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Elite Veteran
Posts: 897
  
| So, I will be starting to enter in some smaller barrel races here and there to get the hang of things, and I know a lot of places require a western hat. There is no where around me that sells them, so where is the best place online to buy them, that might have a return policy? I think I just want to start out in a plain black one..But is there ones I should stay away from? Which is preferred, felt or straw? I don't want to buy the wrong one and look dumb..I also do not have $300 to spend on a hat. I don't like the flat brimmed ones. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 897
| Bump..anyone? |
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Location: my piece of paradise | Cavenders has a good selection |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 534
Location: Ohio girl moved to PA | Rule of thumb. Summer = Straw, Winter = Felt.
I have an American that i picked up down at congress couple years ago. I love it, Very nice quality and it ran me $100. Just make sure you get it shaped to fit your head properly. You can order directly from their site and they have tons to choose from! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 883
Location: Southern Indiana | Rods has the best selection...measure your head with a measuring tape (the type seamstress use) the are only $1 at Walmart if you don’t have one. There’s a size chart on their website. When in doubt size down. It needs to be a bit snug to stay on. I wouldn’t spend under $100 or get anything less than 5x for a felt. Otherwise they are hard and stiff. A good hat will last you years.
Btw the flat brimmed ones just aren’t shaped...you can get them shaped or they will be shaped when you order. But some people like to be ranchy and wear them as is. |
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  Semper Fi
 
Location: North Texas | Ohiobarrelracer - 2018-03-19 8:00 AM
Rule of thumb. Summer = Straw, Winter = Felt.
I have an American that i picked up down at congress couple years ago. I love it, Very nice quality and it ran me $100. Just make sure you get it shaped to fit your head properly. You can order directly from their site and they have tons to choose from!
To elaborate on the seasons, out west, The Change is considered to happen to happen at Easter and Labor Day. Easter thru Labor Day Straw Hat. Labor Day thru Easter Felt Hat. |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7268
| foundation horse - 2018-03-19 10:35 AM
Ohiobarrelracer - 2018-03-19 8:00 AM
Rule of thumb. Summer = Straw, Winter = Felt.
I have an American that i picked up down at congress couple years ago. I love it, Very nice quality and it ran me $100. Just make sure you get it shaped to fit your head properly. You can order directly from their site and they have tons to choose from!
To elaborate on the seasons, out west, The Change is considered to happen to happen at Easter and Labor Day. Easter thru Labor Day Straw Hat. Labor Day thru Easter Felt Hat.
I about die when I see someone wearing a BLACK felt hat when it's 90+ degrees! I would melt away!! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 897
| Maybe I shouldn't buy black! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 883
Location: Southern Indiana | It really doesn’t matter...it’s up to you which color you like. If you only want 1 hat and you want classic...get the black felt. Most races are covered and indoors. I could see if you rodeoed outside during the day in the summer it would be hot. I don’t own a straw because I’ve yet to find one in my size. I have a silverbelly now that I wear year around. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 534
Location: Ohio girl moved to PA | Griz - 2018-03-19 12:10 PM foundation horse - 2018-03-19 10:35 AM Ohiobarrelracer - 2018-03-19 8:00 AM Rule of thumb. Summer = Straw, Winter = Felt.
I have an American that i picked up down at congress couple years ago. I love it, Very nice quality and it ran me $100. Just make sure you get it shaped to fit your head properly. You can order directly from their site and they have tons to choose from! To elaborate on the seasons, out west, The Change is considered to happen to happen at Easter and Labor Day. Easter thru Labor Day Straw Hat. Labor Day thru Easter Felt Hat. I about die when I see someone wearing a BLACK felt hat when it's 90+ degrees! I would melt away!!
oh you and me both!!! Makes me sweat myself haha |
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Semper Fi
Location: North Texas | A Black Felt Hat shaped in a tasteful manner is considered classic. However, a Silver Belly is also right up there!
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 Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | The "flat Brimmed ones" are actually just hats that haven't been shaped yet. You have many creases for the crown and for the brim. You also have different brim sizes. For example: I am small framed and short bodied, with my facial structure I can't pull off a 5" brim, but someone who has a different facial structure and body structure can pull off a 5" brim that's shaped tastefully.
A rule of thumb, Buy a felt in thoughts of keeping it for 10-12 years. Buy a straw in thoughts of keeping it for one or two.
I have a 100X Black Felt Bailey hat with a quarter horse crease and a 4" brim that I've had for years. I get it professionally cleaned and shaped before storing it for the summer. It will last me a lifetime if I take care of it. I don't plan on having to buy another felt ever again.
My straw hat is an Atwood Pendleton Modified Low Crown that I think I paid under $100 for. I bought it last summer and it might last me all this summer.
Also, If a Hat fits you correctly you won't get a headache, your eyebrows won't touch your forhead, and you will most likely lose the hat if you go any faster than a slow lope. BUT if you flip the hat band down in the back it'll keep it tight during your run so that you don't lose it.  |
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 Member
Posts: 27
| Best Hat Store in Fort Worth is where we buy all of ours. You can order offline. They shape it how ever you want and are wonderful to deal with! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 754
Location: Arkansas | C_Austin - 2018-03-22 12:28 PM
Best Hat Store in Fort Worth is where we buy all of ours. You can order offline. They shape it how ever you want and are wonderful to deal with!
Awesome and knowledgeable people. Plus, you can't beat a store where they give you beer while you shop LOL |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 823
Location: East Texas | C_Austin - 2018-03-22 12:28 PM
Best Hat Store in Fort Worth is where we buy all of ours. You can order offline. They shape it how ever you want and are wonderful to deal with!
My daughter just won a gift cert. for a 30X American hat at our local assoc. finals...... wish I could talk her out of that prize, but she wears her American hats more than any others. |
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Veteran
Posts: 286
| What state do you live in??
I am far enough South that I wear and compete in a straw hat year round. |
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Folks on-line