You love wearing hats. They get you out of having to worry about your hair, they help you sport a low profile, and they let your sports allegiances be known as soon as you walk through the door. But just because you’ve been wearing baseball hats since you were a kid doesn’t mean you shouldn’t shake it up a bit in adulthood.
Your father or grandfather might contend that a baseball hat’s a baseball hat, but there are a ton of different nuances to sporty headgear. You’ve got your traditional 6-panel baseball cap (the one you’ve been wearing to sporting events for years), your snapback hat (the one that’s saw a strong comeback just a few short years ago), and the 5-panel hat, which is cropping up a lot among those who love the outdoors. The 5-panel hat, is, of course, constructed out of five panels instead of the traditional six, and you typically won’t see the little button on the top, making it seem more unstructured and casual.
But just because the 5-panel hat looks unstructured doesn’t mean it doesn’t look sharp. Since traditional 6-panel hats have the market cornered on sports, 5-panel hats are typically available in fun patterns, allowing you to add a little pizazz to your get-up without having to even think about it. Check out 15 of our favorites.
ASOS Anchor 5-Panel Cap
If you’re looking to get nautical, look no further than this Anchor 5-Panel Cap from ASOS. The subtle anchor pattern is coupled with a faux brown suede brim, and will look great during whatever coastal adventure you’ve got planned.
Neff Wooley Camper Hat
California-based Neff is firmly rooted in skate and surf culture, and their specialty is headgear, which is why you can’t go wrong with this Wooley Camper Hat. Made out of wool (and available in black, gray, and maroon), the hat features a patch with a mountain illustration on it, making you look extra outdoorsy, even if you’re just wearing it to the movies.
VANS Davis 5-Panel Hat
You know VANS for its indestructible sneakers, but they also have a ton of quality accessories on offer, and one of their best is the Davis 5-Panel Hat. Lightly patterned with tiny palm leaves, the black and white hat will look great with nearly anything you wear.
Iron & Resin Tanner Cap
California-based Iron & Resin knows how to do rugged casual really well (yes, that’s a thing—okay, maybe not), which is why their Tanner Cap is a sure bet for your more casual days. Crafted out of printed denim and a faux brown suede brim, it’ll make a great hat to wear when out on the trails.
Coal Trek Hat
You’ve admired camo forever, but haven’t had the guts to go full-on military style and sport camo pants. That’s okay—it takes a bold man to be non-enlisted and still rock the camouflage. Instead, wear it in something a little bit more subdued, like this camo Coal Trek Hat.
Topo Designs Nylon Camp Hat
Colorado-based Topo Designs knows a thing or two about creating products that’ll hold up when exposed to the elements, and this Nylon Camp Hat is no exception. Because it’s crafted out of 100% nylon, it’s weather-resistant, and it’s available in a variety of colors, from subdued olive to boisterous teal.
Official Crown of Laurel Bad Trip 5-Panel Cap
Borne out of urban culture in 2007, Official Crown of Laurel, has tons of badass headgear on offer, like this Bad Trip 5-Panel Cap, which features a white smoky pattern.
Herschel Supply Co. Glendale 5-Panel Cap
You might think Herschel Supply Co. just creates those backpacks that have become ubiquitous on the subway over the past few years, but they have other accessories on offer, like this Glendale 5-Panel Cap. Simple in basic black, it’ll go with anything you wear. If there’s such a thing as a formal baseball hat, this is it.
HUF Duck Canvas 5-Panel Hat
HUF is the company (and nickname) of pro-skateboarder Keith Hufnagel, so everything they have on offer, from shoes to hats, is rooted in skate culture. This Duck Canvas 5-Panel Hat is no exception to that, and the rugged caramel-colored hat will look great whether you’re on a board or boarding a plane.
Benny Gold Cloud Paisley 5-Panel Hat
Since San Francisco-based brand Benny Gold’s brand philosophy is, quite literally, “work is for jerks,” you can be sure that anything they have on offer is going to be decidedly casual. This Cloud Paisley 5-Panel Hat is evidence of that, with its paisley pattern and a brown suede brim.
Brixton x UO Finnegan 5-Panel Hat
Urban Outfitters teamed up with apparel brand Brixton to create the Finnegan 5-Panel Hat, which is navy with a red Brixton logo patch and a brown suede brim.
OBEY Flurry 5-Panel Cap
You know OBEY by its signature brooding face logo (designed by Shepard Fairey when he was in art school in the late ‘80s), but this Flurry 5-Panel Cap is decidedly subdued. Made out of light gray wool (from the top to the brim), this is a classy, low-profile hat you can wear anywhere.
United by Blue X Roots 5-Panel Camp Cap
Eco-friendly company United By Blue teamed up with Roots to create this 5-Panel Camp Cap, perfect for any outdoor exploits you have planned for the upcoming warmer months. Made out of recycled polyester and organic cotton twill, the hat sports a stamped leather patch on the front, and as a bonus, proceeds from your purchase will go towards the removal of one pound of trash from oceans and waterways around the world.
New Era Tweed Camper 5-Panel Cap
Buffalo-based New Era has been crafting hats since 1920, and it’s currently the exclusive manufacturer of on-field caps for MLB (and for pretty much any sports-related baseball hat you can buy). But just because their bread-and-butter is in traditional 6-panel hats, that doesn’t mean they can’t create some quality 5-panels. Their Tweed Camper 5-Panel Cap is one of their best non-sports-related offerings, made out of marled blue tweed and featuring a suede black brim.
Norse Projects Melange Herringbone 5-Panel Hat
Copenhagen-based Norse Projects has a lot of minimalist apparel on offer, but one of their best products is this Melange Herringbone 5-Panel Hat. Crafted out of Japanese textured herringbone fabric, it’s a super unique piece that will get you attention without being obnoxious about it.
