Decisions

[Joe Rotax]

I've been wondering about trying a narrower brim. I was considering this 4X Stetson in SB with a 3" brim. Cost is $190.

I can get this Stetson 10X in SB for $225 which is a good price from what I've seen. I like this style and feel comfortable wearing it but I already have a similar hat in 4X. Nevertheless, this is a good deal for a 10X and the other one seems a bit expensive by comparison plus the only way to find out about the 3" brim is to buy it and I already know that I like the wider 4" brim shown below.

Third alternative is to buy a new driver's side mirror for my F-150 because it got clipped in a parking lot. Price for that is around $250 but I fixed it with black racer tape for now and it won't be an issue till the summer...lol

 

[Eric P]

Another option would be to find an older hat on EBay, and have a western store trim the brim down to 3 inches. This way if you find it isnt to your liking you wouldn't be out as much money. I did this with an older silver belly stetson carson that I picked up for about 30 dollars. I really like it with the 3 inch brim.

 

[Joe Rotax]

I didn't think of ebay - I've never dealt with them before.

Found a place about an hour north of where I live sells Akubras many of which seem to be around 3". Might go there and try a few on would give me some idea about the smaller brim.

 

[Benzadmiral]

As Marshal McCloud used to say: "There y'go!"

 

[scottyrocks]

Nothing better than put a lid directly on yer noggin.

 

[gtdean48]

4 inch is a standard cowboy width where the 3 inch is more of the boss/cattle buyer width (less of a working 'pokes brim).
I like a 3 inch in more Outback shaped brim than the curl shown here.
I have a custom Western that is 3.5 inch with just a slight curl on the front sides.
My fedoras range from 2 7/8 to 2 5/8.

 

[Joe Rotax]

Went to the store that I was talking about - big place, all kinds of clothes and boots and such.

Learned a few things so it was worth the trip.

1. Black or brown hats are not for me.

2. Tried a few Akubras and the 3" brim doesn't work for me plus I didn't like the light weight felt all that much although they are nice hats otherwise.

3. Hat sizes vary big time. I wear a 7&5/8 Stetson but that size in a Bailey is way too big.

4. Sales person was no spring chicken but she'd never heard the term Silver Belly before and didn't understand what it meant when I explained it.

5. Tried a wool felt and now know never to buy one.

6. Picked a supposedly 4X Stetson beaver cattle hat off the rack to show the sales person what color SB is and noticed that the felt was very light weight on this one. Turned it over and the sweatband was a flimsy almost white leather with 4 gold Xs but not the "Authentic Stetson" words that usually go with them and it did not have the Beaver logo on the side of the band. No hologram sticker and no printed identification card attached inside either. Had the silk liner with the horse drinking but the colours looked a bit pale compared to mine. I wonder if this hat was a fake - a lot of people wouldn't be able to tell as you don't see that many Stetsons around here - in fact, I doubt the people working at this store would know either.