Clothing & Accessories - Live Life Big

Written by Leo Reed in Clothing & Accessories last updated March 2022 LiveLifeBig.net may earn a small commission when you use one of the links on this page to purchase. Hats are a great accessory for big guys! They can help accentuate your best features and can add the finishing touch to a well-put-together and trendy look. But your standard hat can run very snug on bigger heads and end up making you look worse! What you don't want is a tiny hat on a big body. Not only is that uncomfortable, but it can also totally throw off your proportions and make you look more than a little funny. Instead, big guys need hats that match their bigger bodies and that includes bigger brims, bills, and other features. On top of that, fat guys and big dudes need hats that are made from breathable materials that won't leave you looking a sweating mess. This isn't always easy, but we've done the hard work to track down the best big hats for big guys. We'll also cover everything you need to look for when finding the perfect hat but if you're a straight-to-the-point kind of guy, you can skip all the extra hat information and find our recommendations here: Best Overall: Carhartt Men's Rugged Professional Cap Best Fitted Flatbill Cap: KBETHOS Original Flatbill Fitted Cap Best Basic Ballcap For Big Heads: Zylioo Oversize XXL Baseball Best Beanie For Big Heads: Vgogfly Men's XL Beanie Best For Outdoors and Boating: Melin A-Game Hydro Performance Snapback Hat Best With American Flag: Armycrew XXL Oversize USA Flag Patch Mesh Back Hat Best Cadet-Style Hat For Big Heads: KBETHOS Cadet Hat What Type Of Hats Are We Talking About? While there are many hats with super-specific purposes, we're primarily going to focus on hats that are designed to enhance your style, keep you warm, or both. We're talking about baseball caps, snapbacks, beanies, bucket hats, and even the occasional cowboy hat. These hats can be worn in (almost) any situation and don't require a special occasion to pull off. So just a heads up (pun intended) we'll be sticking with the basic hats that work for big guys, fat dudes, or large heads in this article and not anything too crazy or fancy. What Should Big Guys Look For In A Hat? We're going to break down what factors to look for in a hat for a big guy and this is the same criteria we used when creating this list. Sweatbands Not all hats will have a sweatband but they can definitely be a great nice-to-have bonus. They're much more common on baseball caps, snapbacks, and similar items but you can also find them on some fancier hats too. The best sweatbands are made with a terry cloth, cotton, or some type of absorbent fabric. Even though wicking materials often get a lot of attention when it comes to moisture control, you do need something with at least some absorbent qualities to prevent moisture from messing up your hat or rolling down your face. As a big guy, I'm used to being the sweatiest dude in the room and I've been through my fair share of sweat-stained hats. No sweatband is going to perfect and if you're a big sweater then it may make more sense to go for some of the budget options and just be ready to replace them as needed. In other words, there's no magic sweatband that's going to prevent 100% of all sweat. Still, a sweatband can be a nice bonus and help prevent sweat from dripping into your eyes or causing a wet neck and t-shirt. Liners Are Good But Hard To Find In Casual Wear Most casual hats like baseball caps or snapbacks won't include a liner but some of the more formal hat styles like fedoras or bowler hats will include them. Liners help protect the inside of the hat from hair styling products, body oil, or sweat! Big guys already sweat more so this is greatly appreciated. However, you're unlikely to find a true liner in most casual wear so while it's nice to have it isn't going to be a dealbreaker for us and we won't include many hats with liners on this list. But if you do go for a hat with a liner, look for liners that are made with breathable materials such as linen. These materials stay cool which helps your head stay cool, too! Avoid hats with thick liners that are made with unbreathable materials such as denim or fleece, they won't provide you with enough ventilation to cool your head. They are also heavy which can cause you to sweat even more. Brim or Bill Size The brim of a hat completely surrounds the hat. The bill of a hat only covers a partial part of the hat, usually the front. For example, a baseball cap has a bill, and a cowboy hat has a full brim that goes all the way around. One of the biggest mistakes big guys can make when it comes to fashion is going for accessories that are too small. Whether we're talking about suspenders or bowties, small accessories don't look good on big bodies and it's no different when it comes to hats. Big guys should choose hats with big bills or large brims that match their overall body. This is usually more about avoiding small brims and bills rather than trying to track down hats with extra-large bills (which could end up looking weird in its own way). That means avoiding cycling caps and similar hats with extra small bills and sticking with traditional or large size options. When it comes to bill style, I'm a big fan of flat and wide brims for big guys since they do the best job of balancing out bigger features but I know these aren't for everyone. That's why we'll recommend a variety of hat styles but none of them will have small brims or bills! Material Hats can be made out of almost anything! There are straw hats, silk hats, even paper hats! Of course, a paper hat isn't going to do much for a big man's style so we'll be leaving those off this list! But if you are a fat guy looking for a hat that fits your needs, you will probably want a hat made with breathable material that will help keep you cool and cotton is usually at the top of this list. Cotton is lightweight, breathable, and can do a great job helping big guys stay cool and comfortable. Fat guys can also turn to nylon which is not only breathable but also a bit more flexible than cotton which can help if you have a bigger head. It is also lightweight and resistant to shrinkage. This helps if you want to wash your hat, and want to make sure it will still fit afterward. Mesh is another great option for breathability and ventilation. It can also look pretty good on big guys when it's incorporated into a trucker cap. Wicking fabric like polyester is also a good choice of hat material. Not only does it pull sweat away from the skin (which is great for big guys) but it's also durable and water-resistant! However, polyester isn't as breathable so try to find a balance. Avoid unbreathable materials such as denim. Not only does it not allow for proper ventilation, but it's also heavy and has no stretch. If you're not sure, cotton and cotton blends are usually a good place to start. Eyelets Eyelets aren't a deal-breaker but hats with a few additional eyelets can really help with ventilation and airflow. While every guy is different, a little extra airflow is a big deal for me and can definitely help with sweating. It may seem small, but there's a lot of heat escaping from your head (even if it's not as much as we once thought)- no matter what size you are so every little bit can help! If you already know you're a big sweater or you're looking for a hat for hot weather, stick with caps that include eyelets. Color Color may not seem to be something that should be taken into consideration when buying a hat as a big guy. But, did you know darker colors tend to be more slimming? While we aren't trying to exactly slim down, we do want a hat that looks good on us and compliments our best features. If you're part of the big giant noggin club (like me), then a black hat can help give your head a little balance! But, on the other hand, dark colors also attract more heat! This can be a no-no if you are a big guy trying to stay cool! Again, this isn't a deal-breaker but definitely something to consider. Adjustability and Size The last factor but one of the most important is the size of the hat. I know, it's obvious that you need your hat to fit but it's still worth talking about. The first thing you need to do is make sure you know your true hat size. If you've recently gained or lost weight (or your weight fluctuates a lot like mine) then it's worth measuring and this video does a great job of quickly showing you the process: For most big guys, we recommend an adjustable hat rather than a fitted cap which is doesn't have any way to change the size. But whatever you do, make sure you size up if you're in between sizes. While it can vary by material, most hats are more likely to shrink rather than stretch out and it's much better to have a hat that's a little loose than one that's just too small. Your head size can change a lot more than you might realize and whether it's gaining weight or holding water, you need to have a little room. For quick reference on how your head size converts to a hat size, you can use the chart below and pay attention to just how many in between sizes there are: Head Size In Inches US Hat Size Generic Size 20 7/8 6 5/8 Small 21 1/8 6 3/4 Small 21 1/2 6 7/8 Small 21 7/8 7 Medium 22 1/4 7 1/8 Medium 22 5/8 7 1/4 Large 23 7 3/8 Large 23 1/2 7 1/2 XL 23 7/8 7 5/8 XL 24 1/4 7 3/4 XL 24 5/8 7 7/8 XXL 25 8 XXL The majority of hats on this list will fit size 8 and beyond so don't worry if you find yourself at the bottom of this chart: you're in the right place. Best Hats For Fat Guys With the background information out of the way, it's time to get into what you really want to know, our recommendations! Let's get started with the best overall! Best Overall: Carhartt Men's Rugged Professional Cap Carhartt Men's Rugged Professional Cap Adjustable up to a size 8 hat size or around 25 inches More than 7,000 five star reviews including plenty from guys with big heads Mesh backing helps keep fat guys cool and comfortable while still looking good Easy on the budget Check Today's Price on Amazon When it comes to picking our best overall hat, we wanted something that would work for 95% of big heads and big dudes. This simple but stylish hat from Carhartt checks all the boxes with adjustability up to a size 8, extremely comfortable mesh that reduces sweating, and an overall sweat-resistant material that won't stain right away. Whether you're a fat guy or just a dude with a big head, you've probably picked up a sleek black hat only to have it turn into a sweat-stained mess within a few days (or in my case a few hours). The combination of quality canvas material along with a well-placed sweatband prevents that from happening here and that makes a world of difference. That also means you can wear this hat for work or athletic activities without worrying about destroying it. The mesh back also helps reduce sweat and heat build-up but doesn't make the hat look cheap so you can still rock this for just about any occasion where hats are acceptable. Even better, you have 6 classic colors to work with and while there aren't any wild colors for loud styles, you can still pick from all the basics. The bill on this hat isn't huge, which is the only downside, but it's still big enough to match bigger bodies. Additionally, the curving of the bill helps keep everything proportionate. Finally, there are more than 7,000 five-star reviews backing up this hat so I'm far from the only big guy that likes it. Overall, it's a clear winner for the best overall spot as it covers a little bit of everything and does it all really well. You can see all 6 colors, read reviews from other guys with big heads and check today's price on Amazon by clicking here. Best Fitted Flatbill Cap: KBETHOS Original Flatbill Fitted Cap On Sale ($3.00 OFF) KNW-2364 BLK (8 1/4) The Real Original Fitted Flat-Bill Hats True-Fit, 9 Sizes & 20 Colors Available up to 4XL which is larger than size 8 Stylish flat bill looks great on bigger bodies More than 5,000 five star reviews with plenty of big heads and fat guys checking in Easy on the budget and 20 different colors to choose from Check Today's Price on Amazon If a curved bill isn't your style or you want something fitted, then this stylish but simple hat from Kbethos is a good choice. Rather than going the adjustable route, big guys can get just the right size. There are all the usual sizes, including a size 8, but there's also a 4XL option that's actually larger than your traditional size 8 (which is the usual max for hat sizes). However, this hat does run ever so slightly small so if you're on the edge of a size or in-between it's a good idea to size up. What really helps this hat make our list is the price and it's one of the most budget-friendly caps you can find. If you're a bit of a hat snob or you only want the absolute premium pick, then you might not want to go for this hat. But if you're looking for an awesome balance of price and quality, this flatbill cap is really hard to beat. It also helps that there are 20 different colors to choose from so you can snag a couple to mix and match. Without a sweatband or mesh back, this hat isn't quite as bombproof as our best overall pick but it does more than make up for that when it comes to style and it's hard to beat the look of a truly fitted cap. There are also dozens (and dozens) of fat guys and dudes with big heads showing up in the review section including many with pictures showing off a perfect fit. It's worth checking out just for the 4XL size and you can read more reviews, see all 20 colors and check the latest budget-friendly price on Amazon by clicking here. Best Basic Ballcap For Big Heads: Zylioo Oversize XXL Baseball Zylioo Big Plain Baseball Cap Hat,Soft-Structured Adjustable Dad Cap for Big Heads,Soft Crown Solid... Adjustable up to 25.5 inches which is larger than a size 8 23 different colors to pick from so you can find the perfect match Comfortable cotton material is durable and breathable Check Today's Price on Amazon Sometimes you don't need anything fancy and just want a basic ballcap for knocking around the house, hitting the course, or just running errands. That's where this ballcap from Zylioo comes into the picture with its comfortable cotton design, highly adjustable strap that's perfect for big heads, and more than 20+ colors so you can find just what you need. Of course, it also helps that this knock-around cap is easy on the budget so it's not a big deal if you lose it while you're out and about. When it comes to sizing, this simple cap has a strong metal buckle that can adjust up to 25.5 inches which is actually half an inch larger than a size 8 (which is the usual max hat size). That makes it perfect for the really big heads that have problems with the usual size 8. The cotton material is breathable which can help prevent sweat but just keep in mind that it will also absorb moisture. That can be a good thing when it comes to keeping sweat off your clothing and out of your eyes, but soaking up all that sweat could eventually take a toll on this hat and our best overall pick is still a better choice for the heaviest sweaters. You can see all 23 colors, read more reviews and check today's price on Amazon by clicking here. Best Beanie For Big Heads: Vgogfly Men's XL Beanie 3,844 Reviews Vgogfly Beanie Men Slouchy Knit Skull Cap Warm Stocking Hats Guys Women Striped Winter Beanie Hat... One size really does fit all with plenty of room for big heads and the ability to stretch Warm enough for the slopes but not so heavy-duty that you can't wear it in the fall 24 colors and patterns with everything from solid colors to tie dye patterns Check Today's Price on Amazon Folks without big heads think that just any old beanie will fit any old head. But you already know that's just not true and big heads demand big beanies. You also know that it's usually best to avoid one size fits all when your hat size is anywhere close to an 8 but in this case, I give you permission to trust the fine folks at Vgogfly when they say that one size really does fit all. And if you don't trust them, then consider trusting all the fat guys with big heads that have been inspired to leave reviews about the size of this beanie. The thick material makes this beanie plenty warm for hitting the slopes or hanging out in the city. If you're looking for something warm enough for hardcore wilderness treks or winter hunting you may need something a little more heavy-duty but beyond that this beanie can keep your big head warm. Still, this beanie is made from acrylic (the same thing that many sweaters are made of) so it's pretty lightweight. This beanie is also one of the most stylish options on this list with 24 colors to choose from including "louder" colors and styles that we haven't seen in other caps. Even though I'm a bit of a basic dude, I still like the green tie-dye style and just about every guy will be able to find something they like. To top it all off, this hat is soft and not itchy! Of course, everyone has a different level of sensitivity when it comes to their skin so some folks may find it itchy but I haven't and neither have most reviewers. You can read some of those reviews (there are more than 3,000), see all 24 colors, and check today's price on Amazon by clicking here. Best For Outdoors and Boating: Melin A-Game Hydro Performance Snapback Hat Armycrew XXL Oversize Black Grey USA Flag Patch Mesh Back Trucker Baseball Cap Comfortable fit up to size 7 and 7/8 with a little room to go higher Moisture-wicking, breathable, and water-resistant this hat has a ton of features that make it perfect for the outdoors. It even floats! 15 color and style options to choose from so you can get the perfect fit Check Today's Price on Amazon If you're serious about fighting off moisture or you just want a hat that floats (seriously) then this outdoor-friendly option from Melin could be a good pick. This hat definitely falls into the category of specialty hat and comes with a premium price but it also has some special features that you won't see in a lot of other caps. To start with, the bill (they call it the visor) of the hat floats which makes it perfect for boating, waterparks, or anything with water. To be fair, I haven't known hats to sink rapidly or anything but the floating bill completely eliminates the risk. Made almost entirely of polyester, this cap combines the water-resistant material with a specific design to repel sweat, water, and other liquids you might run into. There are also more than a dozen color options to pick from and it's a good-looking hat all on its own. The back has a mesh design without actually being made of mesh so if you want the breathability of a trucker cap without the mesh look then this could be a great option. You can read more reviews, see all 15 color options and check today's price on Amazon by clicking here. Best With American Flag: Armycrew XXL Oversize USA Flag Patch Mesh Back Hat Armycrew XXL Oversize Black Grey USA Flag Patch Mesh Back Trucker Baseball Cap Fits hat sizes up to 8 (despite what the size chart says) Dozens of reviews from happy guys with BIG heads Stylish but not over-the-top USA flag adds some style to this hat Check Today's Price on Amazon The Armycrew brand makes a variety of hats for big heads but this is one of their better options out there. Even though the size chart is completely generic, this hat can comfortably fit heads up to size 8 and even a little larger with some stretch. There's a solid sweatband that does a great job soaking up the sweat (before it gets to your eyes) and the mesh back will really help keep your big noggin cool. The flag on the front of the hat is noticeable but not over the top and black on grey is my absolute favorite. I'm also guessing it will be the one that most guys go for too. You can take a closer look at all 4 designs, read reviews from other guys in the big head club, and check today's price on Amazon by clicking here. Best Cadet-Style Hat For Big Heads: KBETHOS Cadet Hat KBK-1464 BLK S (2) Cadet Army Cap Basic Everyday Military Style Hat (Now with STASH Pocket Version... Available up to size 7 and 5/8 for big noggins 23 colors and patterns to pick from More than 5,000 five star reviews on Amazon Check Today's Price on Amazon So far we've seen mostly baseball caps or snapbacks but what if you want something a little different? This cadet-style hat gives you a military vibe without anything that's too over the top. It's also a great pick for big heads since there's plenty of extra depth for big heads or extra hair. Of course, hat depth is rarely the limiting factor but it can help. This hat is also available up to 24 inches which is just below a size 8 so it has your big head covered when it comes to circumference too. The extra depth also makes this hat look bigger (because it is) which makes it perfect for bigger bodies. Remember, big guys need big accessories and while you might be hesitant to mix things up, most big guys can definitely pull off this look. You have 23 colors to pick from and some of the brighter colors really help balance out the military style. In other words, you can go for olive green to lean into your boot camp style or pick a light blue for a more casual look. Just a heads up that some colors come with a pocket on the side. While this is kinda cool, it's definitely not for everyone so make sure you know what you're getting into before you hit the buy button. You can take a closer look at all 23 colors, read more reviews, and see today's price on Amazon by clicking here. Frequently Asked Questions Do all baseball caps have the same number of eyelets? No! The standard baseball cap has six eyelets, but depending on the style, it may have fewer or none at all! Cowboy hats can have none, a few, or possibly even more eyelets on each side. This is not standard, and each manufacturer will add eyelets based on their preference! Can you adjust all trucker caps? Yes! Trucker hats are a type of snap-back hat that is designed to be one size fits all. But, one size fits all is a loose term that doesn't always live up to expectations. When buying a trucker cap, check to make sure it will fit your head's circumference! How do you know which size hat you wear? Hats come in sizes based on the circumference of your head. To measure your circumference, use a measuring tape and wrap it around your head starting at an inch above the top of your left ear, and following your "hat line" until you reach your left ear. The measurement is then converted into a hat size. For example, a 25-inch head circumference is a size 8. If you are in between hat sizes, always go a size up for the most comfortable fit. Are trucker hats and snapback caps interchangeable terms? Not exactly! All trucker hats are snapbacks. But, not all snapbacks are trucker hats! The term snapback means there is an adjustable closing in the back of the hat, it could be a standard baseball cap, trucker hat, or anything else. A trucker hat specifically has a foam front that allows it to be taller and more firm than other types of baseball caps along with a mesh back for breathability. My Final Thoughts Every big guy needs a hat that they are comfortable in and one that looks good on them! The above style guide will help you choose a hat that will keep you cool while looking cool as well! Or you can choose one of the hats that we chose as our top picks! Whether you choose a hat for yourself or choose one that we recommend, you will know exactly what to look for and how to go about finding the perfect hat for you! Which type of hat will you choose?