Pair this with how to read felt X-ratings, our hat sizing guide, and felt cleaning basics — or book a free hat fitting and we’ll walk you through both materials in person.
The first real decision in a cowboy hat isn’t the crease. It’s the material. Felt or straw changes how the hat wears, how it looks, and where it belongs in your year.
At Moon Ridge, we sell both every day — Stetson, Resistol, and more — and most people who stick with hats end up with one of each. Here’s the practical split.
Felt: cooler months, dressier days, longer life
Fur felt is the classic western hat. It holds a custom crown and brim cleanly, reads polished next to a sport coat or a clean pair of boots, and — cared for right — can last decades.
Choose felt when you want:
Fall through spring wear. Felt handles cool mornings, church, weddings, and nights out better than straw. In Northwest Arkansas, that’s most of the year outside peak summer.
A dressier silhouette. Dark and silverbelly felts carry formality straw rarely does. If the occasion has a dress code, start with felt.
Shape that stays. Quality felt takes steam well. That’s why complimentary custom shaping on hats purchased in our Fayetteville store is such a big part of the Moon Ridge experience — crown to your head, brim to your eye.
If you’re shopping felt quality by the number on the sweatband, read our guide to X-ratings. Everyday starters we like include the Resistol Tucker, Stetson Oak Ridge, and Stetson Corral.
Browse the full wall: Felt hats.
Straw: heat, sun, and summer work
Straw is built for breathability. Lightweight weave, open air through the crown, and a brim that still throws shade when the parking lot feels like a skillet.
Choose straw when you want:
Hot-weather comfort. Late spring through early fall — rodeos, festivals, farm work, boat days, anything where felt would cook you.
A lighter everyday hat. Straw reads more casual by nature. That’s a feature, not a flaw.
Sun protection without the weight. A proper western brim still covers face and neck; the weave just keeps air moving.
Weave quality matters. Tighter, more even straw generally holds shape better and lasts more seasons. Palm leaf, shantung, and toyo each have a different hand — try them on rather than buying from a photo alone.
Summer favorites on our floor include the Stetson Amberwood, Stetson Arapaho, and Resistol Cojo Vaquero. Full range: Straw hats.
The old “Labor Day rule” — and when to ignore it
You’ll still hear “felt after Labor Day, straw after Memorial Day.” It’s a useful seasonal shorthand, not a law.
Wear what fits the day. A cool May evening can want felt. A humid October afternoon can want straw. In Fayetteville we dress for the weather and the room you’re walking into — not a calendar slogan.
Durability and care (honest version)
Felt wins on longevity when you brush it, store it right, and bring it in for a professional clean when sweat and dust build up. See How to Clean a Felt Hat.
Straw is tougher than people think, but it isn’t immortal. Crush it, soak it, or leave it warped in a hot truck and the weave will tell on you. Spot-clean gently, reshape with care, and don’t treat it like a Frisbee.
Neither material is “better.” They’re different tools.
Fit still comes first
Material won’t save a hat that gaps at the temples or sits too high. Get your size from our measuring guide, learn your head shape, and match style to your face shape.
Buying in store at Moon Ridge? Complimentary shaping is part of the visit — crown and brim set to you. Online orders ship as shaped on the product; free in-store shaping does not apply to shipped hats. Want hands-on help either way? Book a free hat fitting.
Quick chooser
Buy felt if you want one dressy, cool-weather hat that can become an heirloom.
Buy straw if you live in the heat and need something you can wear hard from May through September.
Buy both if you wear a hat more than twice a week. That’s the move most of our regulars make.
Not sure? Come stand in front of the mirror at 2218 N College Ave. We’ll put both on your head and let the right one win.