Felt hats in summer..

[Mr Oldschool]

Summer was not a hot one, so I only got to wear my straw on the beach days.
Temperatures dropped so Autumn is looking almost winter.

I would gladly trade with you. Our summer was the hottest sustained temperatures on record and we've been in a drout all year because last winter was too dry as well. It's supposed to be autumn now, but the highs have still been lingering in the 90's. Too hot for my Norwegian blood...

 

[Joao Encarnado]

I wouldn't trade. Best summer ever! My sister (and other people) have another opinion, but it was perfect to wear felts all summer

 

[scottyrocks]

Although I have a few straws, I wear felts year-round.

I am, er, follically-challenged, and I get both hot and cold quickly, as my almost bald pate amplifies the effects of hot and cold weather on my body.

Here in the metro NYC area it can get pretty hot and humid, although not like what some of you experience. Last summer I don't think we hit 90F where I am, which was a rare, mild summer for us.

I spend July and August outside all day, sometimes in the shade, and (obviously) sometimes in the sun. My hat of choice for the last several years has been my Fed III, which is getting a bit long in the tooth. It's a pretty thin felt, and it's on its second liner and sweat, but it keeps me comfortable.

I have a couple of well-ventilated straws that don't get a lot of head time. One is a Shady Brady western with a nice ring of vent holes in the crown. The other is a Bailey fedora that has an open-enough weave to allow air to pass through, but not so open that my head will burn as if I was wearing nothing. The Brady actually offers more protection which is why I have very little reason to wear the Bailey.

As far as ball caps go, I have worn them in the heat, and I find them to be almost instantly uncomfortable. The sun hits the material, heating it. The material is touching my head, so my head gets hot instantly. I need some air space that acts as a barrier between the heat from the sun's rays and my head.

I also use the 'remove hat and wipe the head with a damp hanky,' actually bandana, to cool off when it's really hot.

 

[TheDane]

My Montecristis, Cuencas, Milans and Parabuntals are all cooler than (most) felts - but some just marginally.

I recently had a whole new experience, when I bought a hemp-braid hat from Peters Bros, though. I have never before worn a so well ventilated hat - not even one with vent-holes and/or grommets.

If anyone's looking for a cool hat in the Summer, I warmly recommend to give the PB-hemp a try. At $150 for a customized, super cool (pun or no pun) straw, it's a bargain

 

[Tiki Tom]

I think I have hung up my felts for the season. From now (tomorrow being June first) through September I will most likely be wearing Panamas.
Last year I bought a very thin felt Fedora ---a bit floppy--- in a light tan color, thinking I'd wear it as my summer hat. However, I haven't gotten much use out of it except for a day or two last summer when it was actually raining. Otherwise, Panamas just seem right when its hot and I save my felts for the cooler months. It's kind of a shame because I really think that tan fedora looks cool. The pun is appropriate, though not intended!

 

[TheDane]

If anyone's looking for a cool hat in the Summer, I warmly recommend to give the PB-hemp a try. At $150 for a customized, super cool (pun or no pun) straw, it's a bargain

After I wrote that post, I've had an experience that calls for an important disclaimer: http://thefedoralounge.com/threads/peters-bros.82936/page-20#post-2098735

 

[mayserwegener]

I mostly wear lighter weight felts in the summer. Leather sweatbands on old felts can be problematic but the same applies to old straws.

 

[Hal]

I think I have hung up my felts for the season. From now (tomorrow being June first) through September I will most likely be wearing Panamas.
Last year I bought a very thin felt Fedora ---a bit floppy--- in a light tan color, thinking I'd wear it as my summer hat. However, I haven't gotten much use out of it except for a day or two last summer when it was actually raining. Otherwise, Panamas just seem right when its hot and I save my felts for the cooler months. It's kind of a shame because I really think that tan fedora looks cool. The pun is appropriate, though not intended!

Is the tan Fedora too hot in summer? I detest being too hot, and would certainly find the vast majority of felt hats too hot even in the relatively moderate British summer. But a straw hat would be impractical in the rain and would look silly even with the lightest raincoat. Tiki Tom's solution (felt only in the rain) seems just right to me.

 

[Bob Roberts]

Cooler summer days and evenings here in SoConn will see me wearing lighter weight and light color fur felts.

 

[suitedcboy]

Felts in summer in TX. I sweat less standing still in the wind with felt than I do running after the straw that the wind blew off my head.

 

[DJH]

I've done some straw hat chasing, I must admit [emoji1]

 

[Joao Encarnado]

Felts in summer in TX. I sweat less standing still in the wind with felt than I do running after the straw that the wind blew off my head.

Good point in there.

I've done some straw hat chasing, I must admit [emoji1]

Straw and felt. But then that is easy to happen with me.

 

[Wesslyn]

Here in the dragonlands of Illinois, it's very, very hot and humid this time of year. Late May and June are rain season, and the storms are sporadic. So I opt to wear felts until the dead of summer when it all dries out. Although, dry heat is less miserable than humid heat in my opinion, as it was stated above, straw hats look silly with raincoats.
Although, I typically wear unlined felts. Much to my dismay, my favorite Resistol and Lock and Co are likely getting a vacation from my head for a little while.

 

[Frunobulax]

Here in the dragonlands of Illinois, it's very, very hot and humid this time of year. Late May and June are rain season, and the storms are sporadic. So I opt to wear felts until the dead of summer when it all dries out. Although, dry heat is less miserable than humid heat in my opinion, as it was stated above, straw hats look silly with raincoats.
Although, I typically wear unlined felts. Much to my dismay, my favorite Resistol and Lock and Co are likely getting a vacation from my head for a little while.

I agree. Ohio summers, as well, mean that rain could happen any day. It's almost a given that you could get a "pop-up" thundershower late on any given day. I haven't had a problem wearing felts in the summer. Though this summer, my straw collection has expanded enough to give me a few more choices. I will still likely be wearing felts most of the time.

 

[Benzadmiral]

It's foul and unbreathable here most of the year, so it doesn't matter, you're going to sweat. That said, I either do without a hat if I'm going from car to office and back; or I sport a straw unless it's raining. Then I break out one of my older, more weathered felts.

 

[RJR]

I agree. Ohio summers, as well, mean that rain could happen any day. It's almost a given that you could get a "pop-up" thundershower late on any given day. I haven't had a problem wearing felts in the summer. Though this summer, my straw collection has expanded enough to give me a few more choices. I will still likely be wearing felts most of the time.

+1

 

[Alex Neves]

I wear my felt hats, down here in Brazil, and I live in a super hot region (110+). It's just a matter to get used to.

 

[fabiovenhorst]

I wear my felt hats, down here in Brazil, and I live in a super hot region (110+). It's just a matter to get used to.

Haha, I didn't know there was another brazilian fellow here in FL. What state do you live in, Alex?

 

[Alex Neves]

Haha, I didn't know there was another brazilian fellow here in FL. What state do you live in, Alex?

Hello Fabio!

I'm from Sao Paulo, I have been living in Presidente Prudente for 10+ years. I can see that you lives in SC, I do have family and friends in Chapeco.

I'm loving the FL, so much good info and nice people!

Cheers

 

[fabiovenhorst]

Hello Fabio!

I'm from Sao Paulo, I have been living in Presidente Prudente for 10+ years. I can see that you lives in SC, I do have family and friends in Chapeco.

I'm loving the FL, so much good info and nice people!

Cheers

Indeed, I live in Gaspar, near Blumenau. FL people are great. A lot of nice info about hats and many other interesting subjects.