Baseball Caps: Why So Much Shrinking?

Why are videos on shrinking Baseball caps so popular? Also, what's easier: stretching or shrinking?
Important Links:
Carefully Shrinking Caps - • Carefully Shrinking a ...
The Other Way to Shrink - • The Other Way to "Shri...
Stretching and Shaping Tutorial - • Stretching and Shaping...
The BEST OF dre in the 616:
Four-Step Cap Break-In - • Four Steps to Break in...
Shaping the Crown - • Shaping the Crown of y...
Smoothing your Caps - • Smoothing the Wrinkles...
Curving the Visor - • Curving your Baseball ...
Cleaning Caps Pt. 1 Maintenance - • Cleaning Baseball Caps...
Cleaning Caps Pt. 2 Deep Clean - • Cleaning Baseball Caps...
Finding the Right 59Fifty - • Finding the right 59Fi...
Storing your Caps - • Storing your Fitted Ba...
New Era Cap Styles - • 59Fifty/Low Profile/39...
Relieving Forehead Pressure
From the Logo - • 59Fifty Comfort - Give...
From poor quality trim - • 59Fifty LowProfile Rev...
New Era Material Comparison - • New Era Cap Material C...

[@no-yj2cf]

You have single handedly made me interested in the details of caps. Beautiful stuff mate!

[@joaquinfarfan4111]

Great information DRE

[@satchelyork]

Hadn't bought one in years, was always 7 3/8 just got a Mariners cap it fits loose I'm trying to shrink it now

[@ediamin6277]

Love your content!

[@etiennegodin5405]

I discovered your videos recently and I have given new life to a dozen baseball hats that were too tight, thanks to you and ordering a hat jack and using steam. Awesome videos! Keep up the good work.

[@dreinthe616]

That is awesome, thanks for watching and for the comment back... glad I could help!

[@SippinSoda71]

Always a pleasure to watch your videos. Since a couple of months, I've been into baseball caps. I now have five 59fifty caps. One of them is Diamond Era material, the inside layer of which I ruined while blow-drying it before stretching. It melted. I probably should've used steam. The outside layer survived, but the inner torn parts do show through. I also own a Coops wool cap, which somehow is the most comfortable. The model seems to differ ever so slightly from the polyester caps, though. Perhaps it's a fluke (I bought it online so I couldn't compare), or perhaps Coops wool caps have a more classic cut. A couple of days ago, I bought a 9fifty stretch snap. The comfort is ridiculous! Disregarding the stretch, they should put the same sweatband material in all New Era caps. I would however like a broader crown on the stretch snap, because the model leans toward dad caps, which look ridiculous on me. Keep up the great work!

[@dreinthe616]

Really appreciate the comments, and sharing the details of your experiences with caps so far. Sweatband comfort - yes, if it’s like the 39Thirty sweatband those are plush, if maybe a little hot. Thanks again!

[@michomichopolis1135]

Thank you very much for this video, very insightful and helpful. Have you also tried the 59Fifty low profile with the precurved brim yet?

[@dreinthe616]

Yes, in fact I posted a review for one on my channel a little while ago - it's on the videos tab at my channel. Thanks for the comments!

[@Ge0rge]

I feel like my hat got little bigger because when I first bought it fit tightly and then over time it started fitting good

[@AJSmith-lt5yc]

Doug, I'm interested in your thoughts against the soaking and using the dryer to shrink? I've had some great success doing these specifically with the Diamond Era caps. I don't soak the visor, but the six panels and the sweatband in a bowl of hot water. Then throw it in the dryer by itself for an hour. When I take it out I put it on my head while holding the visor how I want it for a few minutes as it cools. I'm able to get up to a full size shrink with the Diamond Era with no immediately noticable adverse affects. Interested, as always, in your thoughts. PS - Still awaiting an available 7 5/8 Dre in the 616 59Fifty (sorry I know I requested 7 3/4 initially but your stretching methods have moved me into now purchasing a size smaller caps)

[@dreinthe616]

Hey AJ, that's great if it worked for you. The main reason for me is that when those panels draw in, they get a 'puckered' look around all of the stitching and joints. It's almost like the difference between a nicely pressed dress-shirt and one that you have worn all day or just threw on after pulling it from the dryer. That said, I've never seen the reaction of the Diamond Era material... which might have a little more strength in the weave to avoid some of the appearance defects. Anyway, thanks again for the detailed comments, it's great to hear the stories of what worked.

[@ziggyanderson5477]

Can you do a video on restructuring/restoring caps, I have a 59Fifty that I didn't really take care of and the crown lost its stiffness and shape , also the brim is super flimsy.

[@dreinthe616]

Honestly I've not done too much restoration work on caps - there may be a couple of other vids out there. One thing I can say is that once the visor (brim) gets soft and pliable, I'm not sure of any way to get it back - that's why I recommend forming it with steam in a few of my videos. Same general idea with the buckram under the front two panels. Thanks

[@michomichopolis1135]

Very interesting Doug, thank you. My problem is very often that the caps fit from the sweat band, but have too much volume. Going a size lower doesn’t really help with this. Do you have a recommendation for taking the volume out of the cap specifically? Does the volume shrink over time (naturally)?

[@dreinthe616]

I've got a couple of videos on my channel that show how to round the corners a bit more, to give the impression of lower volume. But the only true way is to go to the low profile version of the 59Fifty, and I've got two other videos where that is a featured topic - check them out if you're interested, and thanks for the question. Personally I like the extra volume in the standard 59Fifty, and it is proportionally balanced by my beard.

[@scottcraigen630]

My head is barely barely larger than a 7 1/8 so I’m always stretching mine. The 7 1/4s just feel way too lose for my liking and has the big gaps on the side in the front when I wear them

[@vaniguwap29]

Scott Craigen same here. like a 7 1/2 is a little too small. but the 7 5/8 is a little to big

[@greenninja5150]

Had a question on whether it would be easier to stretch or shrink. Thanks for the vid.

[@dreinthe616]

I find stretching to be more reliable and consistent... sometimes there are caps that are just too large to shrink enough to make them look good, especially the ones with a lot of volume in the crown and the front two panels, thanks.

[@scottbeck8127]

Hi Doug, I just found this channel and currently started collecting hats. I noticed size differences in the made in China and Bangladesh ones. They are pretty nice and snug and I bought one that was made in America and it was pretty loose. I can't really find any hats my size in stores as I have a big melon and have to order off websites. Have you noticed this trend at all? Thanks

[@dreinthe616]

Yes - the size variation is completely real, and I even made a whole video about it here - kzbin.info/www/bejne/l5a9YaKie7aEr8U - thanks!

[@vaniguwap29]

can you make a video on how to tell if a hat is too big or small ? it would help a lot

[@dreinthe616]

Thanks, I will consider that for my list - although there is a lot of personal preference there, so it's really up to the wearer on what feels too big or small.

[@TrekkieMike]

my orioles hat used to be 6 5/8 when they were wool but now i have to get 6 7/8 but run just alittle big but if i go down to 6 3/4 the bird is smaller cuz they say its a kids size but tight on my head how can i get mine to fit now that they ain't woll anymore

[@dreinthe616]

I think it’s always easier to stretch a cap - you should go with the slightly smaller size if you can, and invest in a Hat Jack stretcher. Also go to my channel page and look up my video “Stretching and Shaping Baseball Caps” to see how to use it correctly. Wool and Poly both respond to stretching in this way. Hope that helps, good luck!

[@alexandrewmaceda1388]

I have an La dodgers orange cap that os 7 3/8. Curved the brims and shit still too fit on my head and the crown was also not like yours that are neat. If i stretch it would the crown be affected? I think the crown would not be in place if stretched

[@dreinthe616]

You should go to my channel and check other videos - I've got some for the crown ( kzbin.info/www/bejne/pmSZaJl9aNR2fbs ) and stretching ( kzbin.info/www/bejne/bn-Qdn9jp9Kaf8U ). New Era caps can vary so much from cap to cap - sometimes the same size caps look and fit completely different. Thanks

[@spiritualt2004]

2:48 I made the same mistake. When you curve the bill sometimes it won’t fit

[@AlmostLakai94]

I haven't watched the whole video yet so maybe he brings it up but the Low Profile 5950s have a pre curve if that's something you'd be interested in 🙏🏽

[@spiritualt2004]

@@bilalsabur looser

[@RAYRAY-yt3hz]

👍

[@stevelangsdorf7307]

My advice to anyone buying a New Era 59 50 wool cap is try on every hat in the store in your size, when ever I buy a new cap I do this and there is always one that fits better than the rest. Good luck 😁👍

[@dreinthe616]

100% Agree - the variation is real, and that's the best thing you can do to find the right fit. (ICYI - kzbin.info/www/bejne/l5a9YaKie7aEr8U - was a whole video I did on variation in the 59Fifty)

[@jorgevizcarra1697]

That’s why I can’t trust buying online because like you said I’m 7 3/8 but two of the same caps can fit completely different

[@dreinthe616]

Yep, I actually did a whole video on size variation between caps ICYI - kzbin.info/www/bejne/l5a9YaKie7aEr8U - thanks.

[@cameronclark3927]

I’d you want one to fit tight I put stretched out cotton balls in the sweat band works perfect

[@newphilmz3605]

I prefer to buy them big. I like the front and the bill big, and just shrink the sides and back. If I buy it small and stretch it, the bill looks funny to me.

[@MrTrainREX]

Does anyone actually know what the bill is made of? I've searched online and I can't seem to find a definite answer. Cardboard?

[@dreinthe616]

I did a teardown of two caps in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p5aTdZWJhrBrpqM I believe it is some sort of composite - paper fiber like cardboard, but with some plastic resin content as well. It will take a shape and hold it very well if you form it with heat/steam, as I have done in many videos. Thanks.

[@MrTrainREX]

@@dreinthe616 thank you! I've watched a bunch of your videos. You do good work.

[@dreinthe616]

Hey, thank you - appreciate your viewership!

[@sproulie72]

Why do caps shrink. I’m normally a 7 1/2 but if I wear the hat on a hot day a sweat it seems to shrink. So a hat that fit me perfectly one day, is too tight the next day

[@dreinthe616]

Moisture and heat - the classic combo for shrinking, especially if the caps are wool or cotton. New Era polyester on-fields (starting in 2007) were intended to be more shrink resistant, and they've mostly done a good job of that. But I keep a hat jack around, sometimes just to refresh the fit on caps that have tightened up after use, like you describe. This video covered a different angle on shrinking, but thanks for the question.

[@marcman1999]

I try looking for the answer to this everywhere but i always seem to get led to tutorials that teach you how to shrink your cap. My fitted cap shrunk naturally due to me sweating in it while wearing and wearing it overtime. My question is will they continue to shrink? or do they stop shrinking at a certain point

[@dreinthe616]

Hey, that's a great question... my sense is that there will be a point where it can't really shrink any more, except for the four fabric panels in the back - they might get that 'rippled' look at all the seams. But the material should make a difference too - Polyester should be the more resistant, while Wool seems to both shrink and stretch easier. I do have to refresh the stretch on my caps after a while of wearing them - it helps to hit them with the hat jack and re-open them. In my video on Deep Cleaning ( kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y52ynGmwo7iohJo ), I show a method of stuffing a towel inside the cap above the hat jack, that could help the re-expand the shape too. Good luck and thanks for the comment.

[@Kickback79]

Centimeters are more accurate measurements.Never thought to look at that. 😎

[@mtndewgood]

Go Redlegs

[@imdbtruth]

I was in the pool!!

[@dreinthe616]

Lol, that reference snuck up on me!

[@aimansahaja5981]

my head is triangle

[@jeremyjackson8196]

New Era sizing is bullshit, not even close to consistent. I wear any wear from a 71/4 to a 71/2.

[@andrewbennett2175]

So you seem to be an advocate of buying true to size. If hunting for the vintage or NOS wool new era caps does the advice still apply? I see so many people say wool = size up. But your more careful video show you’re only gonna really get drunk out of the back panels and risk puckering front seams. But it’s been a long time since I’ve had a fitted hat so both the style and wool are new to me

[@andrewbennett2175]

Sorry, meant to say get shrink not get “drunk” out of the back panels. Basically while new to fitted I’ve found these old school caps to be an area of interest but unlike LIDS there’s Usually no return policy so Trying to minimize trial and error

[@dreinthe616]

No worries, thanks for the thoughtful comments and question. The only time I have chosen to go one size up was with an Ebbets Field wool cap - mainly because of the lower crown and more substantial 'vintage' wool construction. I've gotten so much ability to edit caps out of simple tools and steam that I don't worry too much about wool caps compared to others. The NE cap sizes are mostly controlled by the plastic sizing anyway, but I've not hunted for any vintage NE caps to know any big differences... although I did a teardown of a mid-90s Pirates cap in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p5aTdZWJhrBrpqM

[@purkeyy4019]

If u need ur cap to fit better buy a Nike head band. It works perfect for me , fits tighter.

[@MaximumJoy]

It's weird you calling inches the "English" way. In England we use centimetres.

[@dreinthe616]

Yeah, that is kind of strange... sometimes I also use the word 'Imperial' because at my workplace that is a more common term than 'English' (and 90% of my work is now in Metric). Maybe the best term for modern times would be "US Customary Units".

[@chop3625]

Today New Era has zero quality control. Once upon a time when manufactured in the good ole USA sizes were pretty much spot on. Today they’re unfortunately made almost everywhere in the Far East, pot luck right??

[@dreinthe616]

I’ve covered these topics in many videos- you are correct that NE uses a network of contract manufacturers, primarily in Asia-Pacific region. Check out my channel page ICYI in more.