The standard baseball cap has a design flaw that anyone with long hair knows well: the closed back leaves no good place for a ponytail or bun. The usual workarounds — threading hair through a plastic adjuster gap or skipping the hat altogether — are exactly what the Canadian company Ponyback set out to replace. Its caps use a patented magnetic opening at the back that pulls apart to let hair through, then closes to look like an ordinary fitted hat.
How the design works
The core feature across Ponyback’s lineup is a magnetic rear closure. Instead of a fixed panel or a snapback strap, the back of the hat separates and holds shut with strong neodymium magnets. The company says this lets a wearer position a ponytail at any height, “from the top button to the bottom of the band,” and accommodates buns, braids, or hair worn down. When closed, the opening is meant to be hidden, so the cap looks like a conventional fitted style.
Founder and CEO Stacey Keller frames the brand around fit and quality, stating, “We’re obsessed with making high-quality hats that make you look & feel good.” The company describes the product as “designed by a woman for women,” with an emphasis on inclusive sizing.
Sizing and the fit range
Ponyback leans heavily on sizing as a selling point. Its caps come in seven sizes spanning roughly 50 cm to 62 cm of head circumference, including two youth sizes. To help buyers choose, the company offers an online fit quiz.
Beyond size, the brand splits its catalog into multiple “fits” tuned to different uses. The lineup includes the Everyday Fit for casual wear, the Adventure Fit and Sporty Fit for active or sweaty use, a satin-lined Luxe Fit, plus Vintage, Relax, Breezy, and Deep fits, along with a Mom Collection and seasonal Winter Knits.
Materials and care
The flagship Everyday Fit is built with structured front panels and a stretch-fit sweatband. Ponyback notes it is transitioning its fabric from a 97% cotton, 3% spandex blend to a 97% recycled polyester, 3% spandex blend. The newer material is rated UPF50+ for sun protection, includes a moisture-wicking liner, and carries a tone-on-tone logo. One exception remains: the black cap in size XL/XXL is still made with the original cotton blend.
Care is simple but specific. The company recommends spot-cleaning with a cool, damp cloth and advises against machine washing. Hats are imported and made by a WRAP-certified manufacturer (a labor-standards certification for apparel production). Because the caps contain strong magnets, Ponyback maintains a product-safety page with guidance.
The takeaway
Ponyback occupies a focused niche: it takes a single, well-defined frustration and addresses it with a magnetic closure and a broad size range. The strengths are the hairstyle flexibility, the UPF50+ rating on the updated fabric, and the variety of fits for different activities. The trade-offs are a higher price than a generic cap, spot-clean-only care for most styles, and the presence of strong magnets, which the company itself flags as worth handling with care. For long-haired wearers who have given up on standard caps, it is a practical, purpose-built alternative rather than a fashion experiment.
Pricing and availability
The Ponyback Everyday Fit is listed at US$83. Ponyback runs a “Buy 2 Hats, Get 30% Off” promotion on the Everyday Fit, and provides free returns and exchanges for 30 days. A reusable dust bag for storage or gifting is sold separately for $19. Hats are available directly through the company’s website, with prices varying by fit and region.
Source: Ponyback