Dad hats are everywhere these days. And they’re not just for dads. They are popular among celebrities, teenagers, and outdoor fanatics. But exactly what is a dad hat?

In the early days of baseball, players were allowed to wear any style of brimmed hat that kept the sun out of their eyes. Early players often wore straw or pillbox hats. It wasn’t until 1858 that players began wearing the rounded, wide-brimmed hats we see today. The Brooklyn Excelsiors are credited with wearing the first baseball caps, and the ball cap evolved into the many styles we see today.

It wasn’t until the late 1970s that the baseball cap became a fashion accessory that was socially acceptable to wear outside of the ballpark. With the advent of MTV in the 1980s, the baseball cap became associated with rap and hip hop groups, a legacy that continues to this day. Dad hats evolved from the traditional snapback hats worn by baseball players and have developed their own culture in recent years.

Dad hats are just a simple 6-panel baseball cap with unstructured front panels and simple logos. They’ve been around for years, but only recently have they been attributed with their own name and style. Dad hats lack the frills of snapback, trucker, and fitted caps; quite simply, they are something your dad would wear. Listed below are features of dad hats so you never have to wonder what a dad hat is again.

A Curved Brim

A pre-curved brim is one of the defining features of a dad hat. Mens snapback trucker hats are often stiffer and have either a flat bill or a slightly pre-curved visor. The curved brim of the dad hat tends to look good on everyone.

Relaxed Fit

A dad hat exudes a relaxed vibe. Dad hats are typically made out of soft cotton or canvas and feel very light and comfortable on the head. Snapbacks tend to have a large, in-your-face look, but dad hats are more subtle and are designed to both look and feel comfortable.

The Design

Dad hats have an unstructured body and oftentimes a simple design and faded appearance. Unlike the blazing logos and wild designs of trucker hats and snapbacks, dad hats often feature a small logo, embroidered design, or no logo at all. You’ll get the most wear out of your dad hat if you stick to simple colors like olive, navy, black, and charcoal gray like this scout hat.

The Closure

Dad hats often come with a velcro or slide closure and they typically come as one size fits most. Some dad hats may also come in the snapback style.

The Style

The genius of dad hats is they aren’t necessarily supposed to match your look. Dad hats are just meant to be thrown on and they are intentionally made to look laid back and comfortable. They’re the perfect style for outdoor activities and leisure like fishing, camping and hiking. Dad hats look the best with khakis, jeans, and sweats - really any casual style that matches the laid-back vibe of the hat.