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The Daily Insight

Can you get a felt cowboy hat wet

Author

Andrew Vasquez

Published Apr 30, 2026

Felt hats, however, are not designed for wet weather. If it does get wet, however, turn out the sweatband, and let the hat stand on the sweatband, or rest on the crown to dry. If you’re planning on using it often in the rain or snow, consider a wool hat, or purchase a rain cover.

Can you wear a felt hat in the rain?

Most if not all fur felt hats are shower-proof, and can confidently be worn in light to moderate rain without fear of the material or shape being damaged. Constant wear in HEAVY rain will cause any hat to distort and potentially shrink over time.

What type of cowboy hat can get wet?

Straw or wool cowboy hats handle moisture well and may get wet without getting damaged. Just remember to let it air dry. Do not let your cowboy hat dry near a high heat source. This can cause your hat to expand and warp.

What do you do if your felt hat gets wet?

If your felt hat gets wet, you should turn it upside down and set it on the crown. Don’t rest it on the brim; this will cause the brim to flatten. Turn the sweatband out and let the hat stand on its crown until it is dry. The same is true for both felt hats and straw hats – don’t force them to dry out too quickly.

Are felt Stetson hats waterproof?

Outside of a few rain hats most hats are water repellent NOT waterproof. A light rain shower, drizzle, even a little snow will not destroy most felt hats. Heavy rain and thunderstorms are not good for felt hats. Straw hats (made of natural fibers) should NEVER be worn in the rain.

Can you make felt waterproof?

How To Waterproof Felt Using Scotchguard. Spraying your fabric with a sealant such as Scotchguard will keep the felt from absorbing any liquid and make water bead up on top of its surface, preventing damage to your felt. … Once you have sprayed your felt let it dry for 24 hours.

Do cowboys wear felt hats?

Cowboy hats today are made from fur-based felt or straw, or less commonly, from leather. Felt hats used to be worn in the winter to help protect the cowboy from cold and dampness. Straw cowboy hats were made for the summertime to protect from sun and heat.

Do cowboys wear felt hats in the summer?

Traditionally, switching hats has the same rules as wearing white – wear straw cowboy hats Memorial Day through Labor Day and felt cowboy hats Labor Day through Memorial Day. Straw is a more practical choice for summer, it’s more lightweight and breathes more. Felt cowboy hats are more for winter and ‘going out’.

Is it OK to wear a felt hat in the summer?

Because of its versatility, the wool felt hat can be worn during any season and all types of temperatures. With that being said, it’s important to recognize the thickness, the weight, and the material of the felt, especially for those higher temperatures during the summer.

How do you break in a felt cowboy hat?

Just settle the hat on your head by pulling (gently!) on the brim—front and back simultaneously! —and go about your day. Your natural skin oils, salts, and sweat will dampen the hat band perfectly. Store your hat upside down with the hatband inverted to allow air circulation.

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What does a black cowboy hat mean?

0. Light colors will reflect heat the best – while dark colors will retain the heat the most – with black being the worst for staying hot (black absorbs sunlight).

What does a feather in a cowboy hat mean?

If a friend or romantic partner gave you a feather, you might wear it for sentimental reasons, but the meaning would be a personal one. In some cultures, wearing a feather in one’s hat or hair might symbolize an act of heroism or bravery, but that doesn’t seem to have been a tradition among cowboys.

Why do you put a cowboy hat upside down?

Most cowboy hats are turned up on the brim, setting the hat upside down will keep the brim from flattening and help hold its original shape. Another reason and this is purely superstition, it will let your good luck run out of the hat.

What do the X's mean on felt cowboy hats?

The X factor rating is determined by the materials used to make a felt cowboy hat. It is determined by the percentage of furs used in making the felt western hat. They use beaver, mink, chinchilla and other furs to make a felt hat. … So basically, the finer fur a cowboy hat is made with, the more X’s a hat will be.

How tight should a felt hat be?

You should aim for a “snug” fit. That’s the perfect fit. If your hat sits too tight, you’ll feel like you have some sort of weight on your head and you may feel some tension. The hat shouldn’t move around but at the same time, it shouldn’t be rock solid as well.

What do Mexicans call a cowboy hat?

Many early Texan cowboys adopted the Spanish and Mexican sombrero with its flat crown and wide, flat brim. Also called the poblano, these hats came from Spain. The Mexican variation of the sombrero added an even wider brim and a high, conical crown. These are the hats worn by mariachi musicians and charros.

What does it mean when someone flicks their cowboy hat?

You might have seen some users on TikTok start their videos by flicking the brim of their hat. Or, they use the entire video to do it to the backdrop of a country song. In short, doing this is simply a greeting to say hello.

What color is Rips cowboy hat?

Rip Yellowstone Hat The final yet essential part is the cowboy hat, it’s like the cherry on the top. Rip wears a brown hat so make sure you pick the color that closely resembles his style.

What hats do real cowboys wear?

Ask any cowboy what brand of cowboy hat he wears and chances are you will hear the name Resistol. Resistol has been the preferred choice for working cowboys, ranch hands and rodeo cowboys for over 90 years.

Why do cowboy hats have one side up?

The intention of turning up the right side of the hat was to ensure it would not be caught during the drill movement of “shoulder arms” from “order arms”. … The slouch hat became a famous symbol of the Australian fighting man during World War One and continued to be worn throughout World War Two.

What does a skull with a cowboy hat mean?

Some deputies have defended the tattoos as a way to honor fellow officers who abide by the rules governing a tough and dangerous job. Polissky said his skull tattoo signified having good morals, following the law and avoiding heavy-handed tactics.