BIG fleece beanie? Don't make me ask my Mom.

M

moab

FNG
Joined
Apr 29, 2024
Messages
35
Looking for a big Polartec fleece beanie. Simple military style. Black. 100wt or better. Size 8 1/4 though. Which is 25.5 inches.

Not knit. Just heavyweight fleece.

Like this. I think this is the Rothco military copy. But it's one size fits all. Which means not for my watermelon head.

Screenshot_20240508_214440_Chrome.jpg

Or even this. A little longer is fine. But I don't want to have to roll it up.

Screenshot_20240508_214318_Chrome.jpg

I'm sick of my head hurting from fleece hats that are to tight. If I can't find one I have to ask my Mom to make one. 🤣 I'm 59 yrs old. Please don't make me ask my Mom?!
 
I don't know the size offhand. I'm 7.25 and find it to be one of the larger ones I have had.
 
Had the same issue finding a fleece that would fit over a ballcap. Found a seamstress making fleece hats on ebay and had her make a custom sized that was perfect, think it was $12 shipped. I also like Burton snowboards snow hoods that are sized to fit over ski helmets, fit loose over a cap but allows me normal hearing. Wanted an orange one and she made one in orange off the pictures and measurements I provided off the camo Burton, also about $15. I also have the benefit of an xl sized skull, fortunately an MRI showed the space was completely filled by cerebral tissue.
 
yfarm said:
Had the same issue finding a fleece that would fit over a ballcap. Found a seamstress making fleece hats on ebay and had her make a custom sized that was perfect, think it was $12 shipped. I also like Burton snowboards snow hoods that are sized to fit over ski helmets, fit loose over a cap but allows me normal hearing. Wanted an orange one and she made one in orange off the pictures and measurements I provided off the camo Burton, also about $15. I also have the benefit of an xl sized skull, fortunately an MRI showed the space was completely filled by cerebral tissue.
Click to expand...
👍 Gotta link?
 
The family buys me Carhartt beanies thinking I’ll like them - they get thrown in a pile and given away - so uncomfortable compared to a simple fleece beanie. Lol

The last good one I’ve had was sewn by a shop in Jackson, but I don’t even recall the name.

My all time favorite was quite thick - two layers of 300 wt fleece.
 
TaperPin said:
The family buys me Carhartt beanies thinking I’ll like them - they get thrown in a pile and given away - so uncomfortable compared to a simple fleece beanie. Lol

The last good one I’ve had was sewn by a shop in Jackson, but I don’t even recall the name.

My all time favorite was quite thick - two layers of 300 wt fleece.
Click to expand...
That's exactly what I'm going to have her make. Just military style in 200 or 300wt Polartec. Nice and loose. So there's room to heat some air. And not like a rubber band around my head.
 
I can't even find one for my 7-7/8 head...

The kings camo XKG one fits pretty well but the faux fur is obnoxious to no end.
 
flyfisher117 said:
I can't even find one for my 7-7/8 head...

The kings camo XKG one fits pretty well but the faux fur is obnoxious to no end.
Click to expand...
Ya. Fleece doesn't stretch either. I bought a Voodoo Tactical fleece beanie a couple weeks ago. Been stretching it everytime I put it on. But it always goes back to it's original size. And gives me a headache.

I contacted that hat maker on eBay. And she could not make one. Or was not interested.

I found one on Google. But it was tall. Reviews said it left a big point of fabric on top of your head. Kind of like a ski cap. Or you had to roll the brim. Which makes it even tighter.

My mother is busy selling her house and moving. So that isn't going to work either. My son's gf got a sewing machine for Christmas. I have sewn before. But unsure how it would turn out without a serger. That's the kind of machine that makes those wide stitches around the circumference about halfway up.

It basically mates two pieces of fabric end to end. With no overlap. With a conventional machine you'd end up with an overlap there and big ridge. Which is why just anyone can't make one.

I'll keep looking.
 
The one I had made was a little large for my needs, remember I wear over a cap. I just ran a straight stitch inside, trimmed of the excess leaving 1/4” and stitched it flat to reinforce the seam, worked fine. I actually trimmed the bottom edge to shorten it and left it raw, hasn’t unraveled I believe given the nature of the weave. Previously have tapered the sleeves of fleece jackets and pants to match the extremity contour using the same straight stitch followed by locking the seam, none have torn out in >10 yrs use. Pretty forgiving fabric to work with compared to nylon.
 
yfarm said:
The one I had made was a little large for my needs, remember I wear over a cap. I just ran a straight stitch inside, trimmed of the excess leaving 1/4” and stitched it flat to reinforce the seam, worked fine. I actually trimmed the bottom edge to shorten it and left it raw, hasn’t unraveled I believe given the nature of the weave. Previously have tapered the sleeves of fleece jackets and pants to match the extremity contour using the same straight stitch followed by locking the seam, none have torn out in >10 yrs use. Pretty forgiving fabric to work with compared to nylon.
Click to expand...
One year for Christmas my ex and I made everyone in the family fleece jackets, hats and neck gaiters. We found a fabric store going out of business so the fleece was super cheap. It was really easy. None of them were super fancy. But this was over 30 yrs ago. And I was still using the gator 20 yrs later.

You know the sweet spot for fleece clothing is ECWCS from like gen 2 or gen 3. The thick black jacket and bib pants are all 300wt Polartec. Like the heaviest fleece you can get. Nothing today on the commercial market compares. And it's super cheap. The bin pants $12 or less. Coleman has them. And the jackets are around $50 used or $90 new on eBay. And are bombproof and warmer than any other fleece I've ever tried. Super thick and tough. The jacket has big ykk zippers, out zips and is covers shoulders and back of arms with tough lyon fabric. So they will never wear out. Way over sized tho. As they were intended to go over armor. Search "USGI Polartec 300 fleece jacket". Or the same but add suspender pants or bib pants. It's perfect for like a tree stand or sitting around camp. Maybe hiking in super cold with just the jacket. Otherwise it's to hot. But man. That stuff was made thick and tough. And it's cheap for what it is.
 
The mil fleece watch cap still one of my favorite beanies.
 
I finally found a big fleece beanie! And it was only $8 on AliExpress! I might try to find another seller for cheaper. But this hat just came yesterday and it's huge compared to any other one I've tried. Takes a week or two for delivery. But I buy about 100-200 products a year from AliExpress. And it's usually 1/20th of the Amazon price, the exact same products and much more, returns are just like Amazon, and a ton of stuff you've never seen before. AliExpress is owned by Alibaba. Which is the Amazon of China. But way bigger. Just don't buy from Temu or Wish. They are terrible and more expensive.

Lastly, only by items in AliExpress that have the yellow "Choice" label. It's also a filter. Those items usually always have free returns and shipping is $1.99 for your entire order. As long you order is $10 or more.

This hat is awesome tho. And so hard to find. Can't believe I found it on AliExpress. China sizes are usually 1 to 2 times to small.

I just found this on AliExpress:
$10.23 | Unisex Tactical Fleece Hat Winter Warm Camouflage Windproof Outdoor Hat for Hiking Fishing Special Force Beanies & Skullies
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

A
Chronicling My First Elk Hunt
2
Replies
27
Views
1K
RonD
R
WRO
10 years in the making - daughters first big game animal
2
Replies
23
Views
2K
rbrage09
R
dhaverstick
Tagged out on turkeys with my flintlock!
Replies
10
Views
557
Westcreek16
W
Jaker_cc
NM Elk Hunt Through My Wife’s Eyes
Replies
2
Views
595
OKHunter84
OKHunter84
C
My Aoudad hunt
2
Replies
33
Views
4K
thinhorn_AK
thinhorn_AK

Latest posts

Featured Video

Latest Articles

Back
Top