Straw or Felt Cowboy hat?
Thu, 2010-02-11 08:50
Do you prefer a straw or a felt cowboy hat? Also, which color do you prefer?
Wed, 2013-04-24 19:08
#2
Hats
I like straw for training/work/judging and wool/beaver for dress.
Wed, 2013-04-24 12:55
#3
Straw or Felt??
If I were commenting on this post from strictly what looks good on me, I would choose felt because I just do not look that good in a straw hat. However, when you are a rancher, fashion goes by the wayside to what works.
Around here, a lot of people say that the Miles City Bucking Horse Sale or Memorial Day is the unofficial day to start wearing your straw hats and the last day for them is Labor Day. As a woman, I suppose it is in my nature deep down to have the drive to follow those rules, but as a rancher, I find myself following Mother Natures rules.
I prefer in the summer months, when it is hot, to wear an open crown straw hat. At first I never understood why someone would wear an open crown straw hat, but after trying it out, it did not take me long to be convinced that this idea is for me. While it took a bit for me to get used to it in the mirror and it takes some shopping to find the right height crown, the idea is simple...Heat rises. The open crown leaves more room for the heat to rise off of your head and then leave the vent holes in the hat. And to top it off, it is quite comfy. I really felt a difference after branding the first few hundred head of calves last summer. I am going with the new American Hat Co. diamond design this year, open crown of coarse.
As felt hats go, I always have two. Black and buckskin. I also have a silver belly that I have converted into an ear flap cowboy hat. I found myself gathering in blizzards or just icy cold wind appreciating the protection of the brim of my hat, but missing the ear protection of my wool ear flap cap. So I took the idea that my husband has been using for years and bought a felt hat that was a size or two too big. Cut the ear flaps out of an old wool cap and sewed the ear flaps into the felt hat. It looks like your average felt hat, but when I need warm ears, I just flip the flaps down, suck it down and go about my business. Viola!! I have the protection of the brim as well as ear flaps!
Sat, 2013-04-13 03:55
#4
Hats
Hello, we'll I wear both straw and felt hats. Would like some help, having hard time finding straws with 5" brims. I know to a person who doesn't wear hats won't understand, but if I go outside with my hat, I feel like something is missing and my head get hot. And I have full head of hair lol, but as color I have black, brown, and buckskin in felts. And have straw and palm leaf hats. My hats are just part of me and a working tool.
Sun, 2013-03-17 16:27
#5
straw or fe;lt hats
Ipersonally wear Stetson felt hats, I have ten of them and only one is straw cool in summer but too stiff to be all around comfy felt must be 4inch brim, teardrop crown
Wed, 2013-03-13 09:36
#6
I am not a fan of straw. I
I am not a fan of straw. I just don't find them very comfortable wearing all day being they do not have any give. I really do not find them to be any less hot then a good felt hat honestly. Palm on the other hand is much more up my alley for warmer months, cheaper, easier to keep clean, has a little give, breathe better, and can be reshaped over and over. Plus they are cheaper.
As for felt, I don't care about dates on a calendar. If its cool or cold I will grab my felt. I wear chocolate or tan for most uses, dark grey for dress. I'm not big on black, everyone and their momma wears black.
As for brands, Stetson. Not for any particular reason like I think they are better. It's just my granddaddy and daddy wore them, so I do too. I have worn Stetsons since I was a boy and all have been a great hat so no reason to look elsewhere.
Fri, 2012-11-30 20:01
#7
Straw or Felt
I know I'm getting this this a tad late but then I just joined so I thought I'd throw my 2 cents in.
Straw during the summer and spring. I wear bangora for daily wear.
Black or Chocolate felt hat in the fall and winter.
Wed, 2012-08-01 21:47
#8
Hat Etiquette
Do ladies take off their cowboy hats during the National Anthem? when is a girl supposed to take off her hat? Help!!!
Wed, 2013-04-24 19:05
#9
Hats
My belief is that men take their hats off. Women never had to take hats off when they were at dinner, entering a building, etc..... Common courtesy has always been that the men do it. During the National Anthem, men should always take hats off and hold over their heart, and women should at least put their hand over their heart. I would never expect a woman to take her hat off.....if she wants to....fine, but not required.
Sun, 2012-07-08 09:15
#10
staw or felt?
Right now I love the straw hats with a wide brim for working out in these drought conditions with a good vented crown. The straw hats are being made and created into masterpieces of history. It has to be american made right down to the straw and hard work that goes into our representation of true western living.
Mon, 2012-06-04 13:03
#11
Felt for show, straw for work.
I love my black felts but when it comes to working a river for color and getting into the dirt a straw is what to wear. I would never bring out one of my black Stets to a dig site just to get it ruined by the hard work. So I say felts for the town, straws for work.
Tue, 2012-05-22 12:31
#12
Straw or Felt
I personally prefer black felt... so many people comment about how hot it looks, but i dont care...
Mon, 2012-05-07 09:56
#13
Straw Or Felt Cowboy Hat
Straw cowboy hat from 1 April through 30 September. Felt cowboy hat from 1 October through 31 March. I prefer a chocolate brown or wheat color for my felt hats. ALL of my hats are made by Mister Roy Jackson of www.jaxonbilthats.com.
Mon, 2012-03-19 09:29
#14
Whilst and Whereas
Well, Ive got to agree with this guy. To use a 'whilst' and a 'whereas' in the same post. I am impressed. Im just a simple cowboy and such language usually throws me. But I was able to follow this guys post and it helped me with my recent purchase of my first hat. Thanks.
Sat, 2012-03-17 15:34
#15
Whilst I like the lightness
Whilst I like the lightness of a straw hat I simply don't get the durability out of it I require, whereas my current felt hat is nearly in its last legs but has lasted a few years. Straw hats don't do that when you use them on the farm
Mon, 2012-03-12 17:20
#16
Felt for me!
Love my brown felt cowboy hat...
Fri, 2012-03-09 18:06
#17
Black Felt all year long.
Black Felt all year long. straw is too sissy....
Tue, 2012-01-03 22:53
#18
Winter time a nice white or
Winter time a nice white or black felt and sumer time a palm leaf. In extremely cold times a kroner.
Tue, 2012-01-03 19:05
#19
hats
6 degrees is too cold for a cowboy hat, i don't care who you are. so i switched to a stormy kromer, a wool hunting hat, it sort of looks like what elmer fudd wore but my ears are warm now.
Sun, 2012-01-01 14:54
#20
straw or felt cowboy hat?
Straw for a hot summer day, felt all other times, currently I favour my brown felt hat.
Mon, 2011-12-26 14:36
#21
Straw Hat
I prefer a straw hat over he felt cowboy hat any day. Just something about it seems more traditional
Wed, 2011-11-09 13:42
#22
mostly neither.
Straws are ok but palm leaf is where its at now. Strong, sturdy hats that last forever. you can't sweat through them and water doesn't hurt them. its a great hat for someone that uses their hands for a living. it stays hot just about year around here so felt season is short but I do have one, its a resitol silverbelly but next week im going to capitol hatters in stephenville tx to have one custom made. pretty excited...
Tue, 2011-11-08 17:42
#23
Felt and Straw, winning combo!
We get a hot and sticky summer here in Nebraska, so a straw hat in the summer is a must. I also have a felt silverbelly for the usually brutal winters. I like the feel of the felt hat more but the straw is nice and light for the 4-5 hot months we get. We've got some pets so the black felt is a real pain to keep looking good.
Tue, 2011-11-01 06:46
#24
Black felt all year
Black felt all year round..... If you work with horses you can´t wear straw.....they just steal it and try to eat it....
Sun, 2011-10-30 21:39
#25
The yellow straw cowboy hat
I like straw cowboy hat and love the yellow
Wed, 2011-10-12 12:17
#26
cowboy hats
since im from texas and particularly the panhandle.im qualified to voice my opinion,some cowboys wear hats some wear ball caps,and some wear nothing at all.My personal preference is black felt year round,my head my choice,my hat.As one hatmaker said "you do the walking,let the hat do the talking.
Wed, 2011-10-05 12:34
#27
Hats
I always love this discussion - especially the igits that say only real cowboys wear felt. A real cowboy wears anything he wants to. But it would typically be felt in winter and straw in the summer. Around here you are just asking for heatstroke by wearing a black felt in the summer - that is just plain silly. But I have known many friends that do it just because they think they need to fit some kind of mold. A real cowboy doesn't need to fit a mold - that's the whole idea of being a cowboy.
I knew many women in my life that would judge a man by his hat - and it was so silly. Several have said that only black felt should be worn and wranglers (but only if the wranglers were bought at a western store and not walmart LOL). They would date the dudes because they wore black felt and miss out on the real thing because we were wearing what we liked - most of the time a ball cap.
Anyway, thats my 2 bits.
Wed, 2011-10-05 12:32
#28
Hats
I always love this discussion - especially the igits that say only real cowboys wear felt. A real cowboy wears anything he wants to. But it would typically be felt in winter and straw in the summer. Around here you are just asking for heatstroke by wearing a black felt in the summer - that is just plain silly. But I have known many friends that do it just because they think they need to fit some kind of mold. A real cowboy doesn't need to fit a mold - that's the whole idea of being a cowboy.
I knew many women in my life that would judge a man by his hat - and it was so silly. Several have said that only black felt should be worn and wranglers (but only if the wranglers were bought at a western store and not walmart LOL). They would date the dudes because they wore black felt and miss out on the real thing because we were wearing what we liked - most of the time a ball cap.
Anyway, thats my 2 bits.
Tue, 2011-09-20 12:42
#29
Depends on the season but I
Depends on the season but I love my black felt more.
Thu, 2011-09-08 10:52
#30
straw or felt
Ithink it depends on the time of year, summer straw winter felt
Wed, 2011-09-07 12:58
#31
Straw or Felt hats...
First off, lets be realistic. Felt hats are "traditional cowboy". It's impossible to fill a straw hat with water for your horse and not ruin the hat. So, felts are the "true choice" of a real cowboy. However, as times have changed, the straw has become a popular choice. Yes, they are cooler for Summer. As for my routine...I was raised "old school" that meant Straw hat after Easter and Felt hat after Labor day.
Tue, 2011-09-06 20:24
#32
Hats
Straw hats are nice, but you have to wear felt if you are a real cowboy, when you are rounding up cattle and riding in the brush straw gets torn up pretty easily, also straw does not hold water if you want to give your horse a little water, also straw crushes if you want to put it under your head when you are on the trail and getting a little sleep. White in the summer, black or brown in the winter. A nice straw hat is good if you want to take your lady out dancing.
Sun, 2011-07-17 21:22
#33
Straw or Felt ?
Western Straw Hats for Summer & Felt Hat for Winter !! No question!!
Sat, 2011-07-09 19:22
#34
Both, Straw in the
Both, Straw in the spring/summer, and felt in the fall/winter.
Sun, 2011-07-03 08:41
#35
I have a confession to make.
I have a confession to make. I am not a cowgirl. I am an Eastern urban/tenderfoot/dudette who's been on a horse ONCE. (It did not go well, I was terrified.) I have never owned a cowboy hat -- until now. When I went to Oklahoma earlier this month my friend from there greeted me at the Tulsa airport with a black felt Stetson hat. (!!! What a gift!!) It is my favorite present EVER. I don't wear it in public because a) I don't feel I have the right to wear it, b) nobody around here wears cowboy hats, and c) I look silly in hats, even a gorgeous black felt Stetson. (I sometimes wear it inside the house just for the thrill.)
But to answer the question, I think if I were a working cowgirl, the black felt would definitely be a winter hat, and I'd want a light-colored straw one for hot weather.
Wed, 2011-10-12 11:58
#36
cowboy hats
Hi Miss Paula, to respond to your statement about hats.I'm from the Texas panhandle.I've cowboyed,and worked feedlots riding pens.Cowboys are as different as nite/day even though we have one goal/job.Each wears wht/when he wants.Some wear ball caps some hats,and it may surprise ya'll to find out some wear nothing at all.My personal preference is black felt year round.As far as wearing your hat,ive driven this country from border to border coast to coast and back again.If you get the chance drive down to New Jersey around the Vineland/Millville area,i think you'll be surprised at what you find.In the mean time learn what the term"cowboy" really means its principles,not backing down,standing up for yourself,siding your friends,and having your word/name stand for something,do that and then put your hat on wear it straight wear it low and wear it with pride.
Wed, 2011-07-27 07:56
#37
Western Hats
Paula, A Western hat is a state of mind. Get yourself dressed up in jeans (some of those neat ones that gals find with no wrinkles), a nice Western shirt, and some boots, and live a few hours with the joy and freedom that comes from living where life is free and not governed by what others think. Be a leader, not a follower, and you'll be happier for it. AND, I'll bet the next time out you'll find that you ARE the leader and others will be following your lead.
Thu, 2011-05-26 19:49
#38
Straw or Felt?
Hahaha - I find this topic and some of the comments so funny... I think I can speak from experience of the last oh - at least 40 years to say a few things. The first and most important would be to answer the poster above who said "REAL COWBOYS WEAR FELT ALL YEAR LONG" - NOT. Real cowboys will usually wear the dirtiest, most worn comfortable one they have that fits the season and the work they are doing period. The hat of choice for my husband was most often: Winter - black wool 20X for work but loved to dress up in his gorgeous Silver Belly if going out or to church. Spring/Fall - A good straw (the more worn the better) and his hat preference because of its cooling ability for Summer work - A handmade Palm. Nothing cools like it. I/we could dunk our palms in the cool stream or water trough and wear it dry and it will keep you cool when nothing else can!! It too makes a wonderful water bucket.
My two SENSE worth :) LOL
Thu, 2011-04-21 21:19
#39
hats
i love a good, soft, white straw hat in the summer. i was never a fan of felt hats because i wrecked them to easy but the wool ones that you can crush and they spring back to shape are the best in my book.Wool ones make great water buckets in a pinch too.
Thu, 2011-04-21 21:06
#40
hats
up north here we wear staw in the summer, wool and felts in the winter, spring and fall.
Wed, 2011-04-20 09:10
#41
Real cowboys wear felt hats
Real cowboys wear felt hats all year round.
Sun, 2011-10-16 13:12
#42
what the hell is a "real
what the hell is a "real cowboy?"
Sun, 2011-10-16 17:35
#43
back to this huh?
wow, back to this, there is no real answer to that, we know who we are but while we're at the retorical questions what makes a horse a horse? how can your feet smell if they don't have noses and "if a man rides into town on tuesday, stays two days and rides out on tuesday how is that possible?"
Sat, 2011-10-15 22:22
#44
felt hats
thats why yer brains are fried.
Wed, 2011-04-20 14:38
#45
Not to start the same old
Not to start the same old discussion over again, but:
What's a "real cowboy?"
Wed, 2011-10-12 12:22
#46
real cowboy
lol good question ive cowboyed worked feedlots,and im a cow hauler here in texas wish someone would define that to me too
Thu, 2011-05-26 19:57
#47
Nighthawksh Question: What is a real cowboy?
I guess if you have to ask you are not one. But I guess I could at least answer by saying: you live, breath, work, eat and sleep cows and calves and you work them from the back of a horse - day in and day out 365 days a year for little to no compensation (unless you own the ranch) and you love every second of it no matter how wet cold hot tired or broke you are and you can hardly wait to wake up the next day before the sun rises to do it all again.
Wed, 2011-07-27 08:02
#48
A Real Cowboy
A real cowboy is someone who is secure enough, and man enough, to ride a MULE and not care what others think.
Tue, 2011-07-26 03:54
#49
Real Cowboy?
With all do respect to Miss Gracey, if you want to get down to brass tacks, a real Cowboy, well those fine gentlemen (not that they all were) lived well over a hundred years ago. And even though there heyday lasted for a relatively short time (40-60 years depending on who you ask) their impact is still felt today, and that leaves the rest of us just carrying on a tradition. Yes there is horsemanship, moving, doctoring cattle, a little shootin', knowing your way around a rope maybe a bullwhip, leatherwork, shoeing, maybe a few other things...but we are not the original, not a soul alive is, no offense ment. The one attribute I hardly see mentioned in todays world...The code ya live by, I think that is the greatest tradition we can carry on. In regards to the hat question, in my humble opinion, it's not what's on your head, it's what in your heart.
May God Bless you and keep you in all your endeavors.
Tue, 2011-09-06 07:31
#50
Hats
These days i find it a necessity to wear one, no matter what kind of material it is made of, our winters are still in the 70-80 deg. temp,s. Summers are usually stinking hot & very wet at over 100 deg,s. Style, the bigger the better. Thanks for the honest opinion, and remember not all cowboys come from the good ol, US of A. ( Sexton, Queensland, Aus. )
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Just do what the Indians do; wear wool. Cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Does not loose much "R" value (basically heat retention) when wet, dries quickly, and can easily be reshaped. Also a little off topic I'm glad to join yalls community and hope to gain sage wisdom from all you cowfolk out there!