How to Choose the Best Custom Leatherette Patch Hats (Compared)

Hey there, friends! Mike here from Burl Wood Designs. If you’re reading this, you’re probably looking to get some gear for your crew, or maybe you’re looking to step up your branding game for your business here in East Texas or over in the Louisiana corridor.

Out here in Shelbyville, we know that a hat isn’t just something you wear to keep the sun out of your eyes while you’re working the timber or out on a job site, it’s your calling card. When you walk into a coffee shop in Lufkin or a supply store in Nacogdoches, that patch on your hat tells people exactly who you are and the quality of work they can expect from you.

Today, I wanted to sit down and walk you through how to choose the right custom leatherette patch hats for your business. We get a lot of questions about colors, styles, and how we put them together, so I figured I’d lay it all out for you right here.

The Foundation: Why the Richardson 112 is King

Before we even talk about the patches, we have to talk about the hat itself. When folks ask us for bulk custom hats for businesses, nine times out of ten, they’re asking for the Richardson 112.

Now, why is that? Well, in the world of trucker hats, the 112 is basically the gold standard. It’s got that classic mid-profile fit that looks good on just about everybody. It’s structured, so it doesn't go floppy on you after a week of hard use, and the mesh back keeps you cool during those humid East Texas summers.

Whether you’re outfitting a landscaping crew or a team of HVAC technicians, you want something that’s going to hold its shape. We’ve tried a lot of different blanks over the years, but the Richardson 112 just holds up to the daily grind better than anything else we’ve found. Plus, they come in a million different color combinations: from classic charcoal and white to more rugged options like the brown and black mesh styles we see a lot of local guys rocking.

Comparing the Colors: Finding Your Vibe

Once you’ve picked your hat, it’s time for the fun part: the leatherette patch. We use a high-quality leatherette that’s specifically designed for laser engraving. It gives you that rich, high-end look of real leather but it’s actually more durable and handles the elements a whole lot better.

Here’s a quick breakdown of our three most popular colors to help you decide which one fits your brand:

1. Saddle Tan

This is our absolute bestseller. It’s that classic "cowboy" look: a warm, golden-brown that engraves with a deep, dark contrast. If you want your logo to pop and you’re looking for a timeless, professional feel, Saddle Tan is the way to go. It looks fantastic on almost any hat color, especially navy, black, or charcoal.

2. Charcoal

If you’re looking for something a bit more modern and "stealthy," Charcoal is a great choice. It’s a dark gray leatherette that engraves to a crisp silver or light gray. It’s subtle, sleek, and looks incredible on black-on-black hats or even the red and black trucker styles. It’s a favorite for tech-heavy service businesses or companies that want a more industrial look.

3. Rawhide

Rawhide is for the folks who want that rugged, outdoorsman aesthetic. It’s a lighter, sandier brown than the Saddle Tan and has a more natural, weathered appearance once it’s engraved. It pairs perfectly with camo hats or those earth-tone browns and tans. It’s become a huge hit with our local ranching and timber clients who want their gear to look like it’s ready for the woods.

The "No-Stitch" Advantage: Why We Use Industrial Adhesive

One of the questions I get asked most often when I’m chatting with folks is, "Mike, why don't you stitch the patches on?"

It’s a fair question! People are used to seeing stitched-on patches, but here’s why we do things differently. We use a specialized, industrial-grade, heat-activated adhesive to bond our patches to the hats.

Here is why that’s a game-changer for you:

1. No Itchy Foreheads: If you’ve ever worn a hat with a stitched patch, you know that the underside of the stitching can sometimes rub against your forehead. It gets itchy and uncomfortable, especially when you’re sweating. Our heat-bonded patches are smooth on the inside. You won't even know it’s there.
2. Ultra-Strong Bond: This isn't just "glue." This is a specialized heat-activated bond that’s designed for heavy-duty use. Once we set that patch with our industrial press, it’s not going anywhere. It can handle the heat, the rain, and the vibration of a job site without peeling or lifting.
3. Cleaner Look: Stitching can sometimes look a bit cluttered, especially if the thread doesn't perfectly match the hat. By using our industrial adhesive, the focus stays entirely on your logo and the clean lines of the patch. It’s a modern, high-end look that really stands out.

We’ve put our hats through the wringer, and I can tell you from experience: these patches stay put. You can check out more of our work and the durability of these designs over on our website.

Want a Different Look? Try Tri-Layer Acrylic

While custom leatherette patch hats are our bread and butter, sometimes a brand needs a bit more "pop." That’s where our Tri-Layer acrylic patches come in.

Instead of the smooth finish of leatherette, these acrylic patches offer a 3D, layered look. They are incredibly durable and offer a high-contrast finish that’s perfect for industrial safety tags or businesses that want a very bold, technical appearance. We use the same industrial-grade adhesive for these, so they are just as tough as our leatherette options, but they give you a totally different aesthetic: think "industrial-grade shine."

Keeping It Local in Shelbyville

One of the things I’m most proud of is that we aren't some giant, faceless factory in a different time zone. We are right here in Shelbyville, Texas, located at 5200 FM3172.

When you order from Burl Wood Designs, you’re dealing with me and my team. We take pride in every single hat that leaves our shop because we know it’s going to be worn by a neighbor, a friend, or a local business owner we’ll probably run into at the grocery store. Whether you need 12 hats for a small crew or 200 for a large industrial operation in Shreveport or Marshall, you’re getting that same East Texas attention to detail.

We love serving our communities in Nacogdoches, Lufkin, Carthage, and Center. There’s something special about seeing a hat we made being worn by a plumber in Center or a roofing crew in Lufkin. It reminds us why we do what we do.

Ready to Get Your Crew Outfitted?

Choosing the right hat is an investment in your business’s image. If you’re not sure which color combination will look best with your logo, or if you want to chat about bulk pricing for your team, I’m always here to help.

Don't spend hours trying to figure it out on a website that doesn't understand your business. Let’s talk about what you need and get it done right the first time.

Call or text me, Mike, directly at +1 (936) 935-0185.

I’d love to hear about your business and help you put together a set of hats that your crew will actually want to wear every day. You can also reach out to us through our contact page if that’s easier for you.

Let’s get to work!