Hill City Howlers Fan Chain, Grip Pen and License Plate Cover: Small Fan Gear Reviewed

Quick answer

If you want a small, low-commitment piece of Hill City Howlers gear, start with the Victor the Vampire Soft Felt Pennant for a fan cave or dorm, and the Travel Sunscreen Bottle for game-day bags. For something a young fan will actually wear, the Youth Champion Vampire Tee is the safer pick because it comes in youth sizes S through XL.

Small fan gear is easy to buy on impulse and easy to regret. A pennant that never leaves its wrapper, a novelty bottle that leaks in a bag, or a youth tee that runs out of sizes before the season starts all waste money. The trick is matching the item to where it will actually live.

This guide focuses on the compact Hill City Howlers pieces that fit into a bag, a locker, or a corner of a room. It covers what each item is good for, where it falls short, and how to decide between a display piece, a wearable, and a practical accessory.

What counts as small fan gear

Small fan gear is anything that adds team spirit without taking up much space or costing much. That includes novelty items like pennants, travel bottles, and license plate covers, plus youth-sized apparel that a young fan can wear again and again. These pieces work best when they have a clear job: decorating a room, surviving a commute, or getting worn to practice.

The appeal is low risk. You can try a novelty piece for a few dollars and see whether it fits your routine. The trade-off is that small gear rarely doubles as serious game-day equipment. If you need something durable for repeated outdoor use, look at the materials and the size range before you buy.

• Pick one display piece and one wearable so your gear has a purpose.
• Check whether the item has size options before assuming it will fit.
• Novelty items are best treated as fun extras, not as core fan apparel.

Display pieces: pennants and plate covers

Display pieces are the easiest way to add team color to a room, a desk, or a car. The Hill City Howlers Victor the Vampire Soft Felt Pennant is a soft felt pennant with a Victor the Vampire design, and the catalog notes it works for kids, men, women, and unisex fans. That makes it a flexible gift for a fan cave, bedroom, or dorm.

License plate covers fall into the same category: they are visible, inexpensive, and mostly about showing affiliation. The catalog does not list a specific license plate cover for this store, so if that is what you want, treat it as a gap to fill elsewhere or wait for a restock. For now, the pennant is the clearest display option in the current lineup.

• Soft felt pennants are light and easy to hang without tools.
• A pennant suits a dorm or bedroom better than a car.
• If a specific plate cover is not listed, do not assume it exists.

Wearables: youth tees that fit real kids

Youth tees are the workhorses of small fan gear because they get worn, not just displayed. The Hill City Howlers Youth Champion Vampire Tee comes in sizes S, M, L, and XL and is made by Gear For Sport. The catalog describes it as officially licensed youth apparel for games, practices, or casual outings.

The Hill City Howlers Youth Royal Mummy Logo Jersey Tee is a royal blue jersey-style tee from High Peak Sportswear, also available in youth sizes S through XL. Both are youth-specific, so they will not fit most adults. If you are buying for a teenager who is between youth and adult sizing, check the size chart carefully before ordering.

• Youth sizes S through XL fit most kids, not adults.
• Jersey-style tees read more sporty; standard tees read more everyday.
• When in doubt, size up for growing kids.

Practical accessories: bottles and everyday carry

Practical accessories earn their place by getting used. The Hill City Howlers Travel Sunscreen Bottle is a travel-sized bottle with SPF30 protection and Hill City Howlers branding. The catalog lists it as unisex and suitable for game days, outdoor adventures, or everyday outings. That makes it a sensible addition to a game-day bag or a glovebox.

The trade-off is that a travel-sized bottle runs out quickly if you use it daily. It is better as a backup or a dedicated game-day item than as your only sunscreen. If you need a full-size bottle for regular use, this is not a replacement.

• Travel size is ideal for a bag or car, not for daily full-body use.
• SPF30 is the protection level listed in the catalog.
• Check the cap seal before tossing it in a bag with clothes.

How to choose between a display piece and a wearable

The decision usually comes down to who will use it and how often. A display piece like the pennant is a one-time purchase that stays put. A wearable like the Youth Champion Vampire Tee gets repeated use but depends on fit. If you are buying a gift and do not know the recipient's size, the pennant is the lower-risk choice.

If you do know the size, a wearable delivers more value per dollar because it gets worn. A practical accessory like the sunscreen bottle sits in the middle: it is useful, but only if the recipient will actually carry it. Match the item to the person's habits rather than to the logo.

• Gift for an unknown size: choose the pennant.
• Gift for a known size: choose a youth tee.
• Gift for an outdoor fan: consider the travel sunscreen bottle.

Decision rules for small Hill City Howlers gear

• Buying for a room or dorm: Choose the Victor the Vampire Soft Felt Pennant because it is a soft felt display piece that hangs easily and suits a fan cave, bedroom, or dorm. Low-risk gift when you do not know the recipient's size.
• Buying for a kid who will wear it: Choose the Youth Champion Vampire Tee or the Youth Royal Mummy Logo Jersey Tee, both available in youth sizes S through XL. Confirm the size first; youth sizes will not fit adults.
• Buying for an adult fan: Skip the youth tees and look at the Luchadores Copa Under Armour S/S Tee, which runs from Small to 3XL. Adult sizing is the deciding factor here.
• Buying for game-day bags: The Travel Sunscreen Bottle is a compact SPF30 option with team branding, but it is travel-sized. Treat it as a backup, not your only sunscreen.

Product facts

• Hill City Howlers Victor the Vampire Soft Felt Pennant: Soft felt construction with a Victor the Vampire design, suitable for kids, men, women, and unisex fans. It is a low-cost display piece that works in a fan cave, bedroom, or dorm without needing a frame or tools.
• Hill City Howlers Youth Champion Vampire Tee: Officially licensed youth apparel from Gear For Sport, available in sizes S, M, L, and XL. The size range covers most kids, and the youth fit means it will not work for adults.
• Hill City Howlers Travel Sunscreen Bottle: Travel-sized bottle with SPF30 protection and Hill City Howlers branding, listed as unisex. It fits a game-day bag or car compartment, but the small size means it is a backup rather than a daily-use bottle.
• Hill City Howlers Luchadores Copa Under Armour S/S Tee: Short-sleeve tee for men and unisex wear, available in sizes Small through 3XL, made by Under Armour. This is the adult-size option in the group, so it is the better pick when youth sizes will not fit.

Fit and sizing guidance

Best for

• Fans who want a small display piece with no sizing risk
• Kids who need youth sizes S through XL in a wearable tee
• Adults who need a tee in Small through 3XL

Not for

• Adults expecting youth tees to fit them
• Shoppers who need a full-size sunscreen for daily use
• Anyone looking for a specific license plate cover that is not currently listed

Small fan gear works best when it has a clear job. Pick the pennant for display, a youth tee for a kid who will wear it, and the travel sunscreen bottle for a game-day bag. Check sizes before you buy, and treat novelty items as fun extras rather than core gear.