Why you'll love having your own cowboy hat
It's simple a truth of life that pretty much everyone looks better in a cowboy hat, or cowgirl hat. A western hat just adds a layer of cool to your look, and suggests that you could do ok if you had to wrangle cattle, fix a gate or stare down a mountain lion.
It used to be a challenge to find a great western hat in New Zealand but we're bringing Kiwis a large selection of seriously great cowboy hats from two iconic outback brands - Ringers Western and Outback Trading Co.
Why wear a Western Hat?
If you're working outdoors in New Zealand, sun protection is a must and blocking the sun is more effective than slapping on sunblock every few hours. Unlike caps or standard hats, Western Hats really do create shade and protect your face - because they were originally created for daily use by ranchers and cowboys who spent long hours working under the scorching sun, the wide brim that provides ample shade, reducing the risk of sunburn and skin damage.
Cowgirl hats also provide great hair control for the long locked beauties - it's all very well to tie your hair back but strands will fall around your face through the day, getting in the way and generally getting tangled and knotted! Pop your cowgirl hat on and your face will be clear of wisps and your hair will be properly out of your eyes so you can get on with what you need done.
Perspiration control is provided by the sweatband of a cowboy hat, keeping trickles of stinging sweat out of your eyes.
A cowboy hat with a high, airy crown offers better ventilation and coolness, and breezy materials like the straw hats are ideal in the heat of summer, offering shade with cool.
In winter, sling on a felt cowboy hat to keep your head warm, and the drizzle off. A cowboy hat's thick material and sturdy construction keeps the head and ears warm in chilly weather, making ideal for working outdoors, or fishing, camping or hiking. If the weather is turning really nasty, reach for that oilskin or leather cowboy hat to keep you dry and stop the rain running down inside your collar.
Bonus reason to wear a cowboy hat: We know you'll look really good! Team your cowboy hat with jeans, warm jacket and boots for a casual, western-inspired look, or wear with a suit jacket and jeans or with a pretty floral dress for a formal look.
Check your size, then choose your style
Not all western hats are the classic 'sides up, crease in the top' cowboy hat you've seen a thousand times in movies. In the west, ranchers use a variety of wide brimmed hats in different materials for different weather, seasons, and occasions. The different types and styles of cowboy hats have various purposes, ranging from a black or pale coloured felt hat which may be saved for more formal, dressy occasions, to the cowboy hat you choose for daily work on the farm or a light straw hat for casual fun, or even beach days.
You should choose a cowboy hat in a size that fits firmly so it stays on while you're active, but isn't tight enough to cause a headache. Check the sizes on the hat you decide to buy and make sure you get the right one.
Browse our Ringers Western Cowboy Hat Collection to see Straw Rancher hats, Felt Fedoras, Cowgirl Hats in lacy straw weaves, Cowboy Hats with silver buckles and a range of brims, Australian Stockman Hats for both men and women - and even cute kids western hats.
The Outback Trading Co Western Hat Collection has even more options, from classic cowboy hats to wide brimmed oilskin hats, leather cowboy hats and various other styles for farming and fishing.
Cowboy hat etiquette
Here in New Zealand, we don't always think of a cowboy hat as being a symbol of a rich heritage, complete with a unique set of rules and expectations. Here are a few, with thanks to the National Ranching Heritage Center who shared them originally:
As a sign of respect, cowboy hats should be removed during prayer or at church, the National Anthem, for formal dining, and when meeting someone for the first time - especially a lady.
When you remove your cowboy hat, hold it in such a way that no one else can see its interior.
Grasp the crown or your cowboy hat when handling it - not the brim - and store the hat crown-side down, to protect the shape of the brim.
Don't touch another person's hat, never take it off their heads, and do not try their hat on without express permission - just like with greenstone/pounamu.
It's considered bad luck to place a hat down on the bed, wear a hat backward, or put on a new hat for the first time while hunting or rodeoing.
Take good care of your cowboy hat and be mindful of hat etiquette, to show respect for yourself, for others, and the Western way of life.
