The most ideal Western hats are made from fur felt crafted from pure beaver. Felt hats prove capable of protecting the wear from wind, rain and snow, both because it’s warm and water resistant. For ...

Mike "Red" Wallis holds one of the finer cowboy hats at his store in Pendleton, Ore. Beaver, whose pelts are used in making felt for the hats, are increasingly hard to find, making it more ...

They are a symbol of productivity—“busy as a beaver”—and thus ... nutria fur as “a newer hat-making material.” But the rodents are boring into the cowboy hat market just as they ...

A cowboy hat is a beloved possession ... The first decision? Felt or straw. Felt hats are made from varying gradations of beaver and rabbit furs, 100 percent beaver being the best quality ...

In the past, more Xs meant more beaver fur, which is naturally ... There are two main cowboy hat categories: felt and straw. The decision might be seasonal (straw hats are easier for warm weather ...

with twin neon signs of a cowboy and cowgirl glowing nearby. First, Orms selected a hat — Rodeo King brand, light blue in color and felt made of a beaver/rabbit fur blend. Then, he bathed it in ...