Pete Hurst knew his son, Mick, had a streak of entrepreneurial flair. A keen surfer, Mick had already had a crack at designing an ocean-inspired range of colognes. However, Pete had a different project in mind for his business-savvy son. “I’d seen a hat with a shell in it, and I said, ‘Mick, I reckon put your energy into developing a better surf hat’.”
Mick took up the challenge and was soon cutting up designs on the couch of his Carlton apartment. He was committed to making a surf hat that provided sun protection, safety, and style. “He said, ‘Dad, it’s got to look good,’” explains Pete. “It’s got to be, you know, a good hat physically and protect you, but it’s got to look good too.”
All-up, Mick spent around 18 months developing and refining his first range of KNOK hats. The hard hats featured a removable, lightweight, protective ABS shell and were available in a baseball cap and bucket hat option. Determined to ensure his hats were hitting the right mark, Mick formed a relationship with a celebrated Mornington Peninsula surf shop, Trigger Bros, who became an integral part of the R&D process. At 27, Mick was thriving as a fledgling entrepreneur who loved surfing and skiing and confidently fronted the stage as the charismatic host of open mic nights.
In early 2026, fate took the cruellest of twists. Mick was struck by a rare heart condition when he was on the ski slopes of Niseko, in Japan. A young life in full stride was snatched away far too soon. The family was shattered by Mick’s sudden passing but felt the best way to deal with the pain and preserve Mick’s legacy was to channel all their energy into making KNOK the best surf hat on the market – that was Mick’s vision, to build a product where “style meets safety.” These days, Pete runs KNOK alongside Mick’s partner, Ella, and Mick’s sister, Maddy.
While KNOK also makes high-quality soft hats for the surf, its ‘hard hat’ range offers unique innovation. The ABS shell is tested in accordance with what’s known as the ‘European bump cap standard’. This means the hats undergo stringent testing for impact, design and construction. The shell is ultra-light and barely noticeable as it fits to the contours of your head. (I just pulled one on and it feels snug, comfortable and secure).
Many surfers who have put their time in the water wear the head-scars to prove it. KNOK’s ABS structure is sufficiently strong to provide a firm layer of protection against wayward boards (your own and others), fin chops and collisions. The hats are also a great way for parents to feel reassured about the safety of their kids (particularly in busy lineups) as they paddle out and ride their first waves. KNOK’s latest kid’s hat was the result of six months R&D and features a different shell to the standard hats so that it fits and protects small heads. The hats boost confidence for younger surfers, who can be intimidated by busy or challenging lineups. They also help prevent an incident that might prematurely turn a kid off surfing because they’ve been hit by a board.
While the hard hats don’t deliver the same level of protection as a helmet, they do provide a meaningful barrier between your head and sharp, hard bottoms. To get a gauge on the hats’ overall performance, Pete and the crew at KNOK created a ‘matrix’ or score sheet that looked at variables like comfort, protection, sun protection and range of vision. “The KNOK one got a score of about 23 or 24 out of 28,” explains Pete. “I think the closest other ones probably came in at 19.”
There is also nothing worse than a hat that doesn’t fit, and another key feature of KNOK is the extensive size options; there are six of them in fact, ranging from small to XXL. There are also millimetric references for each size, and if you want to be exact, you can wrap a piece of string around the widest point of your head and measure it. If the hat doesn’t fit, KNOK will happily exchange or refund items which are ‘clean and new.’
While Mick Hurst may not be here to see KNOK Surf Wear evolving, the family team behind the brand are committed to realising Mick’s vision for making hats that deliver stylish shade, and protection, in lineups around the world.
Needless to say, there’s plenty of heart that goes into making sure your head is protected and you look good when you pull on a KNOK hat.
