A trucker hat is a style of baseball cap with a high front panel, a breathable mesh back, and an adjustable snap closure.
Trucker hats were originally designed as promotional giveaway items for truckers and farmers in the early 1970s, and they have since become popular accessories, especially for customization (more on this aspect later).
Read on and we will explain what sets a trucker hat apart from other, related hat styles, provide advice on styling trucker hats, and suggest exactly where you can buy the best customizable trucker hats.
Key Features of a Trucker Hat
Let’s start by answering your most basic question: what is a trucker hat, exactly?
Technically, a trucker hat is a type of baseball cap, but it looks quite different from most baseball caps you might have seen before.
Firstly, instead of being made up entirely of cloth fabric, trucker hats have fabric front panels and mesh backs. The mesh design in particular has a practical explanation: it allows for better airflow than traditional all-fabric caps.
In addition to their lightweight and airy feel, trucker hats also have a snap back closure that allows for easy adjustability. Plus, they often have different images and text printed and/or embroidered on their front panels.
Why Is It Called a Trucker Hat?
The term “trucker hat” comes from these hats’ early association with truck drivers, farmers, and other rural workers who initially wore this hat style as part of promotional giveaways. In the early 1970s, agricultural companies, feed stores, and trucking brands gave these hats away for free as advertising tools, since they often featured company logos on their front panel.
Because they were cheap to produce and their breathable mesh backing worked well during long hours on the road or in the field, trucker hats became a favorite among truck drivers, which led to their current name. The style continued to gain popularity and spread beyond truckers and farm workers to become a popular mainstream fashion item.
Trucker Hats vs. Other Cap Styles
Trucker hats are easy to distinguish from other cap styles thanks to their unique construction. Classic baseball caps are typically made of cotton, polyester, or a blend of the two materials, while trucker hats also incorporate mesh and fabric panels on the back and front, respectively.
They’re also distinct from snapbacks, which have a flat brim and a full fabric construction—trucker hats usually have curved bills and tall front panels. So-called “Dad hats” are baseball caps with a softer, more relaxed and unstructured style, while trucker hats are bolder and more structured.
How to Style a Trucker Hat
Trucker hats can be a pretty versatile accessory, depending on how adventurous you tend to get with your own fashion choices. This versatility makes them a popular choice for streetwear fans and people seeking a headwear option that’s both fashionable and comfortable, protecting them from the sun while offering high breathability.
For an everyday, casual look, you can pair a trucker hat with a graphic T-shirt, sneakers, and your favorite pair of jeans. Or for an outdoorsy, sporty aesthetic, wear trucker hats with athletic wear or hiking gear.
Streetwear fans often wear their trucker hats with oversized hoodies, joggers, and sneakers. You can also go for a vintage look by choosing a classic mesh-back hat with a retro-style logo—or even a vintage trucker hat, if you have one—and wearing a flannel shirt or denim jacket (depending on the weather).
Women can incorporate trucker hats into chic casual looks by wearing them with crop tops, bike shorts, or even a summer dress for a more unexpected fashion combo. Plus, don’t forget that you can always wear a trucker hat facing forward or flip it around backwards for a different look and vibe.
Where to Buy the Best Trucker Hats
It’s important to purchase your trucker hats from a high-quality source to make sure they’re well-constructed and will last for years of wear. Custom Lids is exactly that source, offering a wide array of hat brands (including New Era, ‘47 Brand, Richardson, and Custom Lids’ value brand, Crowns by Lids) as the customizable bases for your design.
They offer a range of hat styles, including dozens of different trucker hats in a variety of colorways, patterns, and designs. It’s also easy to customize these hats using Custom Lids’ Lids Lab, an easy and intuitive design tool that can help you bring the trucker hat of your dreams to life.
Regardless of why you might be in need of a personalized trucker hat—whether it’s for a sports team, corporate branding, or just one custom hat for your own outfits—working with Custom Lids makes it easy to create. Each hat they produce is constructed with care and professionalism, so the end result is consistently polished and high-quality.
