Joshua Kiser’s Epic Journey to Creating the World’s Tallest Hat

Guinness Records reported that Joshua Kiser (USA) accomplished his years-long ambition of creating the world’s tallest hat, a project that saw numerous failures before culminating in success. Kiser's extraordinary hat eventually measured a remarkable 5.422 meters (17 feet 9.5 inches), verified in Breinigsville, Pennsylvania, on April 19.

The journey began during the COVID-19 pandemic when Penn State University closed its doors. Joshua, trying to stay productive, decided to break a world record. He drew inspiration from the previous record holder, Odilon Ozare, who in 2018 crafted a 15-foot, 9-inch hat.

Although confident initially, Joshua faced significant setbacks. His first attempt to create a tall hat from stacked cardboard blocks held together by Velcro failed miserably, as the Velcro wasn't strong enough to hold even a 5-foot-tall hat. A second design using wooden dowels held with nuts and bolts also failed, as it was not sturdy enough to reach over 15 feet and couldn't stay on his head either. Attempts involving chicken wire similarly proved ineffective.

The breakthrough came in Home Depot, where Joshua spotted some lightweight, affordable 10-foot aluminum gutters. Using parts of a Philadelphia Eagles trash can, which matched the circumference of his head, he devised a sturdy base. By cutting the bottom of the trash can into metal triangles, he created a flexible fit that would form tightly around his head once secured with duct tape and expanding foam.

Joshua's meticulous preparation paid off when, amid a curious crowd, he walked the necessary 10 meters wearing the 26.4-pound hat. Despite the apprehension, the hat stayed in place, and Joshua finally claimed the record he'd dreamt of during a time of global pause and reflection.

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