Riding Hat Recommendations

lauracwd2

lauracwd2

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I need to replace my hat as it's getting a bit old! Looking for reccomendations or suggestions of brand and style.

- I'd like to spend under £250
- I mostly hack and do dressage
- I ride a connemara so am considering doing some local shows with him
- My competition gear is black for dressage but I would need to get a tweed jacket if I decide to show

I'm wondering if I should get one hat that does everything or look for a lightweight, ventilated style for hacking and then buy something more traditional for competitions? If so should I stick with black, or is another colour more traditional for riding a native?

I currently have a Charles Owen which seems to fit my head shape but I didn't actually try much else on when I bought it as I had a Charles Owen before that too.
 
Charles Owen Ayr8 Leather
Gatehouse Conquest MK2 Matt Riding Hat
KEP NEW CROMO SMART

Personally, I would visit a reputable retailer with a large stock of different brands/styles. I hope that the person helping you is trained to fit hats.

Remember, it may look pretty, but it is useless if it doesn’t fit correctly!
 
CO Ayr8 leather - I have the Navy & it's lovely

Personally not a fan of black hats/jackets so I have mine to match navy jacket
 
Another CO Ayr8 Leather look, definitely worth going to try some on though as they make 2 different shapes which a lot of people don't realise. I needed a round one.
I also have a casco mistral for everyday/hacking which is really light and comfy. I would be worried about my Ayr8 being scratched by trees etc
 
I have a Charles Owen Pro II, I measured my head and bought it online and I've never had such a comfy well fitting hat. I used to have a Charles Owen Adventura, equally comfy but not as well fitting (ironically that's the one that I had "professionally" fitted).
 
I vote 2 hats, your budget seems high enough to buy a traditional velvet hat for showing, and then a ventilated one for the rest.

I have a Charles owen showing hat, and then a champion ventair skull and also a troxel (dreadful looking but fab in the summer)...

I love the look of the gatehouse conquest for a more ventilated but vaguely trad looking hat for dressage and SJ but it would still not be trad enough for M&M showing IMO

FIona
 
I love my Gatehouse Conquest. Have the Mk 2 for competitions and still use my older one for everyday. I don't do showing so can't comment on whether it would be suitable for that. Whenever I am hat shopping I either invest an afternoon in schlepping to a big tack shop with plenty of choice and trained fitters, or go to a big horse show (bought my last one at Olympia) where there are lots and lots to try.
 
I do a bit of WH, eventing, SJ etc. and love my Charles Owen Hampton which is velvet (comes in black Im sure, I have navy). Its a low profile type which I prefer. Looks really nice and very comfy. For home use I have an old GPA which I love, not up to competition standards nowadays but its very comfy, light and not hot. I would always have seperate competition hats as home hats always end up getting a bit scruffy or at least mine do when lying around in a dusty tack room.
 
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