I'd like to apologize for not reviewing sooner!! This is a REAL hat store…read more
This family-owned business has been a fixture in the valley for decades, and while I used two different hatmakers when I lived and worked in Colorado, they didn't come close to the expertise of this outfit.
As a native to the valley, the damage from sun exposure began as an outside kid. As a young adult starting out as a horse professional, I wore what most people wore - a basball cap.
In my 30's, the dermatologists began their annual battle to repair the damage, instructing me to 'stay out of the sun'. Yeah, right.
After one session of extensive repair, Doc really chewed me out! I explained my work, to which he exclaimed, 'Then wear a real hat!' The baseball cap only shaded my eyes, not my face, nose, chin, ears, neck, chest... and the damage was requiring surgeons. Seriously.
So began my quest to every western shop to try to make a hat work for me. I had no idea that the pain & headache was because the shape of my head IS NOT ROUND, like most people, yet every off the shelf hat is!
To wear a hat snug enough to stay on while horseback, yet comfortable, seemed impossible.
One day I was miserable with yet another 'round' hat I was forcing myself to wear when someone told me about a place that makes quality hats exactly to the shape of your head, allowing for even, comfortable pressure. No way! What?
Don't even know what I did with those stupid round torturous hats. Might've run them over with the truck AND trailer!
You can imagine the rest! That antique contraption they use to get the shape of your noggin is the game-changer!
Over 30 years, Az-Tex has made probably 6 hats for me, worn morning to night outside working. They last forever, and my new hats were usually a style change I was looking for. They clean up like brand-new and are really an item one could pass down to kids or grandkids.
Retired now, I go there for my golf hats! So, again, sorry I hadn't reviewed before now!
Thank you, Az-Tex! Your expertise made my career so much easier!