Seahawks fitted hats: the two that matter and how to size them
“Fitted” means one thing in the hat world: a cap with no adjuster, sold in exact sizes. For a Seahawks fitted hat that narrows to two products, and they could not be more different from each other.
The two fitted Seahawks hats
New Era 59FIFTY. The original fitted and the one most people mean. Fully structured crown with buckram in the front panels so it stands up on its own, a flat visor, and a high crown that sits above the head rather than on it. It is the cap the players wear on the sideline in flat-brim seasons and the draft-day cap. It comes in sizes from 6 5/8 to 8 1/4 in eighth-inch steps, and in a Low Profile version with a shallower crown.
’47 Franchise. ’47’s fitted is the opposite philosophy: unstructured, relaxed, curved brim, with a crown that follows the shape of your head. It is a fitted dad hat. It comes in the same size range, though most retailers stock fewer sizes.
If you want the classic fitted look, the 59FIFTY. If you want a fitted that wears like a broken-in cap out of the box, the Franchise.
Fitted versus flex fit
Search results blur these because retailers do. A fitted cap has an exact size and no give. A flex fit cap has a stretch band and a size range; New Era calls it the 39THIRTY and sells it in S/M, M/L and L/XL. ’47’s equivalent is the Contender.
Flex fit is the safer buy if you are unsure of your size or your head is between sizes. Fitted is the better buy if you know your size, because a structured fitted crown holds its shape for years and a stretch band eventually relaxes.
How to measure
- Use a soft tape measure, or a string and a ruler.
- Wrap it around the head where the cap will sit: just above the ears and across the middle of the forehead.
- Note the measurement in inches or centimetres, then read it off the table.
| Head (in) | Head (cm) | Size |
|---|---|---|
| 21 5/8 | 55 | 6 7/8 |
| 22 | 55.8 | 7 |
| 22 3/8 | 56.8 | 7 1/8 |
| 22 3/4 | 57.7 | 7 1/4 |
| 23 1/8 | 58.7 | 7 3/8 |
| 23 1/2 | 59.6 | 7 1/2 |
| 23 7/8 | 60.6 | 7 5/8 |
| 24 1/4 | 61.5 | 7 3/4 |
| 24 5/8 | 62.5 | 7 7/8 |
| 25 | 63.5 | 8 |
Two things catch people out. First, the 59FIFTY sits high, so a size that fits the circumference can still feel odd if you are used to low-profile caps; that is the shape, not the size, and the Low Profile version fixes it. Second, the ’47 Franchise runs slightly roomier than the 59FIFTY in the same size because the crown is unstructured. If you are a 7 1/4 in New Era, you are probably a 7 1/8 in the Franchise.
Flat or curved
The 59FIFTY ships with a flat visor. It can be curved by hand, gently and gradually, and most people who buy a 59FIFTY and want a curve do exactly that. The Franchise ships curved and cannot be flattened. If you know you want a curved brim and a structured crown, the 39THIRTY flex fit is the cap you actually want rather than a bent 59FIFTY.
Where to buy
- Lids carries the widest run of 59FIFTY sizes, which matters at the ends of the range where other retailers stock only 7 to 7 5/8.
- NFL Shop and the Seahawks Pro Shop for the current sideline and draft fitteds.
- Fanatics for the ’47 Franchise, which the team store does not always stock.
Fitted caps are the most-returned hat type for one reason, size, so buy from a retailer with free returns the first time.
The Super Bowl fitted
The champions design from February is available as a 59FIFTY. It is the version to buy if you want the title cap to last: structured, sized and not going to stretch out. Details on the champions hat guide.
More hat guides
- All Seahawks hats
- Seahawks beanies: which knit hat for a December game
- Seahawks New Era hats: the silhouettes, decoded
- Seahawks snapback hats: flat brim, curved brim, and what the closure changes
- Seahawks Super Bowl champions hat: which one the players wore, and which one to buy
- Vintage and throwback Seahawks hats: what 'retro' actually means
Questions
What is the difference between fitted and flex fit?
Fitted has no adjustment and comes in exact sizes: 7, 7 1/8, 7 1/4 and so on. Flex fit, which New Era calls 39THIRTY, has a stretch band and comes in ranges like M/L. Fitted holds its shape better; flex is more forgiving on size.
Which brand makes the best fitted Seahawks hat?
New Era's 59FIFTY is the standard: structured, flat brim, the shape the term 'fitted' usually means. '47's Franchise is the alternative: relaxed, curved brim, softer crown. They are different hats that happen to both be sized.
Should I size up or down on a fitted hat?
Up. A fitted cap does not stretch, and a size that is tight on day one stays tight. If your measurement lands between sizes, take the larger.