Cowboy Hat Brim Shapes: A Guide

Choosing the right cowboy hat isn’t as simple as grabbing one off the rack; you want something comfortable and functional. Cowboy hats come in many materials and have a variety of brim and crown shapes to pick from. You’ll want to select a hat brim shape based on the discipline you ride, face shape, and personal style. 

Here are some of the most popular hat brim shapes to know about before shopping.

Parts of a Cowboy Hat

Cowboy hats have a brim, hatband, crease, crown, dent, and roll. For this article, we are focusing on the brim, which is the wide piece of material extending around the crown. The roll is the curved brim shape, which can be customized depending on your hat shape preference. The hatband wraps around where the brim meets the crown.

Hatbands can be plain or elaborate and easily adjusted to fit your style. The crease of the hat is the groove or indent at the very top of the hat. The crease sits right between the dents, which run along the outer edges of the top of the hat.

Cowboy Hat Materials

Cowboy hats come in various materials, including leather, felt or wool, and straw. As you search for the perfect cowboy hat, consider when you will wear it, your needs, and your style. Felt and wool cowboy hats are popular for cooler temperatures because they keep your head warm and are breathable. Straw hats are trendy for working, as they are durable and breathable but protect you from the sun. Leather and suede cowboy hats are less common and require more cleaning and care than the other materials.

Cowboy Hat Brim Shapes

The vast number of cowboy hat shapes can be overwhelming! The brim of a cowboy hat can add a lot of flair and personality and is an excellent opportunity to show your style in and out of the show pen. 

These are some of the top hat brim shapes available:

Rancher or Cattleman’s Crease: This is the most common brim style for cowboy hats. The edges are angled slightly upward with a subtle curl. This brim shape is often seen on Cattleman cowboy hats, which sport three crown creases and a slightly curved brim.

Flat Brim: With no curves, this brim lays entirely flat. These hats are popular in the Nashville music scene and are often customized with unique designs.

George Round: This popular option is similar to the Rancher or Cattleman’s Crease but has a softer upward curve. It comes in a 6” or 8” flat front before softly curving upward. This brim shape is often seen on Cattleman cowboy hats, which sport three crown creases and a slightly curved brim. 

Bullrider Crease (also known as the JB Brim): Extra wide, flat brims come in 9” to 11” across the front. The measurement refers to the length of the flat brim in the front of the hat before curving sharply upward.

Quarter Horse, Relaxed Quarter Horse, Wide Quarter Horse: Sometimes referred to as the "Taco Brim” this hat brim has a flat front before curving upward at a sharp 90* angle. The Relaxed Quarter Horse is similar, but the angles at the corners are not quite as sharp and pronounced. A Wide Quarter Horse has a wider brim than a typical Quarter Horse but not quite as wide as the JB Brim.

Rolled Brim: This brim has rolled edges, so the brim curls in towards the crown. Many palm leaf straw hats are designed with rolled Brims. This style has been worn by famous actors and musicians such as Kenny Chesney or Cole Hauser.