Western Hats

This gentleman’s pure-beaver hat comes with a high investment, but it’s also part of his everyday wardrobe, rather than part of a show-pen uniform. Her straw (middle) is great for keeping cool at summer shows, and the 20-percent-beaver (right) is perfect for a lady who shows regularly and wants a professional appearance. | Photo by Mallory Beinborn

When you walk into a show pen, no matter if you compete in halter, showmanship, horsemanship, reining, or cutting, the judge gives you an immediate once-over, from head to toe. That means your hat is the first thing a judge notices about you and sets the first impression. So, obviously, your hat means a lot.

Here, I’ll discuss hats of various price points that are standard for most hat manufacturers. I’ll outline what type of rider each is best for, as well as any other notable facts about each hat. The hats you’ll see are all from my shop, Greeley Hat Works in Colorado, but comparable styles are available from other hatmakers, too. Armed with this information, you’ll be prepared to head out hat shopping with confidence that you’ll understand what you’re getting and purchase the right hat for your needs.

Price Point: $90 and up.
What You Get:
Straw hat.

Who It’s For: Summertime Showman.

About the Hat: Some competitors swear that straws aren’t for the show pen, but every judge I’ve spoke with says that if the judge is wearing a straw, it’s OK for competitors to sport them in the arena.

Straw hats come in two basic categories: palm and shantung. A palm hat isn’t a show-pen regular, but there are companies that make finished palm-leaf hats that could be worn for shows, sometimes in reining, cow horse, or cutting events. You’ll most often see shantung (woven rice paper) straws during summer months in Western classes.

Hat Works Insight: Always go for a leather sweatband. You likely chose to wear a straw hat to stay cool in hot summer weather. The leather sweatband will breathe, absorb sweat, and keep you comfortable. Special Care: After you wear your straw, brush off any dirt with a dry cloth or blow it off with an air hose. Use a baby wipe to remove anything that remains on your hat. Finally, don’t put it in a hat case until it’s dry? otherwise, it can mold.

This Hobby Horse Western Treasure hat is a good example of a basic hat for the showman who’s new to the arena. | Photo by Mallory Beinborn

Price Point: $150 to $250.
What You Get:
Hobby Horse Western Treasure felt hat.

Who It’s For: The Newcomer.

About the Hat: I created the Western Treasure hat specifically for Hobby Horse. It’s made of a blend of European hare, and its proportions are smaller to flatter a woman’s face and frame. A hat at this price point is generally best for someone who’s not wearing it every day?it’s part of a show-pen uniform, not a daily lifestyle. If you take care of it and use it only at shows, it can last two to five years.

Hat Works Insight: A bound edge, as seen on the Western Treasure hat, is a personal-preference embellishment. The binding is never completely in or out of style. Try it on to see if it’s your preference.

Special Care: The key to keeping a hat at this price in good condition is cleaning it after every wear. Brush it off, and store it in a hard-plastic hat case. If you do that, it’ll maintain its shape and be clean and ready to wear the next time you’re rushing to the show pen for your class.

A leather sweatband is equally important in any felt hat as it is in a straw.

A mid-tier hat, around a 15X, is always a solid choice for a traditional color, but also if you’re looking for a special hat to coordinate with an outfit. | Photo by Mallory Beinborn

Price Point: $300 to $475.
What You Get:
Greeley Hat Works Classic or Competitor, comparable to a 15X or 20X, respectively.

Who It’s For: The Show-Pen Regular.

About the Hat: A hat at this price is usually made of a blend of European hare. It’ll hold up to regular weekend wear in the show pen for a few years, with good care.

Most hat bodies now come with a 41?4-inch brim, up from the previously popular 4 inches. That extra 1?4-inch suits most body and face types, but if you’re of smaller stature, the brim can be trimmed. Sometimes cutting it down by just that 1?8-inch makes all the difference in your comfort level. If your cowboy hat is strictly part of your arena attire, or you like to change colors, a hat of this quality will serve you well.

Hat Works Insight: This is the price point to buy at if you’re going to embellish a hat or buy a nontraditional color to go with a particular outfit. Chances are that you’ll sell the hat along with the outfit in a couple years, so you don’t need to over-invest in a top-quality hat that’ll have a short life in your closet.

Special Care: If your hat has embellishment, the basic care of the hat doesn’t change. However, do be careful not to brush the paint or stones too hard to avoid damage.

A black, 20-percent-beaver hat, like this one, is a great investment. | Photo by Mallory Beinborn

Price Point: Over $500.
What You Get:
Greeley Hat Works Beaver20, Beaver Blend, or Pure Beaver, comparable to other high-X hat brands.

Who It’s For: The Serious Hat-Wearer.

About the Hat: As you go up in price, you also gain quality. Starting around $500, you can get a hat that’s about 20-percent beaver hair, and the beaver content increases with price from there (50-percent beaver and 100-percent beaver).

Using beaver makes the hat lighter weight, more water-resistant, and more durable in all conditions. The hat will shape easier, and hold that shape better over time. Hat Works Insight: If you’re buying a basic color, like black, sand, or natural, buy the best quality you can. These basic colors will never go out of style, unlike trendy tones and embellishments. A high-quality hat at this price point can last many years of wear on a regular basis.

Special Care: The higher quality-hat you buy, the lower-maintenance it’ll be.

X Factor

It’s been said before, but deserves repeating: There’s no regulatory level for the number of Xs a hat maker puts on his felt hat. What I call my 5X might be a 15X to other manufacturers. The quality of a hat is in the type and percentage of fur a hat’s made of. The European hare that I use in many of my hats has more barbs per hair, so that means that the fabric they make is naturally more weather-resistant. Once you add beaver into the blend (or on a pure-beaver hat), the quality, weather-resistance, and ease of care only increase.

Hat Tips:

  • If it’s too cold or hot in the car or trailer for your child or your dog, then it’s not OK to leave your hat in the vehicle either. Extreme cold and heat can shrink the sweatband. Also, a good-quality hat is made of natural hair, which has barbs; high and low temperatures can put those fibers out of alignment.
  • If you buy a straw, know that it’ll be your good hat for one show season, and probably should be rotated to your back-up hat the next.
  • When you take your hat for a shape tune-up, look for a place that has a high-quality steamer. Good pressure and heat, from a real hat steamer, penetrates the hat, so it requires less moisture to shape the hat.
  • If you’re going to buy one less-expensive hat, it should be the one you’ll wear the least. If you’re an everyday-tan-hat-wearing person and a Sunday-only-black-hat person, buy the best tan hat you can afford and scrimp on the black hat.
  • Does your head have a unique shape? Consider being custom-fit for your next hat. It’ll ensure that your purchase is comfortable and fits well.
Photo courtesy of Trent Johnson

Trent Johnson, Greeley, Colorado, has owned and operated Greeley Hat Works for 18 years, and the shop has been in service for 104years. Johnson has made hats for everyone from devoted horsemen to top show-pen competitors to celebrities and dignitaries. Learn more about his hats at greeleyhatworks.com.

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