These furs undergo a felting process, and when exposed to steam and water, the fur fibers shrink and interlock. Where Does the Fur Come From?įur felt hats are made with beaver, rabbit, or other kinds of fur, as well as felted wool.Īfter this process, a warm, water-resistant, lightweight material is created and shaped into a hat.
On special occasions, when it is time to dress up and look good, the felt cowboy hat comes out of the western wardrobe no matter what time of year it is. Then it’s time to store away the fur felt and exchange it for straw.įelt cowboy hats are widely recognized as a more classic cowboy look. Today, many people wear their felt cowboy hats all year round, while others only pick them up after Labor Day.įur felt is their hat of choice through the colder seasons of winter and fall until Memorial Day, when the temperatures start to rise again. They were great for fanning a campfire or providing the perfect container for your thirsty horse to drink from when necessary. They shielded them from the sun in the daytime, and at night, when the desert’s temperature fell, they would keep them warm.Ī felt hat was, of course, the choice through cold, damp winter days and nights, but they also had other uses while out on a trail. This striking classic design comes with a leather sweatband and a vented crown.įor traditional cowboys, felt hats historically had more uses than straw hats. The Justin 20X Cutter Black Straw Cowboy Hat is made from Bangora straw (Bankok-Toyo) and features a cattleman’s crease. With a bent brim and cattleman’s crease, this classic western construction allows air to circulate even on the hottest days. The Justin Ivory Hutson Bent Rail Straw Cowboy Hat has been made using Shantung straw and will keep you cool whenever things get heated. From ranches to rodeos, Justin is the brand of choice for cowboys with a rough, tough lifestyle.Ĭheck out these Shantung and Bankok-Toyo straw cowboy hats from Justin: Known for the best quality cowboy boots out there, Justin produces some of the best quality cowboy hats too. This quality cowboy hat features a wide, roan leather hat band with a buckle. The Evilla de Oro Shantung Cowboy Hat comes in natural white and has a 1000X Shantung straw construction with a 3BU 2X2 weave. Handmade in Texas using Shantung straw, this timeless classic is available in taupe and successfully blends city and traditional styles. The Open Road Straw Hat has an open-weave cattleman crown that has been hand-pressed to give it a classic frontier style. Let’s take a look at two of Stetson’s Shantung straw cowboy hats: Stetson’s straw cowboy hat selection is perfect for summer days without compromising the classic Stetson style.Īnd with traditional western design and maximum cowboy/cowgirl comfort, you can wear these western hats with any western outfit. Renowned for their superior quality cowboy hats and creative western flair, Stetson is an iconic brand that is recognized across the globe. Here are a few examples of cowboy hats made of Shantung and Bankok-Toyo straw from two of the highest quality cowboy hat manufacturers in the world, “Stetson” and “Justin.” Types of Straw Cowboy Hats Stetson Ventilated crowns made of Shantung or Bankok-Toyo straw are gaining popularity. Bankok-Toyo straws are coarser than the finer grades of Shantung, and hats manufactured using Bankok-Toyo often have a vented crown. Shantung straw has essentially replaced Toquilla straw as the favored hat material.īankok-Toyo, commonly known as Bangora, is another favorite straw for manufacturing cowboy hats. The much rarer Toquilla straw, which only grows on the high western slopes of South American mountains, is used to make Panama straw hats. Shantung straw-made hats account for around 80% of straw cowboy hats because this straw is readily accessible and less sensitive to heat and sun. Shantung straw comes from Asia and is the most commonly used material by manufacturers of high-quality straw cowboy hats. The weaving method is also a significant quality indicator, whether by hand or on a loom. When it comes to appropriate headgear for warm or hot conditions, straw has been the material of choice for thousands of years on many different continents.ĭurable, lightweight, and able to circulate air, it’s no wonder straw was also adopted as the material of choice by the cattle-ranching cowboys of the Wild West era to aid as protection against searing summer temperatures.Ī cowboy hat’s quality is directly related to the grade of the straw used to make it. Your fur felt cowboy hat will require a little TLC.
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