How old is your hat?

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missshell

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It occured to me earlier that I have had my riding hat around 6 years now and so I should probably replace it. How often do you replace yours? :confused::)

ETS: It hasnt been dropped etc!
 
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Aren't you suppose to replace them every year or atleast when you;ve had a (bad) fall? I dont know if that true, i've had mine 1yr/just over i think (:
 
Mine is 4 months old :D I love it too much (and it was far too expensive) for me to fall off with yet :p

I replaced it after I fell off with my old hat, I had a headache for about the next four hours. That hat was about 3/4 years old.
 
Mines probably about 6 months old now....but my previous one I had for about 5 years! I really should have replaced that sooner though :S
 
My current hat is nearly a year old. I found my old one from my RS days that is 10 years old. It still has that little chin cup thing and a string on the inside of the hat for adjusting the size of gap between head and the skull. It strikes me how thin it is compared to my current hat!!!
 
When I first started my hat was about 20yo LOL! It was my Aunties which I was using until I got a new one (Grandad said he wouldn't buy be a new hat until I could ride, because apparently there was no point - thank god the mare's a saint!) I then had one for two years and then I got a new one this Christmas.
 
As a qualified hat fitter, some of these replies are making me :eek::eek::eek:!

Replace at around 3 years, regardless of whether or not they have been dropped or involved in a fall....the polystyrene inner (the bit that saves your head!) disintigrates over time and the air bubbles in the polystyrene that compress when the hat is knocked disappear...

Therefore, makes the hat as much use as wearing a chocolate tea pot...
 
ooo Royal can I pick your brains please???

I have been thinking about replacing my beloved CO J3 skull ive had it for a good few years. I had it fitted at the CO stand at YH live, but I came out as a different size to my Show hat a CO Showjumper XP that was fitted at Matlock saddlery both seem to fit but both different sizes?

So do skull caps come up a different size to more traditional ones? Also what would you consider the best skull on the market at the moment?

Thanks!! :)
 
12 years. Old fashioned hunting cap.

It doesn't get a great deal of use nowadays, has had a couple of crashing falls and probably needs replacing.
 
naza said:
Aren't you suppose to replace them every year or atleast when you;ve had a (bad) fall? (:
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Probably.

I'll forget that I read that! That would be over $230 a year for what I like, plus import taxes:( Mine will have to do as it is.
 
9 years! If I could find a reasonably priced hat that fits me I would replace it, but I can't. Current hat fits perfectly and have never fallen on it. They have since stopped making it, and I dunno if I have an awkward head shape, but have tried hats on in the meantime, and short of taking out a small morgage I can't find one that I could even tolerate to wear for an hours hack, let alone hunting, spon rides etc.
 
One of mine only a few months old,and the other just under a year,and another one of mine about 18 months old.......i think the question for me should have been how many riding hats do you own??!!!
I have a "thing" for riding hats!!:o
 
Just replaced my previous hat as I had a fall last summer and was concussed! No obvious damage to hat, it was only 12months old too. OH insisted I got a new one, and for once I did as I was told !! Prior to that, my old jockey skull was at least 12 years old. I don't wear it any more - honest !! ;)
 
royal said:
As a qualified hat fitter, some of these replies are making me :eek::eek::eek:!

Replace at around 3 years, regardless of whether or not they have been dropped or involved in a fall....the polystyrene inner (the bit that saves your head!) disintigrates over time and the air bubbles in the polystyrene that compress when the hat is knocked disappear...

Therefore, makes the hat as much use as wearing a chocolate tea pot...
Click to expand...

TBH I was :eek: when i realised just how long I have had it! I will be purchasing a new one asap!
 
Keltic said:
ooo Royal can I pick your brains please???

I have been thinking about replacing my beloved CO J3 skull ive had it for a good few years. I had it fitted at the CO stand at YH live, but I came out as a different size to my Show hat a CO Showjumper XP that was fitted at Matlock saddlery both seem to fit but both different sizes?

So do skull caps come up a different size to more traditional ones? Also what would you consider the best skull on the market at the moment?

Thanks!! :)
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helloooo!

To be honest, you are very lucky (and I'm quite surprised!) that both a skull and a riding hat fit you well....they don't necessarily come up differently sized, but as a general rule they do both have a different shape which alters the fit alot!

Again, as a rule, skulls are rounder in shape than a more oval riding hat style (I'm talking velvets and the newer ventair style hats here)....

for instance, I have to wear skulls....my head is round :o the riding hat styles are either too big or they 'perch' if I go smaller....

Is there much of a gap between the two sizes??
 
tasteofchaos said:
9 years! If I could find a reasonably priced hat that fits me I would replace it, but I can't. Current hat fits perfectly and have never fallen on it. They have since stopped making it, and I dunno if I have an awkward head shape, but have tried hats on in the meantime, and short of taking out a small morgage I can't find one that I could even tolerate to wear for an hours hack, let alone hunting, spon rides etc.
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But to be honest, your current hat is pretty much useless after 9 years.

I do understand what you are saying, but honestly, the polystyrene will have completely degraded by now....the only thing actually protecting you now will be the outer shell..which wont' do anything if you hit your head...

Don't want to sound like a know-it-all, but that really worries me.....
 
As I understand a hat that has never been dropped or fallen on should be replaced every 3-4 years. I have a GPA and asked them this Q as mine is coming up 5. They said a well looked after non dropped/fallen hat should be replaced every 6-7years - just as well at £300:D but i wouldnt have anything else, they are the monkey's doodah's:D
 
royal said:
As a qualified hat fitter, some of these replies are making me :eek::eek::eek:!

Replace at around 3 years, regardless of whether or not they have been dropped or involved in a fall....the polystyrene inner (the bit that saves your head!) disintigrates over time and the air bubbles in the polystyrene that compress when the hat is knocked disappear...

Therefore, makes the hat as much use as wearing a chocolate tea pot...
Click to expand...

Ditto this. Replace after a fall, or periodically if not as the foam will breakdown.
 
smiffyimp said:
As I understand a hat that has never been dropped or fallen on should be replaced every 3-4 years. I have a GPA and asked them this Q as mine is coming up 5. They said a well looked after non dropped/fallen hat should be replaced every 6-7years - just as well at £300:D but i wouldnt have anything else, they are the monkey's doodah's:D
Click to expand...

I wonder if as they as so expensive, they have a different protection system to all other hats then? As its definitely 3 years for the standard hat....

Might be worth asking them if the inner is polystyrene and if so, if it has been treated with anything to give that extra life? would be v. interested to know!!
 
royal said:
But to be honest, your current hat is pretty much useless after 9 years.

I do understand what you are saying, but honestly, the polystyrene will have completely degraded by now....the only thing actually protecting you now will be the outer shell..which wont' do anything if you hit your head...

Don't want to sound like a know-it-all, but that really worries me.....
Click to expand...

Have been to several shops, several times, and I can't find one (It's not for lack of trying!)
They all pinch me and give me the mother of all headaches. I have a very 'ovalie' head and have tried hats up to about £120/130 and nothing at all suitable. But don't worry, I haven't given up looking, hopefully I will find one soon!
 
3 months, I replaced my hat just after opening meet as my old one was too big due to the padding degrading (it could slide right back past my forehead)... replaced it with the same size identical hat which fits like a glove now.
 
royal said:
I wonder if as they as so expensive, they have a different protection system to all other hats then? As its definitely 3 years for the standard hat....

Might be worth asking them if the inner is polystyrene and if so, if it has been treated with anything to give that extra life? would be v. interested to know!!
Click to expand...

Im not sure - I will ask though - interesting. The main cost comes from the fact that the outer is titanium not carbon or glass fibre - its the toughest thing there is and if I fall, trust me i'll land on my head:D
 
royal said:
As a qualified hat fitter, some of these replies are making me :eek::eek::eek:!

Replace at around 3 years, regardless of whether or not they have been dropped or involved in a fall....the polystyrene inner (the bit that saves your head!) disintigrates over time and the air bubbles in the polystyrene that compress when the hat is knocked disappear...
Click to expand...

Is that true, even with the modern hats, royal? I just got a charles owen pro II and the label said there's no need to replace modern hats at any particular frequency, just to replace when you have a fall, regardless of how serious it is, or the hat is impacted, like dropped or something.
 
I've had mine for nearly 2 years (never hit my head in it or dropped it), but as it only cost me £20 from the Shires website it won't be too much of a stretch to replace it when the time comes. It fits me perfectly and looks very smart, so I don't see the point in spending hundreds of pounds on a posh one.
 
maletto said:
Is that true, even with the modern hats, royal? I just got a charles owen pro II and the label said there's no need to replace modern hats at any particular frequency, just to replace when you have a fall, regardless of how serious it is, or the hat is impacted, like dropped or something.
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Well when I did my training with a well known hat manufacturer (and that was only about 3 years ago so not back in the dark ages or anything!), that was what we were told and I was shown the inside of the hat both as it should be,after a drop/fall and on a 4 year old hat to demonstrate exactly what happens to the insides....we were shown on a champion ventair (amongst others), so although not brand new these days, its certainly not an 'old' hat...

I would be seriously suspect unless I knew that the inner, which is where you get the protection from either wasn't polystyrene or had been treated specially to give it longer life...
 
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