Cowboy hats are back in fashion and everyone just loves them! They bring back memories of a lifestyle that made America the great nation it is today. Hardworking, rugged outdoorsmen who battled the elements on a daily basis. The hat they wore was their only protection from sun, rain, sleet, snow, and dusty winds. No wonder it was tough, as tough as they were. And the toughest of them all is the leather cowboy hat. The lifestyle has all but disappeared but the leather cowboy hat remains, a silent witness to the resilience of those nation-builders. The leather cowboy hat is as tough as ever, and has its own handsome looks. They are hard wearing, yet easy on the head, so you can wear one comfortably all day.
Folks living in the Wild West required a hat which would provide them with reliable weather protection from sun, rain, and hot, dusty winds - and which did not require any maintenance. They chose leather as the material for the hat because the other materials available then were just not up to handling all-weather usage. Leather was tough, and weather proof. Natural leather is permeable, it breathes. So the leather cowboy hat kept perspiration from building up on the wearer's scalp even though he was working all day in the unbearable heat of the Mojave. Leather comes in a wide variety of natural shades: from almost white to almost jet. This degree of comfort with protection with good looks was unmatchable by hats of other materials, the closest competition coming from straw and felt hats.
Cowboy hats of different materials like straw and felt are very popular but those of leather have the best appearance. These hats have what is called 'character' which sets them apart from the other varieties. That's the reason why film stars, singers and celebrities of every hue sport these great looking hats, to be stylish.
Another reason for leather's dominance is that it is extremely durable in all sorts of weather, and that's why leather cowboy hats are reliable and effective protection for the wearer in the severest of environmental conditions. Straw is very good and light, but its lightness is its very weakness! It cannot last one season in the rain or snow, and as for the sun, the sunlight and its heat easily pass through the straw weave and affect the wearer's head! Felt cowboy hats afford much better protection from the weather than straw cowboy hats. But they are hard to maintain. They deform easily when wet, and are prone to breaking up with rough handling. Besides many wearers complain that a felt cowboy hat feels like a cardboard hat! The bottom line is that leather cowboy hats are well worth the high price tag that they come with.
The leather cowboy hat really scores over the other cowboy hats in the care-and-maintenance department. Just dust it off from time to time, and if the grime starts showing, a gentle wipe with a chamois and your favorite leather cleaner will get it clean once again. It is not affected by rain or shine, but if it does get really doused in a water trough, then all you have to do is to shake off the excess water and let it dry naturally. Remember to turn the sweatband outwards so that it can dry as well. That's all the care and maintenance the leather cowboy hat requires.
A leather cleaner is recommended for getting grime out of the grain of the leather cowboy hat. Choose a high quality cleaner which is formulated to maintain the natural oils in the leather itself. The natural oils prolong the leather's life and hence, the hat's life. Ask a reliable vendor of high quality leather wear about the best leather cleaner for your hat. Always make it a point to test the cleaner on a hidden patch, before using it on the whole hat.
Most reputable stores which carry quality leather wear offer a cleaning service. You may want to avail of this service as an alternative to doing it yourself. Store your leather cowboy hat in a cool place. A word of caution when you're storing the leather hat: prolonged exposure to direct sunlight is not advisable as this may discolor the leather.
Costly they may be, but leather cowboy hats give good value for money, outlasting the competition, and, lady or gent, you're sure to stun the onlookers with those great good looks set off by a matching beauty on your head!
Folks living in the Wild West required a hat which would provide them with reliable weather protection from sun, rain, and hot, dusty winds - and which did not require any maintenance. They chose leather as the material for the hat because the other materials available then were just not up to handling all-weather usage. Leather was tough, and weather proof. Natural leather is permeable, it breathes. So the leather cowboy hat kept perspiration from building up on the wearer's scalp even though he was working all day in the unbearable heat of the Mojave. Leather comes in a wide variety of natural shades: from almost white to almost jet. This degree of comfort with protection with good looks was unmatchable by hats of other materials, the closest competition coming from straw and felt hats.
Cowboy hats of different materials like straw and felt are very popular but those of leather have the best appearance. These hats have what is called 'character' which sets them apart from the other varieties. That's the reason why film stars, singers and celebrities of every hue sport these great looking hats, to be stylish.
Another reason for leather's dominance is that it is extremely durable in all sorts of weather, and that's why leather cowboy hats are reliable and effective protection for the wearer in the severest of environmental conditions. Straw is very good and light, but its lightness is its very weakness! It cannot last one season in the rain or snow, and as for the sun, the sunlight and its heat easily pass through the straw weave and affect the wearer's head! Felt cowboy hats afford much better protection from the weather than straw cowboy hats. But they are hard to maintain. They deform easily when wet, and are prone to breaking up with rough handling. Besides many wearers complain that a felt cowboy hat feels like a cardboard hat! The bottom line is that leather cowboy hats are well worth the high price tag that they come with.
The leather cowboy hat really scores over the other cowboy hats in the care-and-maintenance department. Just dust it off from time to time, and if the grime starts showing, a gentle wipe with a chamois and your favorite leather cleaner will get it clean once again. It is not affected by rain or shine, but if it does get really doused in a water trough, then all you have to do is to shake off the excess water and let it dry naturally. Remember to turn the sweatband outwards so that it can dry as well. That's all the care and maintenance the leather cowboy hat requires.
A leather cleaner is recommended for getting grime out of the grain of the leather cowboy hat. Choose a high quality cleaner which is formulated to maintain the natural oils in the leather itself. The natural oils prolong the leather's life and hence, the hat's life. Ask a reliable vendor of high quality leather wear about the best leather cleaner for your hat. Always make it a point to test the cleaner on a hidden patch, before using it on the whole hat.
Most reputable stores which carry quality leather wear offer a cleaning service. You may want to avail of this service as an alternative to doing it yourself. Store your leather cowboy hat in a cool place. A word of caution when you're storing the leather hat: prolonged exposure to direct sunlight is not advisable as this may discolor the leather.
Costly they may be, but leather cowboy hats give good value for money, outlasting the competition, and, lady or gent, you're sure to stun the onlookers with those great good looks set off by a matching beauty on your head!
About the Author:
You'll find bargain prices on all the best known brands including Stetson and Resistol cowboy hats, when you visit www.DiscountCowboyHats.net. Whether you are searching for leather, straw or felt cowboy hats, we'll show you where to look to get a superior hat at an affordable price.
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