Dopest Buyer’s Guide to Snapbacks: How to Find the Best Snapbacks Online

This article will tell you EVERYTHING you need to know about snapbacks before you buy. Be sure to share it with friends by tweeting, liking, and sharing it as much as possible on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and every other social tool you can think of. I created this resource to hold sellers accountable. Read it and don’t get scammed. Find out which snapbacks sites have the best price ranges, shipping deals, Facebook likes, contact info and selection of new, remakes, retro, and vintage snapbacks. Look at easy-to-follow diagrams and explanations breaking down the differences between new, remakes, retro, and vintage snapbacks as well as how to avoid buying fakes. Also, check out exclusive interviews and one-on-one Q&A with some serious players in the online snapbacks game to close it out. This is a must read for EVERY snapbacks buyer.

Summary:

1. Q&A with legit online snapbacks sellers
2. Top 25 snapbacks websites that are THE SHIT and 5 that ARE SHIT
3. New vs Remakes vs Retro vs Vintage Snapbacks DEFINED (w/graphics)

Dope.

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Q&A with Snapbacks Best Online Sellers

It’s good to know that the sites selling you snapbacks know their sh*t. Below, I sit down with Gustavo Cantero Jr. owner of Snapback Society, one of the most well-known and popular Facebook pages dedicated to 80s and 90s authentic vintage snapbacks. He breaks down some of the most important things to know about the best snapbacks brands, quality, buying risks, and personal tastes. It’s a must read. Right after that, I sit down with Ryan Porter, owner of one of the top snapbacks sites SnapbackHats.net. He talks about what to look out for when buying snapbacks online and some personal insights into the snapbacks world. Read on.

Q&A with Gustavo Cantero Jr. – Owner, Snapbacks Society

Q: What should a potential buyer look out for before they purchase snapbacks online?

Gustavo: Fakes. Snapbacks are making a comeback, which means people will, for a fact, be making fakes. Especially TISA. It sells for a lot more, so people tend to fake those more than any other snapback. Just keep your eyes on the stitching and tags.

Q: What are some of the best sites to buy snapbacks from? Taking into account price, quality, customer service, styles, selection, etc?

Gustavo: Ebay. You have a variety of different sellers with different prices. Some sellers do overprice. That’s the biggest issue you have to look for when buying a snapback. I personally think I provide some of the best service. Most sellers will ship your item in about 5 days to a week. I ship with 2-3 day shipping. I will always sell vintage snapbacks and make sure they are in pristine condition.

Q: What other vintage or retro styles do you think go best with snapbacks?

Gustavo: A hat tops off everything, but that doesn’t mean you can throw on some rags and a snapback and you’ll look good. I don’t really wear any other vintage clothing except for snapbacks, but if I had to choose something it would for sure be starter jackets.

Q: What makes your snapbacks better or different from other snapbacks sites on the Internet?

Gustavo: My snapback are about the same as any other vintage snapback seller. What makes Snapback Society better is the customer service and the dedication to vintage snapbacks. I treat every customer as if they were going to spend a million dollars, and because of that buyers continue to return. Other vintage sellers also sell remakes. Not me. I’d be ashamed if I did.

Q: Do you follow current snapbacks culture or wear snapbacks yourself? What are your personal favorite snapbacks?

Gustavo: Yes I wear snapbacks. My personal favorite is my Sport Specialties black and red pinstripe Chicago Bulls snapback. Not a lot of people have it and it is worth a lot of money.

Q: You say you specialize in vintage snapbacks from the 80s and 90s – no remakes. Can you explain the difference between vintage snapbacks and snapbacks remakes from Mitchell and Ness and TISA?

Gustavo: Vintage snapback are snapbacks that were made in the 80s and 90s. In my opinion they are a lot better quality. They also tend to go for a little more money. Remakes are snapbacks that are made today. The snapbacks are always shaped weird, and Mitchell and Ness looks like a fitted with a hole in the back.

Q: What kind of snapbacks do you think are the best between Mitchell and Ness, TISA, or vintage brands like Starter or Adidas? What’s your reasoning behind that?

Gustavo: Vintage snapbacks over snapbacks made today. Anyone can walk into the mall and buy a Mitchell&Ness, New Era, or the other brands of snapbacks. You have to look hard to find a good vintage snapback, and pay more than you would for a remake. I choose vintage, because you don’t see a lot of people with vintage snapbacks, and I like to stand out a little.

Q: Can you explain what people you mean by “vintage authentic” on your Facebook About section?

Gustavo: Vintage authentic means exactly what it says. It is a vintage snapback from the 80s and 90s, and it is authentic. Not a remake or a fake.

Q: What is your favorite vintage authentic snapbacks brand? What’s your reasoning?

Gustavo: Sports Specialties. Some snapbacks are flimsy and lose their shape. Sports Specialties snapbacks stay firm, you can see the good quality, and are also hard to come by.

Q: What do you think about TISA snapbacks? Why?

Gustavo: What don’t I think. NOW TISA is garbage. Before they had things that no one could get their hands on. Like the snaps Tyga and Chris Brown wear in their “G Shit” video. Now all they sell is remakes. Also, they put their stitching into the hat and think they can triple the price. All the snapbacks they sell now, people can hop on eBay and buy them for around 30 bucks.

Q: Can you define what people mean when they say “deadstock snapbacks”?

Gustavo: Deadstock. You hear this word a lot when dealing with sneakers, hats, and things like that. It basically means that it is new. Never worn.

Q: Is there a difference between retro snapbacks and authentic vintage snapbacks?

Gustavo: People that wear and sell remakes refer to them as retro snapbacks.

Q&A with Ryan Porter – Owner, SnapbackHats.net

Anyone Googling “snapback hats” in the last 3 months probably ran into the site. The site owner, Ryan, is based out of Seattle, WA and offers a well-priced selection of fresh snapbacks featuring a ton of your favorite NFL, NBA, MLB, and NCAA squads.

Q: What new snapbacks should we expect from snapbackhats.net within the next 3-6 weeks?

Ryan: Quantities are low across the board right now but as we near the holidays I would expect to see a lot of new styles from Zephyr and Mitchell & Ness. Zephyr seems to be the quickest to market with fresh new styles and the quality of their hats are top notch.

Q: What should a potential buyer look out for before they purchase snapbacks online?

Ryan: When buying online you need to know that the hats are legit. Lots of people are selling fake hats right now. The big things to look for when ordering is if they have a phone number you can contact them at. If a business doesn’t have a phone number for you to call them at then when you have a question or problem it’s going to be crazy hard to get ahold of them.

Q: What are some of the best sites to buy snapbacks from? Taking into account price, quality, customer service, styles, selection, etc?

Ryan: I’d have to say snapbackhats.net as we strive to have the lowest prices anywhere on the web. We also have killer customer service and our shipping is super fast.

Q: What other vintage or retro styles do you think go best with snapbacks?

Ryan: I myself like to top off fresh color-blocked outfits with a clean snapback so my snaps tend to be the loudest part of an outfit.

Q: What makes your snapbacks better or different from other snapbacks sites on the Internet?

Ryan: That’s easy, our customer service. We respond to email within minutes and we pick up the phone when you call. Not many other shops or sites step up to the plate to bring great customer service but in our minds it’s the most important think we can do as a retailer.

Q: What material do you think is the best for snapbacks? Why?

Ryan: I like the wool hats cause I don’t want my mug to get cold!

Q: What’s the worst material for snapbacks? Why?

Ryan: I’ve never been a fan of the mesh snapbacks. They get old and crusty and they remind me of truckers. I’m glad that we haven’t seen the sports hats coming out in these styles.

Q: Do you follow current snapbacks culture or wear snapbacks yourself? What are your personal favorite snapbacks?

Ryan: I’m all about my Kings and Canucks Snapbacks. Partly it’s cause I’ve played hockey my entire life but in general I connect with the sport that best. I would love to be good at basketball but I like to wear items that are expressions of me so fronting a Bulls hat or something would be lame.

Snapbacks Power Rankings: Top 25 Snapbacks Sites & 5 to Stay Away From

Site:

SnapbackHats.Net

Types:

New, Remakes, Retro

Price Range:

$17-$25

Shipping Info:

2-5 days International Yes

Facebook Likes:

9,636

Contact Info:

214-269-7496

Selection:

Large

Conclusion:

Great selection of remakes and new snapbacks from great brands. Best prices I’ve found for the selection and quality. I’ve personally talked with Ryan – great guy. Awesome customer service as well. Was able to verify the hats are authentic. Check out my exclusive Q&A with Ryan near the end of this article.
Rating: 10

Site:

Hatland.com

Types:

New, Remakes, Retro

Price Range:

$21.99-$28.99

Shipping Info:

Free on 3 or more hats. $7.95 for one.

Facebook Likes:

17,427

Contact Info:

ORDER DEPT.
11429 Coastal Hwy
Ocean City MD 21842 or Contact form

Selection:

Huge

Conclusion:

Awesome selection of great snapbacks brands. Are mentioned on Mitchell & Ness “Authorized Retailers” section of their site. Makes me think they sell authentic snapbacks and gear. Legit.
Rating: 10

Site:

EastWestWorldwide.com

Types:

New, Remakes, Retro

Price Range:

$19-$40

Shipping Info:

1-14 days $6.99-$24

Facebook Likes:

n/a

Contact Info:

(877) 765-3783

Selection:

Huge

Conclusion:

Are mentioned on Mitchell & Ness “Authorized Retailers” section of their site. Makes me think they sell authentic snapbacks and gear. Legit.
Rating: 10

Site:

FootballFanatics.com

Types:

New, Remakes, Retro

Price Range:

$20-$30

Shipping Info:

$5 1-7 days

Facebook Likes:

37,403

Contact Info:

1-866-730-9736

Selection:

Huge

Conclusion:

Definitely officially licensed snapbacks. They are the only place offering vintage AND new, remakes, retro, etc. They seem to have it all. They don’t offer designer snapbacks like TISA though. Legit and relatively cheap.
Rating: 10

Site:

JustSports.net

Types:

New, Remakes, Retro

Price Range:

$20-$30

Shipping Info:

7-10 days

Facebook Likes:

2,059

Contact Info:

877-269-7370

Selection:

Huge

Conclusion:

Seems to have a handful of physical stores around the country, making me think their snapbacks are all legit and authentic. If that’s the case; then they have an awesome selection and the prices are reasonable. Legit.
Rating: 10

Site:

SnapbackHatz.com

Types:

New, Remakes, Retro

Price Range:

$25-$40

Shipping Info:

1-10 days $5-$15 International Yes

Facebook Likes:

165,996

Contact Info:

sales@snapbackhatz.com

Selection:

Large

Conclusion:

Great selection of remakes and new snapbacks from great brands. More expensive than snapbackhats.net but bigger selection.Edge goes to pricing. I am not able to verify whether or not the snapbacks are authentic or not. Buyer beware.
Rating: 9

Site:

Snapbacks.com

Types:

New, Remakes, Retro

Price Range:

$19.50-$24.50

Shipping Info:

free ground $5-$20

Facebook Likes:

n/a

Contact Info:

512.320.8103
info@snapbacks.com
Snapbacks.com
2815B Guadalupe St
Austin, TX 78705

Selection:

Large

Conclusion:

Great selection of new, remakes, and retro snapbacks from some major brands. This site founder, Matt Halfhill, also owns NiceKicks.com. Snapbacks.com advertises that they offer Mitchell & Ness but do not claim anything is authentic (as far as I could tell). Snapbacks.com is not mentioned on the “Authorized Retailers” page on the Mitchell & Ness site. Makes me think Snapbacks.com’s snapbacks may not be authentic. Buyer Beware. I also could not verify their physical location on Google maps based on their address given for NiceKicks.
Rating: 9

Site:

SnapSteez.com

Types:

New, Remakes, Retro, Vintage

Price Range:

$28-$40

Shipping Info:

2-10 days

Facebook Likes:

n/a

Contact Info:

214-298-8877

Selection:

Large

Conclusion:

Snapsteez has a great selection of snapbacks in a lot of different styles and brands; however, they don’t mention any brand names on their site. Their prices range quite a bit depending on the style. They have some rare hats. They aren’t mentioned in Mitchell and Ness official page for “Authorized Retailers” making me think they may not be selling authentic snapbacks. Buyer beware.
Rating: 9

Site:

CraniumFitteds.com

Types:

New, Remakes, Retro

Price Range:

$23-$39

Shipping Info:

2-30 days

Facebook Likes:

9,741

Contact Info:

Support page

Selection:

Huge

Conclusion:

Great selection of new,remakes, and retro snapbacks in a lot of brands including some rare underground. They advertise Mitchell & Ness but are not mentioned on their “Authorized Retailers” page on the official Mitchell & Ness site. They do advertise that they are an official New Era retailer and say that all of their products are 100% authentic. It does not seem like Craniumfitteds.com has a physical store either, making it impossible for them to be an official retailer of Mitchell & Ness. Buyer beware.
Rating: 9

Snapback Society

Site:

http://www.facebook.com/SnapbackSociety

Types:

Authentic Vintage

Price Range:

$20-$40

Shipping Info:

2-5 days or local pick up

Facebook Likes:

638

Contact Info:

SnapbackSociety@yahoo.com

Selection:

Medium

Conclusion:

Very fresh authentic vintage site. Talk personally to Gustavo and he delivers awesome customer service. Check out my Q&A with him and Ryan Porter of Snapbackhats.net below.
Rating: 9

Site:

IntheSnap.com

Types:

Authentic Vintage

Price Range:

$20-$125

Shipping Info:

$5-$16

Facebook Likes:

27418

Contact Info:

248.302.0667
snap@inthesnap.com
Twitter: @inthesnap
Facebook: inthesnap

Selection:

Huge

Conclusion:

Tons of hard to find snapbacks and vintage snapbacks. Many popular ones “unavailable”. Seems to be legit authentic snapbacks. Leave a comment if you have purchased there.
Rating: 9

ECapCity

Site: Ecapcity.com
Types: New, Remakes, Retro
Price Range: $30-$40
Shipping Info: $8-$35 4-10 days
Facebook Likes: 17,992
Contact Info: Contact form
Selection: Medium
Conclusion: Sells Mitchell & Ness but does not appear as an authorized seller on their website. Buyer beware.
Rating: 9

HatClub

Site: HatClub.com
Types: New, Remakes, Retro
Price Range: $15-$40
Shipping Info $5-40 1-10 days
Facebook Likes: 27,212
Contact Info: 888-428-6322
Selection: Huge
Conclusion: Very nice selection of new snapbacks, remakes, and fresh hip hop culture brands. Legit.
Rating: 9

CleanSnapbackCaps

Site: cleansnapbackcaps.bigcartel.com
Types: New, Remakes, Retro
Price Range: $20-$35
Shipping Info 4-10 days $5-$35
Facebook Likes: 9,790
Contact Info: Contact form
Selection: Large
Conclusion: Very nice selection of new snapbacks, remakes, and fresh hip hop culture brands. They do not appear on “Authorized Retailers” section of the Mitchell & Ness site. Makes me question their authenticity. They do say 100% licensed authentic. Buyer Beware.
Rating: 9

Zumiez

Site: zumiez.com
Types: New, Remakes, Retro
Price Range: $26.95
Shipping Info 7-10 days free on orders over $75
Facebook Likes: varies by snapback
Contact Info: 877-828-6929
Selection: Medium
Conclusion: Seems to have a physical corporate location and physical stores making me think their snapbacks are authentic. Site would have received a 10 if Zumiez.com had a larger selection.
Rating: 9

Flight Club NY

Site: FlightClubNY.com
Types: New, Remakes, Retro Consignment (you buy from many 3rd party sellers)
Price Range: $25-$33
Shipping Info: $16-$59
Facebook Likes: n/a
Contact Info:
812 Broadway
New York
between 11th and 12th 254 Greene St
New York
between 8th and Waverly
503 N Fairfax Ave
Los Angeles
between Melrose and Beverly
Selection: Medium
Conclusion: Good quality selection of snapbacks. Hard to determine if Flightclubny offers authentic snapbacks because they are sold by 3rd parties. They guarantee their sneakers are legit, but don’t mention snapbacks. Otherwise, excellent selection for someone looking for rare snapbacks and doesn’t want to spend a ton.
Rating: 9

Snap Hats

Site: SnapHats.com
Types: New, Remakes, Retro, Vintage
Price Range: $26-$125
Shipping Info: n/a
Facebook Likes: 6,980
Contact Info:
Snaphats.com
5307 East Mockingbird Lane, Suite 140
Dallas, TX 75206 snaphats@gmail.com
Selection: Medium
Conclusion: A huge selection that is mostly out of stock. Snaphats gets in some great authentic vintage snapbacks that I imagine sell out very quickly. They mostly have remakes and new snapbacks available now. I would check their regularly if you want to find a vintage snapback rare gem. They aren’t on the Mitchell & Ness “Authorized Retailers” page at MitchellandNess.com. Buyer Beware.
Rating: 8

Apparel Zoo

Site: ApparelZoo.com
Types: New, Remakes, Retro
Price Range: $16-$25
Shipping Info: UPS, FedEx, USPS
Facebook Likes: 2,842
Contact Info:
1-800-749-5606
info@apparelzoo.com
Selection: Medium
Conclusion: Good selection of cool authentic brands like: The Hundreds, Diamond, Adidas, American Needle, etc.
Rating: 8

Custom Snapbacks

Site: CustomSnapbacks.com
Types: New Custom Embroidery and Logos
Price Range: 12 hats with 1 logo = $264
Shipping Info: 10-14 days $12-$20
Facebook Likes: n/a
Contact Info: 866-449-2478
Selection: Custom
Conclusion: If you want to create or design your own snapbacks to sell to friends, etc; then you should definitely check out this site. I talked to the site owner and they are legit. Great customer service. Rating: 8

Snapback the Throwback

Site: SnapbacktheThrowback.com
Types: Deadstock, Vintage
Price Range: $24.95-$34.95
Shipping Info: $5.95-$14.95 1-10 days
Facebook Likes: n/a
Contact Info: Yahoo Messenger: Jennifer snapbackcap@yahoo.com
Selection: Medium
Conclusion: Good selection of new, remakes, and retro snapbacks. Hard to verify if they are authentic or not. No mention of them as “Authorized Retailers” on any major snapbacks brand sites. Price is mid range. I like the idea of being able to message Jenifer on Yahoo. Definitely a plus.
Rating: 7

Name and Shame Fake Sellers (resource)

Site: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Name-and-Shame-Fake-Sellers-Australia-New-Zealand/127623847327465
Types: Fakes Knockoffs Resource
Price Range: n/a
Shipping Info: n/a
Facebook Likes: 325
Contact Info: n/a
Selection: n/a
Conclusion: Cool Resource. Check this site before you buy ANY snapbacks online.
Rating: 7

Mishka NYC

Site: mishkanyc.com
Types: Custom Brand and Specialty Underground
Price Range: $30-$40
Shipping Info: 2-10 days
Facebook Likes: 152 Subscribers
Contact Info: sales@mishkanyc.com Contact form
Selection: Micro
Conclusion: Very nice underground brand. Selection of snapbacks is small resulting in a 7 rating. Otherwise, they have a good amount of other fresh gear.
Rating: 7

Cheap Snapbacks (Facebook)

Site: facebook.com/pages/Cheap-Snapbacks/181259758610995
Types: Cheap Remakes & Retro
Price Range: $20-$40
Shipping Info: $8
Facebook Likes: 83
Contact Info: n/a
Selection: Small
Conclusion: May sell remakes or Chinese fakes. Buyer beware. Leave comment if anyone knows for sure.
Rating: 6

OG Cheap

Site: shop.ogcheap.com
Types: New Custom Brand, Specialty Underground
Price Range: $22-$25
Shipping Info: n/a
Facebook Likes: n/a
Contact Info: Contact form
Selection: Micro
Conclusion: Local Cali brand offering specialty “og cheap” snapbacks.
Rating: 5

Cheap Snapback Hats

Site: cheapsnapbackhats.us
Types: Fake Chinese Knockoffs, Remakes
Conclusion: Fake ass Chinese manufacturer supplier
Rating: 0

New Era Hats Shop

Site: newerahatshop.org
Types: Fake Chinese Knockoffs, Remakes
Conclusion: Fake ass Chinese manufacturer supplier
Rating: 0

Cheap Snapbacks Shop

Site: cheapsnapbackshop.org
Types: Fake Chinese Knockoffs, Remakes
Conclusion: Fake ass Chinese manufacturer supplier
Rating: 0

Snapback Hats Shop

Site: snapbackhatshop.com
Types: No Telling. Amazon and Ebay Gateway Site.
Price Range: $15-$40
Shipping Info: n/a
Facebook Likes: n/a
Contact Info: info@snapbackhatsshop.com (doesn’t work)
Selection: Just go to Amazon or Ebay sites.
Conclusion: Just a bullshit gateway site. Same snapbacks on Amazon and eBay directly. Avoid this site.
Rating: 0

In my experience, I’ve found a ton of websites and online vendors selling a lot of dodgy snapbacks. You should know the following before you buy:

Snapbacks Types: New vs Remake vs Vintage

What kind of snapback are you buying? (new, remakes, vintage, fakes, etc.) There’s a huge price difference between these types of snapbacks. Don’t pay vintage prices for a remake. There are ways to figure out what kind of snapbacks a store is selling; however, many online stores mistakenly label their snapbacks. Make sure you know the differences between new, remakes, vintage, and fakes.

New Snapbacks

New snapbacks can be retro snapbacks or designer snapbacks. New snapbacks are any kind of snapbacks that are currently in production. New snapbacks can be vintage snapbacks as well, as long as the snapback is EXACTLY like it was back in the day. However, most new snapbacks feature updated team logos, color combinations, current official designs, and styles. New snapbacks are best if you are looking for a more updated style but like the retro design or comfort of snapbacks. After all, one size does fit all.

Retro Remakes

A ton of people think that, because a snapback is a remake it’s not vintage. That’s simply not true. A retro remake can be vintage, like in the case of the Los Angeles Raiders snapbacks. A retro remake is just a name describing snapbacks that feature vintage or retro team logos, designs, color combinations, etc. that are being currently manufactured. Also, a lot of retro remakes feature new designs and styles, but use the same old or vintage color combinations, logos, or patterns from a past style period. For example, Mitchell and Ness make Charlotte Hornets snapbacks that are retro remakes because they are not exactly the same hats that were made during the days of the Charlotte Hornets in the 1990s, but are retro because they feature the throwback Charlotte Hornets logo, color combinations, Charlotte Hornets city name, etc. Retro remakes are usually new hats that reuse old/vintage colors, styles, team logos, names in new ways to modernize or update the style. They are usually in current production as well. Many companies do this including Mitchell and Ness, American Needle and Zephyr.

Vintage Snapbacks

I’ve noticed A LOT of confusion over this one. So many people don’t know the difference; so I’ll try and explain it as far as I know and as best I can. Vintage snapbacks are snapbacks that feature real old school team logos, colors, and brands that were sold back in the day. Vintage snapbacks feature designs, color combinations, and logos that were either official or mainstream during a recognized time period. For example, the Oakland Raiders snapbacks are not vintage they are new snapbacks. However, the Los Angeles Raiders are considered vintage snapbacks. The rarest, and in my opinion, the freshest vintage snapbacks need to be snapbacks that are completely out of production and are not new. In many ways, vintage snapbacks and deadstock snapbacks are the same, the only difference is that vintage snapbacks do not have to be new, they can be used or previously worn. I would consider deadstock snapbacks to be new snapbacks that have never been worn but are no longer manufactured by the brand/company.

Snapbacks Shipping

What kind of customer service can you expect? If you’re buying online; then you need to know what kind of online store you’re dealing with. Double check that the shipping information is visible, fast, and there’s a phone number to call. It doesn’t cost a lot to ship a hat and many sites offer free shipping. Many reputable sites ship within 3-5 business days. Check out my ranking of the top 30 snapbacks sites with the best shipping offers and details below.

Snapbacks Customer Feedback

What are people saying about the website your about to give your money to? Many snapbacks online are sold in quick startup online stores by people with little professional business experience. Make sure you read what the site’s Facebook friends are saying, what people are tweeting about, how many people like the site, etc. Check out my top 10 rankings of all the best snapbacks vendors with the best customer feedback here.

Snapbacks Brands

What brand of snapback are you buying? A LOT can be determined about a snapback depending on the brand. For example, Mitchell and Ness used to make vintage hats, but now sell remakes only. Similarly, TISA snapbacks used to be rare vintage snapbacks, but now are mainstream remakes with their logo slapped on the side. A ton of people are clueless about the importance of the brand of a snapback.

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