A great hat is iconic to the feel of an Old West story and Rockstar delivered us some fantastic options for Red Dead Redemption 2.
While hats offer no in-game stat benefits, they provide some great avenues for lore, collecting, and crafting. And, of course, as a fun item to round out an outfit. Well, the Miner’s Hat serves as a light source, but that’s the only exception.
1. Miner’s Hat
Location: Inside mine at Beryl’s Dream
I’m gonna start this off with a hat I completely missed my first playthrough. Which is the only hat in the game with a mechanical benefit, as a hands-free light source.
This location appears to tell a gruesome tale of murder. Once you have blown up the rubble blocking the entrance, you can search the small cave and find multiple collectibles and the tragic end of an unknown man.
Towards the back of the mine, there lies the body of a man face down with a knife in his back. To his left is the Miner’s Hat. To his right is a gold nugget. Note: The knife is also collectible.
There’s no indication as to who the man is or who killed him. Who knows, maybe one of them is Beryl. It certainly seems possible that the mine entrance collapse was an intentional cover-up.
While this is the same location where you find Joshua Brown, who is wanted for murder, it seems unlikely that he is the culprit. I also found myself wondering if Joshua Brown was gearing up to blow the mine entrance and have a look for himself.
How To Get The Miner’s Hat:
This is a found hat located inside the collapsed mine at Beryl’s Dream in the Big Valley area of the West Elizabeth region. This location, which is Northwest of Strawberry, is the same area as the bounty hunting mission for Joshua Brown.
Upon reaching the mine entrance, there'll be a plunger connected to the cave-in. Using the plunger will create an entrance, and you’ll be able to explore a small cave. The hat is next to a body towards the back.
2. Civil War Hardee Hat
Location: Fort Brennand
Examining the run-down Fort Brennand will reveal a location with a complicated history.
Located within a chest in the same basement as the Civil War Hardee Hat and Civil War Knife is a report that details an attack led by General Quincy Harris of the Confederate Army which led to the fort's downfall. The report, made by one Lieutenant Ronald Alger of the Union army, appears to have taken refuge here knowing his execution was imminent.
Be aware that this is the same location as the bounty-hunting mission for Lindsey Wofford. It’s a top-notch location and there are multiple collectibles, so be sure to take a good look around.
How To Get The Civil War Hardee Hat:
Located within the walls of the abandoned Fort Brennand, which is West and slightly South of Vanhorn along the Kamassa River in the New Hanover region, is this Civil War relic. In the corner of a decrepit cabin, there is a ladder that leads down to a basement where you can collect the hat. Be sure to collect the Civil War Knife and Civil War Report located nearby.
3. Arthur’s Gambler’s Hat + Accessory
Materials: Various Feathers
Arthur’s Gambler’s Hat was a gift to Arthur from his father, Lyle Morgan. This is the most iconic Old West hat of the game, and it is the only hat that you can craft various accessories to embellish.
How To Get Arthur’s Gambler’s Hat + Accessories:
The hat itself is automatically unlocked at the start of the game for Arthur. Be aware, you will lose access to it when you play as John in the epilogue.
Visiting the trapper NPC will allow you to acquire various accessories which you can then equip the same way you would a different-colored outfit. This will include accessories such as the Homestead Accessory (1x chicken feather, 2x goose feather, and $10) or the Judiscous Accessory (1x pheasant feather, 1x owl feather, and $10).
4. Nevada Hat
Location: Granite Pass
While there are, reportedly, two methods to acquire the Nevada Hat, I am going to focus on the one found near Window Rock.
While exploring along the Dakota River, you can come across a beautiful waterfall with an accessible cliffside area. By heading behind the waterfall, you will discover a striking hat with a suicide note directly below it.
The note details the exploits of a successful performer, Robert Elliot Patchen, who was likely in the area due to a performance at St. Denis. After having performed in places like San Francisco and New York, Patchen is an aging man whose career has moved from playing dashing heroes and romantic leads to playing more fatherly roles. Something Patchen laments in some detail.
Patchen goes on to paint a picture of numbing with alcohol and Laudanum and only feeling exhilarated when he looks at his face on his cigarette card (which is one of the collectible cigarette cards). He ends the note with an apology.
How To Get The Nevada Hat:
This is a found hat located behind a waterfall on Whimyard Strait which is West and slightly North of Fort Wallace in the Amberino region. The location is easiest to spot from the railroad as it is partway up the cliff at Granite Pass. Follow the ledge to access the area behind the waterfall and you will find the hat and note sitting enshrined on a raised stone ledge.
5. Legendary Bear Head Hat
Material Cost: 1x Legendary Bear Pelt
Several NPCs including camp members will comment on the outlandishness of this trophy hat. With the iconic scarred eye, it’s hard to miss and makes for a great addition to several colder-climate outfits.
How To Get The Legendary Bear Head Hat:
The Legendary Bear Head Hat is part of the Bear Hunter outfit crafted by the Trapper NPC. By bringing the Trapper 1x Legendary Bear Pelt and paying him $40, he will craft the hat.
6. Tricorn Hat
Location: Island near Clemen’s Point
There are a few pirate-themed relics dotted around the map, and the Tricorn Hat is my favorite. While little can be derived about the ship that crashed ashore here or the previous owner of the hat, it’s a great find.
This is another hat that will get you teased by NPCs and camp members alike. It is an old-timey hat by RDR2 standards.
How To Get The Tricorn Hat:
The shipwreck you’ll need to access is located on an island West of Rhodes and outside the Clemens Point camp from Chapter 3. You’ll need a boat in order to reach the area, so there are plenty to steal or you can purchase an upgrade for the Clemens Point camp that makes one available.
You can find the hat on the far side of the largest island visible from the shores of Clemens Point. Once you’ve rowed to the island head around to the opposite side and the shipwreck is pretty noticeable. It’ll be tucked into a corner towards the back of the ship amongst the debris.
7. Legendary White Bison Hat
Material Cost: 1x Legendary White Bison Pelt
This is a great cold weather outfit hat complete with horns. Getting an all-white, warm outfit together feels like mountain man material. While it did not garner as many comments from NPCs as I anticipated, it does cause a few unique reactions.
How To Get The Legendary White Bison Hat:
The Trapper NPC will craft this hat for you once you bring him 1x Legendary White Bison Pelt and pay him $45.
8. Muskrat Calvary Hat
Material Cost: 4x perfect rabbit pelts, 1x perfect muskrat pelt
As the image above suggests, this hat creates that great hidden-eyed glare that I associate with so many cinema badasses. It works well on many warmer-weather outfits when you're trying to achieve a rougher look.
How To Get The Muskrat Cavalry Hat:
The Muskrat Cavalry Hat is one of the crafted hats made by the Trapper NPC. Bringing him 4x perfect rabbit pelts and 1x perfect muskrat pelt then paying him $15, will reward you this hat.
9. Elk Flop Hat
Material Cost: 1x perfect elk pelt
This plain hat works well when you want to achieve a run-down frontier look. Working easily with several different outfits. It’s simple and easy to acquire once you have located elk making it an early game addition to your wardrobe.
How To Get The Elk Flop Hat:
This crafted hat is acquired by bringing the Trapper NPC 1x perfect elk pelt and then paying him $12.
10. Raccoon Mountain Hat
Material Cost: 1x perfect raccoon pelt, 1x perfect beaver pelt, 2x hawk feathers
It wouldn’t be the American frontier without a raccoon cap atop your head at some point. Besides keeping your skull warm, it’s just plain iconic. After all, Davy Crockett isn’t a well-known American folk hero for nothing.
How To Get The Raccoon Mountain Hat:
This crafted hat requires visiting the Trapper NPC and bringing him 1x perfect raccoon pelt, 1x perfect beaver pelt, and 2x hawk feathers plus the $21 crafting fee.
