riding hat

Tonto · #1 8th Mar 2008, 06:51 PM

i tried a hat on today in a local farmers mart and it felt a bit tight and they didn't have any larger. the size said 60-61 cm. when i measure my head it comes out at about 57cm. i'm tempted to buy a hat on the internet but don't know what size to ask for. has anyone here bought a hat over the net? how did you measure your head? the hat i borrow at the rs is too large and so i really need to buy my own. any advice greatly appreciated

chev · #2 8th Mar 2008, 06:55 PM

No - I find some hats fit me better than others, regardless of size, so need to try before I buy.

cesa · #3 8th Mar 2008, 06:57 PM

I bought mine over the internet and didn't have any problems. My head measurement is 58cm and I bought a hat for 58cm and it fits me fine! You're supposed to measure round the widest part of the head, probably just above the ears.

Gruntfuttock · #4 8th Mar 2008, 06:57 PM

Are there any other tack shops near you? You really need to try on as many different hats and brands of hat as you can, because different brands suit different shapes of head. Some people have Charles Owen-shaped heads, some people have Champion-shaped heads, and until you've tried on a few hats, its hard to know what sort of head you have.

Tonto · #5 8th Mar 2008, 07:06 PM

thanks for the replies; i think i'm going to have to find another tack shop as i really want to get something that's comfy and i don't think that you can return hats incase they've been dropped

molly34 · #6 8th Mar 2008, 08:11 PM

hats, and heads come in different shapes so you need to find the makes & styles that suit you best - eg. Charles & Owen junior are an almost perfect fit for me, but the adult Charles Owen hats aren't great. Champion hats don't fit at all.

Your best bet is going to a bigger tack shop or a show where you can try loads of different ones one.

vimto92 · #7 9th Mar 2008, 03:40 PM

Go to your local tack shop.

I went and found a traditional style hat didn't fit me well at all and was a litte "perched". However, a jockey skull fit perfectly.

So, different hats are different shapes and sizes, definately worth going to your saddlery.

allinyourrows · #8 9th Mar 2008, 05:16 PM

i would NOT buy over the internet.
its not worth it.
go to tack shop and get it fitted properly

perkypinky · #9 9th Mar 2008, 05:24 PM

am with the others on this - go and have one fitted - my children bought me a smashing troxel spirit hat for christmas, it is the correct size for me but i just cant get on with it - it is the wrong shape for my head somehow? i have asked around the yard if anyone is interested in buying it from me (they all know its not be dropped ect and is nearly new! But I have a small head so it will only fit a child, i expect) and am now going to a tack shop to find another that is more comfortable. x

Rarah · #10 9th Mar 2008, 05:40 PM

I had my tradition velvet hat fitted professionally and let me tell you - all hats are very different shapes and sizes - took me ages to get one to fit properly.

A good compromise if you want to buy on-line is an adjustable one. That's what I wear for everyday riding - I've had two now (the ones with the dials on the back which can be adjusted to fit).

nikkilab · #11 9th Mar 2008, 06:00 PM

Hi. I also need to get a new hat. I am debating either the local tack shop or Tesco do a range in our local one. They have a velvet hat which was size 58cm and it fitted me and was only £35 or a plastic one which was about £25 but it was a one size that you add in bits of padding, I was abit put off by this but what does everyone else think?

Gruntfuttock · #12 10th Mar 2008, 09:49 AM

Definitely the tack shop - call me a snob if you like, but i wouldn't touch the Tesco ones even if they do comply to British Standards. At least in the tack shop you can try on different brands. Its got to be better to buy one thats been fitted correctly to your head to start with, rather than one where you stick in random bits of padding yourself to make it fit.

fayecooper · #13 10th Mar 2008, 03:13 PM

If I was you, try a particular hat on in a tack shop and find a style and size that suits you, then search for it on the net. That is what I did with mine, its a well known brand and about 30 quid on the net compared to 50 in the shops... That way you are not buying it totally blind and won't have the hassle of sending it back which might cost a few pounds!

nikkilab · #14 10th Mar 2008, 08:21 PM

Hi. Went to tesco today and they had a nice velvet hat that fitted me well but the plastic one size is called a Polly hat, anyone heard of these? You don't actually add bits to it, it just adjusts at the back to make it smaller/ bigger, didn't fit that well though.

princess3681 · #15 18th Mar 2008, 03:08 PM

I just bought my first riding hat and was going to buy over the internet as it was cheaper! I then decided to go to my local equestrian shop to try some on first for sizing, I was measured properly and the sales assistant tried about 6 different hats on me before she was happy with the fit, I tried the same size hat on in 4 different brands and was very suprised how differently they all fit! I apparently have a Champion sized head!!!

I would def recommend buying it in a shop also at least that way you know it fits properly and been looked after, my fear of getting it posted to me would be if the postal service dropped it and potentially damaged it!!!!

LaurenEff · #16 18th Mar 2008, 03:20 PM

I personally wouldnt buy one via the internet as when i measured my head, it turns out my sizing was WAAYYY off. So no i wouldnt.

Alibi · #17 18th Mar 2008, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fayecooper

If I was you, try a particular hat on in a tack shop and find a style and size that suits you, then search for it on the net. That is what I did with mine,

it makes me furious that people do this, I'm all for saving money but go to a good tack shop get your hat fitted correctly. Afterall you only have one head!

A good tack shop should have a range of hats to suit all budgets too.

wildponies · #18 18th Mar 2008, 03:32 PM

I actually stopped at robinsons on my way home and a lady measured my head. I tried on all different styles and the only one that fitted properly was a harry hall. They didnt have the particular colour that i wanted in stock so i went away and ordered it off the internet.

PonyGirlAsh · #19 19th Mar 2008, 01:52 AM

I went to a few tack stores when I was searching for a helmet, and none could find me a helmet that fit properly...they gave up in the end and said I had a strange head.

Had to settle on one that fit "well enough". Now in the market for a new one as old one has been fallen in!

I've been looking online and most of the hats here come in small, medium, or large! Sighhhh...I'm definitely going to have a problem here!

BlackBess · #20 19th Mar 2008, 10:02 AM

I agree with everyone's advice - definitely buy from a tack shop. The tack shop I went to were fantastic and took the time to make sure the hat fitted properly at the front and back. In the end, the hat that fitted me was a junior hat (and I'm in my 30s!!!). Don't take a chance with safety - get it fitted properly!