New hats (HS1), headaches and padding out??

M

MissDeMeena

Well-Known Member
Joined
11 January 2006
Messages
5,152
Location
Warwickshire
Visit site
I've just treated myself to a new hat, an HS1
grin.gif

I've bought enough new hats in my time to know that they are a snug fit at first and then pad out
smirk.gif
but i've always stayed with the same make/brand, a Champion Jockey one
smile.gif


So, in the shop i tried on a size 2.5 which was a really nice snug fit, but i didn't want to only try one size on, so tried the 2 on as well.. First off i didn't notice any difference, so left it on for about 10 mins, felt it was fine although a tad tight, but bought it anyway (another slightly silly reason for going for the smaller one, my smart custom made had silk fits the 2, but not the 2.5
blush.gif
)..

So, friendly shop keeper said take it home, wear it for an hr or 2 and if it's giving me a thumping head ache, change it for the 2.5...

I've just had it on for 2hrs, and wouldn't go so far as to say thumping headache, more prickley/pins and neadles stage..

NB this isn't going to be an every day hat, but just for comp. and only the XC part at that, so i very much doubt that i'm going to have it on my head for 2hrs...

What do you all think, those with the HS1's, do they pad out much...

WOW, this has turned into far too long a post for such a trivial subject!!!! sorry
blush.gif
blush.gif
blush.gif
blush.gif
blush.gif
blush.gif
blush.gif
 
When i brought my HS1 they told me to buy the size that felt too small, and it would pad out...2 years on it still gives me a headache! Only use it for xc so its ok, but if i to use it for everyday riding it really kills
frown.gif
tongue.gif
 
mine hasnt changed i dont think...well not much and i have had it for a year and a half and i ride in it every day. so if you were going to use it on a daily basis go for the 2.5 but if you are only using it for xc go for the 2 as then you can get your silk on.
 
Interesting post. Had same experience as sal86. Was really dubious when fitter told me to go for one that felt too tight but I did and it has never got better and always gives me headaches if I'm hot (like when I go XC). Ok to hack out in in cold weather but to be honest, I bought it for XC specifically! Last week I dropped it on a stone floor anyway and was somewhat relieved to have to replace. When I went to a different fitter, they said I was a Champion head shape. Maybe you are too MissDeSummer?
 
My old CO hat was 2.5 but HS1 2.5 drowned me the 2 didn't fit at the sides, 1.5 fit but was slightly tight.
As like you I thought it would pad down in time. I do not were it everyday.
Did find it a tad tight the first time I did a long hack in it. I have to remember to low plait my head so it is below the hat as well as this makes it tighter too!
Now on the days I am going to wear it I put in my hat jack from my Patey the night before, then take it out before putting on (obviously!). It seems to help to just take the edge off & the padding seems to keep springing back so far, as was worried it would squish it too much.

I bought hatjack of ebay for £12 but know Pateys sell them for £25 so may be another less pricey option!?
 
I brought my HS1 at the beginning of last year and used it purely for XC all year and mine is still tight, it makes my forehead go numb! When I get hot it gives me a bit of a headache. I worry a little that it might effect it's protective properties when its tight, but I guess the padding is all still there. I think I have a CO shape head, my J3 never gave me any troubloe! Off I go to look at hat jacks..
 
Good to know they don't pad out really, as what you pay for remains a little longer.. but i don't want the bigger size
tongue.gif


I am defo a champion head shape, i've always got on well with them, but the HS1's a ment to offer alot more protection??? well, with a difference of £50 for my old champion hat and £120 for this one, i'd rather hope it offered alot more protection!!!???
 
Mine hasn't padded out at all and it gets ridden in every day pretty much, and has done for the past year. That suits me fine because I hate it when they pad down and then fall over your eyes! I am def a HS1 head shape though as mine us super-comfortable and I tried on a Charles Owen beagler at Olympia and it did not fit at all.

In terms of safety, as I understand it, they've undergone some extra tests wrt other hats - I bought mine because they've been tested for strikes from a studded hoof, which although possibly rare, seemed like a good idea to me!
 
I had the opposite problem with my Champion hat - bought a new one about this time last year.Went down 2 sizes from my previous CO but within a couple of weeks it was too big. I got used to tipping it back onto my head after big fences and drops but when I started getting a sore neck from going up the gallops with my head tipped back so that I could see I thought it was getting a bit ridiculous. Was all set to buy a new, smaller one when I had a lightbulb moment and popped some old gamgee strips under the lining round the front and back.

Result - perfectly fitting hat, can replace gamgee if and when it gets compressed and should be more hygenic too as I can throw gamgee away if it gets smelly and put some nice fresh stuff in.
 
Same here, only i wear a bandanna (sp??) under mine.. (tis also the fashion in racing yards
wink.gif
) but i needed to add more and more layers under my hat to make it fit...

i don't think it's that i'm not a HS1 head shape, more that i've prob. bought the size too small
smirk.gif
but my hat silk fits it
smirk.gif
 
Mine felt really snug at first i think mine is a 2 - and although tight it needed a bit at the back as i have an odd shaped head
tongue.gif
- i don't think i realised how bad my last hat was.

It feels fine now- sometimes even like it may need a bit extra in it!
 
This post is very interesting because mine has!! It was very snug when I ot it just under a yr ago and it now is a bit looser, I was going to see if they sold a small bit of padding I could put in it!

Sorry that doesnt go with the majority, not really helping am i!!
tongue.gif
 
The other thing with the HS1 is they all very fractioanlly as are handmade. Or that's what they say. I bought one at Olympia last year same size as my old CO hat. Felt tight but thought it would settle. It didn't and I ended up selling it. Ordered the next size up from shop on internet (as no local stockists) this was way too big so sent straight back and gave up. During the summer tried one again on a trade stand and found one that was really comfy and bought it and been pleased with it.
 
My OH says he agrees with Holly Jane. He has had his approx 7 months, and the padding has settled.

He wears his every day though, and I notice the majority of replies are from peeps who keep theirs for good (at comps).

In that case I would be tempted to keep the smaller size, and to 'break it in' by wearing every day for a few months, then keeping for good once you have the fit you want. Even better, someone with a slightly bigger head could wear it for a few days ( I have broken in hats like this before by giving to my OH to wear a few times).

Good luck - am jealous actually. I would like one too, but def have a 'champion' shaped head.

Fiona
 
I had exactly the same problem, hat really hurt my head at the back. Only wore it a few times and even had the rep out to try and pad it out more, ended up with so much padding it was perched on top of my head and it still hurt. It really was so uncomfortable that i ended up cutting my losses and buying another Champion .. .guess I have a Champion head shape too!
 
Actually, that's just what i wanted to hear.. it's everyone else that isn't helping
laugh.gif


Therefore i'll stick with the smaller size and a) hope it pads out a bit or b) put up with a slightly sore head..
tongue.gif
 
Just to add a bit more confusion, maybe you are between sizes? That means you could have the 2.5 and put a little extra padding under the lining at back to make it snugger. A hat should be snug, create a slight vacuum and eyebrow lift when you take it off. If you get headache or tingles its too tight - the blood is being restricted, so causing the tingles or ache! Just my opinion but a shop shouldnt really let you take a hat away and return it if no good. Not saying you would, but what if you or someone else dropped it then took it back. How would they know?
 
[ QUOTE ]
This post is very interesting because mine has!! It was very snug when I ot it just under a yr ago and it now is a bit looser, I was going to see if they sold a small bit of padding I could put in it!

Sorry that doesnt go with the majority, not really helping am i!!
tongue.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

What about those head liners you can get? Just an idea will give alittle bit of filling in when you need it & change when they get passed their best. Not that I am suggesting that your's will get passed its best for any reason!!
wink.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top