Hat fitting - a bit disturbing.

[Alwaysmoretoknow]

An acquaintance has decided to get back into the saddle after not having ridden since a child and is not very experienced. She went to purchase a hat from a well-known country store which claims to have suitably trained hat fitters. When she turned up the person trained to fit hats wasn't available.

Another employee measured her head and declared her to be 53cms. She is 5'9 and has size 8 feet so this seems strange. She was advised to buy an adjustable hat in small. She demurred and chose a medium. When requested that the fit be checked she was told it wasn't necessary as it was adjustable.

The hat apparently looks totally 'perched' on her head and even when adjusted tightly wobbles side to side so seemingly the wrong shape for her head. The danger of this is that people will tighten these hats up to stop them wobbling, get uncomfortable after a while and loosen them off resulting in a really poorly fitting hat that won't protect them properly.

I am a trained hat fitter and am a bit appalled by this rather cavalier approach to a customer's safety. Hopefully she will be able to return it and go somewhere more professional although a reputable saddlery would be reticent at taking back a hat once sold in case it had been dropped or suffered other damage.

Quite shocking I think.

 

[poiuytrewq]

That is pretty awful
The polar opposite of the last place I got fitted at. Once we had found a hat that fitted and I was happy with they literally held me hostage (with a hot drink to be fair) for 20 minutes to be sure it was still comfortable!

Unfortunately they shut down. Such a good place.

 

[Fjord]

Oh that's not good! Different hats are different shapes, like people's heads. Even if adjustable it should have been fitted.

 

[Alwaysmoretoknow]

Hat fitting is such a minefield. There are so many things to consider. What activities do you want to do? How much do you want to spend? So many people have their hearts sent on a particular popular/fashionable hat that just doesn't fit them and it's pretty difficult to persuade them that it's not the best choice for them.
It's also surprising the amount of children that I have brought into my shop with parents saying that they need a new hat because the current hat is 'too small' when in fact it's too big and I've had to fit foam adjustors to ensure a safe fit.
Always remember folks that when you buy a hat (that is the correct shape for your head) the foam padding will compress so buy a hat that is a snug fit as it will loosen off and conform to your head shape after a few hours of wearing.

 

[webble]

Assuming it's not got mips? That feels wobbly compared to a normal hat?

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

Always remember folks that when you buy a hat (that is the correct shape for your head) the foam padding will compress so buy a hat that is a snug fit as it will loosen off and conform to your head shape after a few hours of wearing.

I'm not sure about this bit anymore

I have been fitted for a hat many times over the years and was fitted for a new hat a little over a year ago. I agreed with the hat fitter that the one selected felt 'tight' but the size up felt like a perfect fit, if a little more comfortable than you'd expect for a new hat.

I expected the padding to give but it hasn't. I wear it for riding once or twice a week but also use it for any in hand work and bringing in and turning out so it is put on and off approx 10 times per week. It is still uncomfortably tight.

I bought a size up online without a fitting and the difference is amazing. No more headaches after wearing my helmet for 30mins.

I would like to see some revision of hat fitting standards and advice because hat technology is moving quickly and I'm not confident fitting training (training for fitters) is being updated at a similar rate.

 

[Cragrat]

I do think the whole hat buying and fitting s a bit worring. I once watched a young shop assistant drop a brand new, unboxed hat from quite a height onto a hard floor - not sure I would want to buy that hat , but how often does it happen in the store room and no-one sees?

i was measured at our local tack shop as a 57. My existing hat, same brand and style, was a 57. The shop didn't have, and couldn't get, a 57, so offered to sell me a 58 and pad it up. I declined and ended up buying a 57 online, which fits perfectly straight out of the box - though I did give myself a headache by over-lacing it at first!

 

[Alwaysmoretoknow]

I guess it's a bit of a 'feel' thing. You guesstimate what might work and then try on various makes. You get the feel when you slip the hat onto the head front first and should feel an almost vacuum effect when the hat beds in. You then check that the pressure is even all around the head and that there are no obvious gaps at the back of the head or around the temples (where there is the thinnest bone) ensuring that the hat is positioned so that the front is set just above the eyebrows.
You then make your client coffee/tea and then ask them wait for a while to ensure that they are comfortable with the fit allowing for the fact that the feel of the hat will expand as the padding wiĺl compress after a few hours of wearing.

 

[scats]

I had a hat professionally fitted a few years ago after years of just buying my own and I was surprised at how tight they said it should be! Made me realise that I probably have hats a bit too loose.
I do tend to just order my hats online now, I can fit into the Charles Owen junior hats (I have a head like a pea) so it’s much cheaper.

 

[Steerpike]

I'm not sure about this bit anymore

I have been fitted for a hat many times over the years and was fitted for a new hat a little over a year ago. I agreed with the hat fitter that the one selected felt 'tight' but the size up felt like a perfect fit, if a little more comfortable than you'd expect for a new hat.

I expected the padding to give but it hasn't. I wear it for riding once or twice a week but also use it for any in hand work and bringing in and turning out so it is put on and off approx 10 times per week. It is still uncomfortably tight.

I bought a size up online without a fitting and the difference is amazing. No more headaches after wearing my helmet for 30mins.

I would like to see some revision of hat fitting standards and advice because hat technology is moving quickly and I'm not confident fitting training (training for fitters) is being updated at a similar rate.

I had exactly the same when I was fitted at a stand at Badminton one year they insisted I was a 57, I gave up on wearing it and brought my normal 58 on line which was a much better fit.

 

[Red-1]

I never bank on the padding bedding in either. Twice I have believed them and both times I ended up with lines over the forehead and a headache.

TBF, our local hat fitter now wants you to be happy. You wear the hat round the shop and that only after you feel comfortable.

 

[Kaylum]

How is the padding applied? Is it round the rim of the hat and how does this affect the warranty of a hat?

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I guess it's a bit of a 'feel' thing. You guesstimate what might work and then try on various makes. You get the feel when you slip the hat onto the head front first and should feel an almost vacuum effect when the hat beds in. You then check that the pressure is even all around the head and that there are no obvious gaps at the back of the head or around the temples (where there is the thinnest bone) ensuring that the hat is positioned so that the front is set just above the eyebrows.
You then make your client coffee/tea and then ask them wait for a while to ensure that they are comfortable with the fit allowing for the fact that the feel of the hat will expand as the padding wiĺl compress after a few hours of wearing.

I've got a pea head as well most adult hats of any kind don't fit they swamp my head

 

[Most Curious]

I bought my first proper equestrian helmet last year from an equestrian tack shop, it was a most nerve wracking experience indeed.
The lady who was fitting the helmet started invading my personal space which made me rather uncomfortable.
I was unsure what to do so I just closed my eyes and prayed.
She even told me not to lean back and stand upright which I was unaware off.
Eventually the fitting finished, I paid for the helmet and left the equestrian tack shop with a huge sigh of relief.
BTW. The best helmets are Champion or Charles Owen. Apparently they conform to British Equestrian standards or something I think.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

I bought my first proper equestrian helmet last year from an equestrian tack shop, it was a most nerve wracking experience indeed.
The lady who served me had tattoos up and down her arms which was quite scary.
When fitting the helmet she started invading my personal space which made me rather uncomfortable.
I was unsure what to do so I just closed my eyes and prayed.
She even told me not to lean back and stand upright which I was unaware off.
Eventually the fitting finished, I paid for the helmet and left the equestrian tack shop with a huge sigh of relief.
BTW. The best helmets are Champion or Charles Owen. Apparently they conform to British Equestrian standards or something I think.

Where to start in replying.....
1. Life choices of tattoos? Shouldn't affect her job, why 'scarey' ?
2. Person getting close when hat fitting? Absolutely necessary.
3. Do not understand why you wouldn't be standing upright?
4. There are other brands of hats too, having accreditation of Snell, British kitemark etc.

OP, we've 2 local outlets. One is gold standard for fitting, the other (cheaper) is most definitely not.

 

[spacefaer]

I've also discovered that my hat fit depends on my hair - depends on the length and thickness of it - if I put it in a bun or scrunchy at the wrong height, I can give myself a blinding migraine very easily, which I have in the past blamed my hat for.
(it's generally below my shoulder blades and quite thick)

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Every single time I've had a hat-fitting I've always, without fail, been directed towards the more expensive of the range. Even when I KNOW darn well the child's size (and the cheapest) fitted the best.

Funny that.

 

[Indy]

I bought my first proper equestrian helmet last year from an equestrian tack shop, it was a most nerve wracking experience indeed.
The lady who was fitting the helmet started invading my personal space which made me rather uncomfortable.
I was unsure what to do so I just closed my eyes and prayed.
She even told me not to lean back and stand upright which I was unaware off.
Eventually the fitting finished, I paid for the helmet and left the equestrian tack shop with a huge sigh of relief.
BTW. The best helmets are Champion or Charles Owen. Apparently they conform to British Equestrian standards or something I think.

You would probably lean back if you felt a bit invaded, I do that sometimes when people get a bit too close. The best hat is the one what fits (a bit like hoof boots) although Champion and Charles Owen are probably two of the more popular brands. I've had numerous Charles Owen and Champion hats and my current hat is now a Gatehouse which is conforms to the same H&S standards.

 

[Widgeon]

I expected the padding to give but it hasn't. I wear it for riding once or twice a week but also use it for any in hand work and bringing in and turning out so it is put on and off approx 10 times per week. It is still uncomfortably tight.

I had the same experience. New hat, fitted by a trained hat fitter at an (expensive) local shop. I did say it felt tight, but she assured me it was correct and that it would give. I wore it for about six months, getting a horrible pressure headache every time I rode for more than forty minutes. Eventually I gave up and gave it away to someone with a differently shaped head! Went to a different shop and told them I needed a new hat on a budget, and they found me a Charles Owen skull cap. It fits, it was cheap (child sized head despite being 5'8" with size 42 feet). Winning.

 

[PeterNatt]

Alwaysmoretoknow! I am intrigued by this 'Adjustable Hat' and would love to know who the manufacturer is and which standards this hat complies with?
My interest lies in that I am a member of the British Standards Institute Committee that develops the standards for 'Equestrian Helmets'.
Many thanks

 

[Widgeon]

Alwaysmoretoknow! I am intrigued by this 'Adjustable Hat' and would love to know who the manufacturer is and which standards this hat complies with?
My interest lies in that I am a member of the British Standards Institute Committee that develops the standards for 'Equestrian Helmets'.
Many thanks

There are quite a few, this is just one of them as an example. The ones I'm aware of in the UK do comply with PAS015.

Gatehouse Air Rider MkII Adjustable Riding Hat Helmet PAS015 Navy or Black 50-54

Gatehouse Air Rider Mkii Adjustable Riding Hat Helmet Pas015 Navy or Black 50-54

www.corkfarmequestrian.co.uk

 

[Indy]

Alwaysmoretoknow! I am intrigued by this 'Adjustable Hat' and would love to know who the manufacturer is and which standards this hat complies with?
My interest lies in that I am a member of the British Standards Institute Committee that develops the standards for 'Equestrian Helmets'.
Many thanks

Shires do an adjustable hat, it's the Karbena and it's PAS015 2011 standard and BSI kitemarked. I tried one but it just didn't fit.

 

[Maddie Moo]

Alwaysmoretoknow! I am intrigued by this 'Adjustable Hat' and would love to know who the manufacturer is and which standards this hat complies with?
My interest lies in that I am a member of the British Standards Institute Committee that develops the standards for 'Equestrian Helmets'.
Many thanks

Without being rude, surely you should already be aware that there are multiple adjustable hats on the market that comply with PAS015?

 

[Quigleyandme]

I bought a Charles Owen Halo at Windsor last year. I think the shells are standardised and the detachable linings come in different sizes to fit the wearer.

 

[SantaVera]

When I worked at a country store ( nationally well known with several stores) myself and others staff were invited to attend a hat fitting course and at the end received a certificate to say we were qualified hat fitters. We learned that it was ok to drop a hat onto hard ground from waist height but not more. The fitting bit was very rudimentary, basically just measure in centimetres then try hat on the customer, they were not to be too low ie just above eyebrow and not too perched. Was very disappointed common sense would tell a person what we learned. No impressed with the "qualification" at all.

 

[ycbm]

Alwaysmoretoknow! I am intrigued by this 'Adjustable Hat' and would love to know who the manufacturer is and which standards this hat complies with?
My interest lies in that I am a member of the British Standards Institute Committee that develops the standards for 'Equestrian Helmets'.
Many thanks

Loads of hats are dial fit Peter. A little disc at the back that you spin to make the hat fit your head size.
.

 

[ycbm]

BTW. The best helmets are Champion or Charles Owen. Apparently they conform to British Equestrian standards or something I think.

David as a person very new to riding, could you please try to stop posting stuff you know nothing about? I feel obliged to correct you so that others don't get the wrong information. Champion and Charles Owen are just two of many hat brands that meet certified standards, not necessarily "the best" and they don't fit everyone.
.

 

[Rowreach]

I bought my first proper equestrian helmet last year from an equestrian tack shop, it was a most nerve wracking experience indeed.
The lady who was fitting the helmet started invading my personal space which made me rather uncomfortable.
I was unsure what to do so I just closed my eyes and prayed.
She even told me not to lean back and stand upright which I was unaware off.
Eventually the fitting finished, I paid for the helmet and left the equestrian tack shop with a huge sigh of relief.
BTW. The best helmets are Champion or Charles Owen. Apparently they conform to British Equestrian standards or something I think.

You might like this as a starting point.

Hats and helmets | The British Horse Society

Riding hats are designed to be as effective as possible at minimising any potential head injury, but as with all safety equipment, no hat can be guaranteed to protect every rider in every circumstance.

www.bhs.org.uk

There are plenty of standard reaching helmets on the market, ranging from about £60 to several hundred £.

 

[webble]

@PeterNatt my uvex is dial fit too and PAS015

 

[Fieldlife]

Alwaysmoretoknow! I am intrigued by this 'Adjustable Hat' and would love to know who the manufacturer is and which standards this hat complies with?
My interest lies in that I am a member of the British Standards Institute Committee that develops the standards for 'Equestrian Helmets'.
Many thanks

Uvex comply with standards for BD : TREC GB and have an adjustable dial at back.

Uvex – Setting The Highest Standards | Rideaway

Protecting people is the core mission of the Uvex brand whether it is gloves, eyewear or helmets for…

www.rideawaystore.com