Ladies riding hats

[swearsbymoonlight]

Hello, after 2 decades away from riding I have started lessons again and loving it!

I want to get a hat for a Christmas present tp myself. I have been looking online and there are hundreds to choose from and I'm a bit bamboozled !

The costs seems to vary hugely. I've seem some budget type hats that are around £20 price mark? They seem to have all the right CE markings etc, but is it a case of to good to be true? Or maybe they are completely naff and I'll get laughed out the yard !

Horze Crest Helmet | horze.co.uk

This is the sort of thing I have seen? I am willing to pay up to £80 for a good one so any suggestions I would be grateful for. Thank you

Get yourself to a proper tack shop that does hat fitting. It is too important to take the cheap way out. You need to figure out which shape/size you are and then you can look for deals.

Don't buy online - you need to go and get properly fitted as a bad-fitting hat can be really dangerous.

I wear an Uvex adjustable hat as I find it fits more precisely, esp as I have a small head. It’s got vents too. Note that I don’t jump or event so the peak doesn’t worry me, but it is removable. I get overheated so the lighter hat and vents were a priority for me. It’s the third in this style I’ve had. www.uvex-sports.com/en/press-area/equestrian/uvex-exxential-ii-mips

OK thank you all, much too think about!

Even if you buy a decent hat in your size online, the way stuff is packaged and treated by delivery drivers these days means I wouldn't trust it. This is one thing it's worth saving up for and doing properly.

I've loved getting back into riding at a later age too.

Your hay could quite literally save your life. It is worth investing in one that fits properly and is up to the latest safety standards. I have a small head so I have a child's hat ( fitted at a proper fitters) so it was only £80 - I don't think there a lot of extra benefit in the £500 sparkly encrusted hats I see around, but I wouldn't buy a budget one either. Its too important.

HAT ! not hay ! (sorry)

Speaking as someone with a previous head injury, please take the advice above about fitting, but also research safety standards as some hats are tested to higher standards than others. If you can extend your budget a bit, go for a MIPS system hat for greater protection. Good luck and enjoy your riding.

Agree, just paid over £200 for DD new MIPS hat, just a Champion skull cap ie not flashy, but can't put a price on safety!

Get measured & fitted at a tack shop. It's the one but of equipment you can't guess at online. Some heads are more oval & some round & you won't really know until you have tried them.

The safety mark is a BSI kite mark & there are different standards (these were updated this year).

Most of the rules are for riding clubs & competitions but some riding schools will check your hat meets current standards so worth checking before you buy.

There's 2 main types - fixed peak & jockey skull. For riding lessons it's more about preference.

Some come with a semi adjustable dial (but still better to get it professionally fitted) I find these eg Uvex more comfortable but the dial mechanism can break easily.

A £20 hat won't meet safety standards. You are looking at about £100 plus.

Charles Owen & champion are good budget brands and widely available.