Here at Modern Vintage Man, we love our hats. Both Matt and myself have a strong collection of hats that range from your standard ball cap to felt fedoras to kangaroo leather bush hats (which I bought during a glorious two week jaunt through Australia and New Zealand a few years back). Hats are one of the most defining accessories of a mans wardrobe. Think you look good in that black suit? Throw on a nice black fedora and be prepared to fight the ladies off all night long. But what about those more casual times? Those nice hikes through the woods? Those days at the ballpark? Wouldn’t it be great to have a versatile hat that could handle all situations? Well prepare yourself, friend, for the Stormy Kromer Waxed Cotton Cap.
First, a little history. When I first stumbled upon Stormy Kromer Mercantile, my first thought was, “What in the world is a stormy kromer?” Well the answer to my question is not a what but a who. From what I read, Stormy Kromer was a “good ole boy” who needed a good hat. I won’t go into all the details, but I would encourage you to read the interesting story HERE.
So, on to the hat. What exactly is a Stormy Kromer Waxed Cotton Cap? In short, it is nearly the last “cap” you will ever need. In order to give this cap the full breakdown it deserves, I am going to break this review into 4 categories. So let’s begin.
As I post this picture, I realize I seem to have the "crazy eyes." Please don't pay attention to that, just how great I look in this hat.
1. Function
Besides being a “fashion” accessory, a good hat should accomplish some kind of function or purpose. I completely understand that sometimes you just wear a hat because it looks good, but a hat that meets a need is something you will use much more regularly than a hat that merely makes you think (I am looking at you guy wearing the nasty stained and torn Cubs cap) you look better. The SK cap meets the somewhat standard purpose of a hat by keeping the sun off your head and providing some shield for your eyes. But beyond that, it is highly water resistant so it keeps you dry during those sudden Spring showers, and the functional ear flap keeps your ears warm during those chilly nights by the bon fire. The fully functional ear flap really sets this hat apart from others. Not sure what the ear flap does? Check out this video:
2. Material
Prior to receiving this cap, I was fairly unfamiliar with waxed cotton. If you have never felt something made of waxed cotton, it probably feels exactly how you think it would. The great thing about waxed cotton is that it will keep the rain off your noggin, but not get too hot. This is great for spring and summer here in Indiana as you never really know whats going to happen with the weather. The versatility and comfort of the waxed cotton is really second to none.
3. Craftsmanship
If you are going to pay a decent chunk of change (although at $34 I feel this hat is a steal) for a cap, you want it to last. The craftsmanship that is put into each SK Cap is very obvious. This hat is strong and dependable and isn’t going to fall apart on you. Apparently people have even been buried in their Stormy Kromer caps. Yeah. That means this cap will LITERALLY outlast you. How many other things you own can you say that about?
4. Fit/Comfort
The SK Waxed Cotton Cap is custom fit to order. When you order your cap (and trust me, you need to order one of these caps) you need to figure out your Stormy Kromer size. It is quite simple to do and they have a guide on their website to help you determine your perfect size. I am a big fan of custom fit because, well, it fits. What I found is that, over time, the hat begins to shape to your head to provide a snug fit that isn’t too tight or too loose. This hat has stayed put through 20+ mph wind gusts and many bike rides without any discomfort to my head.
Now, as you all know, at the end of every review we like to give a Modern Vintage Man score. This score is based on personal preference and how we feel the particular item lives up the standards we have for every product we review. Now this cap is no exception and will receive the score. However, one thing that sets this cap apart is the fact that I plan on purchasing another one come cooler weather. The SK Cap is available in the Waxed Cotton, as well as Wool and Corduroy so you can have a great cap for any weather.
Modern Vintage Man Score: 5/5
