Help - Hat Sizing and Info

ALL ABOUT COWBOY HATS

When you’re about to purchase a new cowboy hat, knowing the correct terminology can prove to be extremely helpful. So, we’ve provided a shape chart and defined each part of the traditional cowboy hat for you:

Crown: The raised portion of the hat that fits over the wearer’s head is referred to as the crown, and it can vary in height depending on what the wearer is looking for. To determine the crown height, you will measure the crown from the brim to the front center dent of the crease. Some crowns have a few extra inches added to them, which makes the wearer look taller from a distance. Crowns that have not been creased are called an “open” crown. This type of cowboy hat is what most people call a 10-gallon hat. The “open crown” can be shaped into many different creases, see above.

Crease: The dip on the top of the crown is what we call the crease. A number of cowboy hats are already creased when they come from the manufacturer. The most common type of crease is the Cattleman crease, also referred to as the Alpine crease. Although this type of crease is the most common, there are other creases, and as long as there is enough space between the top of the wearer’s head and the crown for the hat’s material to be manipulated, the crease possibilities are endless. The Brick, Cattleman, Cool Hand Luke, and Cutter creases are shown above.

Dent: In the past, dents in cowboy hats were developed over time when once they were worn in, but now dents are there for stylistic purposes only. If a hat has dents, the most common location for them to be placed is on each side of the crease.

Brim: The brim of a cowboy hat is what surrounds the crown. All cowboy hats have one, but they aren’t all the same. There are brims that are oval, and others that are round. They can also have more space in the front and back of the hat and have shorter sides, while others are the same length all around. The most noticeable difference in a brims’ appearance is how they can be molded to be completely flat around the head, completely curved up around the head, or be a combination of curved and flat.

Roll: The curved shape of a brim on a cowboy hat is what we refer to as the roll. This is because to get this shape, it has to be rolled a certain way.

Front Dip: The front dip in a cowboy hat is created when the brim has been shaped with a combination of flat and curved edges. If a brim has been molded to have an all-around curved brim, there won’t be a front dip at all.

Hatband: The hatband on a cowboy hat is a fun added touch that showcases that cowboy’s style. It’s the piece that wraps around the bottom of the crown, and can be made from ribbon, leather, felt or horsehair.

Buckle Set: If a hat has a hatband, there typically is a buckle set, which closes the hatband around the crown. This is not a requirement for every hat to have.

Sweatband: The sweatband is the inside portion of the cowboy hat, which fits around your head. It can be made of several materials including drilex, which is a dual layered band containing Hydrofil, a moisture absorbing nylon fiber underlayer and a moisture resistive outer layer, synthetic leather, leather, and lambskin. In youth and children’s cowboy hats there is usually an elastic sweatband that allows it to fit a wide range of children’s head sizes.

The “X”: Most cowboy hats are made from straw, wool or felt, which is either beaver, rabbit or a combination of the two. When a hat is made from felt, an “X” marking is seen on the inside of the crown. This marking is what determines how durable, soft and smooth the hat is; so, when there is a larger X, the hat is of a higher-grade felt. When this happens, a hat can last anywhere from 20 to 100 years because of how durable the beaver fur is.

Once you’re familiar with the different parts of a cowboy hat, you can figure out what hat size you should purchase. To determine your hat size, you should start by measuring the circumference of your head - starting and ending at your forehead. After you’ve found your head measurement, the chart below will tell you what hat size you’ll wear.

If your hat seems slightly loose on your head, you can add foam insulating tape around the inside brim, which will help your hat stick to your head better.