Riding hats for a longer, thinner head?

C

Cheiro1

Well-Known Member
Joined
11 October 2008
Messages
3,025
Visit site
Sorry, this isn't strictly CR but you lot are less scary!

I am needing a new riding hat, which I will obviously go and get properly fitted, but I was just wondering what types of hat people wear who have a longer thinner head?

I have a skull cap at the minute but it is too wide for me, I had to go up a size to get the length and now the padding has bedded down it is too wide for me and I can tip it from side to side.

So what styles suit the longer thinner head?
 
Your head sounds just like mine and champion were the only ones to fit. However, when trying to replace my hat a few months ago, I found that all hats makes now seem to be different shapes depending on style so the only advice I would give is go to a reputable saddler and try as many on as possible.
 
I was very annoyed when I moved to find hats aren't designated 'round' or 'long oval' here!

Not all the CO styles fit me, although Gatehouse hats seem quite consistent. For cheaper hats, the Harry Halls fit my narrow noggin reasonably well.
 
CO for round heads and Champion for ovals.

That's the only brands I've worked with/ fitted to be definite about.
 
I'm another Round Head!!!

Funnily enough the only hat I've ever found that was a really good fit was a cheapie ventilated hat from Lidls!!! Can't remember the brand of it, would need to go to the tack room and have a look :)

But if my memory serves me right it was about £17.99 or something stoopid like that; and (before anyone asks!!!) yes, it has all the necessary kite marks etc. A really nice little hat.
 
I've always had charles owen but recently got a gatehouse rxc1 which are only just out, it fits differently to the HS1 which didn't fit me at all.
 
We find oval heads are better with CO velvets, particularly the Fiona. Skulls are tricky for ovals regardless of make! Often the Uvex can work as the band goes all the way round & accommodates differing shapes quite well. They are an acquired taste mind you as they look very different to a trad hat.
 
Personally I found that Charles Owen works if you want velvet, the Champion Ventair is good if you want vented and the Dublin Onyx if you want a skull!!
 
I would say that the template that the CO hats are made on are for heads that are narrower across the head and broader from front to back. Best thing to do is defo try them on. I have a narrow head and the charles owen J3 skull and the Fiona are perfect.
I was trained to fit hats by Charles Owen(not the reason i love them), there are different ways your hat fitter can add strips to get the perfect fit.
:)
 
Funny the variety of noggin fittings on here! :) I find CO too wide; the only shape that I've found that works for me (small, narrow head) is Champion Ventair. Yet others report opposite experiences!
 
Long thin head person here too. My show hat is Charles Owen H2000 but it's flippin enormous, makes me look like a lollipop, hot weather hat is Harry Hall Legend which I love and when I'm scared an HS1 but my HS1 was adjusted with a couple of extra bits of padding at the shop as it wasn't 100% out of the box. Funnily enough going back 10 years ago I was wearing Champion hats as they fitted me perfectly but now they just don't seem to fit right on me bonce.
 
I'm currently struggling to find a new hat as my old one isn't made any more. Been to one fitter and trying another today. I am an oval with a flatter forehead. The co rider 2000 fits perfectly at the back and sides but even with 2 lots of padding slipped at the front. And that was the best for from a small range of co and champion. Hoping today's shop will have a bigger range in same and other brands or it'll be a good hours drive to anywhere else.
 
I went to a small-ish shop last weekend and tried a few on.

The closest to fitting me was the Gatehouse Conquest but even that was a bit wide. They tried the Champion Air Tech, Gatehouse F1, Gatehouse HS1 and a couple of other skull caps. They didn't seem to stock CO!

Shall visit a bigger shop when I can!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top