I’m a pinch front guy so I’m no help there. I’ve got a Stampede straw pinch front that’s super comfortable and has lasted me probably 10 years so far but they don’t make it anymore and I have no idea what their quality is these days.
I’m pretty sure Stetson (the company) makes them, but I’m not sure if Im going to pony the cash up without checking out a hat first. I actually do want a straw one - my cattleman is black felt with a silver clasp, so it looks kind of silly without my frock coat (or at least white shirt and black pants, looks too formal).
Actually I was curious just now and it looks like they sell at a store in town (in Minnesota!) so I’ll have to check it out.
My dad also likes the pinch front, he always claimed it was easier on the crown.
I don’t know if it’s easier on the crown, I just know that I feel like it looks better with my face.
Stetson makes a good hat. I’ve got one of their black buffalo hats but I’m not home to look at the model. It’s one of the low end ones so probably a 4x? I’ve also got one of their 10x that I had the crown reshaped on because I loved the fit but it was a cattleman.
The funny thing is I don’t really wear them in public except on stage so I tend to wear the cheap ones (that’s where the Stampede does its job) so that if it gets messed up I don’t care so the ones I use are all naturally distressed from being abused. I think I’ve worn the good one twice outside of the house, once to a country themed wedding and once to a funeral for an old rancher. I’ve also got a straw and a wool one that I wear out to my buddy’s ranch with drawstrings just to keep the sun off.
Now that I’ve said it out loud, I realize I have too many fucking hats.