A cowboy hat has five main parts: the crown, brim, hat band, sweatband, and lining. Some cowboy hats also include features like a crown crease, brim binding, stampede strap, and ventilation eyelets.
Understanding the parts of a cowboy hat makes it easier to choose the right cowboy hat and take better care of it.
This guide includes a detailed cowboy hat diagram and explains what each part is and what it does.
Cowboy Hat Parts Diagram
Use the diagram below as a quick reference before exploring each part in more detail.
Some of these parts are found on almost every hat. To learn about the basic parts found on most hats, see our guide to the Parts of a Hat.
Main Parts of a Cowboy Hat
Each part has a specific purpose. Here’s what it is, where it’s located, and what it does.
Crown
The crown is the top part of a cowboy hat. It covers your head. The crown gives the hat its shape and helps it fit comfortably.
Brim
The brim is the wide part of a cowboy hat that sticks out from the crown. It goes all the way around the hat.
The brim helps protect your face, ears, and neck from the sun. It can also help keep light rain out of your eyes.
Cowboy hats come with different brim shapes. Some have a flat brim, while others have a curved brim. The brim shape affects how the hat looks and how much shade it provides.
Hat Band
The hat band is the band that wraps around the base of the crown, just above the brim.
It gives the cowboy hat a finished look and adds style. On many cowboy hats, it also hides the seam where the crown and brim are joined together.
Hat bands come in different materials, including leather, ribbon, fabric, and braided horsehair. Many cowboy hats also have a small bow on the left side of the hat band.
Sweatband
The sweatband is the band inside a cowboy hat that touches your forehead. It runs around the inside of the crown.
It absorbs sweat and helps keep the inside of the hat cleaner. It also makes the hat more comfortable to wear and helps it stay in place.
Most cowboy hat sweatbands are made from leather or soft fabric. They can also improve the fit, especially if you wear your hat for long hours.
Lining
The lining is the soft layer inside the crown of a cowboy hat. You’ll usually find it in felt cowboy hats, while many straw cowboy hats don’t have one.
It makes the hat feel softer and more comfortable to wear. It also helps keep the inside of the hat cleaner.
Most cowboy hat linings are made from satin or other soft fabrics.
Other Parts of a Cowboy Hat
Some cowboy hats also include other parts that are not found on every hat. These parts can add style, comfort, or extra function.
Crown Crease
The crown crease is the dent pressed into the top of the crown. They give the crown its shape.
Some cowboy hats have deep creases, while others have shallow ones. Some cowboy hats have an open crown, which means the crown has not been shaped yet.
Side Dents
Side Dents are the indented areas on each side of the crown. They give the crown its shape and help create the classic look of a cowboy hat.
The size and depth of the side dents can vary depending on the crown style.
Underbrim
Underbrim is the underside of the brim that faces downward when you wear the hat.
On some cowboy hats, the underbrim is a different color or material from the top of the brim. A darker underbrim can also help reduce glare on bright days.
Buckle
A buckle is the metal fastener that secures an adjustable hat band. It lets you tighten or loosen the hat band for a better fit. On many cowboy hats, the buckle is also a decorative detail that adds to the hat’s western style.
Brim Curl
Brim Curl is the upward curve along the sides of the brim. It gives a cowboy hat its classic western shape and helps keep the brim out of your way while riding or working outdoors.
Brim Binding
Brim binding is the strip of material sewn around the edge of the brim. It’s usually made from ribbon or fabric.
It helps protect the edge of the brim from damage. It also gives the cowboy hat a clean, finished look.
You’ll often see brim binding on felt cowboy hats. Many straw cowboy hats have a plain brim without binding.
Stampede Strap
A stampede strap is a cord that attaches to both sides of a cowboy hat and goes under your chin.
It helps keep the hat on your head in strong wind or while riding, hiking, working, or doing other outdoor activities. If the wind blows your hat off, the strap helps keep it from falling to the ground.
Some cowboy hats come with a removable stampede strap, so you can take it off when you don’t need it.
Ventilation Eyelets
Some cowboy hats have Ventilation Eyelets. These are small holes on the sides of the crown that improve airflow and help keep your head cooler. They are more common on straw cowboy hats and some work hats than on felt cowboy hats.
Common Cowboy Hat Crown Styles
Cowboy hats come in many crown styles. Here’s how to recognize the most common ones.
Cattleman Crown
The Cattleman Crown is the most common cowboy hat crown style. It has one crease down the middle and one crease on each side. These three creases give the crown its classic shape.
You’ll see the Cattleman Crown on many cowboy hats. Many people choose it because it has a simple, classic look.
Gus Crown
A Gus Crown has a tall front that slopes down toward the back.
This crown stands higher in the front than the Cattleman Crown, which gives the hat a different shape.
The Gus Crown is a popular choice for ranch work, rodeos, and western events.
Pinch Front Crown
A Pinch Front Crown has two pinches at the front of the crown.
The pinches make the front of the crown narrower than the back. They are the main feature that makes this crown style easy to recognize.
This crown is common on many cowboy hats and is also used on some western-inspired fashion hats.
Brick Crown
A Brick Crown has a flat top with straight sides. It looks more square than most other cowboy hat crowns. Some cowboy hats use this crown, but it is less common than the Cattleman Crown.
Open Crown
An Open Crown has no crease pressed into the top of the crown. The crown is left open so it can be shaped later. It can be shaped into different crown styles, such as the Cattleman, Gus, Pinch Front, or Brick.
Many people choose an Open Crown because they want to shape it themselves or have it shaped the way they want.
Common Cowboy Hat Brim Styles
Cowboy hats also come with different brim styles. Here are the most common ones.
Flat Brim
A Flat Brim has little or no curve around the edge. It gives the cowboy hat a simple, straight look. Some people leave it flat, while others shape a flat brim later to match their own style.
Curved Brim
A Curved Brim bends upward or downward around the edge. The curve changes the look of the cowboy hat and can also provide more shade for your face and eyes than a flat brim.
Pencil Roll Brim
A Pencil Roll Brim has a thin, tightly rolled edge that curves upward around the brim.
This rolled edge gives the cowboy hat a more polished look. You’ll often see this brim style on dress cowboy hats.
FAQs About Cowboy Hat Parts
What are the dents in a cowboy hat called?
The dents on the top and sides of a cowboy hat are called the crown creases. They are pressed into the crown to give the hat its shape. Different crown creases create different crown styles.
Do all cowboy hats have the same parts?
No. All cowboy hats have the main parts, including the crown, brim, hat band, and sweatband.
However, not every cowboy hat has a lining, brim binding, ventilation eyelets, or a stampede strap. These parts are optional and depend on the type of cowboy hat.
What is the difference between a hat band and a sweatband?
A hat band and a sweatband are different parts of a cowboy hat. The hat band wraps around the outside of the crown, just above the brim. It adds style and can also cover the seam where the crown and brim meet.
The sweatband is inside the hat. It touches your forehead, absorbs sweat, and helps the hat fit more comfortably.
Which parts of a cowboy hat affect its fit and comfort?
The crown and sweatband have the biggest effect on how a cowboy hat fits. If the hat has a lining, it can also make it more comfortable to wear.
The crown affects how the hat sits on your head, while the sweatband helps improve the fit and absorbs sweat.
Which side of a cowboy hat goes in the front?
The side where the brim dips lower goes in the front. It helps shade your face from the sun.
If your cowboy hat looks the same on both sides, check the hat band. If it has a decorative buckle or feather, it is usually worn on the left side.
Conclusion
The parts of a cowboy hat are easy to understand once you know what each one does. Knowing them also makes it easier to choose the right hat and take better care of it.
Now that you know the parts, learn how to wear a cowboy hat correctly so it looks right and fits the way it should.
