For Anyone Who Finds Hats Tight: How to Choose XL Sizes, Plus 5 Picks for Autumn/Winter

Even within XL, the adjustment range differs by item

Although they are all called XL, the guide head circumference varies slightly from hat to hat. For example, the "B Umpire Cap" and the "Twill Fisherman Cap" are approx. 60–64cm, while the "Denim Cas-Hunting Cap" and the "FAB Embroidery Cap" are approx. 62cm. Some can be made as small as 60cm, but not every XL item can.

Many hats can be made smaller even if you choose a slightly larger size

Many of our hats can be adjusted with a rear adjuster or similar, so if you choose a size with a little room rather than an exact fit, you can make it smaller as you wear it. On the other hand, a small size is hard to make larger, so when in doubt, leaning toward XL is one approach.

If one size or M feels small to you

If one size or M has always pressed on your temples or given you a headache after wearing it, try an XL once. Once you know how it feels with less pressure, your standard for choosing hats may change. The head circumference of each item is listed on its product page, so compare it with hats you already own when choosing.

Even when the size is right, how a hat sits against the hachi (the rounded upper part of the head that a hat wraps around) changes with its shape. The main factors are the angle and length of the brim. For depth, we value a natural shape: not so shallow that it perches on the head, and not so deep that it covers the eyes. WORDS hats come in original shapes that we have kept designing and refining for more than 20 years.

The short-brim umpire cap

The umpire cap is a cap with a shortish brim. It keeps your view open and gives a clean look around the face. The "B Umpire Cap" has a wire in the brim tip, so you can change its look to suit how you wear it, flipping it up or giving it a curve. Its height is approx. 12cm.

The brimless fisherman cap

The fisherman cap has no brim and a rounded silhouette. It can be worn like a beanie and is easy to match whether your hair is long or short. The depth of the "Twill Fisherman Cap" is approx. 13.5cm.

The roundness of a casquette × the shape of a hunting cap

The cas-hunting cap combines the roundness of a casquette with the clean shape of a hunting cap. Its shape is already fully formed, so you simply put it on as it is, without squashing or reshaping it.

Weathernews (September 28, 2026) reports that once October begins, temperatures are expected to fall more clearly around Honshu as well, with larger differences between morning/evening and daytime temperatures. When you find yourself adding and removing layers more often, it may be time to switch to autumn/winter hats too.

Melton with sherpa fleece flaps: winter-ready down to the ears

The "Melton Sherpa Fleece B Umpire Flap Cap" is a winter version of the umpire cap with sherpa fleece flaps. The flaps can be raised or lowered: lowered, they cover your ears; fastened up, the sherpa fleece shows as an accent. They are not detachable, so there is no worry about losing them. The material is melton of wool 50% and polyester 50%, a thick, sturdy fabric. Please check the head circumference on the product page.

Denim has body and holds its shape well

The "Denim Cas-Hunting Cap" keeps its silhouette thanks to the moderate body of denim, and it goes well with autumn jackets and blousons. The "Twill Fisherman Cap" also comes in Blue Denim and Black Denim, so the same shape looks different depending on the material.

A calm cap with tone-on-tone embroidery

The "FAB Embroidery Cap" has its logo embroidered in the same color as the cap, so it works as a subtle accent that does not stand out too much. It is an easy cap to pair with autumn/winter clothes such as coats and sweatshirts.

Here are the 5 XL-size items introduced above.

• Hats that fit larger heads | XL-size caps, casquettes, hunting caps and fisherman caps
• Hats can suit you even with a larger head! Shall we look for one together?
• What is a cas-hunting cap? How it differs from a hunting cap and who it suits, explained in detail