YOU MIGHT BE A COWBOY OR COWGIRL IF YOU OWN THESE PRODUCTS

Whether you’re living life on the road in your pickup truck and horse trailer or settled down on a ranch in the country, chances are you have these products on or close to you at all times. As a gal that’s spent more than a fair share of time on the road and on horseback, this is a tried and true list of gear that most cowboys or cowgirls keep on hand at all times. In addition, to preface this list, I am leaving out all the obvious gear like saddles, boots, and hats and taking cowboy gear to another level so pull on your boots and let’s get started!

BY KRYSTA PAFFRATH

Saddlebags

A GOOD PAIR OF SADDLEBAGS MIGHT LAST YOU A LIFETIME IF YOU’RE LUCKY. There are a couple of different kinds of saddlebags and cowboys and cowgirls usually have a combination of them depending on how much they need to have with them while riding. First, there is what’s called a “Horn Bag” which hangs over the horn of your saddle. This means that they sit towards the front of your saddle, making anything in there easily accessible. The next most popular kind of saddlebag is the traditional dual-hanging bags that hang off either side of the horse’s hips off the back of the saddle. In recent years, you can also find smaller saddle bags that either attach to the very front of your saddle or bags that sit right behind the seat of your saddle as well. It ultimately comes down to preference and what you are using them for. They come in a variety of materials, but if you’re looking for longevity, leather is always the way to go!

A Knife

STARTING WITH ONE OF THE MORE obvious picks, having a knife doesn’t automatically make you a cowboy, but every cowboy I know carries a knife on them everywhere they go. You never know when you might need to cut a rope or some leather. Having a knife prepares you for just about any situation you could be in whether out on the ranch or going down the road. You’ll find that most cowboys wear their knives on their hips, where it’s attached to their belts via a leather knife sheath.

Wild Rag

WILD RAGS ARE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF any cowboy or cowgirl’s gear bag. Wild rags are square scarves that range in size from 20 inches to 60 inches depending on what you’re using them for. They are often tied around a cowboy’s neck to either keep them warm during the cold months or to keep the sun and dirt off their neck in the warmer months. You can style and tie them in a variety of ways, depending on your preference.

Piggin’ String

YOU MIGHT BE A HARDCORE cowboy or cowgirl if you carry around piggin’ strings with you. Unlike their name, they don’t have anything to do with pigs. Piggin’ strings are usually short two-foot strands of lariat rope that have been separated into separate strings. Since a lariat rope is usually made up of several strands, you end up with a pliable yet sturdy piece of string that can be used for just about anything ranging from tying gates shut, securing trailer doors, tying up cattle legs for doctoring, the uses are truly endless!

A Bedroll

FOR THOSE WHO MIGHT not know, a bedroll is exactly what it sounds like. It allows you to have a portable bed wherever you end up. It’s usually made up of a couple of different layers starting with a canvas sheet on the bottom. That is the foundation of your bedroll, then you can build it up from there depending on your preferences and the type of weather you expect to be sleeping in. Once all rolled up, it can be tied onto the back of your horse if you plan on staying overnight at cow camp or thrown in your truck or trailer to be used when you need it.

Fence Pliers

YOU MIGHT BE A COWBOY OR cowgirl if you have a special pair of fence pliers that go with you everywhere you go. You truly never know when you might come across a downed fence or a hole in the fence that needs some quick fixing. I could take this a step further and add a fence stretcher, but you usually come back with those to fix the big holes in the fence. You can use these in a pinch to cut, bend, and stretch wire.

About Ellis Canvas Tents

WE’VE BEEN MAKING LIGHTWEIGHT CANVAS TENTS AND BEDROLLS FOR over 30 years. Our signature designs are all handmade in our workshop in Durango, Colorado. While Ellis Canvas nods to the traditional canvas tent that built the west, our signature design improvements create better functionality and more stable shelter from the elements. We know the rigors of living and working in remote areas and we build our tents and bedrolls to withstand the most extreme conditions, keeping you warm, dry, and comfortable so you can focus on your work or simply enjoy your time in the wilderness.

Chaps

DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU HAIL from you might pronounce this word just as it’s spelled or you might pronounce it “shaps”. “Chaps” comes from the Spanish word, chaparajos, which simply means, “leather pants without a seat”. Chaps come in many different styles and are called many different things depending again on what part of the country you’re in. For example, in the southwest, you are more apt to find batwing or shotgun-style (also called leggings) chaps. These style chaps protect the entire legs from cacti, desert brush, and rough riding conditions. In the northwest, you will probably still see those styles, but you will also see chinks, which are half chaps usually with fringe, and armitas which are traditionally made from deer, elk, or moccasintanned cowhide. In addition, traditional armitas are made with no sewing and are hand laced. You can also find wooly chaps up north to keep those cowboys warm during the winter months.