A custom cowboy hat can run thousands of dollars, depending on the material used to make it and custom detail work required to fulfill the wearer’s tastes.
You’re probably not interested in a hat of that level, so in our guide below, we’ll help you find the cowboy hats in a more affordable price range.
Not dirt-cheap, low-quality hats in our guide, no sir. We’ll show you quality hats available at a fair price.
How to Choose the Right One
Here are a few initial tips to help you choose the right cowboy hat:
1. Size
2. Material
3. Brim Shape
- Size – Sizing is important because you don’t want a hat that will fly off your head when the first light breeze blows by (too large), nor do you want it too tight.
- Material – Different materials are appropriate for different situations. We’ll be discussing the options and what occasion each type is most appropriate for below, so be sure to scroll down and read!
- Brim Shape – Many different brim shapes are available, each with a specific function. The brim shape makes a big difference in certain situations, so unless you’re choosing based on aesthetics only, you’ll want to make sure you choose accordingly.
Materials Used in Cowboy Hats
The main materials used to make cowboy hats include:
1. Fur-based Felt
2. Straw
3. Leather
- Fur-based Felt – These are usually higher in quality and more durable. You’ll want a fur-based felt hat for formal occasions or out working to keep the sun and other elements off of your head, especially in cold/wet weather.
- Straw – Depending on the weave of the straw and the design, they can be used both formally and informally:
- Leather – Leather hats are another option. The appeal here is that you can crush them, and they’ll keep their shape. Many Australian/Outback-style hats are made of leather.
If you’re serious about cowboy hats, then you’ll know that one is never enough.
Expect to have one for work, one for formal occasions, and maybe an extra hat or two just because. Having options is always a good thing.
The “X” on a Cowboy Hat
On both fur-based felt hats and straw hats, you’ll see an “X” or multiple “X’s” printed on the underside of the brim. These mean different things based on the material:
1. On Fur-Based Felt
2. On Straw
- On Fur-Based Felt – Here, it’s referring to the quality of felt used to make the hat. The more “X’s” you see, the higher the quality. The best cowboy hats can even have 20 Xs, but those are the costly ones that we won’t be featuring here.
- On Straw – Here, the “X’s” refer to the quality of the straw and the tightness of the weave (more X’s = higher quality).
Brim Shapes in Cowboy Hats
Here is the different types of shape:
1. Flat
2. Curved
- Flat – These can be wide or narrow, so really, the amount of sun and moisture protection they offer differs. The flatter they are, the less functional they’ll be for actual cowboy duties.
- Curved – If you’re choosing a hat based on function, curved brims will make lassoing much. You may get hit by more sun and precipitation, but you won’t knock the hat off your head as you swing the rope.
Features of Good Cowboy Hat
Here is the definition of cowboy hat:
1. Materials
2. Design
3. Colors
- Materials – As you have seen the top material choices are leather, straw or flet. Felt can consist of synthetic materails or of genuine wool materails. Your leather and wool hats will be more expensive that synthetic materails, but much more durable and comfortable.
- Design – When it comes to design, you will get cowboy hats with a curved or a flat design brim. Some models are designed for women or children. However, most of our featured models are for men. Many designs come with added decorative details such as buckles, straps, and additional stiched materails.
- Colors – Neutral Colors are usually the most prevalent in Cowboy hats. However, some brands offer more bold and other color options.
Reviews: Best Cowboy Hats
These are some of the most upmarket and sought after Cowboy Hats that are available today:
Index Table: Top Rated Cowboy Hats
Table of Contents
