Alternative to New Era Caps for Kids: What Else Is Out There

The short answer: If you are not looking for a team-logo cap for your child but for a clean cap in real kids' sizes that also exists in the same design for adults, Soulbuddy from Bremen is the alternative: snapback, trucker, sports, performance caps and dad hats in KIDS S (from around 3 months), M and L, without a big logo, for 17.90 to 27.50 euros. New Era remains the first choice if your child wants to wear a licensed motif of their favourite team. So which cap fits better depends less on quality than on what your child should have on their head.

What sets New Era apart for kids' caps

New Era is best known for licensed caps of the US leagues and, in Europe, for football and character motifs. The kids' versions of the 9FORTY and 9FIFTY come in Child and Youth sizes; the classic look with the team logo on the front is the trademark. If that is exactly the look you want, New Era is the right place.

Where the alternative comes in

Three points speak for a different cap. First, the sizes: Soulbuddy offers three kids' sizes by head circumference, starting at 40 cm for babies from around 3 months, and every cap is adjustable via snap, velcro or buckle. Second, the design: instead of a team logo the cap carries only a small embroidered logo, in more than 20 colours, so it goes with every outfit, from nursery to wedding. Third, the matching look: every Soulbuddy kids' cap exists identically as an adult cap, as a set of 2 for parent and child or a set of 3 for siblings. With licensed caps this only happens by chance when the adult and kids' models look alike.

Model by model: which Soulbuddy cap matches which look?

If you like the flat brim and high front of a 9FIFTY, go for the Snapback Cap with snap closure. If you prefer the softer 9FORTY with a curved brim, the Dad Hat with metal buckle or the Trucker Cap with mesh back is the right pick. For sport and summer there is the lightweight Sports Cap, for the two-tone look the Performance Cap. We deliberately do not offer fitted caps with a fixed circumference like the 59FIFTY, because children's heads grow too fast for them.

And if it has to be a club motif after all?

For Werder fans there is the official Soulbuddy x Werder Bremen Edition: snapback and trucker caps with the diamond crest in kids' and adult sizes, also as sets of 2 and 3. It combines club loyalty with the matching look and kids' sizes from 3 months.

Price comparison

Soulbuddy kids' caps cost 17.90 to 27.50 euros depending on the model, matching sets of 2 cost 42.90 to 54.90 euros and family sets of 3 cost 58.90 to 76.90 euros. Shipped from Germany, hand wash recommended, size exchange made easy. Other brands for kids' caps are the big sports brands with adjustable baseball caps and outdoor brands with neck protection; if UV protection for babies is your main concern, a sun hat with neck flap is often a better choice than any cap. Read more in our article Kids cap or sun hat.

Frequently asked questions

Which cap is a good alternative to New Era for kids?

An adjustable cap in real kids' sizes without a licensed logo, for example the Soulbuddy Snapback or Trucker Cap in KIDS S to L, which is also available in the same design for adults.

Which size corresponds to New Era Child and Youth?

New Era does not publish fixed centimetre values for Child and Youth; roughly, Child corresponds to KIDS M (44 to 49 cm) and Youth to KIDS L (48 to 54 cm). Measure the head circumference to be sure.

Are there New Era caps in a matching father-son look?

Only when a motif happens to be released in adult and kids' sizes. Soulbuddy is designed for it: every cap comes as ADULT and as an identical KIDS version, ready as a set of 2 or 3.

Which cap is better for babies?

For babies from around 3 months you need a cap from 40 cm head circumference with a soft inner band. At Soulbuddy that is KIDS S for the snapback, trucker, dad hat, performance cap and beanie.