Does a 10 gallon hat really hold that much water?

Does a 10 gallon hat really hold that much water?

Have you ever wondered why a cowboy hat is called a 10 gallon hat when it is obvious that the hat will not hold 10 gallons of water?  Well, it's because 10 gallon NEVER really referred to the holding capacity of the crown.  Some say it came from a Mexican word, "galleon", that has to do with the brim size, not the depth of the crown.  Others say it comes from the Spanish "tan galan" which translates to "very handsome", referring to how striking the hat-wearing men looked on their horses. So, if someone refers to your hat as 10 gallon, it's a compliment.

Even though the lining of the hat was waterproofed, the maximum a hat could hold would be a few quarts - maybe a half gallon.  A real cowboy would have had to dip several times to get 10 gallons of water.

Gone Country's Brad hat really holds water

We have styles, like our Brad, that hold water because they are coated with a water-resistant lacquer before being painted. Even if you don't want to dip water, you may want a hat that will not be ruined if it gets wet.  Palm straws such as Jason, Smokin and more hold their shape when wet so you can wear them in the rain or floating down the river and not worry about them being ruined.