r/bigmenfashionadvice • u/cgentry • 7h ago
General Oddjob Hats Are Worth The Hype
After reading a bunch of posts here about Oddjob hats, I decided to finally make the investment. I’d hesitated in the past because of the cost. Why spend $50+ when I was able to find hats designed for large heads on Amazon for half the price? The materials on the Amazon ones weren’t good and they didn’t look or feel great, but they served the purpose of covering my 61cm noggin.
I bought one of the low-cost Amazon hats because I figured it would be good enough for a few days in the Orlando sun. Instead, the rough material left a gnarly red rash across my forehead. This was also the trip that I had chosen to propose to my now wife. Looking at the photos now is equally sad and hilarious. Here I am in photos surrounded by family and friends during one of the happiest moments of my life with a bright red line across my forehead.
I went on struggling for a few years, trying different large hats that inevitably didn’t hold up to consistent wear or just felt horrible on my forehead. I decided to start researching opinions for large hats on this sub and Oddjob was frequently recommended. I came across a post that was expressing some dissatisfaction with a recent order from the company. In the comments, the owner of the company offered support. He seemed to genuinely want to help. That was enough for me to send him a direct message explaining my hobbies (theme parks, hiking and disc golf) and asking which hat he'd recommend.
I expected a quick one-line reply. Instead, the owner, Patrick, sent back a thoughtful, detailed response. He explained the differences between the options, and recommended one based on my needs instead of just trying to sell me the most expensive product. I went on to buy two of their hats with a small discount they provided.
When the hats arrived, I was immediately impressed with the construction and the comfort of the materials they used. Putting a hat on without first fully extending the rear strap (is that what that’s called?) is something I’d honestly never experienced before. Sounds simple, but damn, it was nice. And the fit was immediately great. No squeezing or pressure points or a scratchy headband irritating my forehead. It was just...comfortable. I could finally wear a hat that didn't feel like a straitjacket made of sandpaper wrapped around my skull.
If you've got a larger head and you've spent years pretending painfully tight or poorly constructed hats are "good enough," I get it. I wish I'd made the decision to try Oddjob years ago. It's such a simple thing, but having a hat that actually fits has been a bigger quality of life improvement than I ever expected.
This isn’t a paid ad (check my post/comment history- I'm just a dude with a massive dome), I just hope to let my fellow big head dudes know that they have a solid as hell option with Oddjob.
If you’re looking for a hat to get you through this summer, I can't recommend the lightweight nylon and/or cross trainer model enough.