wearing it that way they'd look, like, totally dorky. The new style among youngsters is to leave it completely flat and to leave the sticker on the underside of the brim. It looks idiotic.

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