Help! Need advice on a hat!

[killerfly128]

I know this isnt gun related but I just got a job where I need to buy myself a cowboy hat soon. Cant anyone school me on straw hats? I know I dont want to shell out the coin for a felt hat but straw and palm look promising.


Thanks in advance.

[Teamless]

I can't help much, but say that I agree, you want straw not felt.
Felt is way too hot!
Check out Cavenders Boot City for a good supply of hats of various brands and prices.

If you are in South Houston, then Allen's Western Wear on Red Bluff is also a good place to check out.

[gigag04]

when you look inside the hat, X's == $ signs. They are directly correlated as well.

[killerfly128]

when you look inside the hat, X's == $ signs. They are directly correlated as well.

That much I have gathered. Something about the more x's = tighter weave.

[J Wilson]

SHEPLERS??

[The Annoyed Man]

Fort Worth Gun Show. There's guys there who sell palm woven hats for about $25.00. Where on earth are you going to be working?

[killerfly128]

Fort Worth Gun Show. There's guys there who sell palm woven hats for about $25.00. Where on earth are you going to be working?

Billy bobs ... hats are "strongly suggested"

I know palm hats are a bit more durable than straw but the straw looks better.

[mikeintexas]

I wear palm in the summer. You can get one for $40.00 at any western store. Cavender's and Sargeant's both carry palm or straw. Wait until October or November for a felt hat.

[DONT TREAD ON ME]

I like Stetsons and Resistols. A lil more pricey but they are worth it. Durable and comfortable. If you have a round head a Stetson will fit you great. If your melon is oval then the Resistol brand is for you. Also, Resistol is made in Garland, TX.

One thing you will note about the cheaper hats is that they look good at first but they do not wear as well. They will start to become very uncomfortable after a little while and they do not hold their shape as well.

All of this is just my opinion from my experiences with cowboy hats.

[Sidro]

The Palm hat will take abuse better than the straw, that said I wear a black felt hat year round. The higher the x the more you pay. The x refers to how much beaver or felt content is in the hat, 10x is 50%, 20x is 95% with the remainder rabbit fur(like little velcro pads) to hold the felt together. You will see hats marked with more than 20x but this is really as high as they go. Anything marked over 20x is just to grab more money. A 50x hat has been stoned to smooth the felt texture out, it is not any better quality hat than a 20x. Most all hat makers, straw or felt make hats in what is called a long oval for oval heads as well as round hats.

[tacticool]

I usually pick up a straw hat at Walmart around this time of year. They last for the season if I don't abuse them. They're not fancy but for $10 - $20 I get my money worth.

[cougartex]

I usually pick up a straw hat at Walmart around this time of year. They last for the season if I don't abuse them. They're not fancy but for $10 - $20 I get my money worth.

[The Annoyed Man]

The hat in my avatar is a Texas Hatters model I found in an antique store in Wimberly. It was pretty expensive for a used hat, but nowhere near as expensive as what it would have cost for me to buy it brand new. Even though it was custom made for someone else's head, it fits me like it was custom made for mine. It even has the original owner's name inscribed on the hat band.

[Tass]

Picked up my straw hat about 20 years ago at The Hat Store in Houston (worn daily for 7 years solid, not as often now since I sold the horse and got an inside job but it's holding it shape perfectly)...They are one of the best in town. Maybe check them online and e-mail to see who they suggest in your part of the state.

Tass

[killerfly128]

Thanks for all the great info, I am sure I will post up another thread when I get around to buying it later this week. I will likely be posting another thread looking for advice on boots as well, also highly suggested. I guess it has to due with keeping the "western atmosphere" for tourists.

Here are a two I am considering. I am leaning more towards the first hat. I think that palm may be the right choice for me, I think there might be a decent chance to screw up a straw hat at work. After seeing what a palm hat can take last night I imagine it will stand up to some abuse better.

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