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OT: ATTN Hat Nerds: How to break in New Era 39Thirty?


At yesterday's game, I spontaneously dodged slipped into the fanshop on the view level behind home plate and walked out with a beautiful brand new 39Thirty BP/ST style cap (and yes, I did pay for it... gulp). I generally pick up a new one every season, and in this case, I was way overdue and opted for something a bit sturdier and more formidable than the floppy Franchise style hats I usually buy.

The new lid, as I said, is a New Era 39Thirty (similar to the pic below, but with gray crown and black rim) with a breathable polyester mesh fabric that, unlike wool/cotton, won't shrink.

I was wondering if anyone here has had any experience with these hats, and if so, what method you use to break in the stiff front panel so it doesn't feel like you're wearing a ten-gallon hat?

I've read of a few techniques used for the 59Fiftys (authentic game hats) but they generally involve shrinking the wool crown to the shape of your head (the old soak-wear-dry maneuver). I've also heard of some people working an X-acto knife to cut out the stiff mesh inside the front panel, but it appears to be glued or super-starched fabric (or something) on these hats, but maybe I'm just afraid to start slicing up my new friend.

Any ideas? I'm dying to wear it in public without looking like a complete Gomer (or, I should say, I'd like the hat not to contribute to any Gomer-ness I may already exude).

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via mlb.imageg.net

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