What the hat?

October 15, 2005 8:43 AM

What do I call this hat and where can I buy one?

Increasingly, I've seen people wearing hats of this nature. I'm just wondering what the hat is called and where I can buy one of these online, that ships or is in Canada. Thanks.

posted by dflemingdotorg to clothing, beauty, & fashion (13 answers total)

I'm not sure what they're called but Army Surplus stores carry them.
posted by drezdn at 8:45 AM on October 15, 2005

Ignore the flaps in the picture, but the originals are called a Combat Cap
posted by drezdn at 8:48 AM on October 15, 2005

I'd call it a "castro hat".
posted by cadastral at 8:48 AM on October 15, 2005

also called "cadet" style cap. seems more popular in ~communist militaries.
posted by dorian at 8:49 AM on October 15, 2005

Here's a black one (the flaps fold inside the hat, though I think I've seen them without the flaps as well).
posted by drezdn at 8:49 AM on October 15, 2005

Is it something like this?
posted by namret at 9:37 AM on October 15, 2005

Urban Outfitters has something similar.
posted by Utilitaritron at 10:53 AM on October 15, 2005

I bought a couple of those in August at KW Surplus in Kitchener, ON. (Not sure what part of Canada you're in.)

They called them "BDU" Caps.

They're very comfy and some models have a built-in pocket on the inside that makes up the top panel of the hat. (Good for an ID and few bills.)
posted by evoo at 11:10 AM on October 15, 2005

Well, there's this, and there's this . If it's the Radar O'Reilly look you're after, probably the former.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 12:18 PM on October 15, 2005

BDU caps.
posted by 517 at 12:38 PM on October 15, 2005

I bought a couple last winter at a Puma outlet store.
posted by theperfectcrime at 4:27 PM on October 15, 2005

BDU = Battle Dress Uniform. Even the US military has several styles -- compare Ranger (sloped down) with Navy/Marines. Part of the style in the photo seems to be using an oversize cap, but that may just be necessary because of the dreads.

I'm leaning more toward a cadet cap, though. The fatigue caps are light canvas that can scrunch up in a pocket (or, at one time anyway, beneath an epaulet). These are woolen and woven and have a more rigid shape.
posted by dhartung at 4:34 PM on October 15, 2005

Er, I was just wondering ... Is there an age , above which wearing such a cap would be rather ludicrous? I know it is a personal choice and who cares what others think, but i still wonder. There are some who might think they look cool in those BDU's but turns out they are not really cool, but laughing stock. :)
Oh, this just came to mind. Castro is pretty old and he looks cool! But then he is El Presidente. Nobody laughs at the El Presidente.
posted by kryptos at 6:43 PM on October 15, 2005