Old Western Style Hats: The Spirit of the American West
There is something timeless about an Old Western style hat. Long before cowboy hats became a fashion statement, they were practical pieces of equipment built for life in the American West. A good Western hat protected a cowboy from the sun, rain, wind, and dust while becoming a recognizable part of his personal style.
Today, old Western hats are still popular with ranchers, working cowboys, collectors, Western reenactors, and movie fans who want the authentic look of the Old West.
What Makes an Old Western Style Hat?
Old Western hats are known for their distinctive crowns, wide brims, and classic Western shapes. Styles can range from an open crown with a simple crease to more defined shapes such as the Gus, Cattleman, Cutter, Buckaroo, Tom Mix, and Boss of the Plains.
The brim and crown can also be shaped to create a completely different appearance. A hat with a wide, flat brim gives a rugged, traditional look, while a more curled brim and shaped crown can create the appearance of a classic cowboy movie hat.
Quality Fur Felt Makes a Difference
Traditional Western hats were made to last, and the material used to make the hat is an important part of that tradition.
At Staker Custom Hats, we make custom Western hats using quality fur felt, including beaver and European Hare. Fur-felt hats can be lightweight, durable, water-resistant, and shaped to create the look and feel of an authentic Western hat.
For customers looking for a truly premium hat, beaver felt is one of the finest choices available. It allows the hatter to create detailed shapes while providing a comfortable and durable finished hat.
Handmade and Made to Fit You
One of the biggest differences between a factory-made hat and a custom hat is the fit.
At Staker Custom Hats, each hat is handmade in our shop in Utah. The crown shape, brim width, brim shape, color, crease, and other details can be customized to create a hat that fits your style.
Instead of choosing a hat from a factory-produced selection, you can work toward the exact Western look you want.
Movie-Inspired Old Western Hats
Many of the most recognizable Western hats today come from classic Western movies and television shows. Characters such as Clint Eastwood’s iconic Western characters helped establish hat shapes that are still copied and recreated today.
From the dusty, heavily distressed look of an Old West gunfighter to the clean appearance of a working ranch cowboy, the right hat can completely change the character of an outfit.
At Staker Custom Hats, we can create Western movie-inspired hats with custom shaping and distressing to give them an authentic, lived-in appearance.
Distressing: Making a Hat Look Like It Has a History
A brand-new hat can be made to look like it has spent years on the trail.
Distressing can include subtle changes in the felt, brim, crown, and overall finish to create the appearance of a well-worn Western hat. The goal is not simply to make a hat look dirty—it is to give it character.
A properly distressed hat can look like something that belongs in an Old Western town rather than something that just came off a store shelf.
Your Hat, Your Style
There is no single shape that defines an Old Western hat. Cowboys have always shaped their hats according to their own needs and personalities.
Whether you want a classic Old West cowboy hat, a Buckaroo hat, a gunfighter hat, a Western movie replica, or a rugged custom ranch hat, Staker Custom Hats can build a hat around the style you want.
Staker Custom Hats — Handmade Western Hats from Utah
If you’re looking for an Old Western style hat made from quality fur felt and shaped specifically for you, look no further than Staker Custom Hats.
Handmade in Utah. Custom shaped. Built to be worn.