Finding the Perfect Cowboy Hat

Cowboy hats are used by many people. While some may think they are only used by people that work outdoors on ranches, the truth is they can be handy for anyone. They are easily spotted, and can make a definite fashion statement.

When shopping for a cowboy hat, it is important to know the type of hat you would like to buy. They come in a variety of styles and sizes. They are meant to be used by men, women, and children so there are a lot of options out there.

These types of hats work great for doing anything outdoors in the sun. They protect your face from getting burnt from the sun, and also work to tone down any bright glare that the sun may cause. It also can keep your head cooler so your scalp does not get burnt and hot.

Cowboy hats come in a variety of materials. Some hats will be made out of straw. Straw or felt are the most common hats sold in stores.

The felt in the hat is a thicker material that works best to protect your head from harmful UV rays. Also, because it is a thicker material, your hat will be able to better handle the normal wear and tear that happens from being used. Felt hats stand up very well when they get a lot of use.

The downside of felt cowboy hats are that they have no ventilation. Don't be surprised if you feel sweat dripping down your temples with these types of hats. They can be very uncomfortable to wear during hot and humid months.

Straw cowboy hats offer much better ventilation. The straw hats are usually stiffer and less comfortable, but they are breathable and allow your head to remain cooler. Yet on hotter days when you want a cooler head, straw hats will do little to protect you from the sun because of the gaps in the straw weaves of the hat.

The best choice is to find a mix between straw and felt. They will protect your head a good amount from the sun, while also allowing breathing room so your head does not over heat. Be sure that whatever material you choose, you find a hat that has a brim suitable for the type of weather you will be working in. The larger the brim, the better chance you have of not getting harmed by the sun.

The History of the Cowboy Hat

The cowboy hat is a symbol of America's heroes. It is a symbol of the Wild West. While it is fashionable to wear today, these hats have not been around for too long.

John Stetson was the man who made the cowboy hat famous. He used a wide-brimmed, high crowned hat on his tours. He made his hat out of common fur.

People soon saw the advantages of such a hat, especially cowboys that had to work out in the sun and heat all day doing hard work on their ranches and ranges. The large brim of the hat helped protect against the sun. The crown of the hat also made it easy to fetch water.

Stetson sold his hat to a man for $5 in Colorado. He called it the "ten-gallon cowboy hat." Starting in the late 1860s the hat started to gain popularity.

Some people claim that ranchers in Texas and Mexico were the ones who started it, not Stetson. They feel that the cowboy hat was a branch off of their Sombreros. Regardless of who it was who actually invented the hat, Stetson was definitely the one who made it popular.

The hat worn in the 1860s became known as the pork pie. It was a less expensive hat which was made out of soft material. The pork pie remained popular to ranchers and cowboys until the late 1870s.

Other popular hats at the time were "Boss of the Plains" and "Trapper". These early hats had a telescope crown, and a brim that was usually 3 inches. The early hats also featured three-piece lining.

The cowboy hat is a wonderful invention. Farm hands, ranchers, and cowboys have used the hat since the time it became popular. It remains a solid symbol of the West and has continued to remain a wonderful and fun hat choice for many people across the World.

Mexican Cowboy Boots

There are many different cowboy boots that a person can choose from. One nice cowboy boot style is the Mexican cowboy boots. Their history started in the 19th Century, and they continue to be a popular choice today.

Mexican boots were worn by cowboys in Mexico in the early 1800s. They were once flat-heeled boots, and were quite short. Mexican cowboys later replaced the lower, flat heeled boots with high heeled ones.

Mexican cowboy boots are not usually made out of leather, like normal boots. They usually use exotic animal skins. Some examples of materials they are made from include bull, lizard, armadillo, and ostrich.

Mexican boots can be made to be both flat-heeled or high-heeled. They can also vary in length, to be short or tall boots. Mexican boots also come in normal widths, and wide width sizes.

Mexican boots can be worn by anyone. Men, women, and children enjoy the style and fun that Mexican boots can provide. Since the boots normally come in a variety of color combinations, they are a popular choice for children.

Shorter Mexican boots usually come with flat toe caps, though some boots have silver pointed toes. High heeled boots normally tend to have pointed toes. These types of boots are usually made for horse-riding cowboys because of their need for pointed toes for their saddles.

Mexican boots are handcrafted. Each stitch can be made with elaborate designs and delicate details. Mexican boots can be designed with themes, such as musical or horse themes.

Mexican cowboy boots do not use laces, but they do have lace-like trimming. Because of their unique designs, Mexican boots are still being used by many people today. They tend to be a little more expensive, but price depends on the animal skin that is used. If you like very unique designs and styles, Mexican boots may be the right choice for you.

Wide Width Cowboy Boots

Wide Width Cowboy Boots

In the wide world of the west no two people are alike. This holds true for people's feet as well. Everyone has different size feet, both in width and in size.

Luckily, cowboy boots consider these differences. Cowboy boots can be comfortable footwear for everyone, regardless of foot size. If you find yourself with wide-sized feet, you have come to the right place.

Wide width boots are ideal for people with wider feet. Wide width sizes are usually marked as EW, E, EE, EEE, and W. These sizes mark the different needs people have for boot sizes.

Normal boot sizes are marked B and D. Standard women sizes are B, with men sizes being marked as D. Each marking represents the need for different sizes in boots, both in width and in leg sizes.

Wide width cowboy boots have many different designs, colors, styles and patterns. Most brands offer wide width cowboy boots to compensate the many clients that have need of them. You can also find wide-width boots in a variety of materials, though most are made from cowhide leather.

Cowboy styled boots usually are made with high heels and high shafts. No lacing is required for this style of boot. Expert boot makers take extra care by hand trimming and hand sewing wide width boots so they are in top shape for the work they will eventually have to do outside.

Wide width boots can be found at most boot stores. Ask to get your foot sized so you know the correct wide width size to look for. If local stores don't sell the correct size for your feet, try an online store.

Wide width boots are not always easy to find, especially for women. Most women boots come in the medium size variety, so not every store will carry wide width boots. If you can't find any online that you like, there are many boot retailers that have custom made boots that can be specially ordered to fit your preferred boot width and size.

Things You Can Do To Repair Your Cowboy Boots Yourself

Cowboy boots put up with a lot of pressure. They are constantly being exposed to the rough terrain and weather conditions. Chances are they will receive some wear and tear at some point, and it is important to take care of that damage before it gets too serious.

Minor damage to boots can be easy to repair. It is important to keep your boots in good condition, however, because even minor damage can quickly turn in to serious damage if not taken care of in a timely fashion. If you notice any damage done with your boots, take care of them before they become more serious.

If your boots have cracks in the sole, fix them with an adhesive. A good adhesive for cowboy boots is Shoe Goo. Shoe Goo works well for boots made out of leather or rubber, and does a great job with sealing in the splits and cracks of your sole.

Scratches in boots are also easily fixed. Cowboy boots are most often made out of leather. If your boots are leather, leather lotion works great to get rid of visible scratches on your boot.

Leather lotion works great to smooth out the scratches on the boots. Apply the lotion with a clean cloth over the outside of your boots. The lotion also moisturizes your cowboy boots to prevent future cracks.

Suede boots won't work with a lotion. Use a dry cleaning bar instead to "erase" the scratches that are made on the boot. Use a brush after the cleaning bar to keep it looking its best.

Leaky boots need to be waterproofed. Use milk oil or another waterproofing substance to keep water from leaking inside your boots. After the oil dries spray on a water-proof spray to the seems of your boots to keep them sealed and well protected.

These repairs can be done easily. Boots with a more serious need of repair, however, should not be fixed by an inexperienced repairman. Boot repair shops can save seriously damaged boots, so call a professional for those types of jobs.