What is the average hat size for men?

The average men's hat size in the UK is 59 cm, typically a size Large. Measuring your head ensures the most accurate fit.

How do I measure my head for a hat?

Use a soft tape measure and measure around your head just above the ears and across the forehead. Keep the tape level and snug to determine your size in centimetres.

A flat cap is a rounded cap with a small stiff brim at the front, traditionally associated with British heritage style.

What is the difference between a fedora and a trilby?

A fedora typically has a wider brim and softer shape, while a trilby features a shorter brim and a taller crown, offering a sleeker silhouette.

Can a felt hat get wet?

Felt hats are naturally water-resistant but should not be exposed to heavy rain for extended periods. Allow them to dry naturally at room temperature.

Do you offer in-store collection?

Yes, orders can be collected from our London, Cambridge, or Oxford stores within 3-5 working days.

Three Crushable Hats for Country Wear, Travel and Rain

August 17, 2026

A hat that packs down without losing its shape, keeps you dry, and suits country wear is surprisingly hard to find. The flat cap, bakerboy cap, and soft-brim traveller's hat meet those demands in different ways, offering crushable comfort, considered character, and practical details for country life, travel, and wet weather.

This guide shows how to pair each silhouette with country attire and travel requirements, select fabrics and construction for packability and weather resistance, and apply straightforward fitting and reshaping techniques to extend a hat's life. It offers concise, evidence-based tips and practical millinery know-how to help you choose, pack, and maintain a hat that performs as well as it looks.

The image shows a close-up of a man wearing a dark navy wool tweed flat cap with small multicolored speckles. The man has a beard and mustache and is looking downward, with his face partially obscured by the hat's brim. He is wearing a dark green, textured coat. The background is blurred but appears to be an outdoor setting with a building wall and a window frame visible, featuring neutral tones. Another person wearing a dark hat and clothing is faintly visible in the background on the right side of the frame.

1. Match your hat to country wear, travel, and wet weather

Match fabric to the conditions. Tweed and wool insulate without undue bulk and resist light moisture because of the structure of their fibres, making them well suited to blustery country days. Waxed cotton excels at shedding surface water. For prolonged wet weather, choose lightweight cotton that dries quickly, or hats with technical membrane linings that provide a breathable waterproof barrier. Give equal thought to shape and brim. A soft-crowned traveller's hat with a narrow brim packs and crushes easily, but offers limited rain coverage. A flat cap with a stitched peak sits lower on the brow and remains practical for country work. A bakerboy cap, with a fuller crown, reads as more styled and traps a little extra warmth. Finally, consider construction. Stiffer crowns resist crushing and hold their shape in damp conditions. Softer crowns will reshape when wet, which makes them more packable but less weather-resistant. Choose materials and construction according to whether you prioritise compressibility or protection from the elements.

Prioritise lining and sweatband construction. Opt for quick-dry or breathable linings and leather or cotton sweatbands; these help a hat hold its fit, wick away moisture, and reduce odour on long journeys. An internal band also helps a hat retain its shape after packing. Match colour, pattern, and texture to how you intend to use the hat. Neutral, single-tone styles offer the greatest travel versatility; patterned tweeds or muted checks suit country wear and conceal mud and signs of wear; darker, glazed finishes perform better in rainy conditions. Adopt simple care and packing routines. Stuff the crown with soft clothing to protect its form, brush tweed gently to remove dirt, and avoid hot drying or forcing tight creases. Reproof waxed fabrics when water no longer beads, and reshape hats while slightly damp to restore the original silhouette.

The image shows a man outdoors, standing in front of a stone structure that resembles a bridge or wall. The background is blurred, indicating shallow depth of field. The man appears to be middle-aged with short dark hair and some facial stubble. He is wearing a tan jacket over a white shirt and a matching tan flat cap. He is looking to his right, adjusting or buttoning his jacket.

2. Select materials and construction that ensure packability and weather resistance

Choose materials according to function. Boiled wool and tweed retain a natural shape memory and provide warmth; gabardine and tightly woven cotton shrug off wind and light rain; lightweight nylon and similar synthetics compress for packing and dry quickly, making them well suited to travel. Look for weatherproof finishes and robust seam details, such as waxed or oiled cotton, durable water-repellent coatings, and taped or felled seams at stress points to prevent seepage. Reproof waxed fabrics periodically, and favour breathable linings to avoid clamminess on long days outdoors. Choose fibres that tolerate wetting and can be restored after exposure, so the hat behaves predictably when folded, and align your fabric choice with country wear, travel, or wet-weather use.

Prioritise a soft, minimal internal structure in crowns and brims. Avoid heavy buckram, horsehair interlinings, and rigid stiffening; choose flexible wiring or stitched brims that allow rolling or gentle folding without leaving a permanent crease. When packing, pad the crown with clothing and lay brims flat between garments, or roll soft caps gently to save space. To revive crushed wool or felt, introduce a little handheld steam and smooth the fibres with a soft brush. If a hat becomes wet, dry it thoroughly on a soft form or a padded shape to prevent shrinkage and distortion. Balance weight, ventilation, and recovery when selecting materials: denser felts and waxed fabrics offer greater protection and respond well to steam but add bulk, while cotton twill and many synthetics compress more, dry faster, and provide less insulation.

The image shows a man in a tan or light brown jacket and a light-colored baseball cap, viewed from the side. He is indoors, likely in a workshop or storage area, with industrial-looking orange metal shelves in the background holding various items, including other hats mounted on stands. The man appears to be handling or inspecting a dark-colored cap. Steam or smoke rises near the man, suggesting some processing or manufacturing activity happening. The setting is softly lit with warm tones, and the camera angle is at eye level capturing a medium shot of the man and surrounding environment.

3. Fit, reshape, and maintain your hat for lasting wear

Start by measuring your head circumference and compare it with the hat's interior to establish the correct size. Fine-tune the fit with removable hat tape or thin sweatband pads, leaving enough room for a finger to slip comfortably between band and brow. This reduces wind lift while avoiding pressure points. To reshape wool or felt flat caps, bakerboy caps, and soft-brim traveller's hats, hold the piece over gentle steam to relax the fibres. Mould the crown and brim by hand or on a block, then allow the hat to dry on a rounded form, or stuffed with tissue, to set the shape. Avoid direct dry heat, which can shrink or harden natural fibres.

When packing a crushable hat, place it crown-down in the centre of your luggage. Pad the crown with soft clothing and surround the hat with garments that support the brim; on arrival, re-steam and smooth the hat by hand to restore crisp lines without professional tools. Brush wool and felt with a soft clothes brush to lift dust, and spot-clean sweatbands with a damp cloth. After wearing, allow hats to air fully to prevent odour and fibre breakdown. Apply an occasional water-repellent treatment to traveller materials to maintain rain resistance. Resew loose lining stitches or replace worn sweatbands to recover fit, and use small hand-stitches to close seam gaps. Consult a milliner for re-blocking when crowns or brims show permanent distortion, and rotate hats between wears so linings dry fully, which reduces mildew and extends the hat's life.

A crushable hat rewards a careful match of silhouette, fabric, and construction. Tweed and boiled wool hold warmth and a considered shape, waxed cotton sheds surface water, and lightweight synthetics compress readily and dry quickly. Prioritise a flexible internal structure, breathable linings, and a leather or cotton sweatband. For simple care, pad the interior when packing, brush tweed to remove dust, reproof waxed cotton as required, and use steam to coax wool or felt back to shape.

Use the guide's three-step approach: match purpose, choose construction, and maintain fit. Match purpose by choosing a hat suited to the activity and the weather so materials are not unduly stressed. Choose construction by favouring shapes and linings that stand up to repeated wear and travelling. Maintain fit through simple care routines. When packing, place the hat crown down and fill the crown with soft, breathable stuffing, such as a silk scarf or tissue paper, to support its form, and rest the brim flat. On arrival, steam gently to relax any creases and reshape the hat on a block or over your head. Alternate hats between uses, giving linings time to air; this prevents moisture damage and helps the hat last longer.

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