How to Wear a Hat Pin Without Damaging Your Hat

A good hat pin serves a purpose out on the ranch or in the arena. It keeps your hat planted where it belongs, whether you're working cattle in West Texas wind or dancing at a Nashville honky tonk. But a hat pin done wrong will put holes in a quality hat that cost you real money. Here's how to do it right.

Know Your Hat First

Before you even think about pinning anything, understand what you're working with. A felt hat—whether it's beaver, rabbit hair, or a blend—has different density than straw. Beaver felt can handle more pressure. Straw is more delicate. Leather bands, sweatbands, and the actual weave of the crown all matter when you're deciding where and how deep to go. If you picked up your western wear from a quality outfit, the hat maker usually left enough material in the crown to handle a pin. That's not an accident.

Run your fingers along the inside of the crown. Feel the thickness. If it's substantial, you're working with a decent hat. If it feels thin, you need to be more careful. Some of the cheaper rodeo hats out there are made thin on purpose to cut costs. Those aren't worth pinning anyway.

Choose the Right Pin

Not all hat pins are created equal. A heavy gauge pin with a blunt tip will tear your hat. A thin gauge pin with a sharp point will slip through material without causing the same damage. The pin should be sturdy enough to hold your hat in place when the wind picks up, but sharp enough to penetrate without ripping. Look for pins with decent length—at least two and a half inches. Anything shorter won't give you enough material to work with inside the hat. For more guidance on selecting quality headwear, check out our guide to choosing a cowboy hat.

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