The right hat for you ...

 Making sure you have the best hat for you, is the most important thing to get sorted before you even contemplate stepping foot in the stirrup.

Choosing the best hat for you is usually determined during a hat fitting. Certified hat fitters will spend time with you to find out what disciplines you ride in, they will measure your head and will suggest hats that meet your criteria and budget.

Its important to make sure that you have at least an hour spare for a good hat fitting and make sure you style your hair how you would wear it whilst riding, for the most accurate fit.

Here at Millbry Hill, we offer free hat fitting services in store and have a wide range of riding hats and skulls to suit all ages, head shapes and sizes, disciplines and not to forget, your budget!

When it comes to choosing your hat, you need to be mindful of choosing one that has the correct and current standards for your safety, most importantly but also if you compete.  

  How to fit your hat

Firstly, we would recommend that you get your hat fitted by a certified hat fitter to ensure this is the best fit for you. If you aren't able to do so, here is where to start ...

Take a soft, fabric tape measure and measure around the widest part of your head, this must be over your hair. 

Make sure the tape measure sits 3/4 of an inch above your eyebrows, around and behind your ears and just under the bump at the back of your head.

Write down your measurements and do it a few times to make sure that the first measurement was correct.

Remember - not all heads are the same shape. If you have a round head, you will need a round fitting hat. Oval head shapes are most common, but please check as they will fit different and an oval hat on a round head will not be a correct fitting hat.

Just like when you buy a new pair of boots or shoes, the hat should fit snug and firm to your head with an even distribution of pressure the entire way around. There shouldn't be any specific points of pressure to any part of your head and there most certainly shouldn't be any big gaps where you can get your fingers up.

Once you have fitted the hat and adjusted the harness, the chinstrap should sit just under your chin and lie gently to the bottom of the ear lobe but avoiding the throat.

If the hat rocks back and forth when the harness is undone, the hat isn't fitted correctly.

Wear the hat for around 5 minutes to ensure that there isn't any pressure points that appear. 

 It goes without saying, if you have a fall, you MUST get your hat replaced. Just because it looks fine on the outer, does not mean its safe inside. This rule applies even if you have had any form of impact to it, not just a fall. Even dropping your hat can result in impact damage. 

The inner of the hat is often what takes all of the impact damage, and once this happens, its most certainly not safe to wear again and your life is too valuable to take this risk.

If you have an older hat, its likely its time to change this one out for a shiny new one. Over time, from years of wear, the inside of the hat will become worn and the tiny air bubbles in the inner shell will become compressed and will pop, meaning your hat doesn't offer the protection it once did. Its equally as important to make sure that your hat is kept out of direct heat and sunshine as this can have the same effect to your hat.

Hygiene is another factor to consider when thinking of replacing your hat. No one likes to put on a smelly hat, and it makes your hair smell too! A lot of the new hats on the market come with removable liners, so you can easily pop them out and pop them in the wash. 

Snell E2012 & E2021 - 

The Snell Standard is often looked at as the most protective standard. It was developed in the USA to offer a high-performance protection. Its been tested to high impacts, such as being kicked by a horse and/or impact damaged to a sharp surfaces.

 PAS015 2011  - 

 This standard (often teamed up with the VG1 and ASTM) allows helmets to deal with a higher number of situations, as the more standards awarded to a helmet the more they are tested in a greater variety of situations than a single or two standard helmet.

This is the new standard that was once the EN1384, its currently being re-written to offer slightly less protection than the PAS015:2011.

Any of the older EN1384 hats can still be worn, however are likely to be suitable to competing. It is always safe to say, you would need to check with the organisers of the event you would be attending if this is an acceptable standard.

This standard isn't often seen on its own in a hat, its usually teamed up alongside PAS015 and ASTM. The VG1 is a quality mark indicating that hats are subjected to on-going quality control, usually by regular testing of randomly chosen batches of hats.

This Australasian standard is comparable to EN 1384, although testing includes the hazard anvil from PAS 015 albeit at a lower performance level but not a penetration test.  

Lets take a look at some of the hats that we have here at Millbry Hill and their standards.

 

The Karben Sienna Riding Hat is one of our budget friendly favourites. Its certified with PAS015 and is ideal for riders of all capabilities. Its lightweight, breathable and offers comfort and protection whilst looking like one of the more expensive hats we offer. What more could you want?! 

 

The Charles Owen Halo Riding Hat is just a thing of beauty. Its been expertly crafted for a sleek and stylish appeal and is certainly one that will have you standing out in the crowd. Boasting three safety standards, its as protective as it is gorgeous.

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 The Champion Junior X-Air Plus Skull is one of our favourite skull hats. It comes in three different colours, so you can match it to your favourite hat silks and matching sets. Its has been designed with built in ventilation and a super comfortable 4 point harness. Ideal for riders of all capabilities and its a solid, quality hat that will stand the test of time with care.

 The Gatehouse HS1 Jockey Skull is one of the Snell standard hats that we sell here at Millbry Hill. Its got a reputation of being one of the safest hats and is extremely popular among riders that compete in Cross Country. This hat has a super comfortable and soft, four point leather harness, a removable crown inner and can withstand a kick to the head from your horse. Its perfect for all disciplines and comes in two colours.

Shop today, here at Millbry Hill and get free delivery on orders over £75.00. T&C's do apply.