The purchase of a western hat is a major accomplishment to any individual who values the American heritage and the style of classic outdoor activities. This is whether you are working on a dusty ranch or you just like the traditional western look that you require a hat which is always on your head. The first step to getting the right fit is to be aware of the dimensions that you have to deal with before you even open your wallet. It is not surprising that many believe that they can simply make a guess, basing on a standard flexible baseball cap that they have had over the years. That is a quick shortcut of getting something that either gives you a headache or blows in the wind the minute you go out. This requires accuracy and some form of patience to do it the first time. The positive thing is that the whole process is very easy when you are aware of the basic procedures. The big headache of sending back online orders and having to engage in exasperating customer service interactions will be spared by simply spending five minutes of your time checking your measurements.
The 101 of finding your perfect fit.
A cowboy hat cannot be compared to a normal winter beanie which can stretch very easily to suit the shape and size of any head. They are very elaborate items of clothing which are usually crafted out of inflexible beaver felt or tightly woven palm leaf straw. They are well-shaped to firmly fit on the top of your head without impaling the skin or any other serious points of pressure. The tightness of the hat is extremely limiting and will result in severe tension headaches as well as ruining your whole day out in the sun. It is an enormous burden when it is too loose the moment you feel the power of the wind blowing through your hair or riding high speed horse. The American hatmakers are dependent on a particular sizing based on the numerical circumference of your head. These conventional sizes are similar to fractions like 7 1/8 and 7 1/4 and they are totally standard in the whole USA market. Having that specific inch size is the key to locating that ideal fractional size. This is because whenever you have your hair styled in the manner that you wear it outside the house, you should always inspect your head. Where you have marshmallow thick hair and you buy your hat immediately after a close haircut and then a few weeks later when the hair grows out, your hat will be horribly tight. By taking time to be familiar with these fundamental principles, you are bound to have chosen a headwear that is totally natural and comfortable at the very least, all the way to dusk.
Equipments to have the correct dimensions.
To have a real reading at the comfort of your own home all you need is no costly devices and professional tools. A normal soft tailor tape measure is the ultimate tool that can be used in this particular job. Such a stretchy tape is simple to tie about the natural shape of your head without needing to bend and scratch your flesh. It is the same cheap tool that a professional hatter would apply in the high end custom shop. In case you do not have a soft tape measure, you can just use the string that is non stretch and a normal metal ruler that is available in your garage. A large mirror that will allow you to see where exactly the measuring material is located on your forehead in the process will also be something you will desire. Better still you can wish your friend or a family member to assist you to keep the tape in position. With an additional pair of hands, it becomes very easy to have the tape flat right across the back of your head. A strict metal construction tape measure should never be used since it will not adapt well around your head and it will certainly provide a false indication on each occasion.
A step by step instruction on checking your head.
This entire sizing process is the most essential and therefore one must take these instructions seriously. You wish to impress on the spot where the inner leather sweatband of the hat will be touching your skin on the exact spot. The first thing to do is to take your soft measuring tape and put the zero mark at the absolute center of your forehead. The tape needs to be approximately one or two finger widths above your eyebrows so as to have a clear vision. This is generally equivalent to some 1/8th of an inch above the tops of your ears. Have the tape go round your head backwards with care not to miss the broadest bulge of your skull. Take the other end of the tape and round it round to your forehead directly at the mark of 0. You have to make your tape in one circle round your head. Should it drop too deep behind or should it be too much up on the top of the head your measure will be all off and your hat will not fit well. Pull the tape such that it fits but does not fit too tight against your skin. You want it to be like the way you want the finished hat to be when you wear it all day long. The last reading should be in inches because most of the USA retailers use inch measurements when using their conventional fractional sizing. You need to write down this specific number on a piece of paper at once so that you do not forget it when you begin to make shopping online. When you make use of the alternative string method then you will wrap the string with the same way as above. Pinch the string at the point where it is attached to the starting point and straighten it with your normal metal ruler so that it is perfectly straight.
The knowledge of western hats sizing charts.
After having your exact figure in the number of inches you must now convert it into a standard hat size of the west. The fractional sizing system that is used by the USA hat makers is very unique and it has a long history in the American history which goes well over a century. In case your head is 21 1/2 inches in size you will have the standard size 6 7/8. The 22 inches would be perfectly translated into a size 7 that is regarded as a generic medium in majority of the basic retail charts. Measured 22 3 /8 inches, your right size is 7 1/8. Measuring 22 3/4 inches will make you a standard adult size 7 1/4 that is one of the most popular sizes among the men. Moving up to 23 1/8 inches gives you a size 7 3/8 while 23 1/2 inches directly equals a 7 1/2. The massive heads that are approximately 24 inches will demand a size of 7 5/8 and even a colossal 7 3/4 in accordance with the particular brand block. These particular fractions may be very flustering to observe at first sight but are completely mainstream in nearly all of the major western brands which are operating in America today. It is important to have a proper conversion chart in your pocket whenever you are in the state of shopping online to buy a new headwear. Majority of the reputable western retailers offer a certain brand sizing chart at the very side of the description of the product so that you will be able to measure the inch size directly against the sizes of the stock that they have.
Some of the errors to be avoided during sizing.
At home, people are always hurry rushing to the sizing process and make avoidable mistakes which cost them money. The most common error that beginners commit is of measuring the completely incorrect part of the head. Others wind the tape much too much round the top that leaves a hat that sits on the top of the head rather than falling down upon the brow. Others are too much near the eyebrows such that they result in a hat that is too big and it blocks the natural sight. The other significant mistake is the fact that when measuring the skull, the tape measure is pulled too strongly against the skull. Your head should not be squeezed with the tape as stiff felt and hard straw will never go naturally to fit that much pressure. You should also not have any faith in generic small medium and large sizing tags without first taking a look at the inch measurement in them. One brand would have a medium that is equivalent to a 7 and another brand that is competing would have a 7 1/8 medium. Always use your raw inch measurement as opposed to a general retail letter tag so as to be accurate. Lastly never think that your hat size would be exactly the same throughout your whole adult life. Any significant alterations in body weight and a significant difference in the daily hairstyles will cause some slight adjustments in the fit of a structured hat to your head.
What to do when you can neither size up nor down.
There are no two human heads that are identical and you will at times find that your exact size will come exactly between two sizes that are considered to be the industry standards. In case your head is 22 1/4 inches you are caught in between a size 7 and a size 7 1/8. The golden rule of western hats purchase is absolute you have to size up when you are confronted with this dilemma. You must not hesitate to buy the 7 1/8 in this very case. The thing is that it is unbelievably easy to make a hat a little big and it is almost impossible to tighten a small hat to look comfortable and not to destroy the material. When purchasing the bigger size you can purchase hat sizing tape that is cheap in rectifying the additional area. This is a thin piece of soft foam, and has an adhesive backing, which is firmly glued to the inner leather sweatband. A little thin piece of foam to the front or the rear of the sweatband will immediately form the fit tighter, without changing the shape of the crown on the outside. There are also some creative individuals who use folded pieces of paper towels in an emergency but foam tapes that are specialized are a lot more comfortable in terms of day to day long term use. Always avoid purchasing the small size with the hope that it will somehow enlarge in size as time goes by because you will only end up having a huge headache and an un-worn piece of that costly clothing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What then makes me know whether my cowboy hat fits? It must be firmly seated above your eyebrows and ears, and must not expose your temples and forehead to any painful pressure points. You are supposed to be able to lean a little forward towards the ground and yet not to have the hat fall off your head. When it leaves deep angry red marks upon your skin when you have worn it but ten minutes then surely it is far too tight and you need a larger size.
Is it possible to make a cowboy hat which is too short longer? One can normally obtain a small amount of additional space with a wooden hat stretcher and some heavy hot steam but the outcomes are very insignificant. Overstretching a structured hat may cause the outer brim to be in a grossly distorted fashion, and fully destroy the entire structural integrity of the work. It is precisely the reason why experts advise that one should always size up and pad the inside with inner foam as opposed to sizing down.
Are there variations in the fit of various hat materials on the head? Yes they do absolutely depending on their way of manufacture. A hat made of stiff premium beaver will have practically no give, and will be hard as rock at the beginning. A conventional palm leaf straw hat would be a little more lenient and pricey in the hot sun. Nevertheless the relative size of your numerical fraction will be precisely the same irrespective of the material of your choice of purchase.
Does the length of hair make me have a bigger hat? Thick curly hair is certainly a source of serious bulk to the total head size. Once you are used to having a huge amount of long hair on your head, and then just go ahead and shave it all out, you will find your head suddenly to be stuffed full of clothes. You should always have the precise hairstyle that you mostly intend to wear so that you are guaranteed to be fully comfortable on a daily basis.
Is the size of the head as significant as the shape of the head? Yes head shape is huge in total comfort. The shape of the head of most people is known as regular oval and the other ones have long oval or round oval shape. In case you wear a long oval shaped head where a normal hat will squeeze your forehead and loosely fit on the sides. Steam can fix the minor shape problems easily but knowing your basic shape will enable you to choose the appropriate brand at the earliest stage.
Final Thought
Locating an appropriate traditional headwear does not necessarily make the process of it quite irritating and highly complex. All you require is a simple bendy tape gauge and a few quiet minutes in order to ensure that you have your accurate readings pinned down. An appropriately custom-fitted western hat is an actual continuation of your everyday character and earthy look. It is very important on a daily basis, as it shields you against the brutal beating sun and secures your head completely dry in the unexpected heavy rainstorms. By simply spending the right time to make sure that you are within your actual physical size you will ensure many years of a very comfortable wear. You save the huge inconvenience of always sending back the orders you make through the internet shopping and you never experience the severe agony of a sweatband that is tightening. Always have your personal measurements in a secure place and do not forget to always size up in case you find yourself in between two standard fractions. Your new hat with the right fit has been attached to your head permanently and you can wear it anywhere you feel like visiting without any doubt whatsoever.
