Christmas Gifts for the Outdoorsman: The 2026 Leather Hat Guide
A good hat is one of the few gifts that gets worn every day for years. These are leather and canvas outback hats, handcrafted in Minnesota, that fold into a bag, shrug off rain and come back into shape. We picked twelve hats in stock right now, from $62 to $100, and sorted them by budget and by the person you’re shopping for.
Who are you shopping for?
Start with the person, not the hat. Here’s where we’d point you for the people who are hardest to buy for.
The hunter
Earth-tone leather that handles wet brush and folds into a pack. Start with the Squashy Bison or the Foldaway Boar.
The angler or boater
Mesh sides let heat out on open water. The Foldaway Bronco Cooler is our pick.
The hiker or traveler
Light, packable and fine in a downpour. Look at the Waxed Canvas Drover or the Squashy Goat.
The gardener
Shade over the neck and ears matters most. The Wide Brim Foldaway Bronco Cooler has a 3 3/4″ brim all the way around.
For her
Cut for women, with a chin cord and a sun liner at the front: the Ladies Suede Cooler or the Ladies Canvas Drover.
The man who has everything
He probably doesn’t have deer leather. The Foldaway Deer is soft, feather light and our top of the line.
Gift hats under $75
You don’t have to spend $100 to give a hat that lasts. These four are made in the same Minnesota shop as the top of the line, from canvas and cattle leather.
1047 Ladies Canvas Drover
Our lowest-priced hat and one of the most practical. Poly cotton canvas is tough and light, mesh sides keep it cool, and a sun liner at the front cuts glare. The chin cord keeps it on when the wind picks up.
- Material: durable poly cotton canvas
- Brim: 3″ all around, crown 4 1/8″
- Colors: brown, khaki, beige
- Includes: free hat sizing kit
1058 Waxed Canvas Drover
Waxed canvas sheds rain and picks up scuffs and creases as it’s worn, so it looks like his hat within a month. It folds into the travel bag and has a chin cord for windy ridgelines.
- Material: premium waxed canvas
- Brim: 3″ all around, crown 4 1/8″
- Colors: sage, brown, natural, field tan
- Includes: sizing kit and travel bag
1062 Foldaway Bronco Cooler
Full-grain leather with mesh sides, so you get the look of a leather hat without the heat. The oiled, waxed finish is made to look broken in from day one. A good pick for anyone who spends summer on the water.
- Material: full-grain cattle leather, mesh sides
- Brim: 2 3/4″ all around, crown 3 3/4″
- Colors: black, brown, rustic, driftwood
- Includes: sizing kit and travel bag
1065 Foldaway Ladies Suede Cooler
Soft American cattle suede, mesh sides for airflow and a sun liner at the front. It’s light enough for a full day outside and folds flat into its bag for travel.
- Material: American cattle suede leather
- Brim: 2 3/4″ all around, crown 3 3/4″
- Colors: brown, sand, vintage brown
- Includes: sizing kit, travel bag, chin cord
The sweet spot: $75 to $89
This is where most people end up. Full-grain leather, more shade or a rarer hide, and still well under $100.
2080 Wide Brim Foldaway Bronco Cooler
The most shade of any leather hat in this guide. A 3 3/4″ brim covers ears and neck, and it still folds into the travel bag. Buy this one for the person who comes in from the yard sunburned every July.
- Material: American cattle leather
- Brim: 3 3/4″ all around, crown 3 3/4″
- Colors: rustic, driftwood
- Includes: sizing kit and travel bag
3000 Original Magic Hat
Heavy cotton canvas with a tall 5 1/2″ crown and an edge that frays naturally, so no two look alike. It’s the most distinctive shape we make, and it comes in four colors.
- Material: heavy duty cotton canvas
- Brim: 3 1/2″ sides and front, 3″ back
- Colors: black, natural, olive, navy blue
- Sizing: has its own chart, see the product page
1069 Foldaway Boar
Genuine USA boar leather, a hide most people have never seen on a hat, in charcoal or whiskey. A smart choice for a hunter who already owns plenty of gear.
- Material: genuine USA boar leather
- Brim: 2 3/4″ all around, crown 3 3/4″
- Colors: charcoal, whiskey
- Includes: sizing kit and travel bag
1022 Squashy Bronco
The squashy is our signature shape. Crush it, stuff it in a saddlebag, pull it out and it pops back. Full-grain cattle leather with an oiled finish that looks old on day one and better every year.
“It was a gift from my wife that I’ll cherish not just for sentimental reasons but because it’s a quality hat made in America!”Richard G., verified review
- Material: full-grain cattle leather
- Brim: 2 5/8″ sides, 2 7/8″ front, 3 1/8″ back
- Colors: chocolate, driftwood, black
- Includes: sizing kit and travel bag
The big gift: $90 to $100
American bison, goat and deer leather. These are the hats people still wear twenty years from now, and the ones that get asked about.
1085 Squashy Bison
American full-grain bison leather is thick, soft and deeply grained. It’s one of the most searched hats on our site, and it holds its shape even after it’s been jammed in a pack.
“Unlike most good-looking hats, you can stuff it into a backpack without ruining it.”John, verified review
- Material: American full-grain bison leather
- Brim: 2 5/8″ sides, 2 7/8″ front, 3 1/8″ back
- Colors: black, brown
- Includes: sizing kit and travel bag
2055 Squashy Goat
Full-grain goat leather is thin, light and very soft, so this is the leather hat for someone who runs hot. The pearl color is a real standout, and cognac and gold are more classic.
“The white goat skin is very soft and makes for a very nice summer hat.”rfrenzl, verified review
- Material: full-grain goat leather
- Brim: 2 5/8″ sides, 2 7/8″ front, 3 1/8″ back
- Colors: cognac, gold, pearl
- Includes: sizing kit and travel bag
1022 Squashy Bronco Cooper Crossing
The classic Squashy Bronco dressed up with the Cooper Crossing hatband. The brim is a little narrower than a cowboy hat, which matters more than you’d think in a truck cab.
“It saw thousands of hours of sun, rain, cold and gallons of sweat.”Maxwell M., verified review
- Material: full-grain cattle leather
- Brim: 2 5/8″ sides, 2 7/8″ front, 3 1/8″ back
- Colors: driftwood, chocolate, black
- Includes: sizing kit and travel bag
2053 Foldaway Deer
Full-grain deer leather is extremely soft and feather light, and it still folds into the travel bag. If you’re getting one really good hat, make it this one.
- Material: premium full-grain deer leather
- Brim: 2 3/4″ all around, crown 3 3/4″
- Colors: black, natural, tobacco
- Includes: sizing kit and travel bag
Why a leather hat is a good gift
Most gifts get used for a season. A well-made leather hat can last a lifetime, and every hat on this page was handcrafted in Minnesota.
Made in the USA
If you’re looking for American-made gifts for men, this is a real one. Every hat on this page is handcrafted in Minnesota, not just “designed in the USA.”
Built to be crushed
Squashy and Foldaway hats fold into the included travel bag and pop back into shape. They go in a suitcase, a saddlebag or a jacket pocket.
Weather is part of the deal
The leather and canvas are water resistant and rated 50+ UV. Rain beads off oiled leather, and a little conditioner once in a while keeps it that way.
Stocking stuffers under $20
Small things that go with the hat, or stand on their own.
2150 Bronco Leather Wallet$16.00
2150 Bison Leather Wallet$16.00
Removable Chin Cord$10.95
1000 Scarf$9.75
The wallets are single-fold American leather with the logo embossed on the front. The chin cord fits any hat with a chin cord loop.
How to measure hat size for a gift
Sizing is the part that worries people, but it’s easier than it looks.
Get the number without giving it away
- Borrow a hat they wear a lot and look for a size tag inside the sweatband.
- No tag? Run a soft tape measure (or a string) around the inside of that hat where it sits on the head.
- If you can measure their head directly, go around the forehead about a finger’s width above the eyebrows and above the ears.
- Match the number to the chart. If they’re between sizes, go up one.
The leather hats come with a free sizing kit: foam strips that go under the sweatband to take up extra room. So a hat that’s a little big is easy to fix. A hat that’s too small isn’t.
Wrong size? Unworn hats with tags can be exchanged within 30 days. Include your order number and the size you need. Return postage is paid by the customer.
| Size | Centimeters | Inches | US hat size |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | 53.5 | 21 1/16 | 6 5/8 |
| M | 55 | 21 5/8 | 6 7/8 |
| L | 56.5 | 22 1/4 | 7 1/8 |
| XL | 58 | 22 13/16 | 7 1/4 |
| XXL | 59.5 | 23 7/16 | 7 1/2 |
Christmas shipping
Shipping is free anywhere in the US. Orders ship the next business day by USPS and usually arrive in 2 to 5 business days. December mail runs slow, so we suggest ordering by December 15 to have it under the tree on time. We ship within the US only.
Gift questions
What size hat should I buy as a gift?
Measure a hat they already wear, or their head just above the ears, and match it to the chart above. If you’re between sizes, go up. Leather hats include a free sizing kit that takes up extra room.
Are these hats really made in the USA?
Yes. Every hat in this guide is handcrafted in Minnesota, USA.
What’s the difference between a Squashy and a Foldaway?
A Squashy has a slightly taller 4″ crown and a brim that’s longer at the back (2 5/8″ sides, 2 7/8″ front, 3 1/8″ back). A Foldaway has a 3 3/4″ crown and an even 2 3/4″ brim. Both fold into the travel bag.
Can a leather hat get wet?
Yes. The leather is water resistant, and rain beads off the oiled finishes. Let it air dry at room temperature, away from a heater, and use leather conditioner now and then.
Which hat is best for hot weather?
Anything with “Cooler” in the name has mesh sides for airflow. For leather without mesh, the goat leather is the thinnest and lightest. The canvas drovers are cool too.
How long does shipping take?
Orders ship the next business day with free USPS shipping and usually arrive in 2 to 5 business days. For Christmas, order by December 15.
Still deciding?
Browse everything by style, or call us at 800-984-8549 and we’ll help you pick.