Seahawks snapback hats: flat brim, curved brim, and what the closure changes
A snapback is the cap of the 1980s and 1990s that came back and never left. For Seahawks caps it means one of two brands and a short list of shapes, and the choice is mostly about the brim.
What makes it a snapback
The closure: a plastic strip at the back with a row of snaps. That is the whole definition, but the term carries baggage. By convention a snapback is structured, flat-brimmed and mid-to-high crowned, because that is what the caps that made the style famous looked like. Curved-brim caps with a snap closure exist, and ’47 makes a good one, but if a listing just says “snapback” expect flat.
The alternative closures are the fabric strap with a metal clasp or buckle (New Era calls this an adjustable, on the 9FORTY and 9TWENTY) and the stretch-snap (the 9SEVENTY, a stretch band plus a snap). All three are one-size; they just feel different.
The Seahawks snapbacks that matter
New Era 9FIFTY. The same crown as the 59FIFTY fitted, flat visor, snap closure. If you want the fitted look without needing a size, this is it. It is the sideline cap in flat-brim seasons and the base for most of New Era’s Seahawks graphics.
New Era 9FIFTY A-Frame. A 9FIFTY with a higher, squarer front panel, a 1990s shape. The NFC Championship locker room cap was an A-Frame. Slightly more retro than the standard 9FIFTY.
’47 Captain. ’47’s flat-brim snapback and the deepest-fitting cap the brand makes, with buckram-backed panels so it holds its shape. It sits lower than the 9FIFTY and the crown is a touch softer.
’47 MVP. The curved-brim snapback. Same shallow crown as ’47’s Clean Up dad hat but with structure in the front panels and a snap at the back. This is the cap for people who want the snap closure but not the flat brim.
’47 Trucker. Mesh back, structured front, wide semi-curved brim, snap closure. The tailgate cap; it breathes in September and it does not matter if it gets beer on it.
Flat or curved
The brim is the real decision. Flat is the classic snapback look and it is what the 9FIFTY, the A-Frame and the Captain ship with. Flat brims can be curved by hand over a few days; they cannot be flattened again once curved. If you already know you want a curve, buy the MVP or a 9FORTY and skip the bending.
A flat brim also keeps the sticker. Whether you leave the size sticker on a 9FIFTY is a cultural question, not a hat question, and this site takes no position.
Throwback snapbacks
The snapback era and the Seahawks’ royal blue era overlap, so most throwback Seahawks hats are snapbacks: Mitchell & Ness’s royal blue with the original logo above all. If you are buying a snapback for the retro look, that guide is the one to read.
Where to buy
- Lids for the full 9FIFTY range and ’47’s snapbacks together.
- NFL Shop for the current sideline 9FIFTY.
- Seahawks Pro Shop, the team store.
- Fanatics for ’47’s full range, including the Trucker.
One size, but not one fit
“One size fits most” is true for the snap, but the crown depth is not adjustable. The Captain fits deep; the 9FIFTY sits high; the MVP is shallow. If you have tried a snapback and found it perched on top of your head, it was probably a 9FIFTY and the Captain will fit the way you wanted. If one swallowed your ears, the reverse.
More hat guides
- All Seahawks hats
- Seahawks beanies: which knit hat for a December game
- Seahawks fitted hats: the two that matter and how to size them
- Seahawks New Era hats: the silhouettes, decoded
- 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 a snapback and an adjustable hat?
A snapback closes with a plastic snap strip at the back and has a flat brim and structured crown by tradition. 'Adjustable' usually means a fabric strap with a buckle or clasp and a curved brim. New Era's 9FIFTY is a snapback; its 9FORTY is an adjustable.
Are snapbacks one size?
Yes. The snap strip adjusts across most adult sizes. Youth snapbacks are the same design on a smaller crown.
Which Seahawks snapback do the players wear?
In flat-brim seasons the sideline cap is a New Era 9FIFTY. The NFC Championship locker room cap was a 9FIFTY A-Frame.