So, this whole NFL cap vintage thing kinda snuck up on me. It wasn’t like I woke up one day and decided, “I’m gonna be a vintage cap guy.” Nah, it started way simpler. I was clearing out some old stuff, you know, the kind of junk you promise yourself you’ll sort through “one day.” And bam, there it was. An old, slightly beat-up NFL cap, probably from the 90s. My dad’s, I think. Or maybe an uncle’s. Who knows.
I picked it up, and it just felt different. Not like the new caps you buy today. This one had some heft, some character. The logo was stitched, like, really stitched, not just some iron-on patch. That got me curious. I started wondering if they still made ’em like this. Spoiler: mostly, they don’t.
So, I went down the rabbit hole, as they say. Started looking around online, just typing in “old NFL hats” or “90s football caps.” Man, what a mess. You see all sorts of stuff. Some genuine, some… well, let’s just say “optimistically priced” junk. It took a while to even figure out what was what. Brands like Starter, Sports Specialties, Logo Athletic – these names started popping up. I had no clue about any of them before.
My first few tries at grabbing one weren’t exactly stellar. I bought a couple that looked good in pictures, but when they arrived? Eh. One smelled like an old basement, and not in a charming way. Another one had a brim so bent out of shape, it looked like it lost a fight with a truck. Live and learn, right? You start to get a feel for things. You learn to ask for more pictures, check the tags, look at the stitching real close.
Figuring Out The Good Stuff
What I realized is that these old caps, the good ones, they tell a story. The way they’re made, the materials. Some have that green underbrim, iconic stuff. Others have those wilder designs from the 90s that teams wouldn’t dare use today. It’s like a little piece of history you can wear.
I found myself spending more time than I probably should have, just browsing. Not always buying, just looking. Comparing. You start to recognize the shapes, the logos, the little details that tell you if it’s legit or if it’s from a certain era. It’s kinda like treasure hunting, but for stuff that sat on someone’s head a few decades ago.
I even tried cleaning a few up. Some were dusty, some had sweat stains. It’s a delicate process, man. You don’t want to ruin them.
Here’s what I usually check for now when I’m looking:
- The brand tag inside. That’s a big one.
- The feel of the material. Wool blends were common.
- The quality of the embroidery. It should be thick.
- The overall shape and structure, even if it’s a bit worn.
It’s not like I’m building some massive collection or anything. I just like finding ones that really pop, or one from a team I remember watching as a kid. It’s a fun little hobby. Takes me back, I guess. And honestly, some of these old designs are just way cooler than what you see now. They had some guts back then with the colors and logos.
So yeah, that’s been my journey with vintage NFL caps. Started with a random find, and now it’s a thing I do. Keeps me outta trouble, mostly. And every now and then, you find a real gem. That’s the best part.
