Gatehouse doesn't fit - which make would?

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Annagain

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I ordered a Gatehouse skull cap online as nowhere near me sells one for me to try it on, but when it arrived the shape is all wrong for me - too short and wide for what must be my long thin head!

I've been thinking of either a Champion Ventair or a Charles Owen 4* but nowhere around me stocks both, there's two shops fairly near me that stock one make each, but they're in opposite directions. So which should I try first to save me a round trip of about 40 miles to go to both?

While I'd like the Charles Owen as it's got the higher SNELL rating, the one that fits best is what I really want!
 
You only get one head, it's worth making the effort to travel far enough to find a hat that is suitable for you, forty miles really isn't very far.
 
jemima*askin said:
You only get one head, it's worth making the effort to travel far enough to find a hat that is suitable for you, forty miles really isn't very far.
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Totally agree, and I will if I need to but a bit of prior knowledge to try the one most likely to suit me first won't hurt!
 
Surely what you paid for the Gatehouse skull cap would have paid your transport costs to a shop where you can try on all the different styles to get the best possible fit?
 
I tried the gatehouse hat and like you it was the wrong shape for me, I bought the charles owen J3 which was the perfect shape and much comfier than the champion hat I had before. Definitely worth travelling to find out for yourself which is best though :)
 
If your head is more oval shaped,which it sounds like it is, then champion hats will probably fit you better.
I think the Charles Owens are similar in shape to the Gatehouse hats so suit rounder head shapes.
I've got 2 champion ventairs and really like them but you'd need to try them on as they don't suit everyone.
 
Try the charles owen first. Gatehouse and champion both fit me, so chances are the champion won't fit you.

There are other makes to consider though. My OH has a lovely just togs hat.
 
Ellies_mum2 said:
Surely what you paid for the Gatehouse skull cap would have paid your transport costs to a shop where you can try on all the different styles to get the best possible fit?
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Nowhere near me stocks all the makes (or even more than one for that matter). One shop 20 miles in one direction stocks Charles Owen, and another 10 miles in the opposite direction stocks Champions. My closest shop only has Harry Hall hats which I know don't suit me.

None of them stock Gatehouses which is why I ordered one online as that would have been my first choice if it fitted. Considering all makes are so different, you would think that a range of manufacturers would be best for all shops! Postage to me was free, but it'll cost me £8 to send it back, but I always knew that would be a possibility.
 
FireFly29 said:
If your head is more oval shaped,which it sounds like it is, then champion hats will probably fit you better.
I think the Charles Owens are similar in shape to the Gatehouse hats so suit rounder head shapes.
I've got 2 champion ventairs and really like them but you'd need to try them on as they don't suit everyone.
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Thanks - It's just occurred to me that I'm halfway to the shop that stocks Champions in work (I'm very tired and a bit slow today!) so I'll try to sneak out early to get there before it closes, if the Champion doesn't fit I'll go to the other place tomorrow and at least I'm not running around all day tomorrow.
 
Kat said:
If Harry Hall doesn't fit I very much doubt champion will. They are very similar
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Marvellous :rolleyes: - the Champion is like the Harry Hall and the Charles Owen is like the Gatehouse, that doesn't leave me much choice! Thanks for the info though.

Sounds like it'll have to be a Just Togs as I already have one of those that fits well (but I need a jockey skull for XC) but that's another online job as no stockists near me!

ETA - A show would be a good idea but I need one for next weekend for a BRC competition - my exisiting hat has a fixed peak so I can't use it. Serves me right for being so disorganised!
 
I have a Gatehouse and friend has a J3. We are the same size but neirther hat fits the other person so I would try J3 - lovely hat too.
 
The gatehouse didn't fit me either, gave me bad headaches and I had had it fitted. Went to a different shop and was fitted for a Charles Owen four star and it's much better I really like it and no headaches! :)
 
Try the charles owen, gatehouse fit me but Charles Owen in the same size doesn't even fit on my head! They are very different, and similar to the just togs shape wise.
 
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