CAPS 帽子

Dad cap, corduroy, snapback or baseball cap: how to choose

There are four kinds of cap here. The main difference is whether the front stands up on its own, and what it's made of.

Dad caps are unstructured. They are soft cotton chino with six panels, a low profile, a curved peak and a strap and buckle at the back. They sit close to the head and soften with wear. The Originals logo caps, the single-kanji city caps, the First Light and Pale North caps and the lettering caps (Tokyo Script, Osaka Varsity, Tokyo 1872, Full Count and Ace 18) are this shape.

Corduroy caps are the same low, soft shape in fine-wale cotton corduroy. There are two sets. The city initials: one serif letter (Y, T, O, K or S) on the front, with the city and its kanji on the side. And seven bigger Japanese designs, embroidered front and back: 大吉 great luck, あったか〜い from the vending machine, 帰宅部 the go-home club, 終電 the last train, 喫茶 the old coffee house, 銭湯 the bathhouse and 侘寂 wabi-sabi. The corduroy caps are made in the US, so they take a little longer to reach the UK and Europe, about 9 to 12 working days, and import charges may be due on delivery.

Snapbacks are structured. Mine are an acrylic and wool blend with a stiffened front, a high profile, a flat brim and a plastic snap at the back, so they sit taller and hold their shape. The product pages list them for heads of 54.9 to 60 cm.

The two-tone baseball caps sit in between: a structured front panel, a mid profile, a slightly curved visor and a snap closure, in red, dark green or royal blue with natural.

How to choose: a dad cap if you want it low and soft, corduroy if you want the same with more texture, a snapback if you want height and a flat brim, a two-tone cap for the classic ballcap shape. All are one size and adjustable.

If you searched for a Japanese baseball cap: these are baseball caps with Japanese kanji, lettering or the 5C5V Mt Fuji logo on them, designed by a UK brand.

Made to order in 2 to 5 working days, then shipped with tracking. UK delivery is £3.95, free over £100. 30-day returns.

Questions people ask

What is the difference between a dad cap and a snapback?

A dad cap is unstructured and low profile with a curved peak, so it sits close to the head. A snapback has a stiffened front, a taller crown, a flat brim and a plastic snap closure.

What does the Japanese on the corduroy caps mean?

Each one is an everyday bit of Japan: 大吉 is the best fortune you can draw at a shrine, あったか〜い is the hot-drink label on a vending machine, 帰宅部 is the joke "club" for students who go straight home, 終電 is the last train, 喫茶 is an old-style coffee house, 銭湯 is a neighbourhood bathhouse and 侘寂 is the idea of beauty in things that are worn and imperfect. Each product page has the longer story.

Are these Japanese baseball caps?

They are baseball caps with Japanese kanji or lettering on them, designed by 5C5V, a UK brand, and made to order.

What size are the caps?

They are one size and adjustable at the back. The snapback product pages list a head circumference of 54.9 to 60 cm.