5-Panel vs 6-Panel Hat: Differences and Use Cases
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The trucker hat. Could it be any more iconic?
From 1960s American culture to global runways. They never seem to go out of style.
And this is why they’re perfect for custom printing.
Not only do they have lots of space for custom design and personalization. But they’re always in demand. That is good news if you’re planning on selling your own custom hats either in person or online.
Particularly as global online fashion sales have been increasing. They were at $534 billion in 2018, and SalesCycle has forecast sales of $873 billion in 2023.
So read on if you’d like to learn all about how amazing these caps can be. And you’ll get some inspiration for your own custom trucker hats along the way, too.
What is a trucker hat?
A trucker hat is a modified baseball cap. Unlike regular baseball caps, a trucker hat has a foam front panel, and a polyester mesh back.
They also have adjustable snapback closure at the back and can come as FlexFit hats for comfort. And a curved visor at the front. Although there are some available with a flat bill, this doesn’t tend to be the norm.
Source: Types of Hats
So the main thing that sets the trucker hat apart from any other baseball cap is the material used. And this can be wide and varied, as the trucker hat includes a mix of cotton, nylon, plastic, and foam.
But how did they become so popular?
A brief history of the trucker hat
The origin of the trucker hat dates way back to the 1960s. US companies used to give truckers and farmers their branded hats for free back then. Few people can resist a freebie, so the caps became very popular in a very short space of time.
This is why trucker hats from the 60s and 70s come with industrial and agricultural logos on them. Much like the ones listed on the Sneum website below.
Source: Sneum
Although, even though they were free, it doesn’t mean there wasn’t any thought put into them.
Companies made custom trucker hats with a large foam front panel so that they could display brand names. And they added the polyester mesh for comfort and breathability. As the people they wanted wearing them would be working outside during the hot summer months. The mesh stopped moisture from building up in the caps and allow air to flow around the head.
Although, that didn’t stay the case for long as the trucker cap found its way into mainstream popular culture.
Popular Culture and Celebrity endorsements
So, truckers made them popular. But in the end, it was celebrities who made them cool.
Celebrities like Ashton Kutcher and Paris Hilton started wearing them in the 2000s. And they immediately became the hottest thing around.
Source: Vulture
They became visible on top of every head in Hollywood. And it wasn’t long before they were featured in some of the biggest fashion shows around the world. And that’s how the love for trucker hats exploded.
The benefits of custom trucker hats
Unlike some fashion trends, the trucker cap has kept its place in the style bible.
And this is likely because of their many practical benefits. Plus the endless opportunities for customization.
Blank canvas for your custom design
The foam front on trucker hats is a space for custom designs and logos. You can use this space for advertising your company or developing the look of a new brand. You can print or embroider a design onto them, like the Stetson trucker cap below.
Quality materials for comfort and fit
Trucker hats have a polyester mesh back on the back of the head, and this is why they’re often popular during the summer. The soft flexfit and snapback closure let you find the best way to make your hat fit. You can adjust a snap closure to fit big and small crown sizes. Or to make it more comfortable when you’re wearing the hat in different ways. Such as on the side or back to front.
Affordable prices for good ROI
Products that are in demand are good for business. And you’ll find that this is true for the trucker cap. There are so many deals for both single and bulk orders. You’ll soon find that B2B prices on custom trucker caps are great for making a healthy return on investment.
If you’d like to learn more about our pricing on custom hats, then contact Acme Hat Co for a free quote. Our friendly team is always ready to help.
Best trucker hats
The foam front design of a trucker hat makes it the perfect trucker cap for variety.
You could use a full-color printed logo or a few rows of low-profile stitching. Both work well, depending on what your desired outcome is.
You should customize the design of your trucker hat for the primary use or goal of the hat. For example, a trucker hat that aims to advertise a company should focus on the company logo.
A trucker hat, with a focus on fashion, like the one below, should only focus on being attractive. In this case, the company name and logo aren’t even visible.
Source: Etsy (andrealarko)
Here are a few examples of trucker hats with different uses and objectives.
Classic trucker hats
As mentioned above, companies used to give trucker hats away for free to advertise a brand or service.
This is why most classic trucker hats come with the logo of the company from the 1960s and 70s. The designs didn’t try to be too attractive or flashy and were often very basic. This is because style wasn’t important with these hats, as the only goal was to promote the brand. It also made sense to keep the design cheap, as the hats were designed for giving away.
Korb trucker hat
This trucker hat by Korb is a perfect example of a classic trucker cap. Esso created it to promote a new product, and it was likely given away as a promotional item when it first came out.
The trucker cap has the trademark mesh back, and curved visor but is otherwise quite plain. This is to cut costs and to draw attention to the logo on the front panel of the cap.
Source: eBay
Create your own classic trucker hat
Classic trucker hats never go out of style, and this is why vintage trucker hats are still so popular.
It’s also why the designs are often replicated on modern caps and clothing too.
If you want to replicate this trucker hat aesthetic, then put most of your focus into the classic logo on the front. Or you could create a custom embroidered hat for a truly authentic look.
As long as you get the logo right, the rest of the cap shouldn’t matter too much.
You can find lots of inspiration for the 60s and 70s style logos online. Particularly with photo-sharing websites, like Flickr. It has collections of vintage logos that are perfect for igniting your imagination!
Source: Flickr
Fashion trucker hats
Classic trucker hats aim for practical solutions. In contrast, fashion trucker hats are all about the looks. Below are a few examples of fashion trucker hat brands you might consider.
Von Dutch
A popular brand of trucker hats that found fame during the 2000s was Von Dutch. Celebrities like Gwen Stefani, Justin Timberlake, and Beyonce were wearing them.
The brand became known for the bright colors on the front panel and a matching embroidered logo. The company would also color-coordinate the rest of the cap, including the snap, visor, and any fabric used.
Source: Von Dutch
Create your own fashion trucker hat
Trucker hats are a great option if you’re looking to start your headwear brand. Some of the most iconic tracker hats have been fashion caps.
The successful ones are often bold, stylish, and original. They keep up with current design trends while also adding their spin.
Rocksteady created some fashion trucker hats with our printing services. And their hats are always on trend and in demand!
Creating an international line of fashion hats, like Rocksteady, starts with research. Learn as much as you can about consumer and design trends. Then apply this research in a creative and original way to make your caps stand out.
To get started with your own fashion brand, contact Acme Hats for a free quote today.
Modern company trucker hats
Branded trucker hats are no longer just for industrial and agricultural companies. Most companies now have apparel for sale on their web store.
Goose Island trucker hats
For example, the online store for Goose Island Beer Company in the UK has a branded cap available to buy. It features the company’s logo and a color-coordinated design.
Having a signature color scheme for your brand can increase consumer recognition by up to 80%. And trucker hats are a great way to use your color scheme in real life.
This kind of company branding lets your fans show off their personalities and tastes. They can show people what beer they like to drink or where they like to shop. All whilst also giving your business some free marketing!
Think about what kind of merchandise your customers would like. You can gain this information by doing customer surveys or trialing new products. Then grow from the data, so you can keep improving your brand.
Create a trucker hat for your company
If you’d like to create a trucker hat for your company, then start by thinking about the design. There are so many different options. You could create a custom snapback. Or maybe a custom baseball cap. The hat you choose will depend on how you’re going to use it.
Try matching the color scheme and brand voice to the rest of your marketing materials. This will help customers identify your company without seeing the logo. And this should also help you grow your apparel range through social media.
That way, when people see a certain set of colors or a catchphrase, they’ll instantly know it’s your brand.
Merchandise is also a great way to generate extra income. Particularly around seasonal holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, and even special occasions like the National Thank You Month when people are looking for gifts. And as hats are often unisex with one size that fits all, they are likely to do very well around the holidays.
But try not to forget about the style of the cap in the process.
Acme Hat Co has created hats for the Thunderbird Hotel in Marfa, Texas, and they look great.
So yes, hats are great marketing tools, but only if people want to buy them.
If you want a customer to part with their cash, you need to make sure your hats are also comfortable and on-trend.
Look to popular brands or classic trucker hats if you’re stuck for inspiration. Then think about how you can adapt their styles into your logo and brand image.
Sports trucker hats
What’s the best way to show your devotion to your favorite sports team? With a hat, of course!
And a trucker hat is the perfect hat for the occasion, as they’ll let you do it in style and comfort. You can get them in a range of styles for most major teams across baseball, football, and many other sports.
In fact, it seems like people can’t get enough of sports apparel. The market is currently booming and should reach a value of $248.1 billion by 2026.
Source: Allied Market Research
New Era
The boost in sports apparel sales is likely driven by major hat brands like New Era. They specialize in sports hats for professional teams and are always in demand.
As you can see below, they cover the NBA, the NFL, and loads of other major sports. So chances are, they have a cap for your team. You can also create your own custom New Era hats with Acme Hats.
Source: New Era
Their caps have become iconic since the company was first founded in Buffalo, New York, back in 1920. And as American sports go more global than ever before, sports cap sales are likely to increase further.
North Face
Sports caps aren’t just for watching sports. They’re for getting involved in sport, too!
And if you’re planning on getting sweaty on a pitch or in the mountains, then you may want to consider taking a hat with you.
A trucker hat is perfect for the great outdoors. They often come constructed with a sweatband in the front panel and a mesh back. This mesh back panel stops sweat from building up around the head and encourages air flow into the hat.
The North Face has hats for sale that are great for hiking, fishing, and jogging outside.
And what’s more, The North Face also uses 100% recycled polyester in some of their hats, like the one below. And sustainability is a big deal for younger customers. In fact, 35% of millennials and 36% of Gen Z consumers prefer buying sustainable clothing.
Source: North Face
Create your own sports trucker hat
You don’t need to be managing a professional sports team to design your own hat.
Custom trucker hats are also great for local and amateur sports teams. Or even high school teams that play during term time. They allow you to identify who your players are and are great for building team morale.
You can add your logo to the front or get them made in your team colors. Or, you could design a custom trucker cap for each player or for each role played in a team.
And if you’ve started up a new team, then you can get creative. You’ll be able to design a new logo and use some new caps to introduce your team to the world!
There are so many possibilities for custom sports caps, and the creative power is in your hands.
Wrapping up
These are the best trucker hats on the market, but it’s up to you to decide which cap suits your brand and objective.
If you’re just looking to generate brand awareness, then a classic trucker hat is probably for you. It’s simple but effective and works great as a promotional item.
But, if you’re looking to start your own fashion brand, you’ll need to put a bit more research into how you want your hat to look. Search for popular brands on Amazon or Google. Then make a note of their style, material, and price.
And if you find yourself getting stuck at any point, contact Acme Hat Co for some professional advice. We would love to help you create the perfect custom trucker hat. Whether it’s for business, leisure, or pleasure.
