There’s an oddly comforting feeling that comes with throwing on a baseball cap and heading to the gym.
Overdue for a haircut? Put on a baseball cap. Feeling antisocial? Baseball cap. Bags under your eyes? You get the idea.
Even though it’s just a small accessory, slapping on a baseball cap can help you lock in and switch on for a big workout.
But here’s the catch: sweating happens.
Wearing a cap is cool, but it can get a bit stuffy underneath, and by the end of the session, it’s pulling double duty as a makeshift sweatband.
After a few workouts, you face a grim ultimatum: either ignore the discolouration, smell, and overall bad vibes, bravely wearing it like a defiant Viking, or consign it to eternity in the cap graveyard. Let’s be real, neither option is ideal.
You might attempt to give it a wash, but any seasoned baseball cap owner knows all too well that they don’t fare well in the washing machine. Well, at least they didn’t until now.
Sick of stinky performance caps frankly unfit for purpose, serial entrepreneur Albert Oliver spotted a business opportunity and a way to enhance everyone’s gym experience.
Alongside good friend and former Premier League footballer, Steven Caulker, he launched 1Cap – touted as the ‘world’s first’ machine washable baseball cap. The team has also been generous enough to offer our readers a 20% discount if they use our 1Cap discount code, GYMFLUENCERS, on check out.
Naturally, we got our hands on one of the limited edition OG caps and took it to the gym. Here’s how we got on…
‘Peak Performance’
After talking with Albert, it’s evident that he invested A LOT of time and effort into the design of this cap – by that, I mean globetrotting (mostly through Zoom) and going through 15 prototypes.
I bet many of you reading this are asking the same opening question I did: ‘What sets your cap apart?’
I mean, how much can you change about a cap? Quite a lot, apparently.
1Cap is a six-panel snapback baseball cap with a pro profile and plenty of structure.
Working with a skilled team of designers, Albert and Steven revamped the classic cap to withstand machine washing at 30 degrees, retain its premium look and last for years, not weeks.
The traditional buckram structure of the front panels has been reinforced with a novel tented design, protecting the cap’s shape even when tossed around in the washing machine.
In theory, it sounds great. Yet, no review would be complete without putting it to the test firsthand.
Like a spoiled kid, I decided to ask Santa for an extra present to unwrap this year, and much to my delight, he kindly obliged.
Looks aren’t everything, especially when the cap’s main focus is on longevity, but let’s be real – the Black and White OG is seriously dope. It boasts a super-premium feel, and the fit is absolutely on point.
I was halfway tempted to skip wearing it to the gym, fearing I might spoil it. However, I pulled myself together, got back in the zone, and reminded myself of the whole point of this exercise during an intense chest day.
To ensure I worked up a good sweat, I even hopped on the treadmill and took a 20-minute stroll with the incline cranked up.
When I first talked to Albert, he threw me a question: ‘I’d never wear a T-shirt to the gym more than once without washing it, so why is it widely accepted to do that with a cap?’
He makes a valid point, but as a dedicated outfit repeater and generally lazy individual, it seems Albert and I have led very different lives.
Instead of tossing the cap into the laundry after one workout, it joined me for a second pull session.
Why am I confessing this to you? I’m not quite sure, but hey, it makes for good content.
Satisfied that my cap had been suitably saturated with sweat, I chucked it in the washing machine with a couple of gym tops on 30-degree heat and watched the drum spin.
As soon as it beeped, I pulled it out and gave it a close inspection. Metaphorically and quite literally, I doff my cap to Albert and Steven.
They’ve succeeded in creating a cap that not only looks fantastic but also genuinely holds up in the wash. I must admit, I was a bit sceptical about whether it would come out completely intact.
After my conversation with Albert, I didn’t doubt the structure one bit; I just thought the material might fray.
To sweeten the deal even further, 1Cap is ethically produced using recycled polyester and plastic peaks in Nepal. So, not only are you saving dirty caps from going to the landfill, but you’re also giving preloved caps a second lease of life.
Putting A Price On Your Head
The Black and White OG caps are currently priced at £45, and in my opinion, it’s a worthwhile investment given the longevity you can expect.
I’ve heard that 2024 is shaping up to be a big year for 1Cap, with additional colourways in the pipeline. To secure yours and stay tuned for any new product launches, visit 1Cap’s website. Happy sweating!
