The X Factor Hat Rating System

Many people asked about the X factor ratings on their hat. What does it really mean when you wear a 10X hat? 50X hat? 100X Hat?

Well, according to a book called “The Cowboy Hats” it explain that in the hat making field, felt has traditionally been graded according to its X-factor.

X Factor Hat Rating was originally determined by the density and shape of the material, and ranged in grade from a low of 1X to a high of 10X. Hats made of material rated below 5X generally contained a poorer grade of fur and little or no beaver fur. A 10X hat was made of 100% beaver fur. The X-factor was also a fairly reliable price guide, with a 3X hat costing $30 and a 4X hat costing $40 and a 5X hat costing $50 and so on. Fifty years ago, a 10X Stetson cost $100, was made of 100% pure beaver fur and was the finest hat available. 

Today, however, the X Factor Hat Rating is rather subjective. Manufacturers and dealers are not only rating hats differently, each according to its own criteria, but they are also using the X as a price plateau rather than an actual quality rating system. In general, today’s X-factor works out like this: a 2X beaver will cost under $100; a 10X beaver about $250; a 30X, $450; and 100X beaver hats generally cost upwards of $1,000. One company’s 5X beaver might actually be better than another’s 10X – it’s a tricky system. 

Prospective hat buyers are advised to discuss the material’s X-factor with the hat maker or dealer in detail to ascertain the true X-rating. The real test, ultimately, is the look and feel: a good hat is soft and silky.

Perhaps you will begin to understand that when you order a hat from Montana Rio, a Traditional Wear hat company you are getting the very best simply because we abide by the original hat making rule, something we call the Code Of West” hat. If you are tired or fed up with cheap “mass manufactured hats” you’ve come to the right place. Receive your free measurement and estimate for your customized hat and you won’t be disappointed. That’s our pledge.