Mens Cowboy Hat -Since 1865 Mens Cowboy Hats Have Been a Hit

The first mens cowboy hat was created by John Stetson in 1865 and soon found its way into the history books as a true symbol of the American West and the cowboy. Today no real cowboy would be caught without a Stetson styled hat on his head. The cowboy hats were designed to be very practical as they had a very wide brim which provided protection from the heat and bright light of the relentless sun found in the American Southwest. When the sun was not shining the wide brim also kept the rains that poured down out the wearer's eyes.

The original mens cowboy hat was made from leather that was carefully steamed and formed into shape and was available in black, brown or natural leather colours to suit the individual wearer. Leather was considered the perfect material as is could stand up to the harsh environment of daily life in the southwest. Not only could it be used to protect the wearer's head but because it was made from leather it could also hold water which proved a useful way to water your horse when there were no other sources of water.

While the most common form of cowboy hat has always been leather for its utility and durability, these hats have one big drawback in the summer time in that they are incredibly hot to wear. For the summer months, mens straw cowboy hats have been around for almost as long as the cowboy hat has been in existence. The straw cowboy hat could still be used to hold water for a man's horse but was much lighter and due to the nature of the woven straw help keep the wearer's head cooler by allowing fresh air to circulate.

While mens cowboy hats are still worn by cattle ranchers and the cowboys who help them to take care of the cattle, they have become a very popular fashion statement. Many of the top stars of the rodeo circuit have been wearing mens black straw cowboy hats for years, partly for the practicality of the straw material and partly for the image of the black hat itself. For years the black cowboy hat has been associated with the outlaw or the rebel mostly thanks to Hollywood and the dozens of cowboy movies that used the black hat to represent the bad guy while the good guys wore white hats.

Cowboys are not the only ones to wear mens cowboy hats as they have become quite popular as a fashion accessory for both men and women, wearing them along with blue jeans and a western style belt buckle. Many of today's straw cowboy hats are made with Toquilla straw which is made from Ecuadorian palm trees. You can find straw cowboy hats in many department stores and farm supply stores at very reasonable price.

Of course if you really want to show your distinctive taste and sport a top of the line cowboy hat, you can still buy the original Stetson cowboy hats brand or go all out and by hats by Tony Lama or Resistol that can be very expensive as they are made from the finest leathers to be had. In the US you can also fiend several stores that will custom fit your new cowboy hat to your head and then shape the brim just the way you want it. There is nothing like a mens cowboy hat that has been made just to fit your head to keep the sun out of your eyes.