Five Plus One is our weekly series of buyer’s guides. We pick a specific category and dig up five great options along with one that’s a little outside the norm.
I’ve never been much of a hat guy, but as a transplant from the rainy Pacific Northwest to the much sunnier East Coast I have had to work to change this. While there are a ton of great options today we’re specifically looking at unique, ballcap-centric caps. So pull up a chair, look at some hats, and start planning your next sunny outing.
1) Der Sammler: Tackle Cap Combination Natural
Der Sammler‘s Tackle Cap might look like a simple paneled cap, but it’s far from it. Designed with no rear strap but instead integrated elastic this cap has a totally different silhouette. This vintage-inspired cap is made in Japan from 100% cotton and features ventilation holes, a contrasting brim, and multiple sizes.
Available for $125 from Clutch Cafe.
2) Found Feather: Awning Cap (Packable) Yoryu Black
Available for $138 from Lost & Found.
3) Bradley Mountain: Baseball Cap
Bradley Mountain‘s Baseball cap might be just that — a baseball cap — but its use of waxed canvas material while maintaining a palatable price point truly sets it apart. This cap is finished with a leather strap that helps complete the vintage look and feel, and is available in five fantastic colorways.
Available for $48 from Bradley Mountain.
4) Naked & Famous Classic Cap Japan Heritage Indigo
Made in Japan, this Naked & Famous cap is peak performance. It’s a classic 5-panel silhouette, with ventilation holes on the sides and an adjustable strap. Nothing crazy — no big logos or anything — just a super wearable shape that lets that slubby Japanese denim do all the talking. It’s hard to find caps that will develop a legit strong patina over time, but this will fade, crock, and evolve as the years go by, resulting in a hat unique to you and your lifestyle.
As well as the sexy selvedge detail on the adjustable strap, Naked & Famous hit this with some tonal kanji embroidery on the side which will become more visible as the denim fades into a gradient of lighter indigo shades with wear and exposure to the elements.
Available from Cultizm for $107.
5) Beams Plus: Trucker Cap Mesh Beige
Again, there is nothing inherently unique about the Trucker Cap but Beams Plus‘ interpretation is just unique enough to really isolate it from the competition. While this six-panel cap does, in fact, utilize six panels the pattern is completely nontraditional. Plus, the addition of three mesh panels where you might not expect them creates a truly unique, yet functional, cap.
Available for $105 from Lost & Found.
Plus One – Heimat: Sailing Cap Military Green
I looked at several hundred caps before putting this list together, and while there are truly a ton of standouts I had to tip my hat to Heimat and their Sailing Cap.
Honestly, for the most part, this is an unassuming six-panel cap. But the use of two eyelets and a simple piece of cord to adjust sizing is just brilliant. I don’t know about you, but as the owner of an unfortunately large head, the back strap is always what breaks on my caps. The easy-to-replace cord makes this cap as functional as it is attractive (and that’s to say very).
Available for $56 from Clutch Cafe.