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Tips on Buying a Cowboy Hat
A staple in any cowboy or cowgirl's wardrobe is a good cowboy hat. However, when you walk into a store to buy one it can be quite a daunting task. There are different prices, styles, types, and qualities.
Cowboy hats can be made in a variety of different materials. The most common materials are felt (from rabbit or beaver fur) and straw, however, they can be made out of wool, leather, and the occasional beer box.
When selecting a cowboy hat to purchase, you have to decide what quality you are looking for. The quality is denoted by the number of Xs the hat has. The higher the X, the better the quality.
In felt hats, the X number determines the percentage of beaver fur to rabbit fur in the felt. The higher the percentage of beaver the more durable and softer the hat will be. The ratio to number of Xs varies based on the manufacturer. If the manufacturer uses 100X to denote 100% beaver, a 4X hat will have 15% beaver to 85% rabbit.
Typically, if properly cared for, a higher quality felt hat will last anywhere from 20 years to a lifetime. So while they are more expensive, they last a lot longer.
In straw hats, the X number determines the quality of the straw used and how tightly it was woven. The higher quality and the tighter the weaver, the better the hat.
Once, you have selected a type of hat, you need to determine what size you will need. Again, size will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, but typically if you measure the circumference of your head and then divide by 3.14, you will get a ballpark size to try. For example, if you measure around your head and get 24.25", divide this number by 3.14 and you will get around 7.72. From this you know that you will be around a 7 3/4.
Many of our advertisers carry cowboy hats and all of the hats shown here can be found on The Western Vault.
Even better is that Pinto Ranch is currently having a 25% off sale on Serratelli hats!
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