The Ultimate Buyer's Guide for Purchasing Custom Trucker Hats

13 May.,2024

 

Hat Buying Guide - How to Buy a Custom Hat

In the never ending list of accessories that have become prominent over the years, hats have truly stood the test of time. Initially invented in 3200BC for sun protection, hats have grown and shifted for multiple purposes in many cultures over the years. From sun protection to temperature regulation, hats have been proven to have many health benefits. With all the options available, choosing the perfect hat can seem like a daunting task at first. In this guide, we’ll cover different options and take you through the process to purchase your perfect hat.

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How to Find the Right Hat Fit

Finding the right hat comes down to a few elements: function, design, and overall style. Different styles of hats vary in fabric, structure, and can be suited to different temperatures. The right hat comes down to a few simple questions: Where do you plan on wearing the hat? What is the weather going to be like? What features suit your needs best? We’ll highlight a few of the most common options below.

Different Hat Styles

Here are a few of the most common styles of hats and an overview of how they work.

Baseball Caps

 

Baseball caps are one of the most common types of hat. As its name suggests, the baseball cap was first used by baseball players in the 1840s. Originally intended to shield the eyes from the sun and dusty air, baseball caps have continued to be an integral part of many sport’s uniforms and the general population today. These types of hats are most commonly used in warmer months as they protect the eyes and scalp from the hot sun. These hats are made up of a few parts: an adjuster at the base of the scalp, the fabric base that covers the head, and a bill usually made of plastic or cardboard that covers the forehead. Baseball caps are typically used for sporting events, outdoor activities, and general everyday use.

Trucker Hats

A trucker hat is a common variation of the baseball cap. Hats by truckers used to resemble a peak cap, though the latter half of the 20th century saw a new style of trucker hat resembling the baseball cap became much more popular. First invented in the 1970s, trucker hats take the traditional form of a baseball cap but also feature mesh fabric on the sides. The mesh allows more air to circulate through the hat, creating a more cooling sensation. The trucker cap is a common identifier of truckers, though its use has become more popular with the general population in recent years.

Fitted Caps

Fitted caps are another common variation of a baseball cap. The structure of the fitted cap is essentially the same as a baseball cap with one key difference: the lack of an adjuster. Fitted caps are more inflexible that the typical baseball cap, creating a stiffer appearance. These hats tend to have a higher profile, meaning they tend to sit higher on the head than a traditional cap. Fitted caps are a great option for those who would prefer a hat with a flatter brim that sits more prominently on the head.

Visors

Visors have the same structure as a typical baseball cap without the fabric base. A visor tends to have an adjuster in the back, allowing for a more fitted feel. These hats tend to focus on sun protection, leaving the top of the head bare. Visors are commonly used in various summer sports such as golf and tennis. These can be a great option for those who may not want the full constriction of a traditional hat but still need the benefits of sun protection from the eyes.

Beanies

Beanies are hats that are typically used for the cooler months. Beanies have been around since the early 1900s and were named after “bean” which was a slang word for head at the time. They are typically made from a variety of fabrics with common options including fleece, knitted yarn, and wool. Beanies are designed to cover the scalp, forehead, and ears which makes them perfect for braving a cold day. Beanies are typically assembled in one piece and can be pulled down to different lengths depending on how much coverage the user needs. Beanies are great options for protecting the head outdoors and are also commonly used as an accessory to outfits year round.

Winter Hats vs Sun Hats

The design of a hat greatly depends on the season it is designed for. Hats are designed to protect the head and face. Certain models aid in the blockage of harmful UV rays of the sun and others prevent the ears and forehead from freezing in harsh, cold temperatures. Here is a breakdown of the key differences between hats designed for winter and summer.

Winter Hats

Winter hats are designed to conserve warmth. Typically made from knitting, wool, or even fur, these hats use denser fabric to shield the head from exposure to cold temperatures or high speed wind. Common styles of winter hats include the beanie, knit hats with additional elements such as ear flaps or pom poms, and hunting hats with prominent ear flaps. These hats are typically thicker than a summer hat and are designed to be substantial in the face of cool winds.

Sun Hats

Sun hats, unlike winter hats, are designed to wick away warmth and excessive sunlight. Prolonged exposure to the brightness of the sun can lead to eye and skin damage. The first hats that originated from ancient cultures around the globe were sun hats. Many of the most common types of hats we discussed earlier, such as the baseball cap, can be considered sun hats. Other common styles include the traditional sun hat, which has a brim that circles around the entire head. These hats are typically made of wicker or more lightweight fabrics such as nylon or polyester.

Our Favorite Embroidered Hats

Here are a few of our top choices for hats that can be personally customized through Thread Logic’s quick and easy ordering process.

Snapback Trucker Hat - Port Authority

The Port Authority Snapback Trucker Hat is designed like a trucker hat. With fifteen different color options and mesh sides, this cap is a perfect option for a stylish summer day.

Flat Bill Snapback Cap - New Era

Our New Era Flat Bill Snapback Cap is a perfect example of the fitted cap we talked about in the earlier review. It’s cotton blend and fitted shape make for a comfortable and stylish fit. This cap is perfect for those who prefer the look of a flat bill and a taller profile.

Watch Cap 2.0 - Carhartt

Our Carhartt Watch Cap 2.0 is a great choice for when the weather begins to cool down. Featuring a variety of color options and a rib knit fabric, this hat is perfect for winter.

Hats for every occasion and every event!

Hats are a very unique accessory, with equal parts function and fashion. Hats can be used for a variety of sports, a work uniform, or even everyday life. Thread Logic’s variety of shapes and styles available for customization provide an easy way to purchase the perfect hat for you. Whether you plan to hit the beach this summer or need to brave the winds of the winter, a Thread Logic custom hat will be with you every step of the way.

Custom Hats & Headwear Buyers Guide

Custom hats are one of the most popular pieces of custom apparel for a good reason. With custom hats, you can prominently display your company logo or design right where people direct their gaze. In addition to that, custom logo hats are very affordable in comparison to some other types of promotional apparel. In this guide, we’ll break down the different styles of custom hats, list the headwear brands that we offer, explain how your logo is added to custom headwear and show how you can use custom hats to promote your business.

At Merchology we offer customization of over 30 of the top brands in headwear and our brand offerings are always growing. Some of our most popular custom hat brands include New Era, Under Armour, Richardson, Nike, Carhartt, and Flexfit. Check out our brands page to see our complete list of brands that you can personalize with your corporate logo or custom design or refer to some of our most popular custom headwear brands below. 

              

              

There are countless styles of hats out there that come in all shapes and sizes. In this exercise, we won’t dive into bowlers, boaters, berets or other novelty hats. Instead, let’s focus on the types of hats that are best suited for customization for your team or company.

The baseball hat is where it all started. These custom baseball hats have a medium sized curved bill and offer a great space on the front of the hat for logo embroidery. If you’re actually going to play baseball in these, consider our selection of moisture-wicking hats!

Snapback hats are one of the most in-style hat types out there right now. These custom snapbacks aren’t just stylish though, they’re easily adjustable using two pieces of plastic that snap together to form the perfect sized hat for anyone.

Trucker hats are another classic American style. These custom trucker hats feature 100% polyester mesh backing, making them an extremely breathable headwear option. Trucker hats are most commonly structured hats with snapback adjustment but can also be fitted.

Structured hats offer a stiffer and supportive fabric inside the hat that holds their shape. These are the same construction of hats that are worn by professional baseball players at the highest level.  Each of the last three hat styles mentioned feature a structured construction more often than not.

Unstructured hats, on the other hand, do not have supportive fabric to hold the shape of the hat. These unstructured hats, also known as “dad hats”, are softer and can be more comfortable than structured hats.

Both custom fitted hats and custom flex fit hats feature a closed back and are NOT adjustable. These fitted hats are measured in 1/8 inch size increments and typically have a structured construction. Fitted and flex fit hats are also worn by professional baseball players and make great athletic and hats.

The name says it all for flat bill hats. These custom flat bill or flat brim hats can come in a variety of colors and materials, but they all feature a flat bill rather than a curved one. Custom flat bill caps are usually either fitted or snapbacks.

Hook and loop closure hats come in many shapes, fabrics, and colors, but are always adjustable. Rather than using a plastic snap closure like snapbacks or a buckle closure these custom hook & loop closure hats typically use Velcro for size adjustment. This hat style is especially popular for athletic hats and golf hats.

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Buckle closure or strapback custom hats are most commonly unstructured hats and feature a self-strap metal buckle closure. Custom strapback hats have an old school, traditional look to them and make ideal casual custom headwear.

This might be more of a material than a style, but its worth mentioning that custom cotton hats provide some unique benefits that other hats can’t. For example, cotton custom hats are more breathable, versatile, inexpensive, durable and softer than other hats. Custom cotton hats are often the choice for promotional hats.

The custom bucket hat is the ultimate choice in leisure headwear. Custom bucket hats have a wide brim that goes around the perimeter of the hat to keep the sun off your face and keep you cool, making them the perfect summer hats.

Custom logo beanies, fleece hats, and knit caps are the perfect way to stay warm while spreading your brand all winter long. These custom stocking caps come in wool, cotton, acrylic, and fleece and are available in a variety of styles.

Are visors hats? Today we're going to say yes. Custom visors are the best of both worlds, they keep the sun out your eyes while still letting your head breathe. Custom visors are most commonly used as golf visors, tennis visors or for other athletic applications.

Another piece of headwear that pushes the boundaries of the definition of a hat. Custom headbands are the best way to keep your ears warm in cold weather without messing up your hair! Custom headbands are also popular as athletic headwear.

These custom hard hats obviously aren’t your everyday headwear unless you work in an environment that requires them. But if you do, there’s no better way to stay safe on the job site. We offer a variety of hard hat styles including regular brim hard hats, full brim hard hats, and cowboy style hard hats that meet OSHA and ANSI protection regulations.

 

 

There are a few different decoration methods that can be utilized to add your corporate logo to our selection of custom hats depending on the style of headwear selected and the appearance you want to achieve with your design.

The most popular and recommended decoration type for headwear is custom embroidery. Embroidery is ideal for personalized hats because embroidery can be performed on non-flat surfaces, unlike many other decoration methods. Embroidered logos and designs are also durable and provide a stylish and sophisticated appearance. Read how commercial embroidery is done in our Guide to Custom Embroidery.

 

Similar to standard embroidery, 3D puff embroidery is used to add a textured element to your logo or design. However, with 3D puff embroidery, there is an added layer of foam that provides more dimensional depth to your custom hat. 3D embroidered hats are also extremely durable and sharp but tend to be more expensive than traditionally embroidered custom hats because of the added fabric. Check out how it’s done in our Guide to 3D Puff Embroidery.

 

Where Can My Logo be Embroidered on Custom Hats?

Your logo placement options are going to differ depending on the custom headwear you’ve selected, but our standard logo locations are front and centerleft sideright side and back of the hat. These are the locations on your custom headwear that will display your logo most prominently. 

Applications for Custom Hats & Headwear

There’s really not many situations that custom hats can’t come in handy. Whether your trying to keep the sun out of your eyes, stay warm, stay safe, or simply promote your business, there’s a custom hat for any application.

Promotional Hats

This one is pretty broad because any hat that you add your custom embroidered corporate logo to can be a promotional hat. However, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention this because custom hats are one of the most popular ways to generate brand awareness through corporate apparel. Custom logo hats are perfect for trade shows, recruiting events, new hire packages and much more.

Custom Golf Hats

Your golf attire isn’t complete without a custom golf hat. Get your corporate logo embroidered on personalized golf hats from the best brands in golf including Under Armour, Nike Golf, Titleist, Callaway, Puma Golf, AHEAD, Adidas and TaylorMade. Many of the custom golf hats we offer provide sweat wicking performance fabric and UPF protection to keep you cool and dry on the golf course.

 

Custom Baseball Team Hats

We’ve got you covered for custom baseball caps at any level of competition. Little League team hats, company softball team hats, or professional baseball team hats – you name it. We offer custom baseball caps from some of the top brands in baseball including New Era, Richardson, Flexfit, and Under Armour.

Custom Uniform Hats

A custom hat with your embroidered company logo is the perfect piece of corporate apparel to complete your work uniform. You’ll find the perfect uniform hats for your business whether your custom uniform hats are for industrial uniforms, high visibility uniforms, sports uniforms, retail uniforms, restaurant uniforms, hospitality uniforms, or any other kind of custom uniform.

 

Camo Hats & Custom Hunting Hats

Our selection of custom camo hats makes perfect hunting hats, fishing hats or outdoor hats in general. Now you can embroider your logo on camouflage hats and camo beanies from New Era, Flexfit, Port Authority, AHEAD, Under Armour and Richardson.

Work Hats & Safety Headwear

Custom headwear plays a large role in custom workwear and safety apparel. In many occupations, you need custom high visibility headwear to stay visible or flame resistant headwear to be protected from exposure to fire or electricity. In many other industries, it is required for employees to wear custom hard hats to provide protection from impact. Our most popular brands for work hats and safety headwear include Carhartt, Under Armour and OccuNomix.

Custom Sports Hats & Athletic Headwear

We’ve already touched on baseball caps and golf hats, but there is much more to athletic hats than that. Check out our collection of custom moisture wicking hats & sweat-wicking hats for the perfect workout hats or running hats from activewear brands like Under Armour and Nike.

Custom Sun Hats

Kick back and relax in a custom sun hat with your corporate logo. Styles of sun hats include custom bucket hats, safari hats, lifeguard hats, boonie hats, straw hats, beach hats and other full brim hats. Pair these custom summer hats with one of our custom fishing shirts for the perfect leisure outfit.

Embroidered Winter Hats

Sorry to go straight from summer to winter, but you’ll thank us when your ears are warm! Popular styles of winter headwear you can customize include custom beanies, slouch beanies, pom beanies, fleece hats, knit hats, and headbands.

Time to Customize Your Own Hats

Now that you’re familiar with the brands, styles and decoration methods that we offer for custom hats and headwear, head over to our complete Custom Hats Collection to find the perfect hats for your business. Need it fast? Check out our selection of Quick Ship hats that can be embroidered with your logo and shipped to your door in days. If you have any question regarding your custom hats or corporate apparel don’t hesitate to contact us for answers! Also, be sure to check out our complete Buyers Guides Page for more helpful tips on selecting the right merch for your business.

The company is the world’s best Custom Trucker Hats supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.