Collection: Leather Baseball Caps

Every cap in Ghelter's leather baseball cap collection is genuine leather, and nearly every listing names the hide as cowhide or sheepskin. The material line on the product page reads, for example, "100% Genuine Leather (Cowhide)" or "100% Genuine Leather (Sheepskin)", which tells you more than the photo can.

Cowhide holds its shape, while sheepskin is lighter and suppler. Genuine leather softens, molds to your head and darkens into a patina over time. When you compare leather ball caps, the stitching along the panels, the finish of the edges and whether there is a lining say more about quality than the logo does. For genuine leather in other shapes, browse our genuine leather hats and caps collection.

Corduroy is at its best on cooler days, but not only on them. Cotton corduroy is lighter than its pile suggests, so it works in spring and early fall too, and about a third of Ghelter's corduroy caps are listed for summer wear, in the same range of colors as the rest.

For the cold months, a few models add a lining or fold-down earflaps, which turn a light cap into a winter one. Pair a corduroy cap with denim, a sweatshirt or a shirt jacket in a close shade and it sits naturally; for smarter combinations, our guide to styling a baseball cap without looking too casual has more ideas.

A leather baseball cap and a suede baseball cap differ in which side of the hide faces out. Leather shows the smooth outer surface, which is tougher, sheds light rain better and wipes clean with a cloth. Suede is brushed to a soft, velvety nap with a matte finish, warmer to the touch and more casual, but more sensitive to water and stains.

The caps in this collection are leather rather than suede, which makes them easier to keep clean. If you want the matte look, read the material line before you buy: a cap sold as suede can be a brushed fabric instead of hide.

Most of Ghelter's leather baseball caps are adjustable, so one cap covers a span of head sizes, often 55-60 cm (21.7 to 23.6 inches), instead of a single fixed size. A few come in fixed sizes, in 2 cm steps (55-56, 57-58 or 59-60), and the listing states which type each cap is. Across the collection, sizes run from 54 to 62 cm (21.3 to 24.4 inches).

To measure, run a soft tape around your head, level, 1-2 cm (0.5-1 inch) above the eyebrows, and compare the number with the span on the listing. If you fall between two sizes, choose the larger one, and set an adjustable cap so it sits snug without pressing a line into your forehead. For US sizes, see our sizing page.

As a rule, genuine leather relaxes a little with wear, tends to deepen in color rather than fade, and cracks mainly when it dries out. A snug cap eases slightly as it molds to your head, so a close fit on day one is fine. Time deepens the color into a patina, although strong sun can fade bright dyes, while heat and neglect stiffen leather, so keep it away from radiators and car dashboards and give it a leather conditioner a few times a year.

Kept conditioned and out of heavy rain, a leather cap keeps its shape and gains character for years. Storing it on its crown, rather than crushed flat, keeps the panels and the brim in line for longer.

Clean a leather baseball cap with a barely damp cloth, never by soaking it or putting it in a washing machine. Soaking stiffens genuine leather and can leave water marks, and a machine cycle will warp the panels and the brim. Wipe off marks gently, let the cap dry at room temperature away from heat, and then feed the leather with a conditioner made for it.

Test the conditioner on a hidden spot first, such as the underside of the brim, because some products darken the hide, and use a thin layer. Our hat cleaning guide covers felt, cotton, straw and wool hats step by step.

Leather caps ship the same way as the rest of the Ghelter range: packed and shipped within 1-2 business days, then tracked and insured until they reach you, usually within 5 to 12 business days. Shipping is free on orders over 50 EUR, and you can request a return up to 30 days after delivery.

The cap has to be unworn and keep its tags and original packaging. Email support@ghelter.com with a photo of the cap and one of the shipping label. Free return labels are sent for caps that arrive in poor condition, are not in the correct size or differ from the photos; for sale items and orders paid with a discount code, you cover the return shipping. For another size, return this cap and order the new one separately.