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[Mantis]

What is the difference between an American cowboy hat and a fedora? Many wide brimmed fedoras seem to be labeled as cowboy hats. And should I call them Cowboy hats, is there something more specific?

 

[Joao Encarnado]

Fedoras tend to be made of lighter felts than cowboy hats. Many wide brim fedoras are called cowboy hats because they have a cattleman crease (Open Roads gets that label really often) or because of the wider brim and ignorance.

 

[jlee562]

If you're talking about ebay listings, you're seeing those listed as cowboy hats because sellers: 1) don't have a clue; 2) are trying to get more views.

Western hats are generally larger all around. There's also "western weight" felt which is different than the felt used in dress hats (again, this is speaking VERY generally).

A western hat might be 6" or 7" open crown, at least 3.5" of brim (Joao calls that stingy). American fedoras tended to be around the 5 1/2" open crown mark with brims up to 3".

You also tend to not have wider ribbons with the bow treatment.

 

[Bob Roberts]

Fedoras tend to be made of lighter felts than cowboy hats. Many wide brim fedoras are called cowboy hats because they have a cattleman crease (Open Roads gets that label really often) or because of the wider brim and ignorance.

"Giddyup!"

 

[Mantis]

My Akubra Tablelands has a 4 inch brim and the felt is very stiff, sometimes it feels like I am wearing a pith helmet. Is this a fedora, or a western hat? can it be both?

 

[Joao Encarnado]

A western hat might be 6" or 7" open crown, at least 3.5" of brim (Joao calls that stingy).

A hat with 3" brim is a stingy
3.5" brim is acceptable.

 

[Chamuco]

Fedoras tend to be made of lighter felts than cowboy hats. Many wide brim fedoras are called cowboy hats because they have a cattleman crease (Open Roads gets that label really often) or because of the wider brim and ignorance.

Indeed Joao, indeed

 

[Chamuco]

On my CD I ended up with a sort of center crease with some deep close pinches
I love it






Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

This is gorgeous !!! Campdrafts are beautiful hats, mine is bg green too... will work on the bash by the weekend [emoji6]

 

[jlee562]

My Akubra Tablelands has a 4 inch brim and the felt is very stiff, sometimes it feels like I am wearing a pith helmet. Is this a fedora, or a western hat? can it be both?

Akubras are kind of a beast of their own, in that Outback hats have a distinct styling and lineage from American western hats.

The Open Road/Campdraft (which Akubra originally sold under Stetson license as the Open Road in Australia), is a cross between a fedora and a western hat.

 

[Mantis]

ok thanks guys, im pitching the sides of my tablelands up like a western hat, I was asking because I wasn't sure if I should still call it a Fedora. I guess I will just call it an Akubra and leave it at that.

 

[Bob Roberts]

ok thanks guys, im pitching the sides of my tablelands up like a western hat, I was asking because I wasn't sure if I should still call it a Fedora. I guess I will just call it an Akubra and leave it at that.

Sounds good to me.

 

[Mantis]

I heard that Cattlemen in Australia use their Akubras to water their horses, and they also sleep with them over their faces. It's no wonder why these hats have such a good reputation for the outdoors. In Bushcraft circles people say that if an object doesn't have at-least 3 uses, it isn't worth it to carry it in the bush.

 

[rogerstg]

ok thanks guys, im pitching the sides of my tablelands up like a western hat, I was asking because I wasn't sure if I should still call it a Fedora. I guess I will just call it an Akubra and leave it at that.

As you can probably tell from the answers, there are no hard and fast rules regarding the terminology. In my section of the US, any hat with the "pickup truck" side curls in the brim would be considered a "cowboy hat" by most people. Even a hat with a 4" flat brim would normally be considered a cowboy hat; not a fedora.

Roger

 

[hatophile]

Mantis,

You should make the hat your own, with your own stylizations as you like, and post pics for us. I wouldn't worry about what to call it. It's a hat!

 

[rogerstg]

Mantis,

You should make the hat your own, with your own stylizations as you like, and post pics for us. I wouldn't worry about what to call it. It's a hat!

+1. :eusa_clap A point I forgot to emphasize.

 

[moontheloon]

Mantis,

You should make the hat your own, with your own stylizations as you like, and post pics for us. I wouldn't worry about what to call it. It's a hat!

absolutely .... well said

 

[gtdean48]

Mantis,

You should make the hat your own, with your own stylizations as you like, and post pics for us. I wouldn't worry about what to call it. It's a hat!

:arated:

A lid is a lid & regardless, other people will call it a cowboy hat even though we know it ain't!!!

 

[Bob Roberts]

"Sometimes a hat is just a hat..."

 

[Jacora]

I'm looking at getting an Akubra Snowy River for the love of my life as it is available in red which is her favorite color. I will have to order it from Oz with the requisite 3 month wait, so there's no going back if it's less than perfect. I am concerned that it may have a bit too much "cowboy" look to get much wear here in New England. My question is: With a bit of steam, could this hat be reshaped for down brim all the way around to reduce its cowboy profile? Is this something a novice like myself or her could likely do without too much risk of ruining the hat?

 

[RJR]

You can certainly reshape a Snowy River.I've done down brim (outback style) on one of my own.Patience,steam,steam iron and press cloth should do it.