New hat feels small but will it get bigger?!! Pls read, my squashed head needs you!!

Vickijay

Vickijay

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Hi everyone.*

I needed a new hat and after trying what seemed like 200 on in the shop we decided that the hs1 was the best (as in most of them I was really in-between sizes)

Putting it on today it does feel on the tight side. The lady said it should feel like a 7-8 on the tightness scale (1 being fall off and 10 being get it off) she said it will settle and give a bit so its more 6 on the scale. The next size was comfy but she said would be too big after a while.

I wore it whilst driving to work (got some funny looks!) and it was ok but I was glad to take it off!!

Can anyone who has one let me know if theirs was like this and did it give? I just don't want to waste the money!

Thanks

Vicki*
 
"I wore it whilst driving to work (got some funny looks!) and it was ok but I was glad to take it off!!"

He he sorry had to laugh!! :D

I had the same problem with my new hat and it did give. I updated my old hat which was many years old and bought the same hat and size when it came it felt very different, my new one felt much tighter but once i had worn it a couple of times it did give so dont worry. :)
 
Thanks for your replies.

Would you of said yours was about a 8 on the pain scale when you first wore it though? Think it's between a 7 and a 8 but I rounded up!!

The driving in it bit is even funnier if I tell you I'm a driving instructor in my branded car!!! :D
 
Mine was a bit too tight at first and I wanted to get the bigger size however so glad the fitter wouldn't let me as it gave after about 10 days to the shape of my head and fits perfectly - bigger one would have been massive now
 
Yes mine was really tight at first.
The fitter in the shop made a big fuss about fitting extra padding in mine and she had to literally bang it down on my head and then I had to hang my head upside down and it was so wedged on it stayed in place.
First few times I rode in it, it felt really uncomfortable and it have me a headache.
It's fine now though, really comfy just took a few weeks :).
 
Mine was the same - uncomfortable for a short period. Gave me a small headache when i first used it. Fitter in shop said to fit when u remove it you should have indents on your forehead from the material & i think a fingers gap at the temple. I really wouldnt worry though as mine fits lovely now :)
Lol at the helmet wearing bet the people who saw you thought you really didnt trust your pupils driving!!:D
 
yes, they're usually a bit too tight initially. i have an HS1 for competing only, which gives me a headache if i wear it for more than 1/2 hour, prob went a bit too tight with that one and never wear it for long enough to really break it in. tried hacking out in it once and felt as if my head might explode after an hour.
the golden rule i was told is that when you try it on in the shop, if you lift the hat slightly, it should lift your eyebrows too... that's tight enough.
if it's horribly tight is it too late to take it back? they do HS1s in 1/2 sizes so you should be able to get it perfect tbh...
 
Vickijay said:
The driving in it bit is even funnier if I tell you I'm a driving instructor in my branded car!!! :D
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I had 2 hats fitted whilst I was in the UK, both of them were v comfortable from the start, but I DO have an absurd amount of hair, probably serving as cushioning!! I used to have 2 hats in different sizes; one for when I had straight hair and one for when I kept the curls...
They DO give, so I expect yours will get more comfortable with a bit of time.
 
The HS1 is the only hat I have ever found that is the right shape for my head. They do give, actually quite a large amount. I had mine fitted to replace one of exactly the same size than one I cracked the day before falling off a youngster. The fitter said it wasn't as tight as it should be, tried the next size down and it wouldn't go on my head! So have since taken it back to be packed with padding at the back (my head drops off somewhere on the back, have had this with every hat I have owned) and now it is snug but not at all painful.
Ps, didn't know you were a driving instructor! And meant to say on your other thread that I can't believe how grown up your spotty is! I remember seeing her at Hall Place in the coloured's class maybe last year?!
 
kerilli said:
yes, they're usually a bit too tight initially. i have an HS1 for competing only, which gives me a headache if i wear it for more than 1/2 hour, prob went a bit too tight with that one and never wear it for long enough to really break it in. tried hacking out in it once and felt as if my head might explode after an hour.
the golden rule i was told is that when you try it on in the shop, if you lift the hat slightly, it should lift your eyebrows too... that's tight enough.
if it's horribly tight is it too late to take it back? they do HS1s in 1/2 sizes so you should be able to get it perfect tbh...
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It wasnt horribly tight, I wore it XC today in the BOILING heat and although I was glad to get it off my head I didnt have a headache or anything.

I was umming and rrrrring about it so I rang gatehouse and they said it should give but if it didnt I could send it to them and they could put it in some sort of machine thing which would make it slightly bigger! So thought that was a good option if it was still squashing me, but from hearing your replies I think it will be all good.

MrsMozart said:
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I know, lots and lots of odd looks (and I drove for part of a lesson with it on!)

PapaFrita said:
I had 2 hats fitted whilst I was in the UK, both of them were v comfortable from the start, but I DO have an absurd amount of hair, probably serving as cushioning!! I used to have 2 hats in different sizes; one for when I had straight hair and one for when I kept the curls...
They DO give, so I expect yours will get more comfortable with a bit of time.
Click to expand...

See I have really crazy curly hair too. Maybe I should straighten mine just to wear my new hat. The hat fitting lady did say I had alot of hair, but I think that was more to do with worrying about doing the lace bit up at the back with alll my curls (aka as matted splitendyness!!)

Dotilas said:
The HS1 is the only hat I have ever found that is the right shape for my head. They do give, actually quite a large amount. I had mine fitted to replace one of exactly the same size than one I cracked the day before falling off a youngster. The fitter said it wasn't as tight as it should be, tried the next size down and it wouldn't go on my head! So have since taken it back to be packed with padding at the back (my head drops off somewhere on the back, have had this with every hat I have owned) and now it is snug but not at all painful.
Ps, didn't know you were a driving instructor! And meant to say on your other thread that I can't believe how grown up your spotty is! I remember seeing her at Hall Place in the coloured's class maybe last year?!
Click to expand...

That was 2 years ago now!! Time does fly, shame the spottie one still doesnt grow!!!!!!x
 
Just skimmed through the replies so apologies if I'm repeating anything.

I'm a trained hat fitter and most definitely a hat shouldn't be so tight that it's uncomfortable let alone painful. Neither should a hat have to be "forced" onto a head.

To fit a hat first you measure the circumference of the head so you have an idea of what sizes to try first.

You place the hat on the head at the forehead first then slide it back. It should slip on relatively easily.

Once on the buyer is asked how it feels. You should be able to slip an index finger under the hat at your temples on each side. If it is tight here the wearer will get head aches and the padding generally doesn't "give" here so they won't ease off with wear.

Then try lifting the hat half off gently; if the hat is the correct size it should grip the head and when lifted make a "whoosh" sort of sound and make the wearer's eyebrows move.

Next the wearer should tip their heads forward and the hat should not come off; if completely vertical gravity will take over so tipping the head straight down and shaking it is not a way to test the fit!

The padding will give slightly through wear but not a huge amount. There shouldn't be red marks left just from trying a hat on if it is the right size.

Try looking on the website of the hat manufacturer as there may be fitting advice on there. Certainly no hat should hurt or cause headaches if it is the right size.
 
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