Are the terms “hat” and “cap” fully interchangeable? It’s important to know this difference if you want to pick out the perfect piece of headwear!
At a glance
- “Hats” is a blanket term that can be used to describe nearly any type of headwear.
- Many hats have a full brim and shaped crown, while most caps may have just a visor and a soft crown.
- Caps can be considered a sub-category of hats.
- Regardless if you’re a business owner or a headwear connoisseur, you can rely on Double Portion Supply for all your hat and cap needs!
Whether you’re protecting your head from the elements or looking to make a bold fashion statement, the right hat or cap can do a lot. From low-profile dad caps to crisp and clean snapbacks, there are many ways to wear these stylish accessories in confidence.
Keep reading, and we’ll share all the need-to-know details of hats and caps.
See Related: A Brief History Of Hats
What is a hat?
When it comes down to it, “hat” is a pretty general term. In fact, it can be used to describe almost any popular headgear.
Throughout history, hats have been used for sun protection, ceremonial purposes, or simply as a fashionable accessory. They were worn by the wealthy to signify social status in the Middle Ages, and by farmers and field workers to shield their heads from the sun and rain.
From graduation caps to Jewish kippahs, hats have been worn in various cultures and many countries for centuries. They are common headwear accessories for both formal and informal occasions. And to this day, the right piece of headwear can still do a lot!
The Black Denim Hat from Double Portion Supply
Creating custom trucker hats and baseball caps for your business
Hats are a popular piece of merch for many business owners. It’s easy to customize hats with logos or designs, which can help increase brand recognition and enhance company culture. In 2024, anyone from content creators to shopkeepers can benefit from putting their company logo on the front panel of custom caps!
Hats can do more than cover up some messy hair. When you buy caps and hats in bulk from Double Portion Supply, you’re creating the foundation of a successful business. From camo-patterned foam trucker hats to high-quality baseball caps, we offer countless shapes, styles, and sizes of headwear to fit all of your headwear needs.
The Loden Camo Foam Trucker Hat from Double Portion Supply
Bonus: How To Make And Sell Custom Merch In 2024
Breaking down the anatomy of a hat
The key differences between hats and caps come down to their anatomy. Though many hats and caps look similar, there are some key differences when considering their structure.
Hats have shaped crowns and a brim. The crown of a hat is the part that encompasses your head. The brim is the part that circles around it and is great for blocking your face from the sun.
Many hat styles have a full brim circling the entire hat. This is one of the many distinctive features that sets hats apart from caps.
The term “hat” can refer to countless styles. A fedora, bowler hat, cowboy hat, porkpie hat, or trucker hat may all be considered different styles of headwear, but they are all hats, nonetheless.
Double Portion Supply’s custom hats
What is a cap?
The prominent and distinctive feature that sets caps apart from haps is the unshaped crown they have. If you’re curious about what an unshaped crown is, think of a beanie or beret!
Caps are typically form-fitting and simply follow the natural curve of your head, usually being softer than most hats. They’re a perfect accessory for everyday casual attire. And many caps have either no brim or simply a peak and visor combination. Sometimes, caps can even be considered just a brimless hat.
However, it’s hard to say for certain what the definite difference between a hat and a cap is. That’s because many hat styles fall between the lines, and can be defined as both!
The most popular styles of caps include trucker hats, snapbacks, and baseball caps. But take, for example, the bucket hat.
The Sunset Bucket Hat from Double Portion Supply
Recently, bucket hats have been all the rage. Everyone has been loving this chill and comfy headwear accessory, and it’s time to get your own if you don’t have one already! (If you’re a business owner, you’d be better off buying your hats and caps wholesale.)
Bucket hats have a full brim circling the entirety of the crown. That means it can be classified as a hat. However, some could argue that its soft, form-fitting crown means that it can also be considered a cap. Regardless of the details, this trendy head accessory is surely considered a hat.
Don’t worry about defining your favorite baseball cap or bucket hat
When it comes down to it, there’s a lot that can go into classifying hats and caps. But here are some final thoughts that can be helpful the next time you consider this question.
Both hats and caps fall under the category of headwear/headgear. And “cap” falls under the category of “hat”. So if you’re ever confused about what to call your newest snapback, you’ll always be safe with the word “hat”!
Keep Reading: 9 Easy And Aesthetic Wall Hat Display Ideas You’ll Love
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Double Portion Supply is the largest snapback superstore in Hawaii. Since 2001, we’ve helped clients across the United States make their creative vision a reality. From low-profile dad hats to ANXD brand apparel, we carry everything you need to keep your own brand stocked. Plus, our custom services extend to T-shirt printing, so you stay fresh from head to toe. Get all the latest information by following us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.