You can’t talk about Chris LeDoux without talking about the gear. He wasn't some Nashville-polished product put together by a stylist in a high-rise office. No. Chris was the real deal—a world champion bareback rider who just happened to be a world-class songwriter. And honestly, the hat Chris LeDoux wore was just as much a part of his legend as the scars from the rodeo circuit.
If you grew up listening to "This Cowboy's Hat," you already know the sermon. It’s a song about respect, heritage, and the unspoken code of the West. But for the folks trying to recreate that look today, it’s not as simple as grabbing any old felt off a rack. There is a specific geometry to it.
💡 You might also like: What Should I Wear to Jury Duty? The Real Rules for Not Looking Like a Mess in Court
The Shape of a Legend: The "Chris" Crease
Most people see a cowboy hat and just see a hat. If you’re a purist, though, you see the "crease."
Chris LeDoux’s hat evolved over his career. In the early days, back when he was rucking his own albums from the back of a truck, he wore what many call the RCA crease. It was standard. Professional. It looked like a guy who was ready to climb onto a horse named Descent and try to stay on for eight seconds.
But things changed around the time he signed with Capitol Records in the early 90s. He flipped the script. Literally.
He started wearing a crease that was low in the front and high in the back. It’s a subtle shift, but in the rodeo world, that slope says everything. It gives the hat a forward-leaning, aggressive profile. It’s the "get it done" look.
The brim usually sat around 4 or 4.25 inches. He favored a "Rancher’s Roll" or a "Packer’s Roll" on the sides. This means the edges of the brim aren't just flat; they curve upward in a way that suggests the hat has seen some wind. It’s a working man's curve.
The Brands and the Battle Scars
He wasn't strictly loyal to just one brand his entire life, though he was often seen in Bailey and Resistol early on.
Later in his career, he frequently shopped at "The Man's Hat Shop" in Albuquerque, New Mexico. There's actually a famous story—vouched for by his former production manager—where Chris bought hats for his entire band, Western Underground, at that very shop. He wanted his guys to look the part because they lived the part.
- Crown Height: Usually around 5.25 inches.
- Taper: A slight taper toward the front.
- The "Dip": A sharp, purposeful dip over the eyes.
Basically, if the hat looks like it’s trying to hide your eyes while you look for a lost calf in a blizzard, you’re on the right track.
💡 You might also like: Dreamt and the Weird Science of Why English Words End in MT
Why "This Cowboy’s Hat" Still Matters in 2026
The song went Platinum in 2024, nearly twenty years after Chris passed away. That doesn't happen by accident.
It’s because of the lyrics. They explain that a hat isn't a "fashion piece." It’s a museum of a man’s life. In the song, the hatband was a rattlesnake skinned by his nephew. The eagle feather was a gift from an Indian friend. The pin was from a special lady.
When people search for the hat Chris LeDoux wore, they aren't just looking for a product code. They’re looking for that connection to a guy who didn't take any crap but had a heart as big as Wyoming.
I’ve seen custom shops like Wyoming Territory Custom Hats still making a "LeDoux" tribute model. It’s one of their best sellers. Why? Because you can’t buy soul, but you can buy a hat that reminds you to have some.
How to Get the Look Right
If you want to pull this off, don't buy a pre-creased hat from a big-box store. It’ll look like a costume.
Find a real hatter. Tell them you want a 4.25-inch brim with a Packer’s roll. Ask for a low-front, high-back slope on the crown. And for heaven's sake, don't let it stay pristine.
A Chris LeDoux hat needs "battle scars." It needs to be tossed on a stage, caught in a "Blue Northern" storm, and maybe sat on once or twice.
The real secret? Wear it until it’s an extension of your head. Chris didn't look like he was wearing a hat; he looked like the hat grew there.
What to Look For:
- Material: Go with a high-quality felt, at least 10X or 20X if you can swing it. It holds the crease better.
- Color: He often stuck to classic black or silver belly, though he’d rock a straw hat in the summer heat of the rodeo.
- The Code: Never touch another man's hat. That’s the most important part of the ensemble.
To get your own version of this iconic piece, your best bet is to contact a custom hatter who specializes in "tribute" shapes or to find a vintage Bailey or Resistol and have it professionally reshaped by a master hatter who understands the "Chris" slope. Most shops in the mountain west will know exactly what you're talking about the moment you mention his name.
Own the look by starting with a quality open-crown felt and taking it to a professional shaper to get that specific low-to-high slope that defined his 90s era.