There are certainly a lot of styles to consider when selecting a hat!įrequently Asked Questions How do I choose a cowboy hat shape? Similar to the Gus style, this hat is larger and more dramatic, hence the “10-gallon” nickname. Its rounded shape is also referred to as “Open Crown.” This hat has a wide, flat brim paired with a flat crown. Similar to the Pinch Front, but with a higher crown that slopes down towards the front of the hat. This hat has a moderate role but a curved brim in the front, instead of the angular design seen in the Bull Rider, Reiner, and Quarter Horse styles. This brim is completely flat and doesn’t really look like it’s been shaped at all. The front part of the brim is straight, making the sharpest angle into the roll.

This hat shape has a pretty extreme roll and, quite honestly, slightly resembles a hard-shell taco. The brim edges are rolled up somewhere between the Cutter style and the show crease. The front portion of the brim is straight like the Bull Rider, but is wider. This style is also popular.Ī flatter style brim the edges are rolled up more than the Bull Rider. The front of the brim is flat, making a corner where the roll begins. This style is very popular.Ī flat brim with the very outer edges rolled up, framing the face. Brim ShapesĪ traditional brim shape with a low roll that provides good protection from the sun. Style can refer to brim shape and/or crown creases.Ī quality hat manufacturer will help advise you on which styles to select based on where you plan to wear the hat and your face shape.

Watch out for wool–wool felt doesn’t hold its shape well.

Beaver and rabbit are the most common source of fur hats.īeaver is considered to be the “gold standard” for fur-felt hats, as it has water-repelling qualities, is durable, and the hairs interlock well.įelt hats are lightweight and will keep you warm in cold weather. Cowboy Hat Materials Most cowboy hats will be made from either felt or straw.įelt hats could be made from wool felt or fur felt. It’s flat-so it is not shaped.Ĭowboy hats start with a flat brim, then can be shaped into anything from a low Bull Rider brim style or a high Quarter Horse brim style. From there, you could choose from a variety of different crease styles.Ī flat brim is similar, and pretty self-explanatory. For example, most cowboy hats start with a “Boss of the Plains” or Open Crown.” This simply means a rounded, un-creased crown. While the “Cattleman” and the “Gambler” are both hat styles, the hat measurements (height of the crown, width of the brim) can differ pretty significantly.Ĭowboy hat shape is a bit easier to understand.

If you’re more of a visual learner, here’s a great video about cowboy hat anatomy:Ĭowboy hat ‘ style’ is a fairly generic term. You can always upgrade this part of the hat later! The brim is the material that wraps around the circumference of the crown. The crease refers to how the crown is shaped. Learning the various parts of a cowboy hat will make the shopping process easier. Whether you’re buying a cowboy hat for your next horse show or country music festival, understanding hat styles is an important part of the shopping process. Today, cowboy hats are still used on the ranch, but can also be worn as a fashion statement. The design has changed over time to better suit the needs of the cowboy.įor example, the brim was curved upwards for increased mobility, whether that be swinging a rope or climbing through a barbed-wire fence.Īdding a crease to the crown of the hat improved both fit and functionality. They are a tool designed to protect the wearer from the elements-sun, wind, rain, and more. Cowboy hats originated in the American West.

Different felt cowboy hat shapes