So I got really curious about MLB umpire hats after watching a game last week. Couldn’t tell why some umps had different looking hats behind home plate. Decided to buy three styles and test them myself.
Getting the hats
First thing I did was order three ump caps off Amazon: the traditional wool version, the newer polyester blend, and this lightweight performance fabric one. Paid around 25 bucks each. The wool one felt scratchy right outta the package – like an old army blanket.
Wear testing phase
Tried each hat during my morning walks for a week straight. Wore them in different weather too:
- Heavy wool one: Melted my head when sun came out. Sweat stains showed up bad after two days. But dang it looked crisp before sweating.
- Polyester blend: Actually breathed decently. Held its shape in light rain but started smelling funky quick.
- Performance fabric: Light as tissue paper. Didn’t even feel like wearing a hat honestly. Downside? Looked like a wrinkled napkin after single use.
The real test came when I umpired my nephew’s little league game Saturday. Sun was baking that field like an oven.
Game day discoveries
By third inning, the wool hat had me pouring sweat like a faucet. Poly blend was okay but kept sliding around when I’d turn my head quick. Ended up switching to the performance hat mid-game. Wasn’t pretty but holy hell the relief!
Here’s the simple breakdown I wish I knew:
- Wool: Looks great until you move a muscle
- Poly blend: Jack of all trades, master of none
- Performance fabric: Feels like nothing but shows every wrinkle
Stuck the other two hats in my closet after that. Performance hat’s my daily now for anything outdoors. Might look a bit sloppy but my head doesn’t feel like it’s in a microwave anymore. Sometimes comfort beats looks hands down.
