Willow Lane Hat Co. Blog

Two people wearing dark brown and tan cowboy hats relax on a grassy hillside.

How to Choose the Perfect Cowboy Hat: Complete Fit, Style & Material Guide

Buying your first cowboy hat or your fifth can feel overwhelming when you're staring at a wall of options. Felt or straw? Wide brim or narrow? Cattleman crown or open... Read More
Cream cowboy hat with a dark braided band rests on a saddle beside the text ‘10 Popular Crown Shapes Explained.

10 Popular Crown Shapes Explained (Cattleman, Gus, Brick & More)

Walk into any western hat store and you'll quickly realize that "cowboy hat" covers a lot of ground. The crown shape, brim width, and crease style all combine to create... Read More
Two women in cowboy hats pose on a vintage pickup truck beneath the title ‘What NFR Week in Vegas Actually Looks Like: Off Social Media.’

What NFR Week in Vegas Actually Looks Like (Off Social Media)

What NFR Week in Vegas Actually Looks Like (Off Social Media) If you scroll social media during NFR week, it looks like the entire city of Las Vegas transforms into... Read More
Man wearing a cream cowboy hat with a narrow black-and-white patterned band sits beside a white truck.

What Is a Hat Band (and Why It Matters)

What Is a Hat Band (and Why It Matters) A hat band is one of the simplest ways to change the look of a cowboy hat — yet it’s often... Read More
Rider in denim holds a tan cowboy hat with a feather-accented band while sitting on a saddled horse.

Straw vs Felt Cowboy Hats: What’s the Difference?

Straw vs Felt Cowboy Hats: What’s the Difference? If you’re shopping for a cowboy hat, one of the first decisions you’ll need to make is whether to choose straw or... Read More
Black-and-white dog in a grassy cattle pasture beneath the heading ‘Best Dogs for Ranching and Cattle Herding

Choosing the Right Dog for Ranch Life

Choosing the Right Dog for Ranch Life Howdy, y’all. Dogs are an intrinsic part of our lives as humans. We’ve been with them, and they’ve been with us, for millennia... Read More
Rows of light-colored cowboy hats on display with the heading ‘Tips to Keep Your Hats Looking New.’

Tips to Keep Your Hats Looking New

Learn simple hat care tips to keep your hats looking new, including proper storage, cleaning, steaming, and fit adjustments.
Man wearing a brown cowboy hat with a braided band and feather accent, with the brim shading his face.

What Does the “X” Rating Mean on Cowboy Hats?

What Does the “X” Rating Mean on Cowboy Hats? If you’ve shopped for cowboy hats, you’ve probably noticed hats labeled with different “X” ratings — 3X, 6X, 10X, 100X, and... Read More
‘How to Find Your Hat Size’ heading above an illustration of a coiled measuring tape.

Hat Sizing - Finding the Right Hat Size

So, you’re on the hunt for a new hat and wondering: how do I measure my hat size? And what do those numbers on the label actually mean? Don’t worry...