Skull caps vs peaked hats

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Anna*

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After an involuntary dismount yesterday, I'm looking st buying a new hat. I really like the gatehouse glitter ones 😍 however, am I right in thinking that skull caps are safer? (They're the only ones recommended for cross country) I'm also keen on a hat with air vents.

Although I'm more or a happy hacker these days I really value my head and will take safety over pretty glitter (grudgingly!)

Any thought/suggestions appreciated!
 
I have used both and fallen off on both I found the skull cap protected more. However I use a peaked one at the moment so bit of a contradiction.
 
The reason peaks aren't allowed in XC is due to 2 things - the minute possibility of the peak sticking in the soft ground and causing a neck injury and the potential for the peak to cause a small area of pressure if your hit it directly.

I wear peaked as I do dressage and hacking and the slim chance of the above is outweighed by my comfort of a better range in peaked hats.
 
I have head butted the ground mid front flip in a skull cap ('just' hacking!!) and heard my neck crack so loudly that I thought it must be broken.
I was sore but no lasting damage, I'm not sure if it would have been the same story in a fixed peak so wouldn't wear one on the off chance!
 
Jo1987 said:
I have head butted the ground mid front flip in a skull cap ('just' hacking!!) and heard my neck crack so loudly that I thought it must be broken.
I was sore but no lasting damage, I'm not sure if it would have been the same story in a fixed peak so wouldn't wear one on the off chance!
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And this is what I was thinking. I canter through the woods a lot and therefore run the possibility or head butting a tree. I think you've just made up my mind for me.
 
I came off in a peaked hat, I face planted at speed and the peak snapped back and broke my nose. I looked like a masked ferret for a couple of weeks. I'm sure they are safer now but I tend to stick to skull caps :D

For covers I have a posh one for dressage ( I also do have a peaked hat for show because I'm vain) for hacking I currently have a selection of matchy matchy from rider be seen, because I think her stuff is great and very reasonably priced.
 
I have a skull cap - and I put velvet covers over it for 'best' which actually looks smart enough, especially as I can put my hair in a decent bun as the harness is well-placed (just buy the covers large enough to cover the whole skullcap).

eta - remember that hats should be thought of as 'consumables' and have to be replaced if you take a tip or they are dropped. I'd rather do that with a skull-cap than with a scarily expensive hat.
 
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I've always preferred skull caps purely for the ease of changing the silk. I can have a smart velvet cover to match my jacket or a bright high vis for hacking or bright colours for cross country- all from one hat.

And I fit into the junior sizes, so it's not expensive either :)
 
I'm one for both, would happily wear peaked or skull.

I used to have a skull cap and whilst the hat was okay, I hated the hat covers - they would always fall off or slip and I'd end up looking like an egg!!

I recently bought a peaked hat and love it! Its so much more comfy and it almost makes me feel safer with the extra bit at the front. I felt more exposed in my skull cap. Whilst there could be more risk than skull, its definitely an incredibly small chance and if they weren't safe they wouldn't sell them!

However skull caps are probably more versatile - when I eventually get off my arse and make it xc, I'm going to need to invest in a skull too!

Maybe try them on and go with what fits best :)
 
Drybrow make removable disposable liners for skull caps.

Just because peaked caps are sold still does not make them safe. You can buy hats not compliant with current safety standards, patey hats (although patey do now make a compliant one) and top hats.

Obviously something is better than nothing - but I have seen so many accidents with peaked caps that would have been avoided or at least not as bad in a skull cap. I'm not sure I'm entirely with BE on the ban of that one with a tiny bulge in the front - but there you go. Getting reasonably fitting covers can be a pain - but you soon get the feel of what will stick and what won't. And if your favourite doesn't get a strip of gaffer tape, wind it around your hand sticky side out to make a loop then stick to your hat and stick the cover to that.
 
Anna* said:
Thank you everyone! Just need to find skull cap with washable liner than won't break the bank!!
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If the Gatehouse RXC1 fits, then worth looking at?
I 'could' wear mine all day, it fits so well and is probably the most comfortable lid I've had in years. have several different covers to go on for hacking, rc & xc etc.
Has a removable liner & I pop it in the washing machine weekly :)
(nothing else in the gatehouse range fits me tho!)
 
I love a peaked hat - no wonky flappy peak that that gives up the ghost when the going gets a bit fast, or twiggy :D

I have hunted, SJ'd and hacked in a peaked hat, and never given it a it a second thought. But on the rare occasions I've done XC I've worn a crash cap. I know, contradictory :D

I was of the understanding that peaked hats were supposed to have collapsible peaks now? Or is that not the case? I am also in the market for a new hat as just realized that all mine are out of date for legal competition! I am trying to justify having a sparkly one for dressage, knowing I'll need another for showing.
 
Won't wear a peaked hat now after I fell and landed on my face, the peak stuck in the surface and caused a pressure point and lovely bruise across my forehead, I felt like my forehead was going to cave in! Have a Charles Owen 4 star now, has a vent in the front so no sweaty head and my head feels so secure. My first got nicked, so I bought the same one again.
 
I won't wear a fixed peaked hat, both of my hats have a non-fixed peak that is designed to come off if fallen onto. Actually I think my PE hat has a soft leather peak which would just bend/collapse.
 
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