Storing your Cowboy Hat
Here are some general rules for storing your Cowboy Hat . The Key to all of it being - don't put pressure on the crown or brim as this may eventually cause the hat to lose its shape.
1. If you do have to lay it on a flat surface, do so with the brim up and crown down to minimize stress on the brim.
2. Hang the hat on a hat stand so that the crown is supported and the brim it isn't pressing down on anything.
3. Hang the hat on the edge of shelf such that the brim is touching nothing.
3. During long periods when your hat is not warn, it is probably better to store the hat in a western hat box where it will be best protected. An alternative is to create a cardboard ring (Take a 7" x 28" strip of Cardboard and staple it together to form a ring that you can lay the hat in.
Store cowboy hats in a cool, dry environment. Hats react to heat and moisture and extended exposure could cause a hat to lose its shape. Excessive heat can draw out straw hat fibers, and cause permanent damage to both straw and felt. Moisture can cause the shape to lose integrity and may even mold or rot. Even a hat left in a hot car can easily suffer damage from heat and humidity. The worst place for a cowboy hat is in the backseat window of a hot car or truck.
Size and Fitting
A size 7 hat is basically a hat that will fit a head with the circumference of 7 x 3.145 (22"). A head that is 231/3 " in circumference is 231/3" divided by 3.145 which gives 7.4. closest hat size to this is 7 3/8 (7.37). Different western hat makes and models may size slightly differently.
You will see the hat size charts generally conform to the above calculation although they may have slightly different sizes listed. Custom western hat makers can size a hat exactly to fit the client.
If a hat seems a little too loose on the head, a good trick is to place foam insulating tape along the inside of the brim. This allows a good fit with a little bit of give and it seems to stick to the head better. You want to make sure that a hat isn't so tight on your head that you feel pressure but it also shouldn't be so lose that the slightest breeze will send it blowing across the field.
So a good question is "How the heck do hats stay on when someone is running with a horse?" Well, there are three answers to that. 1. The hat doesn't stay on 2. The hat fits so well that it is practically molded to the head 3. A special string is used that attaches to the inside of the sweat band on both sides of the face so that if the hat does blow back it is hooked on the rider. You can get fancy ones with tassels and all kinds decorations or just plain unobtrusive strings.
A good solution to protect your cowboy hat is to invest in a good hat storage/travel box. These rigid boxes hold your hat in a position that does not compromise the shape and will keep it from getting crushed, dusty or being affected by humidity and heat. Not only are they affordable, many are very attractive and come with a handy carrying handle.
