Stetson
One of the oldest cowboy hat brands
in the world,
Stetson is synonymous with Western style and functionality. Stetson
produces classic cowboy hats made from top-quality materials. Each hat
is expertly crafted for comfort and durability.
Not only will a Stetson protect you from the sun and rain, but it
will also complement your unique style.
Pros:
- History – Founded in 1865
- Location – Garland, Texas
- Specialty – Durability – Stetson hats last a lifetime
Cons:
Product Feature
The Skyline is one of Stetson’s most famous and popular designs. Made
of genuine beaver fur pelt and sporting a classic cattleman crease—it’s
a classic.
Greeley Hat Works
With over 100 years of experience,
these guys pride themselves on customer HATisfaction! Choose from
classic ready-to-ship designs to customized Beaver pelt perfection.
Pick your hat, then choose from nine different shapes and a
multitude of brim designs.
Pros:
- History – Founded in 1909
- Location – Greeley, Colorado
- Specialty – Custom-made designs with HATitude!
Cons:
- Prices may exceed many people’s budgets
Product Feature
If you’re not in the market for a custom-made hat but still want
premium quality, you can’t go wrong with Greeley Hat’s classic buckskin
cowboy hat.
Made from European hare pelt, it comes with a chocolate sweatband and
silver buckle. Customize it by choosing your ideal crown and brim
shapes.
Resistol
Designed to protect you against the harshest elements,
Resistol’s hats really do resist all.
They’re comfortable to wear all day, in any weather conditions,
and give a real sense of the Texan cowboy culture.
Pros:
- History – Founded in 1927
- Location – Garland, Texas
- Specialty – Weatherproof cowboy hats
Cons:
- Dark colors aren’t colorfast in heavy rain
Product Feature
The 20X Conley is one of Resistol’s best-selling products. This
lightweight straw cowboy hat is handwoven, breathable, and wide-brimmed
to protect you from the glaring sun.
Shorty’s Caboy Hattery
Producing high-quality hats with fun designs and intricate details,
Shorty’s Caboy Hattery can create the perfect hat to suit your
unique look.
Alternatively, you can select from their ready-to-ship
wide-brimmed straw hats.
Pros:
- History – Founded in 1990
- Location – Stockyard’s City, Oklahoma
- Specialty – Custom-made cowgirl hats
Cons:
- While the straw hats are affordable, custom-made hats need
serious investment!
Product Feature
With these custom-made hats, there is no best-selling product—each
one is unique. Choose from a range of colors, styles, materials, and
finishing's to create your perfect look.
American Hat Company
The
American Hat Company was the first to produce waterproof straw
cowboy hats and continues to do so, alongside top-quality felt hats made
from beaver, mink, and rabbit fur.
Pros:
- History – Founded in 1915
- Location – Bowie, Texas
- Specialty – Waterproof cowboy hats
Cons:
You can’t buy direct from the American Hat Company
Product Feature
The great thing about the American Hat Company is you can buy the
same hat in various qualities, so you can customize it according to your
budget.
The standard 10X cowboy hat looks much the same as a 1000X to the
untrained eye, so why not customize a cheaper version, like the
AMR 20X Grizzly, and make it stand out without breaking the bank?
JW Brooks Custom Hats
JW Brooks creates customized hats using top-quality materials. You
can choose to have a hat manufactured entirely from beaver belly fur or
opt for a luxurious mink blend.
Although the process may seem a bit daunting to begin with, the
website offers step-by-step instructions to help you create the perfect
design.
Pros:
- History – Founded in 2006
- Location – Lipan, Texas
- Specialty – Custom cowboy hats
Cons:
- The ordering process is quite complex
Product Feature
Use the online hat package to create your perfect design.
Step-by-step instructions guide you through the process, starting with
color options before moving on to crown shapes and brim styles.
Bailey Western
While most of the leading cowboy hat brands started making hats for
cowboys,
Bailey Western focused on a different market—movie stars.
Using innovative designs and luxury fibers, Bailey Western
produces stylish, functional hats that won’t look out of place around
the ranch or on the movie screen.
Pros:
- History – Founded in 1922
- Location – Lipan, Texas
- Specialty – Custom cowboy hats
Cons:
- Quality is good, but doesn’t compete as well with the big-name
brands
Product Feature
The
Windriver Firehole combines a classic Western design with the latest
innovations. Using treated wool, the hat retains its shape, is durable,
and water repellent. The Dri-Lex® sweatband completes the design, making
it cool, dry, and comfortable.
Rodeo King
Rodeo King prides itself on its range of styles and colors, so if
you want something specific, you stand a good chance of finding it here.
These high-quality hats are handcrafted yet affordable and come
in some interesting colors, making them ideal for those with lots of
flair, but not so much money.
Pros:
- History – Founded in 1921
- Location – USA
- Specialty – Wide range of colors, styles, and designs
Cons:
- Rodeo King does not sell directly to the public
Product Feature
If you’re looking for something stylish yet simple, you can’t go
wrong with Rodeo King’s Black 5X cowboy hat. With a 4 1/4 inch brim and
subtle buckle decoration, it’s a great hat for roping, barrel racing, or
a night out on the town.
Specialist by Rod’s
Western Palace
The Specialist is a felt cowboy hat made from a blend of rabbit/hare
and beaver fur. While you can choose from different qualities and
colors, every Specialist comes with a silk lining, leather sweatband,
and three-piece buckle decoration.
Pros:
- History – Founded in 1976
- Location – Columbus, Ohio
- Specialty – Manufactures a classic Western hat in a range of
qualities and colors
Cons:
- Although the Specialist range caters to most budgets, it’s still
quite limited compared to other brands
Product Feature
The latest addition to the Specialist range is an entry-level 4X
offering, which is more affordable than the 20X but looks every bit as
good. It still has a silk lining and buckle detail and is available in a
range of sizes.
Tenth Street Hats
This family-run company uses rare hat-making machines to create
functional cowboy hats that will take your outfit from ordinary to
extraordinary.
Pros:
- History – Founded in 1921
- Location – Los Angeles, California
- Specialty – Uses rare hat-making machines to produce
high-quality products
Cons:
Only a limited range of cowboy hats
currently available
Product Feature
The 6X Real is a fur-felt Western hat with a soft finish and
comfortable fit. While functional, it’s also trimmed with an
eye-catching buckle set that will shimmer in the city lights.
Master Hatters of Texas
Master Hatters‘ founder, William Cook, learned his trade at the
Byer-Rolnick Hat Company in Dallas before manufacturing for Resistol.
This experience led to the development of the Master Hatters range,
which is now improving with the latest technology.
Pros:
- History – Founded in 1968
- Location – Garland, Texas
- Specialty – Straw and felt cowboy hats
Cons:
- You can’t buy directly from Master Hatters and finding their
full collection elsewhere is challenging.
Product Feature
Master Hatters produces a range of cowboy hats, starting with the
lower-quality 3X products and going all the way to the premium 100X. The
3X Dawson black wool cowboy hat is a great entry-level product complete
with silver conchos to make you look like the real deal.
American Hat Makers
American Hat Makers specialize in producing rodeo hats but also have
a wide range of cowboy hats available. With the focus firmly on
functionality, these hats are durable and resilient.
Pros:
- History – Founded in the 1970s
- Location – Watsonville, California
- Specialty – Leather cowboy hats, tejana shapes, and rodeo hats
Cons:
- With the focus on leather and rodeo hats, there is only a fairly
limited choice when it comes to traditional felt cowboy hats.
Product Feature
American Hat Makers have embraced the leather cowboy hat like no
other. Their Women’s Leather Cowboy Hat is a functional masterpiece that
protects against sun and rain and molds to the shape of your head for
the perfect fit.
Charlie 1 Horse
Charlie 1 Horse produces cowboy hats that break the mold but won’t
look out of place on the ranch. It specializes in cowboy hats for women
and has an extensive range of fashion-forward designs to suit every
personality.
Pros:
- History – Founded in 1978
- Location – Garland, Texas
- Specialty – Fashion-forward hats for women
Cons:
- Product descriptions on the website are limited, making it more
challenging to find the perfect design at the right price
Product Feature
You’ll struggle to find anything as classic or classy as Charlie 1
Horse’s Women’s Highway Hat. More suitable for a
day at the races than a day on the ranch, this stylish wool-blend
offering will add a feminine flair to your cowgirl fashion.
Outback Trading Company
The
Outback Trading Company is famous for its oilskin products, giving
them authentic Aussie charm. Oilskin is waterproof, durable, and tough
enough to withstand the rigors of the Australian bush.
The company has branched out since its early days and now
manufactures cowboy hats using wool, straw, and leather, although their
oilskin dusters are tough to beat.
Pros:
- History – Founded in 1983
- Location – Oxford, Pennsylvania
- Specialty – Oilskin hats and garments
Cons:
- Felt cowboy hats tend to be more lightweight than oilskin
Product Feature
If you’re more concerned with staying dry than expressing your inner
cowboy, look no further than the Grizzly Oilskin Hat. Waterproof and
breathable, it protects you from the elements and is durable enough to
last a lifetime.
Cavender’s
This
family-run business has established itself as one of the leading
Western Clothing stores in the US. They have their own collection of
high-quality cowboy hats, and stock numerous popular brands, including
Resistol and Stetson—perfect for one-stop shopping.
Pros:
- History – Founded in 1965
- Location – Tyler, Texas
- Specialty – Premium Western clothing
Cons:
- You might find it difficult to make a decision with so many hats
to choose from!
Product Feature
One of the most popular hats in Cavender’s collection is the
supremely affordable Bangora Ivory Cattleman Crown Cowboy Hat. This
lightweight, breathable straw cowboy hat combines style with
functionality.
Watson’s Hat Shop
Producing top-of-the-range cowboy hats is the name of the game for
Watson’s Hat Shop, and each one is lovingly handcrafted according to
the customer’s specifications. If you want a functional work of art as
well as a hat, this is the place for you.
Pros:
- History – Founded in late 1800s
- Location – Cave Creek, Arizona
- Specialty – Handcrafted custom hats
Cons:
- A hat of this quality is a lifetime investment, so you might
need to save up!
Product Feature
Customize any of the Watson’s Hat Shop’s offerings, and you’ll have a
masterpiece. Start with something simple yet stylish, like The Rancher,
and add your own flair with customized colors, shapes, and finishes.
Ariat
As one of the leading manufacturers of equestrian boots and clothing,
Ariat is known for its technical materials and performance gear.
Although its range of cowboy hats is limited, each one has that typical Ariat flair and finish.
Pros:
- History – Founded in 1993
- Location – California
- Specialty – Equestrian performance gear
Cons:
- There’s only a limited selection of
Ariat cowboy hats so you
won’t have the range of colors or styles you’ll find elsewhere
Product Feature
This
Ariat black wool cowboy hat will keep the sun out of your eyes and
the wind out of your hair. It keeps your head warm while giving your
outfit a little Western flair. A well-priced, good-quality product with
consistently positive reviews.
Justin
The
Justin name is more commonly associated with boots, so it doesn’t
have the brand recognition of Stetson when it comes to cowboy hats.
There’s nothing wrong with their products, though, and they have a great
range of entry-level cowboy hats in both straw and felt.
Pros:
- History – Founded in 1879
- Location – El Paso, Texas
- Specialty – Hand-crafted boots and hats
Cons:
- Justin Boots doesn’t appear to feature cowboy hats on their
website, so you’ll have to source them through other vendors
Product Feature
This entry-level felt cowboy hat features a cattleman crease, a
4-inch brim, and satin lining.
Brixton
Brixton might not be a household name like Stetson, but it produces
good-quality cowboy hats at affordable prices. Available in a range of
colors and sizes, their hats are made from cruelty-free wool that also
meets the Responsible Wool Standard for Sustainability.
Pros:
- History – Founded in 2004
- Location – Oceanside, California
- Specialty – Uses cruelty-free wool in its vintage-inspired
designs
Cons:
- You won’t get the same kudos from a Brixton as you would a
Stetson
Product Feature
This cruelty-free wool cowboy hat comes with an adjustable sweatband
for the perfect fit. A thin band and metal Brixton pin add understated
decoration for a more subtle look.
Bullhide
With their innovative designs and attention to detail,
Bullhide is a leader in the Western fashion industry. They
manufacture hats using traditional processes that capture the flair of
the Old West.
Pros:
- History – Founded in 1949
- Location – Pembroke Pines, Florida
- Specialty – High-quality custom-made products
Cons:
- Bullhide has a bewilderingly large array of hats to choose from,
which some may find confusing
Product Feature
If you’re looking for an affordable straw hat, look no further than
the Bullhide Buffalo. Made from 100% cotton, it’s lightweight,
breathable and stylish.
Burns Cowboy Shop
started as a saddlery but soon started selling everything a
cowboy could need – including hats. These days, they make their own
custom hats from beaver and hare.
Select your perfect combination of materials, and then finish it
off with your chosen crown shape and brim.
Pros:
- History – Founded in 1876
- Location – Utah
- Specialty – Traditional family-run Western retail business
Cons:
- Prices will be too high for those on a tight budget
Product Feature
While a custom hat is everybody’s dream, not everyone’s wallet will
stretch that far. Burn’s has a range of high-quality, ready-to-ship
cowboy hats for every outfit and occasion.
The
competitor saddle 4.25” is available in hare, beaver, or a
combination of the two and is handmade to ensure top-quality
craftsmanship.