Wide-brim Felt Hat Buying Guide

Proper fit and sizing are essential for both comfort and style when choosing a felt hat. To ensure the correct fit, measure your head by wrapping a soft measuring tape around your forehead, just above your ears, and over the bump at the back of your head. This measurement helps you select the right hat size, preventing discomfort and ensuring your hat stays in place. Additionally, the fit of your hat affects the shape of the brim; a tighter fit can cause the brim to bend more, creating a more pronounced curve. Ensuring the right fit not only enhances your hat's appearance but also ensures a comfortable and secure wear.

Ok so it happens! You found your favourite felt hat in the footwell of your car - it’s dirty and banged up out of shape. Don’t sweat! Wool felt is a durable material known for its ability to remember its shape, making it an excellent choice for hats. Lets we can run you through how to bring it back to life.

Felt is a versatile material used in hat-making, available in various types, each with its own unique properties and benefits.

Beaver Felt: It is made from the dense underfur of beavers. Hats made from beaver felt are often more expensive due to the premium quality of the material.

Rabbit Felt: It is made from the fur of rabbits and offers good water resistance and durability. Rabbit felt hats are generally less expensive than beaver felt but still provide a high level of quality and comfort.

Wool Felt: Wool felt is a popular choice for hats due to its excellent properties. It is made from the wool of sheep and is known for being lightweight, breathable, and durable. Wool felt hats are versatile and can be worn in various climates, providing comfort even in summer.

At Will & Bear, we choose wool felt for our hats because it is light and breathable, making it ideal for year-round wear. Our wool felt is also renewable and sourced from waste fibers that the fashion industry discards, ensuring minimal environmental impact. By using these waste fibers, we support Australian wool growers, as no other material sources come from Australia. This commitment to sustainability and local sourcing helps us create high-quality hats that are both eco-friendly and supportive of the local economy.

Proper storage is essential to maintaining the shape and quality of your felt hat. Wool felt is a durable material that remembers its shape, but it still needs to be stored correctly to prevent damage. Our favorite storage method is using hat walls, which not only keep your hats in pristine condition but also turn them into a stylish display. It's important to avoid storing your hats in direct sunlight, as prolonged exposure can cause fading and weaken the fibers. By storing your hats on a hat wall or using dedicated hat stands and boxes in a cool, dry place, you can ensure they remain in excellent shape and are always ready to wear.

If you're new to felt hats and unsure where to start, consider our entry-level styles. These popular options are characterized by super soft wool and shorter brims, providing a comfortable and approachable fit. Many customers gravitate towards these styles when they're uncertain, as they offer a great blend of style, ease of wear and sun protection. For those looking to make a bolder statement, our advanced styles feature wider brims and taller crowns, with stiffer materials to hold their shape. These hats are perfect for those who are ready to elevate their hat game and embrace a more distinctive look.

Choosing the right felt hat involves understanding key measurements, including crown height, brim width, fit depth, and internal circumference. Popular styles like fedoras, cowboy hats, rancher hats, floppy hats, and wide-brim sun hats each offer unique characteristics and uses. Proper fit is crucial for comfort and appearance, with accurate head measurement ensuring the right size. Stiffness ratings affect the hat's comfort, shape retention, and packing ease. For beginners, softer styles with shorter brims are ideal, while more confident wearers might prefer hats with wider brims and taller crowns. Proper storage and maintenance will keep your felt hat in top condition. Remember, each Will & Bear hat plants a tree, supporting sustainability and environmental healing.