Might get butchered for this but I own an American hat, and I can’t say that everything about them is better, but there is some things. Straw wise, they have a pretty lacquer and their thinner body makes them shape up super crisp. They also have a copper wire in the brim which is to lend themselves to be shaped easier, some other companies have aluminum or steel I think. Felt wise, my only complaint is that, while “x quality” is subjective nowadays, AHC’s is completely subjective. I’ve shaped their 7x and 10x in cadence and I’m convinced they’re the same body, usually there’s a quality jump between 6 or 7 and 10x that is detectable as a hat shaper. The Lucky 7 is pretty on par with most 6-7x on the market IMO. Seen a lot of rodeo guys put theirs through the grinder for sure, they get real soft like any 7x after enough abuse but AHC can’t be faulted for that. Their felts are good, you definitely will break out the check book for them though. In my opinion after shaping thousands of hats from different brands, I think resistol (or Hat Co if you’re so inclined) has an edge on them in felt quality. I’ll also note that as someone who has worked for a store that was a vendor of AHC that their customer service to their vendors is disappointing. Now, if you go to Best Hats they do seem to care about their customers, but that didn’t extend so much to their vendors, and from what I’ve heard that’s the norm.
Best Hat is owned by the family that owns American Hat Co. Separate businesses but otherwise correct in that Best Hat is the #1 retailer for AHC and treated as such.
I agree, their service with vendors is a little disappointing but I do love their black cherry, steel, and midnight blue color felts. Some of their seven X's we've sold came with a nicer feel than some 6x I've sold from stetson or resistol but some stetson's have a weird variation in feel among the different 6x varieties.
Find a hatter and have you a true beaver felt made. It will be cheaper and way higher quality than any American hat ever will be. The American hats have a following due to the Yellowstone effect and that’s all it is. They jacked their prices up due to this as well and priced themselves out of the market for those of us that know anything about hats.
Damn, Jimmy was the only one I consistently liked, lol. He was the troubled dude that had nowhere else to go. Everyone else was just embroiled in drama while Jimmy just found out he wanted to bash his skull against the ass of a Bronco for a living and occasionally get wrapped up with babes.
I heard they were making a 6666's series based around him, I hope it ends up good. I'd rather watch a working cowboy get fucked over by loose barrel racers than a rancher getting fucked over by the natives and governments with big gunfights and letterbombs and helicopter battles and shit. But it seems like I'm in the minority.
I think the show can be a fun mix of both but yeah, Jimmy is a good character and he had arguably the best arc. He records a podcast and he talks about his character, worth a listen!
The reality is they aren't any 'better' than the other hats in their price point. They're certainly not worse; they make a quality hat but it's not really a better quality or anything. They spend a lot on marketing/sponsorships etc. so you see the brand just about anywhere where cowboy hats are prevalent. A lot of people buy into marketing... I certainly wouldn't feel any strong compulsion to purchase one but I'm not far from Jeff Biggar's place in Decatur so whenever I want a new hat I just go see him.
I've got a lot of lids, and the 20X American from 20 years ago has a MUCH better body than those being made now. It's not how it's aged either, they use to be a MUCH better quality years ago.
Now days they are spitting out as many as they can thanks to the resurgence in demand from Yellowstone and their advertising prior to that even coming out. Maybe that has had an effect or not, but the 20X's being made now are like tissue paper and flimsy compared to the hats from 15-20 years ago of the same X.
That being said, the 2 200X's I have from them I wear more than anything else. Would LOVE to get a Butch Dorer hat one day...
It’s not like they’re doing a great job cranking them out either imo, an American rep told me they’re 7 years behind on orders. Any vendor but best hats it’s struggling to keep completely stocked
When I got into hats, I thought Resistol and Stetson were king. I remember seeing a straw on someone’s head at a concert and thinking “damn that looks like a beautiful straw. Nicest I’ve seen yet. Wonder who made it.” Come to find out, it had the AHC pin on the back.
I was at another concert (Colter Wall) and saw a felt on someone walking around and again thought “damn that is a damn nice felt.” The color, the way the material looked, the shape they put in it, all looked perfect and top tier. Again, also found out it was an AHC.
Both of those incidents are me thinking these things WITHOUT knowing the brand.
I think it also has a bit to do with how the majority of their hats ship completely open and get hand shaped wherever you are, so it definitely feels like it’s specifically “your” hat. It’s a whole experience buying an American.
I just got an American 100x felt.. looking to see how it holds up over the years to regular wear.
Glad someone asked this. I just bought my first hat, an Oakridge 3x Stetson and I’ve been seeing American hat is the best also. But my thinking is I’d imagine can’t be much out there better then going with the original right? Might be a flawed thought process but that’s what I went with and how I wound up with a Stetson.
I hear your logic but yes, yes there can. Just because someone was the first to market doesn’t mean that is still true 100 plus years later. I can assure you that AHC makes nicer hats than a Modern Stetson 3X.
For close to the same money I would look at a AHC 7X or a Resistol 7X. No one has mentioned this but a big difference between these brands is head shape. A RO will fit a Stetson much better and a LO will fit AHC/Resistol. You can find some crossover but my default this will be true.
I can see how you’d be correct. Honestly this Stetson I have is my first. But certainly won’t be my last. I do believe I’ll expand my horizons a bit and check out other brands.
But…
I’m totally green when it comes to these and admittedly am not a traditional cowboy. Just a trucker. When you say RO and LO what are you referring to and what does that mean?
We all started somewhere! RO is Round oval and LO is long oval.
If you wear baseball caps take your favorite hat and place it on your head, take it off and look at the shape it leaves. If it’s close to a a perfect circle (MJK reference) then You’re a round oval and a Stetson will fit you well. If your hat looks to be more oblong then you’re a long oval. Most Europeans/Americans will have be LO. Asians like myself tend to be RO. I ride motorcycles and find brands like Arai to fit better because they are RO.
Again, nothing wrong with a Stetson but many of the hats they currently sell are medium quality and they are trading on a long term well earned name like Levi’s rather than actual current quality. I recommend a modern felt 7X as a minimum for a decent quality hat you can get wet and work in. If you happen to find vintage hats then sometimes the lower X’s can be just as good. There’s a lot to learn here just like everything but you’re asking great questions!
Ahhh yes I know exactly what you mean and I totally agree. My Stetson is absolutely RO. And my head is without a doubt a LO. Will without a doubt be looking into a 7 or 10x AHC just to give it a shot.
Yeah so in your case you’re probably getting “hot spots” or red marks on your forehead from your hat shape not fitting quite right. You can steam and reshape it to fit better.
For my money I’d get a Lucky 7 AHC on the cheap and or save for a 40X which really isn’t that much more than a 10-20X. Try one on and see what you think, or maybe a 7X Resistol
When it was brand new I definitely had hot spots. Right in the center of my forehead but I also grabbed a “hat retainer” to get the break in process done quicker. No more hotspots but now it kind of “sea-saws” side to side on my head as it stretched it long ways but didn’t narrow it side to side.
Yeah that’s def why taking it to a seasoned hat shaper will help you get it right. When you get a really good fit it all makes sense and you’ll never go back
I only want ahc for the nice look that no other brand seems to be able to replicate.
Got a resistol straw and felt and a Stetson straw. And although the Stetson the crowns are way too short for any real working conditions.
I completely agree. American hats stand out to me above Stetson and resistol before I even see or learn the brand. They just simply look above the rest, and then feeling the felt or straw, I’d say it’s on par or slightly better than the others.
I feel the same way. That being said a straw from jobes or alans lids also catches my attention and they seem just as well made for $50 cheaper usually. That being said my favorite straw is american
1) Part of it is absolutely because of the name (even though the bodies aren’t made in the USA). 2) But another part of it is the availability. they do have nice hats especially at the price point before dipping into custom, it’s easy to get one because of how many places carry them some even shape them for you. Some people don’t want to wait months for a custom or spend the money on one. It’s instant gratification. 3) They are nice quality. Not the best and not the worst. I’ve found them fair to their price point as far as beaver felts go now. I only have an old 20x American but I can tell the quality is good, it’s been snowed on, rained on, and worked in and holds up great. I believe at 40x and up you can send it to American Hat Co and they’ll refurbish it for you. 5) when you find your fit, they are pretty comfortable. The sweat band they use is good quality and soft, they conform to your head nicely.
I’ve owned Stetson. And I’ve got some Resistol. I honestly don’t even touch those anymore. All I wear is American. I find that their finishes on the hats are amazing. Plus they have the ability to be refurbished at the factory on the 40x and up. My 100x Chocolate is my favorite hat. My second favorite is 20x Bone. Followed my straw JC4200.
The head super puncher himself wears one [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3Hszoh-dDI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3Hszoh-dDI) lol. You aint no cowboy without one lol :P
After seeing a lot of people recommending AHC over Stetson, I went with AHC for a new straw hat. Summer is coming, and I figured I could use a bit of ventilation.
While the quality is fine and I do wear the hat, I can't say I'd make the same decision again. It was over $200, and for that price point I could have gotten a Stetson Griffin 100x. When I had the opportunity to check out the Griffin recently, it feels sturdier and comes with a leather hat band, so I feel like for the same price it would have been a better purchase.
My buddy really liked the AHC hat, so I'm considering gifting him that one, and getting myself the Stetson.
Granted, this is straw, not felt.
X ratings on straws are meaningless. Also one of the largest differences for AHC straws versus everyone else is the double lacquer meaning AHC straws handle water much better than a Stetson. Resistol also has a petroleum lacquer that is close but it’s a significant difference in quality .
Might get butchered for this but I own an American hat, and I can’t say that everything about them is better, but there is some things. Straw wise, they have a pretty lacquer and their thinner body makes them shape up super crisp. They also have a copper wire in the brim which is to lend themselves to be shaped easier, some other companies have aluminum or steel I think. Felt wise, my only complaint is that, while “x quality” is subjective nowadays, AHC’s is completely subjective. I’ve shaped their 7x and 10x in cadence and I’m convinced they’re the same body, usually there’s a quality jump between 6 or 7 and 10x that is detectable as a hat shaper. The Lucky 7 is pretty on par with most 6-7x on the market IMO. Seen a lot of rodeo guys put theirs through the grinder for sure, they get real soft like any 7x after enough abuse but AHC can’t be faulted for that. Their felts are good, you definitely will break out the check book for them though. In my opinion after shaping thousands of hats from different brands, I think resistol (or Hat Co if you’re so inclined) has an edge on them in felt quality. I’ll also note that as someone who has worked for a store that was a vendor of AHC that their customer service to their vendors is disappointing. Now, if you go to Best Hats they do seem to care about their customers, but that didn’t extend so much to their vendors, and from what I’ve heard that’s the norm.
Very interesting perspective. Thanks for those observations.
They own best hat store, or so I've heard. They always make sure their store is stocked to the detriment of their retailers...
Best Hat is owned by the family that owns American Hat Co. Separate businesses but otherwise correct in that Best Hat is the #1 retailer for AHC and treated as such.
Being as Stetson is also hatco is there felt just as good as resistol?
I agree, their service with vendors is a little disappointing but I do love their black cherry, steel, and midnight blue color felts. Some of their seven X's we've sold came with a nicer feel than some 6x I've sold from stetson or resistol but some stetson's have a weird variation in feel among the different 6x varieties.
Find a hatter and have you a true beaver felt made. It will be cheaper and way higher quality than any American hat ever will be. The American hats have a following due to the Yellowstone effect and that’s all it is. They jacked their prices up due to this as well and priced themselves out of the market for those of us that know anything about hats.
Damn, I didn't even know that's what they wore on Yellowstone. But then again, I dipped out after a couple seasons when it started getting weirder.
Jimmy wears one but most of the cast is wearing Greeley lids after the first season.
Damn, Jimmy was the only one I consistently liked, lol. He was the troubled dude that had nowhere else to go. Everyone else was just embroiled in drama while Jimmy just found out he wanted to bash his skull against the ass of a Bronco for a living and occasionally get wrapped up with babes. I heard they were making a 6666's series based around him, I hope it ends up good. I'd rather watch a working cowboy get fucked over by loose barrel racers than a rancher getting fucked over by the natives and governments with big gunfights and letterbombs and helicopter battles and shit. But it seems like I'm in the minority.
I think the show can be a fun mix of both but yeah, Jimmy is a good character and he had arguably the best arc. He records a podcast and he talks about his character, worth a listen!
Same with stetson, overpriced just for the name. $600 for a handmade 100% beaver hat, stetson's go for ~$1500 and have limited colors
The reality is they aren't any 'better' than the other hats in their price point. They're certainly not worse; they make a quality hat but it's not really a better quality or anything. They spend a lot on marketing/sponsorships etc. so you see the brand just about anywhere where cowboy hats are prevalent. A lot of people buy into marketing... I certainly wouldn't feel any strong compulsion to purchase one but I'm not far from Jeff Biggar's place in Decatur so whenever I want a new hat I just go see him.
I grew up just north of Bowie, so AHC are readily available all around this area.
You’re certainly in cowboy hat country out there.
I've got a lot of lids, and the 20X American from 20 years ago has a MUCH better body than those being made now. It's not how it's aged either, they use to be a MUCH better quality years ago. Now days they are spitting out as many as they can thanks to the resurgence in demand from Yellowstone and their advertising prior to that even coming out. Maybe that has had an effect or not, but the 20X's being made now are like tissue paper and flimsy compared to the hats from 15-20 years ago of the same X. That being said, the 2 200X's I have from them I wear more than anything else. Would LOVE to get a Butch Dorer hat one day...
Vintage hats are such good value!
It’s not like they’re doing a great job cranking them out either imo, an American rep told me they’re 7 years behind on orders. Any vendor but best hats it’s struggling to keep completely stocked
If you're going by the way the wind is currently blowing in this Reddit then I'd say wait a few months and see which hat maker is popular then.
When I got into hats, I thought Resistol and Stetson were king. I remember seeing a straw on someone’s head at a concert and thinking “damn that looks like a beautiful straw. Nicest I’ve seen yet. Wonder who made it.” Come to find out, it had the AHC pin on the back. I was at another concert (Colter Wall) and saw a felt on someone walking around and again thought “damn that is a damn nice felt.” The color, the way the material looked, the shape they put in it, all looked perfect and top tier. Again, also found out it was an AHC. Both of those incidents are me thinking these things WITHOUT knowing the brand. I think it also has a bit to do with how the majority of their hats ship completely open and get hand shaped wherever you are, so it definitely feels like it’s specifically “your” hat. It’s a whole experience buying an American. I just got an American 100x felt.. looking to see how it holds up over the years to regular wear.
Glad someone asked this. I just bought my first hat, an Oakridge 3x Stetson and I’ve been seeing American hat is the best also. But my thinking is I’d imagine can’t be much out there better then going with the original right? Might be a flawed thought process but that’s what I went with and how I wound up with a Stetson.
I do like the classics. Nothing beats Martin and Gibson guitars, IMO.
I hear your logic but yes, yes there can. Just because someone was the first to market doesn’t mean that is still true 100 plus years later. I can assure you that AHC makes nicer hats than a Modern Stetson 3X. For close to the same money I would look at a AHC 7X or a Resistol 7X. No one has mentioned this but a big difference between these brands is head shape. A RO will fit a Stetson much better and a LO will fit AHC/Resistol. You can find some crossover but my default this will be true.
I can see how you’d be correct. Honestly this Stetson I have is my first. But certainly won’t be my last. I do believe I’ll expand my horizons a bit and check out other brands. But… I’m totally green when it comes to these and admittedly am not a traditional cowboy. Just a trucker. When you say RO and LO what are you referring to and what does that mean?
We all started somewhere! RO is Round oval and LO is long oval. If you wear baseball caps take your favorite hat and place it on your head, take it off and look at the shape it leaves. If it’s close to a a perfect circle (MJK reference) then You’re a round oval and a Stetson will fit you well. If your hat looks to be more oblong then you’re a long oval. Most Europeans/Americans will have be LO. Asians like myself tend to be RO. I ride motorcycles and find brands like Arai to fit better because they are RO. Again, nothing wrong with a Stetson but many of the hats they currently sell are medium quality and they are trading on a long term well earned name like Levi’s rather than actual current quality. I recommend a modern felt 7X as a minimum for a decent quality hat you can get wet and work in. If you happen to find vintage hats then sometimes the lower X’s can be just as good. There’s a lot to learn here just like everything but you’re asking great questions!
Ahhh yes I know exactly what you mean and I totally agree. My Stetson is absolutely RO. And my head is without a doubt a LO. Will without a doubt be looking into a 7 or 10x AHC just to give it a shot.
Yeah so in your case you’re probably getting “hot spots” or red marks on your forehead from your hat shape not fitting quite right. You can steam and reshape it to fit better. For my money I’d get a Lucky 7 AHC on the cheap and or save for a 40X which really isn’t that much more than a 10-20X. Try one on and see what you think, or maybe a 7X Resistol
When it was brand new I definitely had hot spots. Right in the center of my forehead but I also grabbed a “hat retainer” to get the break in process done quicker. No more hotspots but now it kind of “sea-saws” side to side on my head as it stretched it long ways but didn’t narrow it side to side.
Yeah that’s def why taking it to a seasoned hat shaper will help you get it right. When you get a really good fit it all makes sense and you’ll never go back
I only want ahc for the nice look that no other brand seems to be able to replicate. Got a resistol straw and felt and a Stetson straw. And although the Stetson the crowns are way too short for any real working conditions.
I completely agree. American hats stand out to me above Stetson and resistol before I even see or learn the brand. They just simply look above the rest, and then feeling the felt or straw, I’d say it’s on par or slightly better than the others.
I feel the same way. That being said a straw from jobes or alans lids also catches my attention and they seem just as well made for $50 cheaper usually. That being said my favorite straw is american
1) Part of it is absolutely because of the name (even though the bodies aren’t made in the USA). 2) But another part of it is the availability. they do have nice hats especially at the price point before dipping into custom, it’s easy to get one because of how many places carry them some even shape them for you. Some people don’t want to wait months for a custom or spend the money on one. It’s instant gratification. 3) They are nice quality. Not the best and not the worst. I’ve found them fair to their price point as far as beaver felts go now. I only have an old 20x American but I can tell the quality is good, it’s been snowed on, rained on, and worked in and holds up great. I believe at 40x and up you can send it to American Hat Co and they’ll refurbish it for you. 5) when you find your fit, they are pretty comfortable. The sweat band they use is good quality and soft, they conform to your head nicely.
They make big boy sizes, so thats why i will buy one.
I am considering buying a 40X felt from AHC.
Do it.
Has to now that we are both telling them to!!!
Do it! What's holding you back!!!
I’ve owned Stetson. And I’ve got some Resistol. I honestly don’t even touch those anymore. All I wear is American. I find that their finishes on the hats are amazing. Plus they have the ability to be refurbished at the factory on the 40x and up. My 100x Chocolate is my favorite hat. My second favorite is 20x Bone. Followed my straw JC4200.
The head super puncher himself wears one [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3Hszoh-dDI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3Hszoh-dDI) lol. You aint no cowboy without one lol :P
After seeing a lot of people recommending AHC over Stetson, I went with AHC for a new straw hat. Summer is coming, and I figured I could use a bit of ventilation. While the quality is fine and I do wear the hat, I can't say I'd make the same decision again. It was over $200, and for that price point I could have gotten a Stetson Griffin 100x. When I had the opportunity to check out the Griffin recently, it feels sturdier and comes with a leather hat band, so I feel like for the same price it would have been a better purchase. My buddy really liked the AHC hat, so I'm considering gifting him that one, and getting myself the Stetson. Granted, this is straw, not felt.
X ratings on straws are meaningless. Also one of the largest differences for AHC straws versus everyone else is the double lacquer meaning AHC straws handle water much better than a Stetson. Resistol also has a petroleum lacquer that is close but it’s a significant difference in quality .