Myths About Cowboy Boots and Western Hats

As tried and true American cowboys, there are a lot of stereotypes and myths that crop up from time to time. Anything from well-meaning but incorrect myths about our Western boots to why we wear or wore chaps and sometimes even our hats.

In today's world, many misconceptions have still been perpetuated, becoming modern-day facts. We put some of the most popular and common myths about Western wear and the cowboy to the test and dig deep into the history and origins of where some of these myths may have come from.

Myths About Cowboys and Cowboy Hats

The symbol of the American Wild West, the cowboy has become a beloved figure of hard work, downhome charm, morals, and country. But sometimes, the tales about them aren't always true. Falling from a horse was a more likely danger than getting in a gunfight, and the cowboy hat with wide brims we see in Westerns then and now wasn't the hat the first cowboys wore.

The classic Stetson hat didn't become part of the market of hats until 1885 and really didn't pick up in popularity until the end of the 19th century. Instead, the preferred hat for a cowboy was the bowler hat, also known as the derby hat. Looking at photos from The Wild Bunch during 1892 and 1900, the images show the gang comprised of Harry A. Longabaugh (The Sundance Kid), Ben Kilpatrick (The Tall Texan), Robert Leroy Parker (Butch Cassidy), Harvey Logan (Kid Curry), and Will Carver all wearing derby hats.

Gambler and gunslinger Bat Masterson favored the derby as well and many classic photos of the American West gunfighter Billy the Kid depict the outlaw wearing what resembles a top hat. The closest that would come to look like a cowboy hat would be an 1882 photo of Jesse James, the outlaw in a low-crowned cap with an upturned brim.

Not to say that hats were not popular. In fact, men almost always commonly wore hats on the American Frontier, but derby hats at that time were the functional choice as they stayed put when it was windy and could be worn for all sorts of occasions.

At that time, too, frontiersmen wore hats that were related to and assisted them in whatever employment they had. Commonly made out of beaver fur-felt and natural in color, derby hats and flat wool caps, Mexican sombreros or old Civil War hats were the norms.

The ten-gallon was introduced much later, and, though the origins of its name are unclear, whether it was to hold 10 gallons of water or a misinterpretation of the Spanish word galón, it was one of the very first cowboy hats offered to Americans at that time. The ten-gallon truly got its break once movies and eventually, television became part of American homes. Eventually, cowboy hats evolved and restyled themselves to what they look like today and are still as stylish, iconic, and symbolic of the cowboy life as the derby was centuries ago.

Cowboy Boots Myths and Misconceptions

There's a lot of myths going around about cowboy boots. Ask anyone about them and you'll get anything from: "they're my favorite footwear," to, "aren't they supposed to be painful?" If you're a cowboy veteran, these myths may not be anything you haven't heard before, but if you're new to the lifestyle we'll share some essential truths about living your best cowboy boot life and see through the myths.

Do Cowboy Boots Pinch Toes?

The first and most common myth is that cowboy boots will jam or are supposed to be too tight on your toes. Many people who don't wear cowboy boots may look at the pointed toes and say that they couldn't wear that due to the stress on their toes. Surely a pointed boot would squish everything together in an unhealthy manner.

That is 100% not true. High-quality, well-made cowboy boots will never crush your piggies nor will it feel like your toes are jammed. The truth is that if you've ever encountered a booth too tight or that jams your toes, it isn't the correct size. The right cowboy boot fit is everything. It makes the difference between comfort and a painful blister or worse.

Reliable cowboy boots from an established company are made to fit you perfectly, including around your toes. So, the next time you hear someone say cowboy boots pinch toes, ask them when it was the last time they had their feet properly measured and tell them to come to talk to the cowboy boot experts at Stages West!

Do Cowboy Boots Slip When You Wear Them?

The next cowboy boot myth is that your heel will always slip in cowboy boots and thus, they don't fit you right. That is another boot myth: When you buy a brand-new pair of boots, handmade or fitted specifically to your precise measurements, your heel is supposed to slip about a quarter of an inch within the boot.

Once you've worn them long enough to break in your boots, they conform to your foot and the slipping becomes natural. Slipping at the heel is supposed to happen. If you don't feel any slipping or it feels tight against any part of your foot? Yep, you guessed it. The boot hasn't been fitted to your foot properly.

Are Cowboy Boots Uncomfortable?

Yet another myth is that cowboy boots are uncomfortable. Unfortunately, if you buy a cheap pair of discount no-name cowboy boots, then this myth comes true. However, if you own a pair made from the top cowboy boot companies in the U.S. today, then you're in for a treat. Cowboy boots are actually one of the most comfortable types of footwear. Leather cowboy boots of exceptional quality will be soft, supple, and overall feel excellent to walk in. On top of them being naturally comfortable, advances in technology have allowed cushioned foot insoles for cowboy boots to fit to bring further comfort and support.

Can I Wear Western Boots If I’m Not a Cowboy?

And last, but never least in the myths of cowboy boots: they can only be worn by cowboys. Cowboy boots are not made just for cowboys! These boots are made for anyone crazy about life, the lifestyle, the Western Wear fashion world or just want a great pair of boots to wear for every occasion. Whether you're a roper, work in an office, own and work at your own ranch or are just going out about town—cowboy boots are for everyone at any time.

Interested in busting some of your own myths about Western wear? You've come to the right place! Check out our handy Western wear guides to cowboy boot fitting, sizes, and our amazing selection of the finest boots that won't jam your toes.