Until last year, GQ had never aggregated the best baseball caps for men. Much like a behatted celebrity avoiding the paparazzi’s flash, the category was somehow so obvious, it had evaded our radar systems. Well, that mistake is happily in the past now—and not a moment too soon.
Because these days, a good cap is about as essential to the modern wardrobe as good underwear. That’s partly for practicality’s sake: No other garment hides the sun, or a bad hair day, quite as easily. But it’s also a default 2025 style move—just look at any of our current most fêted style gods, from courtside Timmy to Kendrick at the Super Bowl to Jeremy Allen White… almost everywhere.
In 2025, baseball caps—no longer the sole preserve of the diamond—come in all shapes, sizes, fabrics, and fits. Below, you’ll find plenty of cotton twill caps ideal for breezy summer weekends—but there are also statement-making mesh truckers and not-so-quiet-luxury Loro Piana lids. In short, this is a guide that’ll make you think twice about just buying that five-panel from the overpriced grocery store near you with “Provisions” or “Country” in its name. It’s an acceptable move, sure, but they take enough of your money as it is.
In This Guide
Classic Baseball Caps
These days, the trend in baseball caps is to let yours get sun-faded, distressed, and essentially ripped to shreds. (Caps: The new selvedge denim.) Whether or not you’re interested in getting that look, the best place to start is with a classic, comfy, cotton baseball cap. There are tens of thousands out there, but these ten run the gamut from affordable, to familiar, to being stopped by a total stranger on the street and asked: “Dude, where did you get that hat?” Choose the one that speaks to your soul, then wear it until Thanksgiving.
Cool-Guy Baseball Caps
Of course, if your face is the first thing people look at, nothing makes a statement quicker than an extremely-confident cap. Which may explain the rise, in recent years, of bigger, louder, brighter baseball caps. We’re not complaining: Putting a freaky hat on an otherwise simple fit is an excellent approach to dressing, and honestly, some of the hats below—from sweat-releasing mesh truckers to some Pleats Please polyester—are also a more practical cap choice for peak temperatures. And come on: Who’s not going to smile when they see you rocking your “Happiest Girl In The World” headwear?
Designer Baseball Caps
Welcome, sir, to the first-class lounge of lids. From the slopes of Aspen to the set of Succession, designer caps have become yet another “Stealth Wealth” signifier—a way for the well-to-do to quietly telegraph caché if they’re not the type to wear, say, the fiery Balenciaga bonnet above. But the best designer baseball caps—including the ones below—do a little more than slap a logo on. They’re instead made of truly excellent materials, from Todd Snyder’s linen caps to the world-famous Loro Piana storm system fabric blend, which guarantees you’ll feel neither a summer showers nor an autumn chills on or anywhere near your brow.
What Are the Different Types of Baseball Caps?
Fitted: Fitted baseball caps come in different sizes, and have no adjustable closure—meaning you want to get it right first time. Usually, they’re also structured with a flat, wide brim, and typically present a little more upscale, because there’s no plastic or metal tab at the back—rather a seamless, straight line along your noggin.
Snapback: Similar to a fitted cap from the front, snapbacks have an adjustable plastic closure at the back (Snap-back, see). Yes, they’re not as clean-cut as a fitted, but they do offer the option to play with sizing as the seasons—and your hairstyles—change.
Dad cap: Typically softer than the above two styles, a Dad cap has an unstructured crown that ends up matching the shape of your head. It also has a curved brim, and usually a metal closure at the back to dial in an even better, more precise fit than a snapback can allow for.