Which hats have no plastic in the brim, the sweatband, the closure or the stitching?
Short answer: we can't find a plastic-free hat we can verify. Every candidate we checked had a plastic part beyond a small seal, or one we could not confirm. The list below says which.
Nothing in hats is listed yet. The closest is Amundsen's Classic Hat, a merino beanie whose maker names wool and nothing else for the knit. That's the part you see, and it's fine. The seams and the label inside sit against your head, though, and Amundsen doesn't say what they're made of; sewing thread is polyester far more often than not.
A hat has more places to hide plastic than most people expect, so a hat page that says 100% cotton or 100% wool is a start, not an answer. Check the brim, the sweatband, the closure and the thread before you trust it.
Side by side
Every hat we checked, and what kept each one off the list. The full evidence for each is one click away.
| Rank | Photo | Materials | Packaging | Price seen | The catch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Checked, not listed | |||||
 | Amundsen Sports Classic Hat, Faded Navy/Oatmeal Cannot tell | ||||
| 100% wool, merino wool knit | Not verified yet | Not linked | A major part is unverified | ||
Where plastic hides in hats
The crown is the honest part: cotton twill, canvas, wool, hemp or wool felt. What sits inside it is not. A cap brim holds its shape on a board of polypropylene or polyethylene. Sweatbands are polyester or cotton. Snapback and adjustable closures are molded nylon or polypropylene, and the plastic-free swap is a metal slide or a leather strap. Embroidery and sewing thread are polyester. Beanies are the other trap: most are acrylic, and the ribbing carries elastane. Waxed canvas hats are fine when the wax is named.
What to check before you buy
- Fabric: wool, cotton, hemp or linen, or acrylic and polyester?
- Brim: stitched wool felt or leather, or a plastic board?
- Sweatband and lining: cotton, leather or none, or polyester?
- Closure: metal slide, buckle or leather strap, or a plastic snap?
- Thread and embroidery: cotton, or polyester?
- Beanies: is the ribbing free of elastane?
- Waxed fabric: is the wax named?
Know of one?
If you make or own a hats with no plastic in it, including the seal, tell us: chairman@amaterio.com. Send the maker's page and what the seal is made of. We vet every tip and publish the ones that hold up, with credit.
Checked and not listed
- Amundsen Sports Classic Hat, Faded Navy/Oatmeal
Cannot tellA merino beanie, and wool is the only fiber Amundsen names: the page says 100% wool, with no acrylic or elastane in the knit. What it doesn't say is what the seams are sewn with or what the label inside is made of, and both sit against your head. Sewing thread is polyester far more often than not, so until Amundsen says otherwise we can't call this hat plastic-free. The front patch and the hang tag are open questions too.