How to choose a work hat or cap for every season

A work hat or cap is chosen by season and by place: a wide-brimmed or cooling hat against the sun, a knitted or fleece beanie against the cold, a high-visibility version if you work near moving vehicles. If you also need protection from light knocks there is the bump cap (EN 812), but it does not replace the safety helmet where that is mandatory.

The types

• Wide-brimmed hat and sun hat. Shade for face and neck, such as the Portwest HA22 breathable sun hat or the CV24 wide-brimmed cooling hat.
• Foldable hat. Fits in a pocket, such as the Portwest HA27.
• Cooling hat and bandana. Fabrics that are wetted to cool, such as the CV25 cooling hat with neck cover and the CV04 cooling bandana.
• Winter beanie and snood. Knit or fleece, also with a neck gaiter, such as the Portwest S896 Snood hat.
• Cap with lamp. Lights the work surface hands-free, such as the Portwest B029 cap with rechargeable USB LED lamp.
• Bump cap. A cap with an inner shell against minor knocks, such as the Portwest PS79 Air Tech.
• Disposable cap. For visitors and clean work, to be thrown away after use.

How to choose by job

The features to look at

• Material. Cotton, knitted acrylic, breathable polyester and polypropylene. Acrylic warms, polyester breathes, polypropylene is for disposables.
• Weight (g/m²). From 110 to 280 g/m² in the fabrics: above 230 are winter models, around 110-140 are summer and lightweight.
• Size. Often one size or adjustable, but there are S/M, L/XL up to XXL/3XL.
• Standards. Check the product page: the collection includes CE, EN 812 for the bump cap, waterproofing of 5,000 mm, and EN 340, EN ISO 11612 and EN 1149-5 for the flame-resistant and antistatic models.
• Pack size. Single pieces or packs of 12, 50, 100.
• Colour. Black and blue show less dirt; orange and fluorescent yellow are for visibility.

Common mistakes

• Using the bump cap instead of the helmet. It is against light knocks, not against falling objects.
• A heavy hat under the helmet. It changes the fit and the helmet does not sit properly.
• Ignoring worn reflective strips. A dirty or damaged band no longer makes you visible.
• Choosing by colour and not by fabric. Synthetic fibres do not belong near flames.
• Taking one size without trying it. At the extremes of the size range, an adjustable size is better.

Frequently asked questions

Does the cap replace the helmet?

No. Where the helmet is mandatory it stays mandatory; only thin caps are worn underneath.

What does cooling mean?

The fabric holds water and cools by evaporation. It is wetted before wearing.

When should I replace it?

When the reflective parts are damaged, the fabric is torn or it has lost its shape.

How do I wash it?

According to the label: technical models often have precise instructions.

All the models are in the Work Headwear collection: for supplies to several people or particular risks, ask the AMES technicians for a quote or advice.