Cowboy hat styles go back to the early days of western cowboys.  These western style hats were part of their daily wardrobe and could be used in many ways - they could fan a fire, they could scoop up water and they could wave to distant riders who could see their waving hat.  But most important, they could be used to protect them from the sun, wind and rain.  Cowboys were never without their hat and Stetson hats go back as far as most people can remember….in reality, the first Stetsons were sold in Colorado in 1865.

The Mexican vaquero were the first to use a broad-brimmed hat with a high crown.  But the cowboy hat we know today has seen many designs through the years inspired by the sombrero and galan.  Many of these different designs were worn by farmers and stock men in the eastern United States and include those worn by the US Cavalry.

Back in the early days of this country, wool felt hats were common in the military before the Civil War and on through the present day.  Wool felt hats are authentic wear for re-creating earlier times.  Beaver was used to create fur felt hats and sometimes rabbit.  But beaver has a denser fur that is better to repel water and these hats made from beaver are prized for their long-term durability.

One cowboy hat style - the “ten gallon” hat was believed to actually have the ability to carry 10 gallons of water.  In fact, it holds less than a gallon of water.  In reality, the term comes from the Spanish term tan galan, meaning “so gallant.”  This term refers to the headwear of the upper classes.  Another explanation for the term is that it came from the vaquero tradition of the galan which is a narrow braid awarded based on the expertise of the vacquero.  Ten galans was the highest recognition given for vaquero proficienty.

The original cowboy hats were sold in General Stores in the late 1800s.  The hats at that time were unstyled and most cowboys purchased them and styled them themselves or let them style naturally over time.  The pre-pinched western cowboy hat style was made popular in western movies, not on the range.

Once you have your cowboy hat styled, it must never to stored right side up.  Cowboy hats stored in this manner end up with a flattened brim.  Store the hat upside down to retain it’s original shape.

Retail Shopping

No retail store can possibly stock the kind of selection that we have access to here. In your local store you might find a small selection to choose from. Online you can expect to find thousands of choices. With our help you can do so easily.

Why Shop eBay

Best of all in many situations, is eBay. On eBay, you set the price that you’re willing to pay, which can be a mere fraction of suggested retail price. You may be buying a cowboy hat style that someone bought and then never used. You may be buying from a closeout dealer. Or you may be buying direct from some of the largest wholesalers or even manufacturers, from anywhere in the world. Plus, eBay has strict rules that ensure the cleanliness of the merchandise being sold.

Many of the cowboy hat styles you find here will be those that will never appear in your local retail store. As you can see in the listings highlighted below, there is a huge selection available at great prices.

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We are only listing on this page a small assortment out of many hundreds or thousands available at this exact moment. Every listing below is currently available, and can be purchased now. Just click on the title to view more information, or to search further through the category. The great thing about this experience is that you set the price. Not happy with the selection today? Come back tomorrow, or even in a couple hours, and there will be fresh choices shown on this very page.

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You’ll be amazed at the cowboy hat styles in eBay auctions!

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