Old West Hat History.  There has been a long competitive history between Stetson Hats and Resistol Hats. Maybe it was preordained that they would one day combine under one roof. John B Stetson invented the broad brim hat, because he was broke, knew how to make hats, and was tired of getting his head wet while mining for gold. Turns out that his cure for the aggravation of weather made him a fortune by returning him to his hat making roots. (I'm told he left the East, as a hatmaker, to find his fortune panning for gold in the West.)  Boys in Texas decided that Missouri couldn't have all the fun. They started Resistol hats for all those cattle drive cowboys. Resistol figured a way to keep your head oil from staining the hat so fast by using spacers that separated the inner hat band from the straw.
 (resist oil hats). Stetson lost sales because that resist oil feature was a better sizing system. Cowboys liked it better than the shoestring you pulled up in the back of your Stetson. Then Stetson developed more styles, more comfort features, a better marketing system... 

On it went for about a century. Both companies out doing the other! Today, we wear the benefit of all the innovation of both companies. Hats cost less in today's dollars than they did way back then. A ten gallon hat was really ten Spanish coins, (Galleons), about a month's wages.  "Green" environmentally friendly resins have replaced what used to be used to hold the straw  together. Many straw hats are easier to reshape than they used to be. (You still need some steam.) And, your straw hat is still hand woven by skilled craftsmen who examine and size and blend each fiber for you. They come in a few dyed colors as well as the most popular natural. Hats cost less in today's dollars than they did way back then. A ten gallon hat was really ten Spanish coins, (Galleons), about a month's wages. 

How to fit your size.  Western hats are available In Sizes:  6 3/4 - 7 5/84, (some in 6 5/8 and 7 3/4).   If you are not sure of your size, just take a soft ruler tape and measure around your head where you prefer it to fit. Most people will go around the biggest part of the back of their head, and be about 2 to 3 fingers (turned sideways) above their eyebrow.  We can convert these inch measurements to your hat size for you. You want to be able to pull your hat down in a windstorm, but wear it a little more loose in normal weather. Some people like to tilt it back a little when they relax. Then wear it more square when business need to be done!

Stetson Hat is now differentiating between their W Wide Round oval crown shape and their R round crown shape. You can have a friend look at the top of your head, or take a pic with their camera phone. Look to see if your head shape is round like a basketball. This is W Wide Oval. If rounded, but definitely more length from front to rear, than side to side, the R Regular Oval works well. If your head is egg shaped, the R Oval works well. If your head is long and narrow on the sides in shape, you need an L Long Oval. If your head shape is regular oval, you can just about wear most hats, though there might be a tightness in places and a looseness in places. This does sweat in, in most hats. But if you are buying a dress hat for dress use, it is better to choose a shape close to your head shape. It is best not to get a W Oval for a Long Oval head, nor a Long Oval hat for a Wide Oval head. 

If you like, you can email pics of your face and the top of your head to us. We'll take a look and make adjustments to better fit when we can, or tell you if the hat shape will be a total wreck for your head. Hats should be shaped a little for fit, function and to match your facial features. Cultured Cowboy is a hat store. We have all the steamers, stretchers, shapers, etc. and over 30 years of hat experience.  

With all this said, we often steam and adjust hats to fit the inches measurement, and head shape you give us. It is a service that many stores cannot offer. Many would charge up to $10.00 or $15.00 to adjust. We include this service, if needed, in our hat pricing. 

When you see options of several colors in a Straw Hat style, you can expect the hatband, ribbons and such to complement the color shown.  Some will be Natural with a couple hatband color options. Some offer 3.5" or 4" brim or even wider widths. But, cowboys have always carved their own uniqueness. Part of that is in customizing your hatband. If you need help, or want to see more selections, just call us or check out some of the hatbands on our website. 

How do I care for My Hat? Hats are as much fun to own as they are to buy. Most straws can be lightly washed with water, and a mild detergent if needed. Click here to take a look at cleaners, stiffners, hat racks, boxes, brushes and such. Because we have spent 30 years cleaning hats, just give us a chat to ask what you might need if you are not sure. You will be amazed how nice they look with a simple brim brushing. After every so many rainstorms, you may need to apply another light coat of hat stiffener. Always remember that like painting a car, you want to use a lot of light coats. Clear lacquer can often be used to recondition straws. Lots of thin coats. Test on the underside of the crown. If this ends up a mess, no one sees the underside of the crown, anyway.

Straw hats are absorbent. They soak up sweat and stains in the same fibers that wick the moisture away from your head. This wicking and evaporation is why hats seem to be comfortably cool in the hot sun. Once stained, you can only cover the coloration. You know, there are hats they make to look all stained when you first get them. And can you believe they do charge extra for that!

You can take a single layer of a plastic food wrap, like Saran Wrap, and carefully place it between (I use scotch tape to hold it in place.) the leather sweat band inside your hat, and the straw. This will help prevent the sweat stains from coming into contact with the straw so fast. Years ago, many of the hats for police and military would have this plastic wrap sewn into the hat between the sweatband and straw. Today, this is seldom done. Yes, adding the plastic will make the hat a little more hot to wear in the heat of summer. It is a trade-out.

Any other questions? Just write them down and shoot us an email. It's your questions that wind up as comments on the Cultured Cowboy site.

HAT SIZES