Competition hat for dressage

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dressage_diva

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Am looking to get a new navy competition hat for dressage, but need some ideas!

I'm after a smart, but modern style hat (not traditional velvet) that's comfortable and lightweight (and has a harness). Just after some ideas so I can go and try some on and see what fits. I really like the KEP hat, but unfortunately that's a little out of my price range at the moment - what else is there that's similar in style, but cheaper?

Previously I've always worn my Champion Ventair but that's black and now I've finally treated myself to a navy Pikeur jacket I would like a nice smart navy hat to go with that!
 
I really like the Charles Owen ayr 8. Similar style to the ventair, so looks smart but not ott modern either. You can get in it Navy with the vent bit in silver.
 
I love the look of the charles owen too, but if you've got a champion shaped head, it's unlikely the CO will fit...

I love the Champion Evolution hats :)
 
Love the Champion Evolution too, my friend recently bought a navy one for competition and it looks very smart indeed (I don't have a champion shaped head, sadly).
 
Thanks guys - I wore a CO hat when I was a young child, but have been in Champion for years so not sure my head is the right shape for CO.

This might be a silly question, but what's the difference between the Champion Evolution and the Ventair? The photos on the Champion website only show it side-on which isn't that useful! Do you think it's smart enough for BD classes? I really like the lightweight/vented helmets as they're so much more comfortable than velvet hats, but I still want it to look smart enough (I always think that PrincessSparkle on here looks v.smart in her KEP even though it's not a traditional velvet hat!).
 
The evolution is a different fabric, it looks smarter than the suedy fabric IMHO. The silver strip only goes to about 1.5" above the peak too, instead of all the way down the hat. I love the KEP's too, but am also not able to justify the cost sadly :(
 
see if there are any GPA's on ebay????there are still some at the old price if you arent a popular size, and equestrian clearance had some at bargain prices too.

there was someone on here who posted some new style hats from germany i think, matt blue, black or grey with a small ridge in the centre of the peak and they were almost two tone, really smart and i would have had one if id seen them before the KEP. try searching for my various hat related threads and you might find the link????

i prefer the ventair for looks over the evolution.
 
I think I have a Charles Owen shaped head! My current everyday hat is a CO skull cap - my dad just got me a very smart gatehouse for eventing tho!
But I also like the idea of the ayr8, interesting that people think these are smart enough for dressage - even with the silver vent we think they are ok?
 
i used to wear a GPA which are similar and thought it looked much nicer than a velvet hat.
now have a KEP and regularly get people complimenting me on it, not many of them in the dressage world yet but i love mine and certainly hasnt affected marks-i got 2 x68% and 71% at affil elem after buying it.
 
You can get the champion ventair in navy.

I've literally just now gone to the shop and got myself a new ventair, I find them so comfortable I can't wear anything else!

I'm interested by this 'champion sized head' notion as the lady in the shop mentioned that too, I'd never heard of that before?! How are the champion hats shaped differently?

:)
 
In that case I must have a slightly inbetween head! I have a campion skull and a CO velvet hat. Both fit really nicely! Must just be made a bit wonky!
 
I love my Champion hats, I have the Evolution but I wear my Grand Prix for dressage mainly :), pic of the evolution from the front is in my siggy btw.
 
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