What is a 5-Panel Hat?

September 3, 2024

Camille Felix

Where Did 5- Panel Hats Come From?

a sample 5 panel hat sitting mountainside

5-Panel hats originally started with courier boys in the early 20th century. Using less material panels makes for a much snugger fit which is easier to run around with when delivering news. For a short time they did lose some popularity, but were brought back in the later 1980’s. These hats became the classic look for the club scene. Nowadays, these hats are more common than niche, but that makes them all the better to buy and customize.

Is a 5 Panel Hat the Same as a Snapback?

A 5-Panel hat can be a snapback, but not every snapback cap is a 5-panel style hat. Snapback refers to the plastic snap clip on the back of any hat. It has nothing to do with how many panels your hat will have. You can take a look at the Richardson website to see plenty of examples of instances where these two features are married!

Front of the Hat

For one primary example, a 5-panel hat creates a sort of window of space. A regular 6-panel hat will have a line that splits the front of the hat down the middle. Some people don’t really like to have that split line, especially if you’re planning to make a hat with direct embroidery. It can create a bump on the hat if the application isn’t done right, which is a risk with some companies.

The Crown of the Hat

As we talked about earlier, there is a little less material being used on a 5-panel hat. Because of that, they are slightly snugger and have a smaller crown than a standard baseball hat. While the smaller room may not be a favorite for some, those who like a snugger fit for their activities

What is the Difference Between 5-Panel and 6-Panel Hats?

The only real difference between these two styles of hat is that one has an additional panel of fabric used to produce it. 6-Panel hats, as a result of this extra panel, have a line that runs through the front of the hats. If you’re doing something like embroidery, the panel line may create an additional bump in your design that some wearers don’t find appealing.

Why is the 5-Panel Hat Preferred Over Other Hats?

5-Panel hats are a more vintage design compared to the more standardized six panel snapbacks. Direct printing or embroidery works significantly better on a five panel hat with more open space on the front. These hats are made to go with outfits rather than stand out against them, so they’re great for fashion and function. Most of these hats are also made of comfortable materials like suede and corduroy. These materials aren’t for everyone, but for those that do love them 5-panel hats are a fantastic choice.

If you are at all curious about learning more about paneled hats, feel free to give us a call. We’re ready to break down the differences between the different panels and how they’ll change the overall look of your customization.

Camille Felix

Camille Felix Bio

Learning On the Go: Camille has always aspired to learn how to learn, and to explain new concepts to anyone willing to listen. She graduated from Georgia Tech with honors as a Literature, Media, and Communications major, and immediately paired that with experience as a freelancer with CNN Tech Training. Even now after moving across the country in 2022, she has learned even more about entrepreneurship, search engine optimization, and customer service.

My Current Role: Always wanting to help teach people new things, Camille currently works as the company’s blog writer and video content creator. She absolutely loves being able to parse down information about everything custom into a consumable script for buyers experienced and new.

Putting on a Show: Camille doesn’t just create written blogs! Outside of the office, she doubles up her creativity by producing artwork and music,posting on YouTube and Spotify to a wide audience. She has even begun performing at conventions both local and across the country! She has always said her creativity keeps her sane, and now it lives in both her employment and her passion.