Melin Vs Branded Bills Hats: Quality, Price & More!

Eleazar Bernier 12 May 2025

Tired of sweat-stained hats ruining your look? Finding the perfect headwear that balances quality, style, and affordability can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. With countless brands vying for your attention, how do you choose a hat that not only looks good but also stands the test of time?

The quest for the ideal hat often leads consumers down a path of comparing seemingly similar brands, dissecting nuances in materials, fit, and pricing. Melin hats, with their high-end reputation, frequently find themselves pitted against more budget-friendly alternatives like Branded Bills. Both brands offer headwear designed for performance and style, yet cater to distinct customer segments. The core difference lies in the brand philosophy: Melin positions itself as a luxury brand, emphasizing premium materials and construction, while Branded Bills focuses on providing quality headwear at a more accessible price point, often collaborating with other brands to create unique, logo-emblazoned caps.

Brand	Melin	Branded Bills
Origin	Southern California	Arizona, USA
Founding Year	2013	2015
Founders	Brian McDonell and Corey Roth	Dave Dickert, Josh Tabaj, Tim Welch, and Sam Coil
Brand Positioning	Luxury headwear	Affordable, customizable headwear
Core Product	Performance-oriented hats with premium materials	Customizable hats, often with leather patches
Price Range	$60 - $200+	$30 - $60
Key Features	Hydrophobic materials, signature trims, hidden stash pockets	Customizable designs, leather patch options, collaborations
Website	Melin	Branded Bills

One individual's experience highlights this very comparison. Having amassed a collection of Melin hats across various styles, the same person ventured to explore Branded Bills and Salt Mafia, ultimately concluding that the latter two brands mirrored each other in quality, placing them a notch below Melin. A key differentiator, according to this assessment, resides in the superior bill and snap enclosure featured on Melin hats. While sweat-wicking capabilities and ease of cleaning were deemed comparable across all three brands, the tactile experience and perceived durability tilted in favor of Melin.

Branded Bills, established in Arizona in 2015 by founders Dave Dickert, Josh Tabaj, Tim Welch, and Sam Coil, carved a niche for themselves through a unique branding technique: applying leather patches to headwear using a branding iron and a knife. This distinctive approach, coupled with a growing business model, allowed them to focus on providing quality headwear for businesses, teams, and individuals seeking custom apparel. Their product line encompasses a diverse range of styles, including rope hats, 5-panel hats, flat and curved bill hats, trucker hats, golf hats, and baseball caps, catering to a wide spectrum of tastes and preferences.

The allure of Melin hats often stems from their innovative design and performance-oriented features. One anecdote recounts an individual's initial exposure to the brand through social media advertisements, sparking interest in a hat designed to withstand the Texas heat. However, the price tag of approximately $65 per hat gave pause, leading to a search for more affordable alternatives. While Melin is known for making the front of their bills flat.

The difficulty of shaping a hydrophobic hat bill is a recurring concern. Traditional methods of shaping a hat often involve steaming and using rubber bands to achieve the desired curve. However, with Melin hats, the hydrophobic nature of the material complicates this process, potentially requiring more effort and specialized techniques. This contrasts with the straightforward shaping process associated with conventional hats.

A significant point of contention for some Melin hat owners is the tendency for the hats to develop an unpleasant odor over time, which proves difficult to eradicate. Despite maintaining their aesthetic appeal, the lingering smell can be a deterrent. Conversely, Branded Bills users often praise the longevity and resilience of their hats, even after extended use. One user mentioned that Branded Bills hats still look brand new even after considerable wear.

Comfort and fit are also crucial considerations. The availability of XL sizes in Melin hats, coupled with the ability to adjust the snapback closure with minimal button usage, is a definite advantage for individuals with larger head sizes. In contrast, some users have found Melin's flatbill versions less flattering, particularly when worn forward. Others have described the hats as feeling heavy and stiff, despite their high-quality construction.

Branded Bills offers a wide array of headwear options, emphasizing customization and affordability. Their offerings include flat trucker hats with high crowns and flat bills, curved trucker hats with mid crowns and curved bills, branded crew foam trucker hats with high crowns and curved bills, and curved stretch trucker hats with low crowns and comfort stretch sweatbands. This diverse selection allows customers to find the perfect hat to suit their individual style and needs.

The discussion surrounding Melin hats often circles back to their premium price point, a reflection of the superior quality and craftsmanship invested in each hat. As a luxury brand, Melin aims to deliver an unparalleled experience, utilizing high-end materials and innovative design elements. However, for budget-conscious consumers, the price can be a significant barrier to entry.

For those seeking a Melin-like experience without the hefty price tag, Branded Bills emerges as a viable alternative. While not identical in terms of materials and construction, Branded Bills hats offer comparable quality at a significantly lower cost. Moreover, the option for custom designs and blank hats provides added versatility and personalization. Branded Bills hats can be $20 cheaper for a custom hat than these expensive Melin.

The importance of finding a hat that effectively manages sweat cannot be overstated, particularly in hot and humid climates. One individual's quest to combat sweat stains on golf hats led them to discover a budget-friendly alternative at Walmart, priced around $20. This "knock-off" version, from the brand Mission, proved to be a satisfactory solution, demonstrating that effective sweat management doesn't necessarily require a premium price tag.

The online community, particularly platforms like Reddit (r/ausfemalefashion), provide valuable insights and recommendations for hat enthusiasts. These forums serve as spaces for sharing information, news, and advice related to fashion, including headwear. Users often discuss and compare various brands, helping fellow consumers discover local brands, products, and inspiration. For individuals seeking everyday hats that offer both durability and style without breaking the bank, Branded Bills often receives favorable mentions as a quality alternative to Melin.

The Branded Bills Bare Curved 5 Panel Rope Hat, with its adjustable snapback and lightweight, comfort-stretch, quick-dry fabric, has garnered positive reviews from customers. Despite variations in experiences and brand preferences, the consensus remains that both Melin and Branded Bills offer distinct value propositions, catering to different needs and budgets. The decision ultimately hinges on individual priorities and the desired balance between quality, style, and affordability.

The brand history of Branded Bills begins in Arizona in 2015, when four founders, Dave Dickert, Josh Tabaj, Tim Welch, and Sam Coil, ingeniously used a branding iron and a knife to create a unique leather patch application for headwear. With a growing business model, Branded Bills focused on providing the best performance hats. Now standard orders typically leave their Mesa, AZ warehouse within 48 hours, and arrive within 7 business days.

Melin hats are definitely the higher quality choice when it comes to headwear. The higher quality bill and snap enclosure along with sweat wicking and cleanability. Branded bills makes some decent quality hats and i have a pins and aces scheduled for delivery today so we can see if it compares.

Branded Bills Vs Melin Hats Comparison [ 2025 ]

Student Success Stories

Melin Vs Branded Bills Hats: Quality, Price & More!

Detail Author:

Socials

facebook:

instagram:

linkedin:

tiktok:

twitter: