Richardson 256 Hat: Umpqua Specs, Fit, and 256 vs 256P

Key Takeaways

• The Richardson 256 Umpqua is a semi-structured five-panel rope cap: 85/15 performance cotton, flat bill, UPF 50+ sun protection, adjustable from 7 to 7 3/4.
• The 256P keeps the silhouette but switches to polyester twill in printed camo patterns, with a taller crown.
• A full front design runs up to 6 inches wide in any customization method, with no minimum order.

Table of Contents

• What Is the Richardson 256 Umpqua?
• Richardson 256 vs 256P: What Changes
• How to Customize the Richardson 256
• Who the 256 Fits
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Ordering a Custom Richardson 256

Richardson's catalog lists this hat as the Umpqua Gramps Cap. Almost nobody searches for that name. Buyers look up the Richardson 256 by its model number, and the listings that come back disagree about what the hat is made of. Below are the current specs, the fit range behind "one size fits most," what changes on the printed 256P, and how we customize both.

What Is the Richardson 256 Umpqua?

The Richardson 256 Umpqua is a five-panel snapback cap with a braided rope across the base of the front panel and a flat bill. The fabric is an 85/15 cotton/nylon performance blend, rated UPF 50+ for sun protection. The cap is semi-structured: a light mesh support inside the front panel keeps the crown standing.

That mesh support deserves a plain-language note, because spec sheets call it a "stand-up mesh windshield" and the phrase confuses people. It is not a mesh back. The 256 is fabric on every panel; the mesh is an insert hidden inside the front panel that holds the panel upright.

The name comes in more versions than the hat does. Richardson currently titles it the Umpqua Gramps Cap. Plenty of buyers know it as a grandpa cap, and the braided cord files it under rope hats in search results. Umpqua itself is an Oregon river, in keeping with how Richardson names its catalog.

One caution when you compare listings: the fabric is quoted inconsistently around the web. Some stores still describe the 256 as a 70/30 blend. The current spec sheet reads 85/15 cotton/nylon. You can see every color offered on the product page itself: shop the Richardson 256 Umpqua →

Richardson 256 vs 256P: What Changes

The 256P Printed Umpqua keeps the 256's silhouette and swaps the material. Fabric and finish change; the five-panel build, braided rope, flat bill, UPF 50+ rating, and snapback closure all carry over.

On the 256P, the camo pattern is part of the fabric itself. Your logo still goes on top, through any customization method, exactly as it would on the base model.

Pick the 256 when the hat should sit in a solid or two-tone brand color and you want the softer feel of a cotton-rich fabric. Pick the 256P when your program calls for a camo pattern under the logo, which is where hunting and outdoor brands usually land. The 256P also wears a taller crown, so the same logo reads slightly larger on the front of it.

Richardson publishes a numeric fit range for the 256 and has not published one for the 256P. Both adjust with the same snapback strap. If the printed version is the one you came for: shop the Richardson 256P →

How to Customize the Richardson 256

Every customization method we run works on the 256 and the 256P. That means standard flat embroidery, 3D puff embroidery, and 3D puff chain stitch embroidery; leather, PVC, woven, sublimated, and embroidered patches; and full color printing. There is no minimum on any of them, and the methods and quality are the same whether you order 1 cap or 500.

A full front design runs up to 6 inches wide. That suits logos that are wider than they are tall, which is most of them. We confirm the exact production size on the design proof, emailed within 1 to 2 business days of your order. Revisions are unlimited before production starts.

Many of the 256s sold online are undecorated caps, aimed at buyers who press or sew patches on themselves. You do not need equipment to get a custom 256. Pick a color, upload your logo in the Design Studio, and watch it on the actual hat before checkout. Every patch we attach is hand-stitched, production runs in-house in the USA, and there is no setup or artwork fee.

Standard production is 2 weeks for embroidery and printing, and 4 weeks for patch methods. Rush service runs as low as 3 business days; contact us directly by phone, email, or live chat to arrange it.

Want to compare the 256 against the rest of the lineup first? Shop custom Richardson hats →

Who the 256 Fits

The 256 is a strong pick if you want the rope-cap look with sun protection built in. It is one of our best sellers by quantity. If you run a golf shop or a heritage brand, the braided rope reads classic on your shelf. If your crew works outdoors or on the water, the UPF 50+ rating does real work.

Your order does not need to be a brand program, either. A taproom, a coffee shop, or a crew that wants a retro cap with the logo done properly is a typical 256 order. One adjustable size covers 7 to 7 3/4, so you never have to collect sizes for a group.

Two buying decisions have their own guides. If your buyers are fly shops, guide services, or fishing brands, our fishing rope hat guide covers the 256 for that use in depth. And if you are weighing it against Richardson's other five-panel rope cap, the 258 vs 256 comparison settles that choice spec by spec.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Richardson 256 a trucker hat?

No. A trucker hat has a mesh back, and the 256 is fabric on every panel. It is a rope cap: a five-panel snapback with a braided cord above the bill. The mesh in its spec sheet is an internal support inside the front panel, not a mesh back.

Does the Richardson 256 have UPF protection?

Yes. The 256 Umpqua is rated UPF 50+, and so is the printed 256P. The rating belongs to the fabric itself. That makes the 256 a safe pick when your crew or your customers spend whole days in the sun.

Is the Richardson 256 structured?

The 256 is semi-structured. A light mesh support inside the front panel keeps the crown standing, without the firm backing of a fully structured cap. The front presents a stable face for a logo, while the overall fit reads more relaxed than a structured trucker.

What sizes does the Richardson 256 come in?

One adjustable size. The snapback strap covers hat sizes 7 through 7 3/4, which fits most adults. The 256P has no numeric fit range in Richardson's published spec data, but it closes with the same snapback strap.

What is the difference between the Richardson 256 and 256P?

Fabric and finish. The 256 is 85/15 cotton/nylon in solid and two-tone colors; the 256P is 100% polyester twill in printed camo patterns, with a taller crown. Both share the five-panel build, braided rope, flat bill, UPF 50+ rating, and snapback closure.

Ordering a Custom Richardson 256

If the 256 fits your brand, setting up the order takes minutes. Pick a color, choose a customization method, and place your logo on the hat in the Design Studio. The preview shows it on the actual cap before you pay. We email a design proof within 1 to 2 business days, and production starts only after you approve it.

There is no setup fee, no artwork fee, and no minimum, and US shipping is free excluding Alaska. Browse the custom Richardson hats collection →

Have a question about your order? Contact us; we'll get back to you the same day.