Hats and Beanies

[Cole]

Got the BR A4 Watch Cap today. Customs hit me with 19% VAT, but that was expected. Ordered from Japan over Rakuten, with shipping and VAT here in Germany it was still cheaper then ordering from BR Europe. Oh, and it was in stock.

It startet to snow ealier this evening and I took it out for a short walk. My conclution: keeps you warm, looks sharp but fucks up your hair pretty bad. 

[Anesthetist]

My sentiments exactly, but damn it's warm and good looking.

[Broark]

I also got the same A-4 the other day and it sure does mess up your hair!
I find it quite itchy though, not sure if that will get better or not…

[ruben]

I found the itchiness does ease up with some wear..

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[ruben]

.. that was with the blue BR version, I'd assume the same applies to the WG.

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[Broark]

I wore it all day yesterday and the itchiness did ease up quite a bit on day two.
Steadily becoming one of my favorite caps!

[Peter]

I usually wash my beanies once or twice per year (merino, lambs wool/cashmere), without anything bad ever happening. But they don't share the price tag of the A-4.. Would you wash yours if needed?

[Max Power]

Handwash, to be safe. I just shrunk natural wool socks of my girlfriend to children's size.

[davito]

convoy cap from Papa Nui, mine is from the OG batch never looked back my head stays warm. Go for it while ya can

[Max Power]

How do you guys feel about Labels on watchcaps? I can't decide where on my head I want to wear them, they always look misplaced in my eyes. So I'd rip them off…or would this be considered blasphemy? Is there anything like a historic look where they should be placed (front of the head, back, doesn't matter)?

[Cole]

@Max Power

I simply don't like them, because they spoil the look in my eyes. That was the main reason I went for the WG version. That and that it is black of course. 

[Peter]

None of my beanies have labels on them, but I kinda like them and would wear it on the side, ever so slightly to the front.

[davito]

@Max Power  i like it kinda authentic

"What is the policy for wearing the Knit Cap (Watch Cap)?

When authorized by appropriate authority, it will be worn during cold weather conditions that may result in personal injury if not worn.  Rank/rate insignia is not authorized to be worn on the watch cap.

U.S. Navy Uniform Regulations, Chapter One, Section 5, Article 1501.1b and Chapter Three, Section 5, Article 3501.11:

Correct Wear.  The watch cap will be worn with a single fold approximately 3 1/2 inches - 4 inches diagonally from the base of the back of the head, across the ears and on the forehead with the bottom of the fold one fourth of an inch above the eyebrows.  the watch cap will be worn snugly on the head.  Rank/rate insignia is not authorized to be worn on the watch cap.  When authorized by appropriate authority, it will be worn during cold weather conditions that may result in personal injury if not worn. "

Re labelling

http://www.history.navy.mil/library/online/uniform_mark.htm

[ruben]

I put the label off centre at the back, so the seam is central and the label inside the hat sits towards the back also.

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[davito]

@seawolf could you please give us some insight about the label on the watchcap, thanks

[Max Power]

Thanks guys, please continue

[seawolf]

@davito:

@seawolf could you please give us some insight about the label on the watchcap, thanks

I can try What would you like to know about the label?

[davito]

@seawolf thanks i would like to know if there are any rules in which direction the label "looks" when the cap is worn. I thought its worn on the right side from wearers point of view somewhere between eye an ear?

[seawolf]

@davito from the US Navy uniform regulations "Ownership Markings
Surname, first and middle initial (if applicable), on a label on the inside."

The label on my watch cap is on the inside of the cap, so it's never been an issue. It's possible that the watch caps used to have labels on the outside, but in today's Navy, it's on the inside.

[davito]

Thank you seawolf appreciate, probably that the USN wore it outside back in ww2 aera like that and then updated how to wear. Thanks for your insight