Hill City Howlers Cap Fit Guide: 39THIRTY vs Legacy Headwear Compared

Quick answer

If you want a classic team-script look with three accessory sizes to dial in fit, choose the Hill City Howlers New Era 39THIRTY Home Jersey Script Cap. If you want an adjustable, moisture-wicking cap made from 97% recycled polyester and 3% spandex, choose the Hill City Howlers Adult Royal Legacy Headwear Back Nine Adjustable Patch Cap. Both are structured caps, so the real decision comes down to sizing method and material.

Cap shopping gets confusing fast when two hats look similar on screen but fit differently in person. The Hill City Howlers lineup includes a New Era 39THIRTY with script branding and a Legacy Headwear Back Nine with an adjustable strap, and they solve fit in two different ways.

This comparison sticks to what the catalog actually lists: sizing options, structure, materials, and color choices. Where a detail is not published, such as the Legacy cap's available option types, I note that as a limitation rather than guessing.

How the two caps differ at a glance

The New Era 39THIRTY Home Jersey Script Cap is an official New Era 39THIRTY style with team script branding, offered in Blue and Black and in S/M, M/L, and L/XL accessory sizes. That means you pick a size band rather than tightening a strap. The Legacy Headwear Back Nine Adjustable Patch Cap uses a structured 6-panel build with a slight curve brim and an adjustable closure, so one size range covers more head shapes.

Both are structured caps, so neither will collapse flat like an unstructured dad hat. If you specifically want a soft, packable, unstructured feel, neither of these is that hat, and you should look at a different silhouette in the Hill City Howlers cap category.

• Structured caps hold their crown shape and suit a classic athletic look.
• Sized caps reward an accurate head measurement; adjustable caps forgive a range.

Sizing: fixed accessory sizes vs adjustable strap

The 39THIRTY gives you three accessory sizes: S/M, M/L, and L/XL. If you already know your New Era size band, this is the most predictable route because the fit is set by the cap, not by how tightly you pull a strap. Measure your head circumference with a soft tape just above the ears and across the mid-forehead, then match it to the size band you normally wear.

The Legacy Headwear Back Nine is adjustable, which is the better choice if you are buying as a gift, if you are between sizes, or if you want to share the cap. The trade-off is that an adjustable closure can feel less locked-in than a sized cap during long wear. The catalog does not list available option types for this cap, so treat color availability as something to confirm on the product page.

• Between sizes or unsure? The adjustable Legacy cap is the safer pick.
• Know your New Era size band? The 39THIRTY gives a cleaner, more consistent fit.

Materials and comfort in real use

The Legacy Headwear Back Nine is made from 97% recycled polyester and 3% spandex, with a moisture-wicking sweatband. The spandex content adds a bit of give, and the sweatband matters most in warm weather or during long days in the stands. Recycled polyester also appeals to shoppers trying to make a more considered material choice.

The 39THIRTY catalog entry does not list fabric composition or a moisture-wicking sweatband, so I cannot claim those features for it. What it does confirm is official New Era construction, team script branding, and two colorways, Blue and Black. If sweat management is your top priority, the published specs favor the Legacy cap; if team-script styling and a sized fit matter more, the 39THIRTY is the stronger match.

• Published moisture-wicking sweatband: Legacy Headwear Back Nine only.
• Published recycled material content: Legacy Headwear Back Nine only.

Where the women's Luchadores caps fit in

The Hill City Howlers New Era Women's Luchadores 9FORTY caps are a third option worth knowing about. They use an adjustable 9FORTY silhouette with women's specific sizing and styling, and they come in Black/Purple or Black/Teal. If you want a women's-cut adjustable cap instead of a unisex sized cap, this is the line to compare against the Legacy Back Nine.

The practical split is simple: the Luchadores 9FORTY is adjustable and women's-specific, the Legacy Back Nine is adjustable and unisex, and the 39THIRTY is sized and unisex. That gives you one adjustable women's option, one adjustable unisex option, and one sized unisex option across the same team brand.

• Women's-specific adjustable fit: Luchadores 9FORTY.
• Unisex adjustable fit: Legacy Headwear Back Nine.
• Unisex sized fit: New Era 39THIRTY.

Trade-offs to weigh before you buy

• Sized fit vs adjustable forgiveness: The 39THIRTY uses S/M, M/L, and L/XL accessory sizes, so it fits best when you know your band. The Legacy Back Nine is adjustable and covers more head shapes and gift scenarios. Choose sized for consistency, adjustable for flexibility.
• Published performance materials vs script styling: Only the Legacy Back Nine lists 97% recycled polyester, 3% spandex, and a moisture-wicking sweatband. The 39THIRTY lists official New Era construction and script branding but no fabric or sweatband details. If sweat management is the priority, the published specs point to the Legacy cap.
• Unisex vs women's-specific cut: The 39THIRTY and Legacy Back Nine are unisex designs, while the Luchadores 9FORTY is built with women's specific sizing and styling in Black/Purple or Black/Teal. Match the cut to the wearer rather than defaulting to one style.

Catalog facts that drive the decision

• Hill City Howlers New Era 39THIRTY Home Jersey Script Cap: Official New Era 39THIRTY cap with Hill City Howlers script design, available in Blue and Black and in S/M, M/L, and L/XL accessory sizes. Three size bands let you lock in a consistent fit instead of relying on an adjustable strap, which suits anyone who already knows their New Era size.
• Hill City Howlers Adult Royal Legacy Headwear Back Nine Adjustable Patch Cap: Crafted from 97% recycled polyester and 3% spandex with a structured 6-panel design, slight curve brim, and moisture-wicking sweatband. The adjustable closure handles gift buying and in-between sizes, while the published recycled content and sweatband add comfort and a more considered material story.
• Hill City Howlers New Era Women's Luchadores 9FORTY Black/Purple Cap: Adjustable 9FORTY silhouette in a black and purple colorway with women's specific sizing and styling. A women's-cut adjustable option for shoppers who want team color without committing to a fixed accessory size.

Which Hill City Howlers cap should you buy?

Best for

• Shoppers who know their New Era size band and want a locked-in, sized fit with team script branding
• Fans who want an adjustable unisex cap with a published moisture-wicking sweatband and recycled polyester content
• Women looking for a women's-specific adjustable cap in Black/Purple or Black/Teal

Not for

• Shoppers who want an unstructured, packable cap, since both compared caps are structured
• Gift buyers who need one-size-fits-most simplicity from the 39THIRTY, which requires a size choice
• Anyone who needs fabric or sweatband details on the 39THIRTY, because the catalog does not publish them

Pick the New Era 39THIRTY if you know your size and want a classic script cap, and pick the Legacy Headwear Back Nine if you want an adjustable, moisture-wicking cap made with recycled polyester. If you want a women's-specific adjustable fit, start with the Luchadores 9FORTY instead.