Catalena hatters
Herbs Hat Shop
Greenley hat works.

Bought a Rodeo King beaver from Herbs hats about 3 years ago. Wear it to work almost every day during felt season and has held up fantastically. Just bought my wife a rodeo kind felt 2 weeks ago.

For straw hats, I've been on an American kick for the last few years. Just bought my second one and love it.

Get one like Junior Brown! Iconic!

I remember back in the 80 and 90's when a 5x Resistol was considered a good hat for a working ranch hand that spends a lot of time in the saddle. A 10x was really expensive and not for everyday work.

I've had good luck with the Resistol. My last hat is a Catalena. It's been a really good hat. Most ranch hands out here wear felt hats until it turns really cold and switch to the wool Stormy Kromer type hats.

The flat brim, flat crown hats worn by buckaroos out here are very common. It's called a "basin" hat because of the basin and range country where the big ranches are found. A hat like that one implies a certain lifestyle and philosophy toward horsemanship and ranch work.

Hat shapes are fairly regional. The taco shaped hat brims seem to be common in the north Texas ranches. Out in New Mexico or Arizona, they have their own style and shape as well. Shapes also come and go in what's fashionable, just like the return of square toed boot.

I can't wait until the giant hats from the Tom Mix days return to fashion!

For 48 years I've bought all my hats from Texas Hatters. First in Austin, then Buda, now Lockhart.

I own and wear several Stetsons in multiple colors but most of them have the traditional cattlemen's crease and shape. I own a couple of Open Roads, 1 6x silver belly and 1 10x straw. I have a couple of other off brands from some Mexican shops near me and they look great, but are not as comfortable as my Stetsons.

Get what fits you well and what you are comfortable and confident in. Buy more than 1 and change them out for different occasions. I love wearing a hat.

JohnnyShotgun said:

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I own and wear several Stetsons in multiple colors but most of them have the traditional cattlemen's crease and shape. I own a couple of Open Roads, 1 6x silver belly and 1 10x straw. I have a couple of other off brands from some Mexican shops near me and they look great, but are not as comfortable as my Stetsons.

Get what fits you well and what you are comfortable and confident in. Buy more than 1 and change them out for different occasions. I love wearing a hat.

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10x Stetson Open Road is my vacation hat…

ABATTBQ87 said:

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Aggie Rodeo team 1953-54

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This picture tells me that felt hats haven't changed style in 70 years, maybe slightly more dipped these days, pretty crazy to be honest. Actually pretty cool to know our felts are the same after all these years, god onLy knows almost nothing else is the same these days.. next time I put on one of my felt hats I'm gonna think of this picture

I'll second Manny Gamage's Texas Hatters..

https://texashatters.com/

I was lucky enough to inherit one.

I'm VERY particular about felt hats, I'm actually starting the process of shopping for my next felt. (I'll be in The Greeley, CO area after the first of the year and may stop in there.

When it comes to straw hats I usually pick up a fresh Bangora every year that ends up going through the combine at the end of harvest. The straw hat goes through hell, checking irrigation engines, checking pivots unclogging nozzles working on breakdowns, greasing equipment (you get the drill) and it's usually trashed.

It's kind of symbolic for us to call harvest DONE. Usually it's my FIL, my oldest son and myself and we all throw them in the combine at the same time.

76Ag said:

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My grandfather and my uncle in Roberston County always wore the khaki shirts and trousers. It was almost like a uniform. They wore hats that weren't full brimmed like a cowboy hat but it's hard to describe. Minimal brim but regular crown. Can someone help me out with this? Someone is bound to know what I mean.

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Likely something like this.

It's a Stetson Open Road. They don't look silly at all, but they do look damn good.

Grandad was a wildcatter out of Mirando City. Hughes Tool gave him an Open Road every year. They relax relatively quickly.

76Ag said:

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I am old enough to remember when most men wore hats. Not just farmers and ranchers but working men, too. Where do I go in Houston to look at hats?

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The Hat Store

https://www.thehatstore.com/