Modern Dayfarer Cap Review

Introduction

In the crowded landscape of caps and hats, finding one that strikes a balance between form and function can be a tall order.

We were looking for a simple, well-fitting cap that would provide additional weather protection. The Modern Dayfarer Cap aims to fill this niche with its Ventile® high-performance cotton and minimalist design. But how does it actually perform in day-to-day use? Here's our take after using it for over two years.

Why we got it

We were searching for a simple 6-panel cap to throw on bad hair days, to keep the sun out of ones face or when the weather turns bad.

We also like wearing caps when wearing a rain hood, as the brim keeps rain out of our face when walking or cycling around. There are lots of actually waterproof caps around, but those often sacrifice breathability in favour of keeping water out. Also, seeing that materials like Gore-Tex don't like to get dirty and need regular washing, having a cap constantly exposed to sweat didn't seem appealing – having to clean it all the time.

That's where the Modern Dayfarer Cap, made out of Ventile, comes in.

Short blurb about Ventile

Ventile® cotton is a high-performance fabric originally developed for the British Royal Air Force during World War II.

Made from 100% cotton fibres, Ventile is woven in a way that makes it highly water-resistant yet breathable. The fabric's unique properties come to life when it gets wet; the fibres swell, providing a natural barrier against water and wind. Despite its protective features, Ventile remains breathable and lightweight, making it a popular choice for outdoor apparel and gear. It offers a blend of comfort and durability that synthetic materials often struggle to match.

As we've noticed water beads on top of the cap instead of soaking the fabric, we suspect the Ventile is treated with some form of DWR (Durable Water Repellent), but the copy of the Modern Dayfarer website doesn't mention anything about it at the time of writing, nor do they provide where the Ventile was sourced.

Design and Aesthetics: A Quiet Approach

The Modern Dayfarer Cap is a "classic low profile" 6-panel cap that noticeably lacks a logo, choosing to stand on the merits of its design rather than a brand name.

This is a refreshing choice in an era where branding often takes centre stage, and it hit the right chords with us in a search for an understated cap. We initially ordered the cap in Grey and got a second one in Black after a year. (TL;DR: this probably predicts my final verdict.). The only branding you'll find is a small tonal Fidlock-logo on the buckle and a Modern Dayfarer-tag on the inside.

The Squatchee: A Missing Element

Interestingly, the cap omits the traditional squatchee (the button-like knob found on the top of most baseball caps). This makes for a smoother, more streamlined design and looks very sleek, in our opinion.

Overall construction

The stitching is clean, with the inside seams reinforced by extra fabric strips.

The headband is soft and breathable and has a thin layer of soft cushioning sewn on the inside. There's no stretch in any of the fabrics used, so the fit relies solely on the buckle. Some loose end-threads on the inside, but nothing out of the ordinary.

The brim is stiffened by what we think is a plastic sheet, holding its shape well, acting as a barrier against water.

The Magnetic Fidlock Buckle

The cap uses a magnetic Fidlock buckle for adjustments, which is an unusual but convenient feature. It's simple to use and adds a bit of uniqueness and technical panache to the cap's overall design.

Adjusting the size takes a mere second and rewards you with a pleasant ‘snap’.

Performance

How Water-Resistant is it?

The Ventile fabric does make the cap water-repellent, which comes in handy during (un)expected rain showers.

However, don't expect it to replace your rain hat or a storm hood; it's water-resistant, not waterproof. We’ve worn it during downpours, and the cap does wet through after about twenty to thirty minutes, especially after the DWR coating has had its best time. As the seams are not taped, water will pass through the tiny holes created by the sewing.

Should you want to, you could re-apply DWR after washing the cap with technical detergent.

Grangers Performance Repel Plus has given us good results. Note: from our experience, DWR is best applied on washed, still damp clothing. If the item allows it - which this cap does - a quick pass with a blow dryer on medium to high heat will improve the overall performance of the coating.

Sizing and fit

The Dayfarer Cap is one size fits all.

With having a 60.5cm (23.32") head, the cap fits snug but comfortable with the buckle at its largest position, using the last two prongs. See image.

The size adjusting comes courtesy of the German company Fidlock. Simply lift the buckle to the desired position, and the magnets take care of the rest. It's locked well in place, and we never had any issues using it. The buckle offers four lockable positions, which might not seem much, but in our experience, it accommodates a wide range of head sizes, except for those at the extreme ends of the spectrum.

Breathability: Decent, given that it's cotton

The cap offers moderate breathability, which is fine for casual use but may not meet the needs of more strenuous activities.

If you're planning to go trail running, we’ve had better results with synthetic running-specific caps as they breathe better and dry faster after getting soaked with sweat. Your mileage may vary.

Colour Fastness

While the black version has remained consistent in colour, the grey one has shown some darker discolouration on the brim.

This could be a deal-breaker for those who want their cap to maintain its original appearance over time. Expect the inner sweatband to take up sweat and grime as well. We've washed my grey cap once (front loader, using technical detergent), and the cap came out fine, but there's still some discolouration left. We don't really mind as this cap has been used a lot during both hot and very wet days, making the cost-per-wear minimal. We suspect this to be oil build-up, as during rain it is saturated with water way before the rest of the cap is.

Aside from this, the cap still looks good; well-loved yet presentable.

Conclusion

The Modern Dayfarer Cap is a solid option if you're looking for something understated and versatile. Its water-resistance and unique buckle make it more than just another pretty face in the crowd of caps. However, it does have some drawbacks in terms of breathability and colour longevity, especially with the grey variant.

All in all, it's a great premium cap for casual wear, but if you have specific performance needs or are concerned about long-term colour retention, you might want to keep looking. If you ask us, these are small nitpicks, as you might guess from us getting a second one. It’s a put it on and forget about it cap, as it should be. The classic sleek look and added water resistance make for this our favourite cap thus far.

9/10

We paid €45 for the cap, plus shipping, at the official Modern Dayfarer site. They are currently operating out of Germany.