Floating hats

[SlatchJim]

The MLB just came out with protective caps for pitchers.
http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/10363291/pitchers-protective-caps-approved-major-league-baseball

Anyone have or seen these in the stores yet.  I'm down about 6 hats in the last couple years and if these puppies float, I'd be rather tempted to pick one up.  As the years pass, my cranial pelt is getting a bit thin.  Nothing as "enjoyable" as a good dome burn...

Unless it's pounding, I always wear a hat during a session, and these might just be the thing I've needed (Not a big fan of the "trucker hat" style.  I work with truckers... it's probably just a psycho-fashion-mental-association thing I have.  Lord knows, I'm not much of a trend setter.

[SUPerstitious]

If you are using a trucker style hat, just add some thin lining of foam in there. Under the bill works, as would a few small pieces inside the cap  itself. Doesn't take much to get those hats to float, at least long enough for you to grab it.

[surfcowboy]

Yeah, you could easily hack a float onto the back of a regular hat and not have the extra 1/2-1" around the band (as these do.)

You could also glue some ensolite in the top as was mentioned above. Look at knee pads in auto stores or use a piece of that 1/2" floor padding they sell in 1 foot squares. I use that stuff for everything. If it needs to be thin, use neoprene patches and stack them up. It doesn't take much.

I surf in a hat about half the time and have just given myself over to the trucker style as they float and last a couple of years of being drenched. 

[supdiscobay]

I have a stash of freebie trucker hats that I use.  Some look funny, but they were free.  The 404 fluorescent green hat that 404 was giving away at last years BOP race has lasted me awhile.  Its bright green and easy to see.  Thought I lost it on a big day, but found it on the beach when I came in later.  Seems like just a little chunk of any foam will make it float.

[SlatchJim]

Imagine a neanderthal with a lampshade, this is me wearing a trucker hat.  Given my former nickname of Alley Oop (the comic book caveman), I'm definitely not the first to come up with that association.  I like soft unstructured caps or boonie hats.  I may just stick with the original plan and sew in some closed cell foam into a cheap hat and be done with it. 

I'm still pissed about losing a nice Green Bay Packer cap... 

[OUTSIDEWAVE]

zazzle you design your own trucker hats 15 bucks   

[Bulky]

Yeah, I just use ball caps--I seem to have an unending supply of throw-aways.  Never thought about making them float, but can't recall losing any.  I don't take anything out on the water that I wouldn't mind ruining/losing.

[SUP Leave]

These float. They keep the sun off your neck and face too. Easy to find, in any size surf.

[southwesterly]

 Floating hat.

[SlatchJim]

And you'd have thought my family in Wisconsin would have already had me hooked up.

[pdxmike]

Crocs makes hats?

[lucabrasi]

I was looking up crocodile hats and I came up with nothing good to post.
Don't know about the pitchers hats, they look interesting but maybe too bomber.
I did run across this trying to find something giant and foamy.
They also have a ball cap style but it kind of looks more like something Smalls would wear, except small.

http://www.rei.com/product/864717/mountain-hardwear-chiller-wide-brim-hat-ii-mens

Looks like there a couple different colors of these depending on where you find them.

[PonoBill]

I like hats that don't come off in the surf. With my pink head I need one for sure. I tried bicycle caps, and they work, but I look like I'm headed for the temple, or to a gay bar. Always a good place to dance, but not my style. Besides, a head as big as mine needs mitigation--not enhancement.

My new fav is a Nike Dryfit running hat. You can snug them down tight, and instead of a cardboard bill stiffener they use a plastic U-shaped insert. They don't float well, but there's a double layer in front that I think I can slit and slide a thin layer of foam in. That thin, flexy pink styro that's used for packing would probably be fine. Take a big wave or a high speed fall to knock it off though.

[bts]

I use one of these when I'm letting my kook flags fly

http://www.dakine.com/p/apparel/headwear/mens-spring-summer-14/indo-surf-hat

Has a little plastic stiffener in the brim.  Mine is about 5 years old, has held up pretty good so far.

[southwesterly]

  Always a good choice.