Richardson 112 Trucker Cap: Decorator Standard
The Richardson 112 is a 5-panel structured trucker cap that has become the default blank for DTF and embroidery cap decoration because its flat, stiff buckram front panel creates one of the most reliable pressing surfaces in the category.
Construction and Specs
The Richardson 112 is a 5-panel structured trucker cap with a buckram-stiffened front panel, a poly-foam front panel backer, an adjustable snapback closure, and either solid or mesh back panels. The front panel is the key differentiator: the buckram and foam backer create a flat, rigid surface that holds its shape under cap press pressure without deforming.
The 5-panel construction means there is no center seam running up the front panel, unlike 6-panel caps. This eliminates the seam ridge that creates uneven pressure problems under the cap press platen. The result is full, consistent contact across the entire front panel.
Why the 112 Is the Decorator Standard
Decorators default to the Richardson 112 because it solves the hardest problems in cap decoration simultaneously: the front panel is flat, it is rigid enough to resist deformation, and the 5-panel construction removes the seam obstruction. On a flat or slightly curved press surface, the 112 delivers consistent adhesion from edge to edge of the front panel.
The Richardson 112 is also familiar to consumers as a quality product. In the market, Richardson caps carry brand cachet in certain demographics (workwear-adjacent, outdoor, streetwear) that adds perceived value to the decorated item beyond just the print.
DTF on the Richardson 112
Press at 305-315°F for 12-15 seconds at medium pressure on a cap press. The cotton-twill front panel (most 112 colorways use cotton-blend twill) follows cotton settings. The flat, rigid front panel is almost uniquely well-suited to consistent DTF adhesion, including designs that extend to within 0.5 inches of the brim stitching.
Because the 112 front panel is reliably flat, you can use a flat press with a silicone insert in a pinch for small designs on the center of the panel. For designs above 3.5 inches wide, a cap press is still the right tool, but the 112 is the most forgiving cap blank for flat-press workarounds.
Colorways and Customization
The Richardson 112 is available in 100-plus colorway combinations including solid front/mesh back, tone-on-tone, and multi-color panel combinations. This depth of color options makes it the most versatile cap blank for brand color-matching.
Structured trucker caps like the 112 also accept embroidery easily because the rigid front panel provides the backing tension that embroidery requires. For decorators offering both embroidery and DTF, the 112 is the single cap blank that serves both methods.