Collection: Summer Flat Caps

Ghelter's summer flat caps come in light cotton, linen and open mesh, and of the natural fabrics, linen is the coolest one a flat cap can be made of. Its long bast fibers are woven into an open cloth that lets air through, dries fast instead of holding on to sweat, and stands slightly away from the skin, so air keeps moving under the crown. That is why linen became the classic summer cloth for caps and jackets alike.

It is not the only good choice. Most of the caps in this collection are light cotton, which breathes well, feels soft from the first wear and is easier to look after, and a few have an open mesh body for the most airflow on very hot days. So yes, you can wear a flat cap in summer: the cloth decides it, not the shape. Compared with a baseball cap you get the same short brim with a lower, cleaner line, and for real heat a linen or mesh body beats any closed winter crown.

A summer flat cap sweats far less than a heavier winter cap, because light cotton, linen and mesh let heat escape instead of trapping it. On a hot day your forehead will still get damp where the band touches it, and that is where the design makes the difference.

Some models have an inner cotton sweatband, stated on the listing, which absorbs moisture at the forehead and protects the cap from salt marks. The rest are unlined, which keeps them lighter but means the band does the absorbing itself. If you sweat a lot, look for "inner cotton sweatband" or "breathable" in the features before you choose, and give the cap a few minutes to dry in the air after wear.

A summer flat cap should sit level and low, the band just above your ears and the short brim a finger width over your eyebrows, snug enough to stay put with the car window open. Because the fabric is light, a loose cap lifts in the wind more than a heavy one does, so err on the side of a secure fit.

Measure the widest part of your head with a soft tape, just above the ears and across the middle of the forehead, and keep the larger of two readings. Ghelter lists these caps in centimeters, and adult sizes run from 52 to 64 cm (20.5 to 25.2 inches). Most of them are adjustable, usually over a span such as 55-61 cm, so one cap covers several sizes, and the kids' models are sized separately. The chart with US hat sizes is on our sizing page.

A linen flat cap does wrinkle, and that is part of its character. The soft creases that appear after a few wears are what give a linen cap its relaxed summer look, and they do not mean the cap is damaged. Cotton creases less, so if you prefer a crisp line, a cotton model will look sharper for longer.

Creases in the crown do not change how the cap fits. To freshen a crumpled cap, hang it in a steamy bathroom or pass a steamer over the crown from a short distance, then shape it by hand while it is still warm. Store it flat or on a hook, never folded in a bag, and it will keep its line through the season.

Wash a linen flat cap by hand in cool water with a mild detergent, and never in hot water, because heat is what makes linen and cotton shrink. Press the water out gently without wringing, which would twist the crown and bend the brim, and keep the washing machine and tumble dryer for other clothes.

Reshape the cap while it is damp and let it dry in the air, over a rounded object such as an upturned bowl, away from radiators and direct sun. For light marks, a damp cloth is often enough and saves the cap a full wash. Check the material on the product page first, and our hat cleaning guide covers cotton, linen and the other fibers step by step.

Most parcels arrive 5 to 12 business days after dispatch, and Ghelter dispatches within 1-2 business days, always with tracking and insurance. Orders over 50 EUR travel free, wherever you are.

A cap that does not fit can go back within 30 days of delivery, as long as it is unworn and still has its tags and original packaging. Start by emailing support@ghelter.com with two photos, one of the cap and one of the shipping label. When the problem is the size, the return label is free, unless the cap was on sale or bought with a discount code; in that case the return postage is on you. If you need a different size, send the first one back and order the new size as a separate purchase.