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If you will consider a custom, and can wait the eleven weeks for delivery, give Staker Hats a look. Not only do they offer rabbit, beaver, and blended fur felt, they also give you the option of fedora/dress weight felt or western weight felt when they make fedoras. I have one on order but until I receive it I can’t personally comment on quality. For their rabbit hats, prices start at $200 and you get to specify brim width, amount of flange, crown height, binding/raw edge, sweat, etc. There are no shortage of custom hatter who can make you exactly what you want.
Another option is to convert, or have someone else convert, a western hat into a fedora. This is easily done and results in a heavy weight fedora that can take some punishment. The Coversion Corral thread here on the Lounge will show you what is possible.
Lastly, fur felt is tough, but not that tough. If you subject it to what most of us would consider abuse then you have to accept that it will wear out. If you don’t want to baby them a bit more then you might have to see them as consumable items that will need to be replaced every few years. No judgment; I get not wanting to have to be concerned about your gear when working.
Let us know what you decide (I’m curious).
Another option is to convert, or have someone else convert, a western hat into a fedora. This is easily done and results in a heavy weight fedora that can take some punishment. The Coversion Corral thread here on the Lounge will show you what is possible.
Lastly, fur felt is tough, but not that tough. If you subject it to what most of us would consider abuse then you have to accept that it will wear out. If you don’t want to baby them a bit more then you might have to see them as consumable items that will need to be replaced every few years. No judgment; I get not wanting to have to be concerned about your gear when working.
Let us know what you decide (I’m curious).