Tips For Buying Trucker Caps
What You Need to Know When Buying Trucker Hats
No other hat style has received both love and disdain in hat fashion as the trucker hat it's been in and out of fashion since the 80s. But as for style and function, trucker mesh hats tick all the right boxes, because why not? These mesh-netted baseball caps provide great breathability, versatility, and that instant outdoor look.
If you're looking to promote your brand/company, or sell custom hats on outdoor events, or simply wanted to learn more about trucker hats, you've come to the right place. Let's dive right in!
What are trucker hats?
A trucker mesh hat is a ball cap with a foam front, plastic mesh backing, and snapback closure. The mesh backing is designed for breathability (to air out sweaty heads) since the caps were intended as giveaways too and commonly worn by men-on-the-move or working men ”mechanics, truckers, farmers, plumbers, loggers, spectators at tractor pulls, etc.
Why are they called trucker hats?
In the early '60s, rural businesses usually gave them away (hence, the 'gimme hats' monicker) to truckers, farmers, and the like as promotional items. Later on, they earned the name 'trucker hats'. These modified baseball caps were also cheaper to mass-produce. Their tall, stiff foam fronts are intentionally designed for displaying logos. The caps are typically one-size-fits-all.
What is the difference between a snapback and a trucker hat?
A snapback is a typical 6-panel baseball cap made with a wide flat bill and an adjustable snap closure on the back. Snapbacks are commonly made of wool felt, cotton, polyester, straw, and the like, whereas trucker hats (which are generally snapbacks) are made with mesh fabric or plastic mesh and foam. Trucker hats were also known as net-back or mesh back caps in the 60s.
Why are trucker hats popular?
Trucker hats were made popular in the '70s and '80s by blue-collar workers who wore them every day. This hat style creates an instant outdoor look as typified by the 'hard-working American' in the rural working-class culture. In the early 2000s, trucker hats became a pop culture thing when Hollywood celebrities like Ashton Kutcher, Pharrell Williams, and Justin Timberlake started donning them on national TV. Soon rich white urban kids picked up the trend as the trucker hat made appearances in the fashion runways.
What kind of trucker hats are in style?
Trucker hats with embroidered patch logo, suede front, denim front, and poly blend front
are evidently in style since 2016 with celebrities like Kylie Jenner, Justin Bieber, Britney Spears among many others sporting them on social media recently.
Who makes the best trucker hats?
With the recent fashion comeback of these love 'em or hate 'em hat style, popular brands like Forever 21, Levi's, Patagonia, and Von Dutch have already jumped on the bandwagon.
Here are the top trucker hat brands we recommend:
- Richardson
- New Era
- Imperial
- Flexfit/Yupoong
- Pacific