Best Cowboy Hats For Rain
Whether you’re wearing it for style or for protection against the sun and the elements of weather, a cowboy hat is a remarkable fashion statement that stands the test of time!
If you live in an area where it rains occasionally, you need a cowboy hat that can withstand these conditions, and that’s where this guide comes in handy!
In today’s article, I’ll walk you through 9 of the best cowboy hats for rain that you can find out there in addition to a brief buyer’s guide to help you pick the one that suits your needs. Let’s dive right in and see what they’re all about!
1. American Hat Makers Cyclone Leather Cowboy Hat for Men and Women — Handcrafted – Best Cowboy Hat for Big Heads
The Cyclone cowboy hat is one of the best options on the market if you want a cowboy hat for the rain that is available in a wide range of sizes, which vary from small and all the way up to 3 X Large.
The hat has a premium construction, as it’s made from 100% leather with a unique texture that gives the hat the aesthetic of the old west.
The hat also comes in a wide range of colors with unique shiny and dull finishes to suit your taste. Leather isn’t only moisture and rain resistant but it’s also remarkably tough and elegant on the head.
The hat is handcrafted and the craftsmanship really shows when you take a closer look at the hat’s stitching on the brims and hatband. You can also find velcro removable sweat liners on the inside of the hats.
Despite that, the hat is still lightweight and doesn’t feel too heavy on the head like some leather hats are.
Pros
- Timeless unisex design that is both stylish and functional
- Available in a wide range of sizes to suit large heads
- Comes in different colors
Cons
- Premium price tag
（Youtube）I Feel Legendary When I Wear These Hats! – American Hat Makers Review↓
2.Stetson Men’s 4X Buffalo Felt Seneca Western Hat– Best Felt Hat for Rain
Next up we have another hat from Stetson, which shows the level of quality that these folks offer in their products. If you’re looking for a felt hat that is decently soft to touch without compromising durability, this one is for you.
The Seneca Western Hat is made from 4X buffalo felt, which is one of the highest weave qualities out there, ensuring not only ruggedness, but also an incredible ability to perform under relatively heavy rain.
The hat has a unique silver sand color that reflects sun rays, making it a very good hat for working under the sun as well.
In terms of design, this hat features a classic punch crease front design but you can easily reshape it with a steamer. It also comes in a wide variety of sizes that ranges from 6 3/4 to 7 3/8.
Although the design of the hat itself is great, the buckle design on the hatband here feels a little flimsy, but you can always style the hat with a new hatband!
Pros
- Can be easily shaped by steaming
- Available in a wide range of sizes
- Elegant and versatile design
Cons
- Underwhelming hatband buckle design
（Youtube）Stetson Men’s 4X Buffalo Felt Seneca Western Hat↓
3. Dorfman Pacific Men’s Outback Hat with Chin Cord – Best Budget Pick
If you’re buying a cowboy hat with a tight budget but you still want it to resist rain and elements of weather, you should consider Dorfman’s Pacific Outback Hat.
What I like about this hat is that it’s remarkably reliable in terms of weather resistance and comes at an excellent bang for the buck!
The hat is made of a unique blend of weathered cotton (52%) and polyester (48%), so it combines the best of both worlds!
On one hand, cotton is very comfortable to wear and soft to touch while staying decently breathable. On the other hand, polyester is excellent at wicking moisture and makes the hat easy to shape and style.
In addition to the shapeable 2 3/4 inch brim, I also like that the hat comes in two different colors, which allows you to mix and match the hat with your outfit.
The hat also provides up to UPF 50+ protection, so you can use it to work under the sun. Moreover, it features a chin cord to keep the hat on your head through the wind.
Pros
- Ideal for buyers on a strict budget
- Comes with an adjustable chin cord
- Smooth internal lining to prevent skin irritation
Cons
- The hats run a little too big
4. Outback Trading Company Men’s 1484 Bootlegger UPF 50 Waterproof Breathable Western Cotton Oilskin Hat – Best Cotton Hat for Rain
Some people like cotton cowboy hats because they’re smooth and comfortable to wear. However, not all cotton cowboy hats are also resistant to water.
If you’re looking for a waterproof cotton hat, you should consider the 1484 Bootlegger from the Outback Trading Company.
Despite being made of 100% cotton. The hat is also treated with oilskin fabric that wicks the water off and keeps the hat dry.
The hat comes in both black and brown, although the brown is a little too dark and doesn’t provide color variety. The hat also features a sweatband that dries quickly and prevents the sweat from running down your forehead.
The hat has a wide 3 1/4 inch adjustable brim, so you can easily style it the way you like. It also protects your head from ultraviolet rays with a UPF rating of about 50.
Pros
- Made from a polyester blend to balance comfort with moisture resistance
- Wide and highly adjustable brim
- Reinforced construction
Cons
- The oilskin coating fades away with continuous washing
5. American Hat Makers Hollywood Cowboy Leather Hat — Handcrafted, Durable – Best Leather Hat
If you’re looking for a leather hat that truly captures the look and feel of a western cowboy, you might want to keep this one in mind!
Like all hats from American Hat Makers, the Hollywood Cowboy hat is crafted by hand, which makes it remarkably durable and handles the elements of weather and heavy use pretty well.
The hat is made of leather, so it can easily withstand rainy and wet conditions. I also like the braided hatband design because it adds to the unique looks of this hat.
The hat has an excellent sizing system that allows it to fit just right, so it’s not too tight or too loose and easy to fall off.
The loop closure on the inside allows you to install sweat liners easily. Moreover, the leather makes it very easy to clean the hat and keep it shiny without damaging it.
Pros
- Premium leather with an aesthetically pleasing finish
- Designed with an accurate sizing system in mind for a perfect fit
- Attaches sweat liners very easily
Cons
- Can feel a little heavy
6. Stetson Men’s Powder River 4X Buffalo Felt Cowboy Hat – Best Overall
Kicking off the list with one of the overall best cowboy hats that you can find out there. Stetson is easily one of the most popular names in the cowboy hats industry, making some seriously reliable options for all occasions.
The Stetson Powder River is made from genuine buffalo felt, which is a fabric of compressed wool that gives the hat a relatively rough but comfortable texture.
The hat is quite stylish and I really like the cattleman design, which features two indentations on either side of the crown in addition to a deep crease in the center.
The material provides the hat with overall decent moisture resistance, allowing you to wear it through light to medium rainfall.
The cowboy hat also features a leather band that is made of leather, which gives the hat a classic look that works on a wide variety of occasions.
Stetson offers this hat in 3 different sizes, ranging from 7 to 7 3/8 inches in circumference, making it suitable for different head sizes.
Pros
- Premium quality material
- Excellent feel and water resistance
- Available in various sizes
Cons
- Can be a little stiff for some users
7.Scala Classico Men’s Crushable Felt Outback Hat– Best Wool Hat for Rain
Wool cowboy hats are great for retaining their shape while being relatively crushable and coming at a reasonable price.
This hat has a classic aesthetic of two indentations on either side of the hat’s crown in addition to a relatively deep crease in the middle. In addition to the handsome look, this design makes the hat very easy to handle.
Wool is also a relatively durable material that can handle heavy use without fraying. Since it’s thick, it also helps in keeping your head warm, which is good in the case of cold rainy days.
The hat features a large brim that is about 3 inches wide. Additionally, the brim is wired, which makes the hat very easy to shape and style to your liking.
The only drawback of this hat is that wool on its own isn’t the best when it comes to heavy rain, so you might want to apply a coating spray on the hat to improve its water resistance.
Pros
- Elegant design
- Keeps your head warm in the cold
- Comes at a reasonable price
Cons
- Only suitable for light rain
（Youtube）Scala Classico Men’s Crushable Felt Outback Hat.(review)↓
8. Cowboy Shop Hat Rain Protector – Best Water Repellent Cowboy Hat Protector
If you don’t want to buy a hat specifically for the rain, a good alternative here would be getting a water-repellent cowboy hat cover instead.
This one is made of vinyl, which is a waterproof fabric form of plastic that allows the water to slide right off.
Vinyl is also surprisingly durable, as this hat protector doesn’t peel or crack with time, so you can use it to wear just about any type of cowboy hat in the rain without worrying about soaking it.
What’s unique about this rain protector is that it can fit a wide range of hat styles, as it takes the form of the hat used. It also comes with a fitting elastic band to keep it attached to the hat.
However, it’s mostly fit for medium and medium-large cowboy hats, so it can be a little small for large or X large hats with large brims.
Pros
- Extremely affordable alternative to buying a rain-proof cowboy hat specifically
- Easy to apply on any hat with its elastic band
- Can be folded and kept in your pocket when not in use
Cons
- Not compatible with all types of cowboy hats
9. Stetson Men’s Fort Crushable Wool Leather Hatband Cowboy Hat – Silverbelly – Best Wool/Leather Hat for Rain
Last but not least, if you like the warmth and softness of wool as well as the durability and water resistance of leather, this cowboy hat from Stetson should be on your shortlist!
This hat features a large brim with an adjustable wire. This allows you to style the hat the way you like. It’s also remarkably durable and can take a beating without losing its charm.
The unique design of the hatband also adds to the quality of the hat. It has a quick-drying sweatband on the inside to keep your head dry and protects the hat from skin oils and sweat.
Pros
- Rugged construction with elegant design
- Premium sweatband to protect the hat and prevent sweat action
- Treated against water and repels water nicely in rain
Cons
- Limited size options
Things to Keep in Mind While Choosing a Cowboy Hat for the Rain
Now that you know more about the best cowboy hat options for the rain, it’s time to find out how to pick the right one for your needs!
In this section, we’ll take a closer look at some of the most important aspects to keep in mind while buying a cowboy hat for the rain:
Materials Used
The materials used while making a cowboy hat are extremely critical because they decide a lot of aspects of the hat, including its durability, comfort, moisture and element resistance, as well as breathability.
While you can make a cowboy hat out of any material out there, some fabrics are more commonly used than others due to their suitability. These materials include:
- Felt
- Leather
- Wool
- Straw
- Cotton
All these materials differ in their ability to absorb and wick moisture from the rain. For example, some types of leather and fur-based felt are excellent at resisting rainwater while other materials like wool and cotton aren’t as good.
However, wool and cotton are much more comfortable to wear in a wider range of applications, making them an easier pick if you want a versatile hat that will work all year round.
Keep in mind that some hats may use a waterproof coating to protect wool and cotton hats from moisture in addition to using them in combination with other materials with better water resistance.
Lastly, you can apply a cowboy hat protector on any of the other materials, which are made of vinyl. This material is a straight-up waterproof material that will keep rainwater off and your hat dry all the time.
Design and Brim Shape
The design of the hat is a matter of personal taste but you should always keep it in mind while choosing a hat.
Make sure that the hat’s brim is easy to adjust and style to your liking, which is made by steaming and wired brims.
If you can choose, consider getting a crushable hat because it’ll retain its shape even after it’s folded.
Extra Features
After settling on the main features of the hat, make sure that you consider some of the other features that add to the value of the hat, such as quick-drying sweat liners, ultraviolet rays (preferably rated above 50), resistance, and adjustable chin cords.
These features make the cowboy hat more versatile, as they allow you to use it under the sun and through the strong wind.
Can You Wear a Cowboy Hat in the Rain?
The answer to this question depends on the design and material of the cowboy hat in question. For example, materials like leather, fur-based felt, and straw are designed to withstand moisture and rain.
When these materials are exposed to moisture, they simply wick this moisture off due to their natural water resistance properties. Other materials such as cotton, wood, and some types of felt are coated with a protective layer of oilskin.
Oilskin is a lining of cotton that is soaked in a waterproof material, such as boiled linseed and whale oil, which make these fabrics water repellent.
How Should a Cowboy Hat Fit?
Choosing the right fit for your cowboy hat is quite important because wearing a hat that is too tight will make you feel uncomfortable and wearing a hat that is too loose will make it fall off as you walk or bend over, especially in the wind.
For that reason, the perfect fit for a cowboy hat should be in between these two measurements and follow the natural roundness of your head.
The ideal fit for a cowboy hat is to feel a slightly firm attachment on the front and the back will have a bit of room on both sides.
As a rule of thumb, the hatband should allow you to fit one finger between your head and the hat at the forehead area and two fingers on the sides.
How to Measure for a Cowboy Hat
As previously mentioned, when it comes to cowboy hats, the size of the hat can make it or break it.
For that reason, you need to always pick the right size for you by measuring the size of your head and picking the right size for the hat.
Luckily, you can easily do this in a variety of ways. The easiest one of them is simply by wrapping a tape measure that is designed for clothes around your head at the forehead level to measure your head’s circumference and match it with the sizing guide.
If you don’t have a tape measure, you can use any spare cord you have and wrap it around your head the same way. Note and mark where the cord overlaps and then lay it flat to measure it with any measuring device you have on you.
After taking the measurements of your head, here’s a helpful sizing guide for hats in relation to head circumference:
- 21 to 21 7/8 inches is considered “Small” or “Size 6 7/8”
- 21 7/8 to 22 1/2 inches is considered “Medium” or “Size 7 1/8”
- 22 1/2 to 23 1/4 inches is considered “Large” or “Size 7 3/8″
- 23 1/4 to 24 inches is considered “X Large” or “Size 7 5/8″
Keep in mind that these sizes are not standardized, so they may vary from one seller to the other. For that reason, always compare your measurements to the sizing chart offered by the model of hat you’re buying.
How to Care for Your Cowboy Hat After Rain
While some cowboy hats may withstand the rain, you still need to take proper care of the hat if you want it to last for a long time.
After exposure to rain. It’s always important that you shake the hat off to remove any water in the hat and use a hat brush to clean any residue or stains of water.
Next, lay the hat upside down on its crown and allow it to dry in the air without exposing it to any heat source because it can make the hat shrink or alter its shape. You should also flip the sweat liners out to allow them to dry during that time.
Final Thoughts
This wraps it up for today’s guide that walks you through the best cowboy hats for rain. As you can see, there are plenty of great options on the market that you can wear proudly when it’s pouring outside!
If you’re looking for the best overall pick, you might want to consider the American Hat Makers Cyclone Leather Cowboy Hat for Men and Women. This handcrafted hat is remarkably durable and handles the moisture from rain as well as other elements very well.
However, if you’re on a strict budget and you want a decent hat that can withstand moisture without costing you an arm and a leg, you should keep the Dorfman Pacific Men’s Outback Hat in mind.
This one is made from a polyester/cotton blend that makes it comfortable and remarkably resistant to moisture, all while coming at a highly affordable price!
Works Cited
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