Best Straw hat maker for Western/ Cowboy styles?

[WesternHatWearer]

I wanted to ask who fellow members felt was the best custom maker for straw hats that are of a western/ cowboy style. I have seen a few western/styles with shorter brims, I am however not a fan of the short brim. I prefer a 4 inch or a 4.25 inch brim and since I am not having much luck finding them, I felt I would ask. Thank you for your time.

 

[johnnycanuck]

Not sure about custom but if I was to buy a straw hat it would probably be a Sunbody hat. http://www.sunbody.com/ lots of choices and styles They have been UV tested and have a UPF rating. If you are using your hat for sun protection this would be important, it is to me Hope that helps.
Johnny

 

[DougC]

What kind of straw are you looking for? I have a nice Stetson 100x shantung, an Atwood palm, and a couple Sunbody palm. But, the only custom straw western I have was shaped by Texas Hatters in Lulling, Texas. The body is a hand woven Ecuadorean palm David had sitting around. The sweat band is fantastic--thin natural leather. Take a look at their website for all the choices. I'm pretty sure there are vender members who also make a great straw western hat...I just don't have one from them.

The Stetson is really more of a nice looking knock around and (obviously) not custom. I guess you can argue the Atwood and the Sunbodies are custom since I changed them and shaped them myself.

I hope at least some of this helps...

 

[omgur2]

I just won a Stetson straw stallion on eBay for less than $20 not for anything fancy but looks unworn. Need it for the pool, beach, and my spring trip to the grand canyon.

 

[gtdean48]

Seen straw blanks at Shorty's in OKC & Best Hats in Fort Worth. Not sure what brim widths they offer. I think they both carried American Hat Company straw blanks.
http://shortyshattery.com/
http://www.besthatstore.com/

BTW, I like my Atwood Palm over Sunbody.

 

[tropicalbob]

Ditto on the Sunbodys.

 

[gtdean48]

Does look like American Hat straws can be had with some serious brim widths = http://www.americanhat.net/component/virtuemart/straw-hats/1011-detail.html?Itemid=0

 

[1961MJS]

Hi

I'm going to drizzle, but not rain on the parade a little bit.

I own several Sunbody hats, if you went them down once a month when you're wearing them, they last a long time. They're easy to shape, and they come in various brim and crown sizes. The downsides are that they're HEAVY hats, and they sweat stain pretty well.

I ordered an American Hat Company hat from a hatter on the lounge and it didn't look like I expected when it showed up. The crown was fine, the brim wasn't. I was able to work the brim into a decent shape, but I really shouldn't have had to do that. The hatter also explained that you had to order TWO of them, so he may still have the other one.

I also have a bad feeling about the term "straw blanks" because the American Hat Co hat that I got was pretty much shellaced and pressed into place. Ironing out the brim wasn't trivial.

Just my $90.00 (what I had in the second one)

 

[navarre]

I might suggest you call Roy Jaxson at Jaxsonbuilt hats, Tom Hirt, or Major Moore at Buckaroo Hatters. Rather surprised no one had suggested that yet?

 

[RJR]

Second the suggestion on Buckaroo or Jaxonbilt.

 

[johnnycanuck]

Don't see much for jaxonbilt hats here. Any pictures? Last I heard Roy was helping set up a hatter in Australia.
Johnny

 

[DougC]

start to finish; nothing from the original poster.

 

[WesternHatWearer]

Sorry for the delay in responding, I was at work. I have a shantung hat by Stetson and it is okay, but I am not fan of hats being sold as straw when they are truthfully a paper base. I am not opposed to a nice palm leaf but I am interested more in Panama straw (yes, the ones from Ecuador). I want to purchase a hat that I am confident I know what it is and that it will fit me. I am okay with spending a bit more for a hat so long as it is what I am seeking. Again sorry for the delay.

 

[WesternHatWearer]

What kind of straw are you looking for? I have a nice Stetson 100x shantung, an Atwood palm, and a couple Sunbody palm. But, the only custom straw western I have was shaped by Texas Hatters in Lulling, Texas. The body is a hand woven Ecuadorean palm David had sitting around. The sweat band is fantastic--thin natural leather. Take a look at their website for all the choices. I'm pretty sure there are vender members who also make a great straw western hat...I just don't have one from them.

The Stetson is really more of a nice looking knock around and (obviously) not custom. I guess you can argue the Atwood and the Sunbodies are custom since I changed them and shaped them myself.

I hope at least some of this helps...

I will definitely look at their website, thank you. I am looking for an Ecuadorean straw. I have looked at Monte Cristi's website but I also wanted to see what else may be an option.

 

[WesternHatWearer]

Seen straw blanks at Shorty's in OKC & Best Hats in Fort Worth. Not sure what brim widths they offer. I think they both carried American Hat Company straw blanks.
http://shortyshattery.com/
http://www.besthatstore.com/

BTW, I like my Atwood Palm over Sunbody.

Thank you sir! I will take a look at Atwood's as well.

 

[WesternHatWearer]

I might suggest you call Roy Jaxson at Jaxsonbuilt hats, Tom Hirt, or Major Moore at Buckaroo Hatters. Rather surprised no one had suggested that yet?

Thank you as well. I will take a look at these this evening as well.

 

[Joao Encarnado]

Well I have a 8x shantung Resistol that have been serving me well. I only wear it when I go to the beach or pool. Until it breaks or rots on me, I'll keep wearing it. Already have another shantung substitute so I don't think I'll buy another straw/shantung soon since I wear felt hats all year.

 

[WesternHatWearer]

Well I have a 8x shantung Resistol that have been serving me well. I only wear it when I go to the beach or pool. Until it breaks or rots on me, I'll keep wearing it. Already have another shantung substitute so I don't think I'll buy another straw/shantung soon since I wear felt hats all year.

I have a 20X Shantung by Stetson (style name: Shiloh) it nice but I had not done my research prior to purchasing. After I did some searching I found shantung is a paper base and I just felt misled. Since then I have been learning more about the type of straw hats and I am interested in finding a true straw even if it cost me a bit more.

 

[Joao Encarnado]

When I got it I didn't made any research too. I don't mind to be a "little" cheated by it not being a true straw, it have served me well, still resists to my wearing and have a brand new replacement (a Milano 20X or 30X can't remember) for it when it breaks. Maybe when those 2 are beyond wear condition, I might thing on a wiiiiiiiiiiiiide brim Sunbody.

 

[tropicalbob]

How about custom? I got a Vs Milan straw last year, and it's my favorite, partly because it's styled after a hat I saw on Etsy that I really liked. Also, the golden color is really beautiful. The problem I have with most Panamas is that, in my opinion, so many of them look the same.