Hummm. I guess I need to rethink my hat wearing pattern. I've been wearing beaver felt year round, with the exception of those times I HAVE to go to my PB straw.
I have been wearing beaver hats year round as well my friend. But the lighter more porous rabbit hats seem to be cooler. I say "seem" only because I have not recently compared the two. I will have to wait for the 100 degree 90 per cent humidity days to judge it correctly. But, with that said, it is very logical that a less dense felt would be cooler, due to the air exchange. Beaver hats are wonderful in cold wet weather though. Nothing will keep your head as dry, except an oilskin hat. For serious outdoor wear in wet elements, beaver is the only way to go, IMO. And beaver is the most durable felt made. It will outlast other felts. And only look better with age. Which is the main reason I went with it early on. I was looking for a felt that would outlast me. I always wanted the best bang for the buck in anything I buy. Which is why I buy most of my stuff from ebay, due to the current Chinese connection.
I can see the day coming when most felt will be coming from China, unless something changes. Many hatters shop price when sourcing felt and parts for hatting. I get constant emails from China trying to sell me felt!
I was happy when HJ sent a buyer to China, but she decided not to buy from them. Instead, they are using European rabbit felt. The thing is, great felt is still made in some parts of Europe. But I really do look for DP to use China in the future. They are keyed in on the bottom line of the P and L statements. This is me doing fortune telling though.
But I think it is inevitable.
Since this is a Christy thread, will the guy who sent me the two Christys to reblock please drop me an email? I am waiting on HJ bodies to arrived, and need to use the HJ time to reblock these two hats. When my pc went out, I lost the emails regarding these hats, and have been waiting to be contacted. Thanks. Fedora